| | |  | Television | Home » » » Raising Sand | | | | | | | Product Promotions: | | | | | Description: | | The musical collaboration of the decade, Raising Sand is the sound of two iconic figures stepping out of their respective comfort zones and letting their instincts lead them across a brave new sonic landscape. Despite hailing from distinctly different backgrounds, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant share a maverick spirit and willingness to extend the boundaries of their respective genres. This spirit, expertly honed by producer T Bone Burnett, has resulted in an album pitched three steps beyond some cosmic collision of early urban blues, spacious West Texas country, and the untapped potential of the folk-rock revolution.
Supported by the unparalleled musicianship of Marc Ribot, Dennis Crouch, Mike Seeger, Jay Bellerose, Norman Blake, Greg Leisz, Patrick Warren, and Riley Baugus, Plant and Krauss -- as both solo and harmony vocalists -- tackle an intriguing selection of songs from such tunesmiths as Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Sam Phillips, Townes Van Zandt, The Everly Broth! ers, and Mel Tillis. Raising Sand finds Robert Plant and Alison Krauss exploring popular music's elemental roots while still sounding effortlessly, breath-takingly contemporary.
The song "Killing the Blues" is featured in the new JC Penney American Living Campaign. | | | Product Details: | | | Audio CD Release Date:
| October 23, 2007 | | Studio:
| Rounder | | Number Of Discs:
| 1 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 630 reviews |
| | | Track Listing: | | | 1. | Rich Woman | | 2. | Killing the Blues | | 3. | Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us | | 4. | Polly Come Home | | 5. | Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) | | 6. | Through the Morning, Through the Night | | 7. | Please Read the Letter | | 8. | Trampled Rose | | 9. | Fortune Teller | | 10. | Stick with Me Baby | | 11. | Nothin' | | 12. | Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson | | 13. | Your Long Journey | |
| | | Customer Reviews: | |
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 Planted in bluegrass, the Krauss collaboration produces a timeless gemJul 03, 2010
There seems little point in repeating the praise heaped on these landmark recordings already in so many excellent reviews. When I first heard "Raising Sand" in 2007 it was obviously destined not for musical obscurity but for some kind of greatness, and since then I've listened to these songs hundreds of times in the morning, the evening, on lazy summer afternoons and driving through the mountains of Andalusia in an open-topped sports car. It's one of those rare occasions when dedicated professionalism, inspired musicians with a love for the material and first-rate production know-how come together to create something remarkable and hard to categorise.
Robert Plant has always had a deep interest in, and understanding of, the many strands of traditional American folk music. Anyone familiar with his back catalogue over the past 40 years will see evidence of this interest and of his ability to interpret traditional styles like slow blues, R&B and folk-country in new ways. Just listen to "Babe I'm gonna leave you" from Led Zeppelin's first album in 1969 - it goes back that far.
Alison Krauss has spent a career playing bluegrass - she's a great fiddle player too - and in Plant has found what seems to be her perfect musical match. This superficially improbable collaboration has given birth to something truly wonderful. Plant's voice turns out to be perfect for bluegrass and brings a depth of feeling - yet with a light touch - to complement Krauss's serene and beautiful singing in harmonies of such richness and serenity they raise the bar in the same way Simon & Garfunkel did way back in the 1970s (though the analogy is confined to the quality of the harmonies and goes no further). The care and respect they have for the material is obvious in the quality of the resultant product. The album cover carries a MOJO quote: "The musical relationship between Krauss and Plant is so gentle, attentive and respectfully intimate it feels more like a courtship dance" - perfect summary.
It's a great, great album, and something of a benchmark. If you've never heard it, you should. You'll likely listen to it for years and years, and love it more every time - like the rest of us.
ExquisiteMay 09, 2010
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks? With T-Bone Burnett at the controls and Alison Krauss by his side, Robert Plant added an absolute gem to his crown. This is one of the most successful pairings in history, with a brilliant selection of songs, and it is like honey to my ears. I am stunned once again listening to this album.
Heartbreakingly Good, this Record isApr 30, 2010
I'd never been a big Zep fan, don't know why. I didn't turn `em off when they came on the radio, but I didn't buy their records either. I did wind up owning some bootlegs though, but that's a different story. Also, I never really got into Alison Krauss. Again, I don't know why. I'm a Norah Jones fan I suppose, Madeleine Peyroux and Billie Holiday too. Mostly I listen to good old fashioned Rock N Roll, which leaves me not much time for female vocalists unless they're singing mean old blues. So when I saw that this record was out, I ignored it, nothing here for me, I thought.
How wrong I was. I got this the other day. Heard "Rich Woman" on the radio and was hooked. Had to have it, so I got it, brought it home, ripped it to iTunes and I've been playing it for three days straight. This old man's voice blends so well with this young woman's. Who knew plant could sing like that, you know, make chills pepper up and down your spine.
The beat in "Killing the Blues" is eerie, goose bumpy eerie. I can feel the chill, just thinking about it. The beat in "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" almost reminds me of a Tom Waits' song, back when he was great, but instead of a deep throaty raspy Waits we get a melancholy Krauss and she virtually purrs through the piece. Plant sings like a man in pain on "Polly Come Home" and the song leaves you with a sorta longing, but for what?
This is not what I expected when I got this CD. The songs are similar, but different. I can't wrap my mind around it, can't classify it, but I know I like it. And I really like "Gone Gone Gone" more than I can say. This is old fashioned Rock N Roll, straight outta the Fifties and right into the New Millennium. "Through the Morning, Through the Night" is a Krauss ballad with Plant doing harmony that almost crosses into -- gasp -- country territory and it's followed with a Plant ballad, "Please Read the Letter" and there is again that haunting percussion that seems to add power to his voice. Kruass's sweet harmonies and backup vocals also really showcase his voice on this song.
Yes, I'm really getting into this record and I don't think I ever really would have paid much attention to Alison Krauss as a soloist, but after listening to her on "Trampled Rose," I know I'll be giving her stuff a listen now. Following "Trampled Rose" we come to "Fortune Teller" and as much as I liked the way the Stones did and do this song, I gotta say there's room for someone else to do it too. I wouldn't have said that a couple days ago, but jeez Plant and co, Krauss included, do such a great job jazzing this up. Superb, it really is.
I can't believe I'm gushing on so about this record. I've got it playing as I'm writing this, listening to a song for a bit, typing a bit, listening some more. Right now I'm hearing Plant and Krauss doing a down and dirty duet on Mel Tillis's song "Stick with Me Baby" and there ain't a lick of country in it, just their magic voices and that haunting beat. The segue into "Nothin'" was a bit jarring for me the first time I'd heard it, but I'm used to it now and with a lyric like, "I almost burnt out my eyes, threw my ears down to the floor. I don't want nothin'. I can't use nothin'" how could I not love this song.
Did I mention when I started this missive that I liked the blues. I think I did. I do. And Krauss combines blues with a country beat in "Let Your Love Be Your Lesson" but sadly this is my least favorite song on the record and I deleted it from my iTunes playlist. It's okay, but the rest of the record really shines. I just don't think it works with everything else here.
And now we come to the closer, "Your Long Journey", which almost has a Celtic feel to it. Damn I like this song. Heartbreakingly good it is. And that just about sums up with I think of Mister Plant and Ms Krauss's first outing. They've gone and made a mighty, gosh darned good record. A classic that's gonna stand the test of time.
Love their voices--play it a lot!Apr 21, 2010
Just love this CD! Played it alot and still really like it. Their voices are like angels.
A Perfect DuoApr 09, 2010
There are few things that are as much fun as having two performers from different genres come together and fuse their talents. If you've got a great producer like T-Bone Burnett working with Alison Krauss and Robert Plant..........you're going to get something amazing.
Get this CD. There, you have been told!
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