MUSIC SCENE

Raising Sand - Rounder Über producer T Bone Burnett wins the musical spectrum award of the year by pairing Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant with the reigning queen of bluegrass Alison Krauss. He also keeps both out of their comfort zone by having them sing in styles that neither are accustom to. The overall feeling of Raising Sand has a dark but beautiful quality like a Roy Orbison record. Burnett, by the way, produced the Roy Orbison tribute A Black & White Night Live. The throbbing tremolo studio effect gives it a bit of a creepy feel. What is so amazing is how well the two legends adapt to their new environment. Free jazz guitarist Marc Ribot lends his talent to Raising Sand as well as traditional acoustic guitar guru Norman Blake. The vocals blend together like The Everly Brothers on many songs including the first track "Rich Woman" as well as Everly Brothers' tune "Gone Gone Gone." The Robert Plant original song "Please Read the Letter" holds its own next to songs by songwriters like Townes Van Zandt, Tom Waits and Sam Phillips. With so many odd juxtapositions on Raising Sand it could have come out as disjointed but in the hands of T Bone Burnett this disc is an instant classic that will be nominated for many awards this year.