Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - 'Raising Sand'

On Raising Sand, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss delve into both artists' genres, while also experimenting with entirely new ground. Bluegrass singer/songwriter/producer/fiddler extraordinaire (and 26-time Grammy winner) Krauss would probably not be the first person I'd think to team up with Led Zeppelin frontman Plant, but then again, Krauss has become quite the master collaborator. T Bone Burnett produces.

Really, what else could one expect from a collaboration between a bluegrass prodigy and a rock god, other than one of the best records of the year. Both Plant and Krauss are known for being envelope-pushing innovators in their respective fields, so it's no wonder that they managed to develop a fairly new sound on Raising Sand.

From the first notes of "Rich Woman" (purchase/download the groove is set and you know this record is going to knock your socks off. Alternating roles on lead vocals, the pair light into a collaboration that marries bluegrass and groovy rock with all manner of other elements, including the ethereal and the downright folky.

With T Bone Burnett at the helm, it's no wonder that every song contains the artistic integrity of a well-written novel.

"Gone Gone Gone" (purchase/download) is Elvis-style rockabilly, driven by a sweet, bouncy groove from the upright bass, contrasted with a growly electric guitar riff. Plant and Krauss' voices work together perfectly here. "Trampled Rose" (purcahse/download) sees Krauss on the lead vocals, backed by a very raw acoustic guitar track and a very atmospheric, new agey arrangement. This gives way to a quintessentially Plant-esque "Fortune Teller" (purchase/download), whose strongest asset is the clapping and "ah-ing" from Krauss in the background.

"Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" (purchase/download) is a catchy folk-rock tune where Krauss shows off the bluesy side of her voice and is backed by a very 70s-style rock groove. "Your Long Journey" (purchase/download) is a little more quintessential Krauss, with lovely harmonies and a near-gospel narrative about losing love.

Raising Sand is an excellent album full of fabulously whimsical artistic experimentation. The strongest track is, by far, "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us" (purchase/download), with its hints of tango and its cool, inflective rhythms.

What makes the record so great is that both artists stay true to their own genres while also meeting somewhere in the middle to explore entirely new areas of their respective musical talents. It works finely to turn this unexpected, somewhat strange collaboration into a real gift of an album. Easily one of the best records of the year.