Raising Sand

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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0028947802051 Label: Decca Manufacturer: Decca Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Decca Release Date: 2007-10-29 Running Time: 57 Studio: Decca
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Editorial Reviews: Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and bluegrass crooner Alison Krauss may not be the likeliest of musical combinations. But on this welcome collaboration album, they work beautifully together, wringing a kind of magic from other people’s songs. The key to the album is its versatility. Between them, Krauss and Plant can handle a vast repertoire on their own, and here they take on the lot, from folk laments and country soul to searing blues and upbeat rock & roll. Overseen by Elvis Costello producer T Bone Burnett and backed by high caliber musicians like guitarist Marc Ribot and multi-instrumentalist Mike Seeger, Raising Sand sees the duo create stellar covers of songs by Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Mel Tillis and The Everly Brothers, among others. Highlights include a killer version of Roly Salley's "Killing the Blues", and a cover of the Plant-Page collaboration "Please Read the Letter," though in truth, it’s difficult to find a weak spot on the whole album. --Danny McKenna
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: eclectic percy Comment: Should be no surprise to find Robert Plant making great music with any musician. Being famous for making music in one genre has never stopped this singer from admiring other forms. He has, after all, appeared with Fairport at Cropredy and was an admirer of the Incredible String Band back in the day. Nice to hear these two together and with such a great band of musicians. Good also, to hear a Doc Watson song being aired. Be interesting to hear Zep cover Doc eh? Customer Rating: Summary: An Over-rated Wasted Opportunity Comment: I'm a fan of both Plant and Krauss and bought this CD without having heard any tracks in advance. I reckoned the juxtaposition of two great but very different talents was bound to result in something new and interesting. Ouch!!! How wrong I was. I sold it on eBay the next week. This album sounds like the pair were brought together by their marketing teams to make an unchallenging, easy-listening sure-fire hit for a bland middle of the road market. Sure, if this was the intention then the project is a great contribution to their pension funds. But it does nothing to push any musical boundaries or take any risks. There's a good selection of songs (I've heard many of them performed to much higher standards by other artists) but Plant and Krauss don't capitalise on them at all. The performances are routine, the harmonies - which are few and far between - are predictable and uninspired, and the very respectable band sound bored. Where are the soaring vocals, the heartbreak, the anger? Where is the empathy and interaction between the singers, and with the band? I understand this album was one of those projects where the singers never met, choosing instead to record their parts in separate studios at separate times. And presumably the band parts were recorded first so that Krauss and Plant could add the vocals later, karaoke style. If this is the case, it's no wonder it sounds so DULL, DULL, DULL. Interestingly, all reports are that their concerts are fabulous. Maybe once they get together they really do produce magic. But there ain't none of it on the CD. Like so much other commercial music (and films, TV programmes etc.) this is aimed at an undemanding mass market that laps up such tedious fodder and bestows it accolades and awards. Don't believe a word! Unless, that is, you are a member of the target audience in which case you might find it more stretching that boy bands, girl bands and other manufactured dross. Let's hope that after all their touring and actually singing together RP and AK make a follow-up album that shows what they can really do. One lame duck isn't gonna put me off them for good... Customer Rating: Summary: Disappointed Comment: Heard great things about this album over some period of time before I bought it, heard Gone, gone, gone and thought Hmmmmm, I'd give it a go..... Can't say much more than I think it's just a mediocre musical outing by two accomplished performers. It's not the electric mix of eclectic styles that people make it out to be, it's not a ground-breaking album, it's never going to be in my top ten fave albums [or any list of fave albums]. It is a raggle-taggle collection of songs, some a bit too similar to its partners on the album to make it an overall half-decent listen, it is performed reasonably well, but it lacks any dynamic or soul......all in all not my cup of tea. If I was on Juke Box Jury I might say I'll give it foive, but as I can only mark up to 5 it gets a 1 and I'll look to pass it on as a gift to some unsuspecting member of my wife's family. Customer Rating: Summary: So Good!!! The Golden god did it again!! Comment: Since I got my deliver this morning I can't stop playing it. Their voices work so well together, the music is absorbing and it brings you a very special energy. And if you want a little bit more of the Golden god buy also Might Rearranger another fantastic CD of Plant. Customer Rating: Summary: A dreadful waste of talent - and music buyer's money! Comment: Sadly someone obviously suggested to Robert Plant that this would be a good idea....recording a (mostly) countryesque album with Alison Krauss. They were wrong!! I have no problem with Plant (or anyone else for that matter) trying new things, but please..... this was a bad idea that should have stayed just that.... an idea!! Why on earth so many people feel the need to heap praise on this album is beyond me - it has no redeming qualities to my ears whatsoever - even if Robert Plant is involved.......come to think of it that old story of the Emporer's new clothes comes to mind!! More Reviews