3-LockBox
12-19-2007, 09:48 PM
This isn't the departure one might think it to be; Plant has always been a music afficionado, even back in his Zeppelin days, and he's always delved into different styles and taken chances throughout his solo career. This is an album Plant may well have done by himself.
However, this is a departure for Krauss, and its a welcome departure. But as odd as this pairing seems, it plain works. Krauss is a pure singer, and has the ability to harmonize with anyone, ala Emmylou Harris or Dolly Parton (see Mark Knopfler's All The Roadrunning w/ Emmylou). The vocal harmonizing on Raising Sand is, at times, uncanny.
Why this works so well, is that both singers are also vocal stylists who understand the nature of songs and respect writers, and they both resist the urge to over emote and show off (which neither one has ever done). There are many fine female singers who'd do a good job singing with Plant, and I'm sure there would be the temptation to exude overt sexuallity around a man of Plant's legendary status and reputation. But here, Krauss chooses a more organic approach, exuding an ethereal, quiet sensuality. She absolutely haunts the song Trampled Rose, and smolders nearly everywhere else. One could easily imagine her lending her voice to a Zep song like Rain Song or Battle Of Evermore.
As out of character as this is for Krauss, I hope this is a path she travels down again, whether with Plant, someone else, or by herself. As sensual as this record is at times it still comes across as very accomplished and dignified. I hope there's a follow-up.
However, this is a departure for Krauss, and its a welcome departure. But as odd as this pairing seems, it plain works. Krauss is a pure singer, and has the ability to harmonize with anyone, ala Emmylou Harris or Dolly Parton (see Mark Knopfler's All The Roadrunning w/ Emmylou). The vocal harmonizing on Raising Sand is, at times, uncanny.
Why this works so well, is that both singers are also vocal stylists who understand the nature of songs and respect writers, and they both resist the urge to over emote and show off (which neither one has ever done). There are many fine female singers who'd do a good job singing with Plant, and I'm sure there would be the temptation to exude overt sexuallity around a man of Plant's legendary status and reputation. But here, Krauss chooses a more organic approach, exuding an ethereal, quiet sensuality. She absolutely haunts the song Trampled Rose, and smolders nearly everywhere else. One could easily imagine her lending her voice to a Zep song like Rain Song or Battle Of Evermore.
As out of character as this is for Krauss, I hope this is a path she travels down again, whether with Plant, someone else, or by herself. As sensual as this record is at times it still comes across as very accomplished and dignified. I hope there's a follow-up.