Last night Sam and I were in Starbucks and as I sipped by Cinnamon Dulce Frappucino (delish, btw) I couldn't help but be drawn to the spindle of albums. I mean, when Gloria Estefan (by face or name, it really doesn't matter) is sitting somewhere, my eyes are bound to seek it out. Along with new records by Brucie and Annie Lennox (both of which I've had downloaded for a while, but haven't listened to yet, so don't expect an opinion just yet) there was one sitting there with Robert Plant (front man of Led Zepplin) and one miss Alison Krauss (bluegrass icon, if you're not familiar...and you better believe I am)



I was really surprised. A duet album? Really!? With these two?

While I was scanning the back cover the name T Bone Burnett also leaped out at me (Noteworthy mention: he also produced Brandi Carlile's album "The Story", which I highly recommend) and he plays guitar on 10 of the 13 tracks on this album, as well as producing.

I decided immediately that I had to hear this. So as soon as I got home I found it, and it was in my clutches within a waiting period of about 15 minutes (You're impressed, aren't you. I admit, I was too).

As unlikely as the pairing is, it works. REALLY REALLY WELL. I thought for sure that it would be more like a bluegrass effort, or you know old style country, with Plant adding his rock tinged vocals.

But it's surprising in that it doesn't sound like Led Zepplin rock OR anything blue-grassy. I've never heard Alison Krauss sound anything like she does on this record. It's amazing. It has a very 70's-ish vibe to it, but other than that I can't really place it into a category. Instead of leaning one way or the other towards either artists sound, it's like together they created a new one.

The songs are familiar — covers of Tom Waits, the Everly Brothers, Sam Phillips and more, including one by Jimmy Page/Robert Plant. I've listened to "Polly Come Home" at least five times today. You can preview the entire recording on the album's website:

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will be featured guests on NPR's World Café Live on Nov. 22 between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. ET. No word yet on a tour, but if Plant and Krauss come to town, I'll be there.

If you wanna watch the EPK (that's industry talk for Electronic Press Kit) or in other words a bit about the making of, etc., or even just listen to Plant's british accent in contrast with Krauss's soft southern drawl, and hear snippets of the songs in the background, check it out here.




I'm already in love with this album.

My Space
My Tube
My Demo Reel