Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand

Review

Well, hot damn if "Raising Sand" ain't one of the finest pieces of musical alchemy I've ever laid ears on. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, two titans from different corners of the music world, cooked up a storm that'd make the devil himself sit up and take notice. T Bone Burnett, that wizard behind the soundboard, wove their voices together like strands of barbed wire and silk.

Now, I've heard my fair share of collaborations, but this one's got more grit and soul than a backwoods bar on a Saturday night. Plant's voice, rough as sandpaper and smooth as whiskey, tangles with Krauss's honey-sweet tones like they were made for each other. And when Krauss starts sawin' on that fiddle, well, it's enough to make a grown man weep.

This ain't no run-of-the-mill album, folks. It's a dark, brooding beast that'll haunt your dreams and set your toes to tappin'. From the raw power of "Rich Woman" to the heart-wrenching beauty of "Please Read the Letter," every track's a journey through the dusty backroads of American music. It's no wonder this gem scooped up more awards than a champion rodeo bull. If you ain't heard it yet, you're missin' out on one hell of a ride. - Dusty