Review 1 of 8

MooKahn writes:

4of 5 Stars

First of all, a "Fender Baritone" is a 6-string "bass" (made by Fender), tuned an octave below a standard electric guitar. They make a few different models...oh blah- check it out for yerselves. I think the analogy the reviewer was going for was Plant's gritty range - in the Led Zep days he made it in and out of Falsetto effortlessly and the "Fender Baritone" has a strange grittiness to it when played like a guitar, yadda yadda. Sorry it went over everyone head (except mine) but 'nuff said - check it out. He might of also thought of that instrument because of the strange, muddy, plodding dropped bass, banjo and guitar tunings used throughout this record. There isn't one cut that doesn't have something tuned lower than it should be, and that gets tiresome.

I saw Plant and Krause on one of the PBS talk shows right around the time of the release - and was eagerly awaiting this record - until they mentioned the tracks. "Weird Duets" is what came to my mind as well. Let's face it, there's "unknown" and "underground" and then there are second-rate B-sides from otherwise decent songwriters. You know, stuff that didn't make the cut. Stuff you'll hear on XM "Deep Tracks" - maybe. But strip away all the strange arrangements, and the tunes here are just simplistic and uneventful three-chord fare, fancied up with the plodding dropped tunings, the bongos, a little overdone Fender Twin Reverb "Tremolo" (a guitar amp - back to the Fender catalog) and you've got Duane Eddy meets Union Station.

They also needed a little more rehearsal on the vocals. They just never quite got the timing together. Yes they look uncomfortable, and they sound a little uncomfortable here too.

So...I hate to say it, but I pretty much agree with the RS review. I was waiting for something really great...and this ain't it - not yet. Robert and Allison - I love you guys. Don't stop with this record - give it another shot, maybe next time write some original tunes you pen together instead of trying an "extreme makeover LedZep Country Edition" on the old clunkers.

Peace,-out
Moo

Apr 4, 2008 20:18:44

Review 2 of 8

vegasmattador writes:

5of 5 Stars

This is among the top 3 listenable albums of 2007 - one of those you can replay for a week without noticing you had not changed the cd. RS got it wrong with only 3.5 stars. Raising Sand is Robert Plant's best, albeit different, effort since the Zep days. The singles and duets with Allison Krauss bring out the blues and folk roots that underline so many of Zep's songs. My favorite song is Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us that feels like halloween in the country. All of the songs are carefully crafted masterpieces.

Mar 21, 2008 10:32:04

Review 3 of 8

Lawsofeden writes:

5of 5 Stars

Hey, guys --

I work for Rounder, the label this album came out on, and it's really great to see such support! "Gone Gone Gone" is up for a CMT award (airing next month), so if you could take a couple of minutes and go to CMT.com to vote, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Mar 18, 2008 09:18:30

Review 4 of 8

sugarloaffrankiej writes:

5of 5 Stars

The first time I ever heard Alison Krauss was on the "O Brother Where Art Thou?" soundtrack. The ethereal quality to her voice was eerie, and reminded me of only one other voice I've ever heard... and this record they've done together is no less than utterly amazing. An unlikely pairing? Maybe. My understanding is that Mr. Plant initiated the possibility, and if you look at the picture of the two of them on the back of the CD, Ms. Krauss kinda has that look of "ohmygod, I really can't believe this is even happening, and how friggin' cool is this?!?!" There are so many times on this album that Robert Plant's voice sounds absolutely nothing like anything he's ever recorded--that alone is worth the price of admission. How their voices blend together? Well, ethereal is a word that just barely begins to describe it... I'm an old Led Head and maybe a bit biased, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a song ("Please Read The Letter") that Plant wrote with Jimmy Page and the rhythm section from their UnLedded band and tour from the mid '90's. I had no idea that that group had written anything together, and it fits so incredibly well on this album. 2 thumbs, 8 fingers, and 10 toes up, T-Bone! Spend the money and buy the CD--this is collection worthy.

Jan 2, 2008 00:44:15

Review 5 of 8

jaspiecat writes:

5of 5 Stars

I must totally agree with ffbn. In fact, I think he/she should have written the review. Also, 'unique' would have been a better way to describe the duets than 'weird'. They are very beautiful and atmospheric transporting us to a world of their own. Isn't this what really good music is supposed to do?

Nov 25, 2007 06:53:16

Review 6 of 8

ffnb1086 writes:

5of 5 Stars

Robert Plant's "fender baritone"...? Are you serious? Robert Plant's voice was never a baritone, and even today, when it's considerably different than what it was back in the days of Zeppelin, it's still not a baritone!... Christgau, I never have agreed with your reviews... and it seems to me that it's simply because you have no idea what you're talking about.

But anyway... this album is amazing. Two artists that people would never think to pair together actually fit together like the pieces of an odd, but beautiful puzzle. You can hear Robert Plant's distinct style of interpretation and Alison Krauss' at the same time and they blend wonderfully. T Bone Burnett fantastic production and song selection is the hand that put the puzzle together.... There is a "back-porch revelation" in this album (which Christgau didn't notice, among many things) and that's the revelation that two artists, of completely different styles, can still have a common thread that binds them; and the measure of true artistry is how well the two of them can exploit that thread and show how beautiful it can be. In this case, the thread is a love of roots music and, with the voices of an artists and skilled interpreters, just how timeless those songs can be. Plant and Krauss did just that. Bravo.

Oct 27, 2007 22:59:14

Review 7 of 8

bfissarahsmom writes:

5of 5 Stars

Best album in years. If it doesn't win Album of the year they were screwed! These two greats got together and produced something exceptional. No one but Robert Plant and Alison Krauss had "the sand" to try it, and did they ever pull it off!

Oct 26, 2007 21:03:30

Review 8 of 8

voodudrew writes:

Not Rated

Just curious. Are you, Rolling Stone, saying this disc gets 0 stars or have you not rated it yet?

Oct 8, 2007 04:46:22