Raising Sand

Robert Plant     Alison Krauss

Okay, so I listen to Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and Jackson Browne’s Running On Easy and even attend the occasional Hank Wangford concert. I’ve enjoyed the banjo twang of the Journey of the Sorceror by the Eagles and the hootenanny attitude of an early John Denver album (the shame, the shame). But now, here I am confronted with the critically-acclaimed Raising Sand recording from all-out rocker Robert Plant, complete with all his Led Zeppelin pedigree, and someone unknown to be me before, this country singer Alison Krauss (who’s not at all unpleasant to the eye, especially on the many websites dedicated to her devotees).

By way of defence, I have to say this CD was a gift, rather than a rush-out-and-buy purchase type of ‘must-have’, but nevertheless a welcome present (thanks Bert & Suzi), as it was an album in which I had expressed a quiet, personal, discreet, slightly guilty interest.

Grainy black & white pictures (many knocked back behind the lyric sheets) give an authentically old-fashioned atmosphere, helping me expect acoustic simplicity, which is mostly what is supplied. I was, however, concerned to see the centre spread pic of the band, which has Ms Krausss in a cardi, along with Roy Orbison on acoustic guitar, Abraham Lincoln’s mandolin, and David Brent with a banjo. However, I really like the new-style CD case, which tends not to trash the booklet, unlike the former sort, and has lovely rounded corners.

Shut up and play the disc

It starts with Rich Woman, something which made me think of the excellent Mark Knoffler album The Ragpicker’s Dream, which is slightly to the country side of bluesey, and yet has hugely more interesting lyrics and vocal style, with bursts of that familiar gravel and the sweet voice of Ms Krauss.

Then comes a frightening Hawaiian guitar lick which induces hyperthermia (chills the blood) and gives me that ‘have I been positive about something so loathsome?’ self-doubt. And yet, and yet. Just hold on a cotton-pickin’ son-of-an-old-galoot darn-it boll-weevil’d minute. The rich harmonising is pure folk and absolutely lovely, sublimating the corn-is-as-high accompaniment into a mild irritation.

Slow banjo pickin’ is unimportant as Alison starts the haunting Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us and suddenly I’m hooked. The single, Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) is corny and jaunty and rather too happy for a lost-love ballad, but taps the toes.

Through the Morning, Through the Night is simply beautiful, yet confusing. It’s marvellously performed, with the female voice taking the lead and the male voice providing harmonies above the line of the melody, which is always skilful and pleasant. Yet this beautiful woman seems to be singing words which reflect a man’s pain… just a bit weird. And the Hawaiian solo with which the song finishes is a shame. Please Read the Letter may be the stand-out track, as Plant’s vocal is controlled and emotional and the harmonies tight and effective. Ms Krauss’ fiddle-playing gives me a Corrs-like thrill. Which is quite something, I can tell you.

Then we’re back to The Eagles’ uncharacteristic theme tune to The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which is slow and thoughtful. My guess is that the vocal delivery here is approximately 300,000 times better than the way it was sung while Tom Waits was composing it, but that’s just a personal opinion, and one to which I am entitled since his voice is so appalling and tuneless.

It’s a nice reminder from the next track that country music is one of those forms where story-telling is a strength, and here Plant recounts his trip to the Fortune Teller and his initial disappointment with her work. The harmonising ‘ah’s and the guitar solo have that Physical Graffitti vibe about them, too, which provides a warm glow.

Sorry, didn’t mean to do a track-by-track. But then Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson is one of those Country titles that has the unique poetry (see my top 15 Country titles list below). Again, however, she’s singing about ‘that girl’ which provokes slow epidermal movement near the ground as one considers the unthinkable.

And on this bombshell...

So this album’s on my iPod, in my collection and I’m not afraid to admit it on the world-wide interweb. It’s a stepping-stone in the career path of a truly iconic rock vocalist; possibly not a milestone, but let’s hope it’s not a headstone, either.

And now, my top 15 Country & Western song titles

(in reverse order):

15  My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink, And I Don't Love Jesus

14  I Want a Beer as Cold as My Ex-Wife's Heart

13  Beauty is Only Skin Deep, but Ugly Goes Clean to the Bone

12  I Gave Her My Heart And A Diamond

             And She Clubbed Me With A Spade

11  I Still Miss You Baby...  But My Aim is Getting Better

10  If I'd Killed You When I Wanted To, I'd be Out of Jail By Now

9    Who's Gonna Take The Garbage Out

             When I'm Dead And Gone?

8    My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend,

              And I Sure Do Miss Him

7   My Lips Want to Stay (But My Heart Wants to Go)

6   I'm So Miserable Without You,

               it's Almost like Having you Here

5   I Went Back to My Fourth Wife for the Third Time

              and Gave Her a Second Chance

              to Make a First Class Fool Out of Me

4   You're The Reason Our Kids Are So Ugly

3   We Used To Kiss On The Lips, But It's All Over Now

2   Get Off The Stove, Grandma,

              You're Too Old To Ride The Range

1   Drop Kick Me Jesus (Through The Goal Posts Of Life)

acknowledgements to www.downstream.sk.ca/country1.htm