Robert Plant, Alison Krauss – Raising Sand (2xLP)

Raising Sand, released in 2007, is a collaborative album by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss that bridges rock, country, folk, and Americana in a haunting, expressive set of reinterpretations. The production by T Bone Burnett weaves spare arrangements of pedal steel, acoustic guitar, and subtle ambient textures around the duo’s voices, giving even familiar songs new space to breathe. Track choices from figures like Tom Waits, Gene Clark, and The Everly Brothers feel recontextualized, trading spectacle for quiet power.

What makes Raising Sand endure is the chemistry between Plant and Krauss: he brings a weathered gravitas while she delivers crystalline clarity, their voices meeting in moments of tension and harmony. The album rewards patience—its slower, more deliberate pacing highlights lyrical nuance and emotional resonance. It stands as a benchmark collaboration, one where two distinctive voices find unexpected unity and depth.

Reviews

“Plant’s vocals … are usually subtle, understated, tailored to the arrangements and to Krauss’s singing rather than to his reputation for champion-league wailing.” – Louder

“Has Plant ever delivered a sexier vocal than the one on Killing the Blues? And with Krauss seductively caressing his lead with harmonies … it sounds like these guys recorded this one in bed.” – No Ripcord

“Plant and Krauss trade off singing in harmony … Krauss uses the clarity of her voice to keep the tracks fresh.” – Bluebird Reviews