Alison Krauss/Robert Plant 'Raising Sand'

Not so much country as bluegrass meets the blues.

My wife saw the threesome interviewed the other night on Charlie Rose and insisted that we get it. As Amazon.com is my usual source, I'll be waiting a bit. She actually didn't know Robert Plant was the voice of Led Zeppelin, nor did she know Alison Krauss' music. Amazon.com's page for this release has a good 8 min video with all three talking about how the the project came together that is quite interesting, with a few snippets of the music. Really looking forward to getting the CD.

BTW, would one of you guys who gets the LP please post an impression of the vinyl release? I may just have to get that as well.

Norman

I'd like to give my copy to charity. I've started it 5 times and only made it through once. I'll try again in a few years. Right now it is just not for me. Sounds a bit phasey to me also.
As for good country sound nutin' wrong with that, just listen to Nick Lowe's latest. It is a very good album.

Playing the CD in the car at the moment, it is starting to grow on me.
Can't wait for the LP, which Amazon have now put back to December 6th delivery

I got the vinyl already, it's great.

quote:

Originally posted by northpole:
Shock! Horror!! An album conceived and produced by T Bone Burnett with Alison Krauss with a country flavour. Hello!!

Peter

(I like it!!)

I spilt my tea on the keyboard. Nice.

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:

nor did [my wife] know Alison Krauss' music

I'm waiting for my copy of Raising Sand, but just tonight my family was listening to Alison's masterpiece Forget About It. Wow, what a great album! A little more pop, a little less country, no less brilliant. Just a wonderful beauty.

All best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by fred simon:

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:

nor did [my wife] know Alison Krauss' music

I'm waiting for my copy of Raising Sand, but just tonight my family was listening to Alison's masterpiece Forget About It. Wow, what a great album! A little more pop, a little less country, no less brilliant. Just a wonderful beauty.

All best,
Fred

Thanks for that, Fred. I had known from trolling the audiophile forums about Alison Krauss and Union Station's live album, but really wanted a studio album to get started with as my wife now wants to explore more of her offerings.

Normann

Playing it for the first time now, after purchasing today.

Jeff A

ps Still waiting on the first Fredgrass release

Got my copy today and first impressions are very favourable. Another few listens before I can judge though.

quote:

Originally posted by Cosmoliu:

Thanks for that, Fred. I had known from trolling the audiophile forums about Alison Krauss and Union Station's live album, but really wanted a studio album to get started with as my wife now wants to explore more of her offerings.

Just to be clear, Forget About It is actually a solo release under Alison Krauss' name only, not with Union Station, although the members of Union Station play on it. One difference is that on every AKUS album there are tracks on which the various members are featured, often in a more traditional roots bluegrass mode. Forget About It, however, is more of a showcase for Alison's singing to shine in a program of pop/folk/country. She plays fiddle, but no instrumental bluegrass hoedowns.

I love Alison in both modes, officially with Union Station and without, but Forget About It really is a singular masterpiece in her catalog. The live AKUS album is fantastic, as are the AKUS albums So Long So Wrong, New Favorite, and Lonely Runs Both Ways.

All best,
Fred

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Anderson:

ps Still waiting on the first Fredgrass release

Me, too, Jeff ... me, too.

Thanks,
Fred

Thanks for the clarification, Fred. I think we will get Forget About It, again for Alison's voice, then move into some of the Union Station collaborations.

Norman

I like AK's voice and many of the arrangements but not really the US bluegrass tracks particularly with the male vocalist. I saw her last year in Gateshead and she was fine. Will have to try Forget about it if its more a showcase for AK.

Diccus

quote:

Originally posted by Diccus62:
I like AK's voice and many of the arrangements but not really the US bluegrass tracks particularly with the male vocalist.

You're probably referring to Dan Tyminski, Union Station guitarist and chief male vocalist, best known for his lead vocal on the song I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow from the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.

Of course it's a matter of personal preference, but I happen to love his voice ... a very natural, authentic Appalachian mountain sound. He does play and sing on Forget About It but only background vocals, part of the lush blend of vocals behind Alison's leads. There's no outright bluegrass, and no male lead vocals, on this album so have no fear.

All best,
Fred

Forget About It is an excellent album, though on balance I prefer New Favorite. It's well worth getting both, AND the O Brother soundtrack, which is full of gems.

Nigel

Union station also includes the amazing Jerry Douglas on Dobro and slide guitar. In fact the whole band a pretty good.

If you haven't got this aready, why not? (I see it's now just £6.99 from Amazon, BTW.) Mine has just been displaced off the CD player - my copy of the newly remastered "The Song Remains the Same" arrived today. My, how Robert Plant has changed!

I made some comments on TSRTS in the Mothership thread. It is BRILLIANT. The remastering has been long, long overdue. But in this case, well worth the wait.

Regards,
CB