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List Price: $18.98 | | Label: Rounder
Salesrank: 63
Released: October 23, 2007 |
| Our Price: $7.67 |
| Used Price: $7.65 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Raising Sand 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
Editorial Review:
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.
Description of Raising Sand:
Perhaps only the fantasy duo of King Kong and Bambi could be a more bizarre pairing than Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Yet on Raising Sand, their haunting and brilliant collaboration, the Led Zeppelin screamer and Nashville's most hypnotic song whisperer seem made for each other. This, however, is not the howling Plant of "Whole Lotta Love," but a far more precise and softer singer than even the one who emerged with Dreamland (2002). No matter that Plant seems so subdued as to be on downers, for that's one of the keys to this most improbable meeting of musical galaxies--almost all of it seems slowed down, out of time, otherworldly, and at times downright David Lynch-ian, the product of an altered consciousness. Yet probably the main reason it all works so well is the choice of producer T Bone Burnette, the third star of the album, who culled mostly lesser-known material from some of the great writers of blues, country, folk, gospel, and R&B, including Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Milt Campbell, the Everly Brothers, Sam Phillips, and A.D. and Rosa Lee Watson. At times, Burnette's spare and deliberate soundscape--incisively crafted by guitarists Marc Ribot and Norman Blake, bassist Dennis Crouch, drummer Jay Bellerose, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Seeger, among others--is nearly as dreamy and subterranean as Daniel Lanois's work with Emmylou Harris (Wrecking Ball). Occasionally, Burnette opts for a fairly straightforward production while still reworking the original song (Plant's own "Please Read the Letter," Mel Tillis's "Stick with Me, Baby"). But much of the new flesh on these old bones is oddly unsettling, if not nightmarish. On the opening track of "Rich Woman," the soft-as-clouds vocals strike an optimistic mood, while the instrumental backing--loose snare, ominous bass line, and insinuating electric guitar lines--create a spooky, sinister undertow. Plant and Krauss trade out the solo and harmony vocals, and while they both venture into new waters here (Krauss as a mainstream blues mama, Plant as a gospel singer and honkytonker), she steals the show in Sam Phillips' new "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us," where a dramatic violin and tremulous banjo strike a foreboding gypsy tone. When Krauss begins this strange, seductive song in a voice so ethereal that angels will take note, you may stop breathing. That, among other reasons, makes Raising Sand an album to die for. --Alanna Nash
Raising Sand Reviews:
Amazon - a shyster company 
2008-09-06 - Many months ago, I ordered the CD "Raising Sand" from Amazon.com. I received a defective CD that had obviously been returned,repackaged and then sent to me in response to my order. I corresponded with Amazon and was told to return the CD and I would receive a replacement. I returned the CD and as yet have never received a replacement CD. I have been jacked around with excuses, but no CD. Keep my money and the CD. I don't have the time to waste on a shyster operation. You are a bunch of crooks. I may order from your outside suppliers - I've never had a problem with themn - but I will never order another product directly from Amazon.com.
An Amazing Collaboration That Works ! 
2008-08-30 - As a fan of both Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, I initially thought this was a strange pairing, but found it to be an amazing collaboration. The music at once is old-school and contemporary at the same time. It reminds me of a new singer-songwriter I recently came across-Arrica Rose...her new album La La Lost melodic 70's folk with a touch of country...old-fashioned and modern.
Where is Alison ? 
2008-08-22 - Got high Hopes but was a bit dissapointed by it all !
I think that the combination could have been tremendous but the album did not excite me at all .. I thought Alison could have tuned up better ..
But it is only me !
Intriguing and Refreshing!
2008-08-15 - I am a huge fan of Led Zeppelin, so I bought this album right away. Robert Plant sounds a lot different, of course, since this is a country album. However, not different in a bad way. He has a versatile style. Alison Krauss has a beautiful voice, and they are very harmonious. My faves on this album are "Rich Woman", "gone, gone, gone", and "Fortune Teller."
A Strange Pairing
2008-08-11 - I've been a fan of both Robert and Alison for too many years to mention; however, I would never have come up with this pairing. Admittedly, I was a bit of a skeptic when I saw the release of the album. When I first heard "Gone, Gone, Gone", I thought: Okay, this is not bad. Then I heard "Please Read The Letter". I was sold . . . hook, line and sinker.
I would place this album easily in my top twenty fave albums of all time, and that is saying something.
The music is evocative and bluesy and it just makes you . . . feel.
I could not recommend it more, if you are a music lover of any type, this is a must have for your collection. A wholly remarkable album which will linger in your ears and mind long after the last note plays.
