Robert Plant’s New Year Resolution? To improve his driving:

“I park my car by touch, using the wheels as a guide to when I’ve hit the kerb.”

Writer Stephen Humphries has compiled an interesting list of his favorite albums of the decade. He lists Robert Plant’s Dreamland, Mighty Rearranger, and Raising Sand (with Alison Krauss) as ones he would rescue first in case of fire.

Also making his list are Justin Adams, Tinariwen and Goldfrapp (Charlie Jones gig post Plant).

Enjoy the list

Rolling Stone has released their list of 100 Best Albums of the Decade. The list was compiled by polling musicians and industry folks and then tallying the result. Raising Sand came in at number 55 on the list.

On the magazine’s list of 100 Best Songs, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss show up at number 79 with “Gone Gone Gone”.

Country Music blog The 9513 is running a countdown of what they consider to be the top 100 country albums of the decade. Raising Sand comes in at number 27. Alison Krauss and Union Station also make the list at number 26 with “Lonely Runs Both Ways” from 2004.

Of Raising Sand, Sam Gazdziak writes:

The combination of Led Zeppelin’s front man with one of bluegrass’ most recognized names seemed strange, but Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, along with producer T-Bone Burnett, made it a GRAMMY-winning, platinum-selling success. The album, a collection of covers from the likes of Townes Van Zandt, The Everly Brothers and Gene Clark, featured minimal, moody instrumentation that took both artists out of their respective comfort zones. The album reached #2 on both the Billboard Country charts and the Top 200 charts. Along with its six GRAMMYs, Raising Sand made Plant one of the unlikeliest recipients of a CMA award.

Country Universe puts Raising Sand at number 26 on their list of top 100 albums of the decade. They comment:

Alison Krauss and Led Zeppelin’s front man, Robert Plant, are surely an unlikely duo. It turns out, however, that they managed to make one of the most intriguing duets projects of the decade. With vocal styles that are on opposite ends of the spectrum, they find a way to meld together to create an easy harmony that causes the listener to forget their vocal dissimilarities. Moreover, T Bone Burnett’s slow burning productions perfectly compliment this diverse set of songs to make it a legitimately cohesive record.

Recommended Tracks: “Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us”, “Please Read the Letter”, “Through the Morning, Through the Night”

Several artists, including Robert Plant, Buddy Miller, Elvis Costello and others have donated handwritten song lyrics to be auctioned in a fundraiser for the Americana Music Association. Robert has donated handwritten lyrics for “Please Read The Letter”. The lyrics are signed and dated December 2, 2009.

View the Auction

Atlantic Records has released “Atlantic Records: The Time Capsule“, a deluxe boxed set that covers the history of Atlantic’s first 62 years. The numbered set comes packaged in a metallic box. Nine CDs contain 165 tracks from Atlantic’s best artists, including Robert Plant. Also in the set is the DVD “The House that Ahmet Built” which includes Robert Plant and other Atlantic artists talking about their time at the label. In addition to the music and DVD, “Time Capsule” also contains a full color book with more than 200 never before seen photos, and exclusive quotes and stories from leading characters in the Atlantic Records story.

Compiled by a small group of passionate Atlantic Staffers, the material from the set is gleaned from company archives, Ahmet Ertegun’s personal papers, and the work of staff photographers. The set sells for around $175, just in time for holiday giving.

Time Capsule Official Site