Ted_Perry's Blog

Inspired by the actions of the state legislature last week, I too went out and spent money I didn't have for something I really didn't need. In my case, it was more music.

I read some good reviews of the new Alison Krauss/Robert Plant CD called "Raising Sand". I love Alison Krauss. If she put out an album in which she just covered WHAM songs, I'd still probably buy it because of her voice.  She could rent herself out as a lullabye singer and I'd dip into my 401K plan to get a good night's sleep.

I was never a huge Led Zeppelin fan mostly because I never felt like smoking pot before putting an album on. (Settle down Zep-heads, I'm just teasing.)

Ok, here's the deal on "Raising Sand". I didn't love it. In fact, I barely like it. Krauss and Plant sound fantastic and they play off each other well. The problem is I didn't care for the song selection or the music--and that I blame on T-Bone Burnett who produced it.

But I have much better things to say about another Alison Krauss release: It's called "A Hundred Miles or More" and it's sort of a 'best of' album. This one really features her brilliant pipes and her ability to tell a story thru a song. It's just lovely.  There are also some heart-breakingly good duets with James Taylor, Brad Paisley and John Waite. I'd get this album if I were you, it's a great listen.

Speaking of great listens.....

It took me waaaaayyyyyy too long to get exposed to the genius of Johnny Cash and I'm ashamed to admit it took even longer to get hooked on Willie Nelson. "The Essential" is a collection of Willie songs that you expect ("Mammas Don't Let Your Babies...On the Road Again"..etc) but it also has some great covers of classics (Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and Ray Charles' "Georgia on my Mind") and some great duets with Emmylou Harris and Waylon Jennings).

I never gave Willie much credit. I always thought of him as sort of a punch line for jokes about back taxes and excessive marijuana smoking. I was so wrong.  If a campfire could sing, it'd sound like Willie and I meant that as a compliment. There's a smoky warmth in his throat that draws you in. I understand-finally-why he's such a hit with people who've seen a thing or two in life.