N80
Super Member
My wife got me the new CD, "Raising Sand" by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, yes, you read it right; heavy metal legend Robert Plant (of Led Zeppelin fame) and Blue Grass superstar Alison Krauss!
I was a Led Zep fan in my youth. Never saw them play but have seen Robert Plant in concert twice. I also like 'roots music' such as blues, blue grass and some folk music. (I have grown to despise the latest pop, rock and pop country music that is all the rage now). That's why she thought I might like this CD. She was right.
I suspect many people on this site know and like Alison Krauss' music but may be less familiar with Plant. Just as information he, and Led Zep, are often considered among the founders of hard rock/heavy metal.....and they were. But anyone who knows anything about Plant and Zeppelin know that 1) much, if not most of they're music was not hard and 2) it was heavily based in southern blues music, to the extent that some of their early songs are direct rip-offs of the old original blues men like Willie Dixon. They also dabbled in Welsh folk music. Since the demise of Zeppelin, Plant has had a very successful solo career and has had excusrions into roots type music. All of this is to say that his partner ship with Krauss is not as bizarre as it seems.
The CD is heavily influenced by producer T Bone Burnett who also plays guitar in some of the songs. The album is flavored with a blue grass feel but is very dark, and in places haunting. The overwhelming themes are leaving, infidelity, death and sorrow.....which are prevalent themes in most blue grass, old country and blues music. This is not a party CD:
"Sorrow and solitude
These are the precious things
And the only words worth remembering."
From the song "Nothin'" written by the late Townes Van Zandt
In fact, it should include a warning label: Do not drink alone while listening to this CD!
Regardless, I think it is a fabulous collection of songs. There are a couple that I simply do not like at all, but all the rest are great. Most of the songs are older songs, by varied writers including Mel Tillis, Gene Clark (of the Byrds) and the Everly brothers. There is even one song co-written by Jimmy Page.
If you haven't heard of this CD, give it a listen. You can hear the entire album at the Raising Sand web site. If you have heard the CD, I'd love to hear what you think about it.
Are there any music lovers in tractor land?
I was a Led Zep fan in my youth. Never saw them play but have seen Robert Plant in concert twice. I also like 'roots music' such as blues, blue grass and some folk music. (I have grown to despise the latest pop, rock and pop country music that is all the rage now). That's why she thought I might like this CD. She was right.
I suspect many people on this site know and like Alison Krauss' music but may be less familiar with Plant. Just as information he, and Led Zep, are often considered among the founders of hard rock/heavy metal.....and they were. But anyone who knows anything about Plant and Zeppelin know that 1) much, if not most of they're music was not hard and 2) it was heavily based in southern blues music, to the extent that some of their early songs are direct rip-offs of the old original blues men like Willie Dixon. They also dabbled in Welsh folk music. Since the demise of Zeppelin, Plant has had a very successful solo career and has had excusrions into roots type music. All of this is to say that his partner ship with Krauss is not as bizarre as it seems.
The CD is heavily influenced by producer T Bone Burnett who also plays guitar in some of the songs. The album is flavored with a blue grass feel but is very dark, and in places haunting. The overwhelming themes are leaving, infidelity, death and sorrow.....which are prevalent themes in most blue grass, old country and blues music. This is not a party CD:
"Sorrow and solitude
These are the precious things
And the only words worth remembering."
From the song "Nothin'" written by the late Townes Van Zandt
In fact, it should include a warning label: Do not drink alone while listening to this CD!
Regardless, I think it is a fabulous collection of songs. There are a couple that I simply do not like at all, but all the rest are great. Most of the songs are older songs, by varied writers including Mel Tillis, Gene Clark (of the Byrds) and the Everly brothers. There is even one song co-written by Jimmy Page.
If you haven't heard of this CD, give it a listen. You can hear the entire album at the Raising Sand web site. If you have heard the CD, I'd love to hear what you think about it.
Are there any music lovers in tractor land?
