Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation - Mighty Rearranger

Genre rock Publisher Sanctuary Records External Links Robert Plant Sanctuary Records

There's something to be said about living in the past, sometimes the past is a better fit for some people than the here and now is. Yes, it's often a good thing to watch an ever-changing artist or band evolve over the years. Without experimentation and risk, we wouldn't have such captivating albums as Kid A, Adore, or Sandinista. On the other hand, experimentation has also unleashed its fair share of crap upon our ears. How often do even the most ardent Clash supporters pull out Cut the Crap? And the less said about Dee Dee Ramone's whole "hip-hop career," the better. We want to see Dee Dee up there thrashing through "Beat on the Brat", not dropping rhymes over an 808.

Lucky for us, Robert Plant is one of those artists who is quite aware of his proper time and place and is comfortable in keeping his output firmly entrenched in what he knows and does best. He isn't breaking any exciting new ground, but he hasn't exactly been dragging his name in the mud with embarrassing attempts at current trends. There may have been some experimentation with new-wave pop and Motown soul in the early part of the eighties, but at least we never had to watch Plant slum with Puff Daddy in a video involving a radioactive lizard. He built a legendary career by successfully melding hard rock with blues roots and world music rhythms, and now has the sense not to stray very far from that.

This very attitude is what makes his latest offering, Mighty Rearranger, a decent listen - but there are a few major flaws that keep it from becoming a truly memorable album. Plant plays to his strengths quite well on tunes like "The Enchanter" and "Takamba," melding his usual driving rock with middle-Eastern inspiration and bluesy stomps. His supporting musicians, The Sweet Sensation, ably back him up with solid instrumental prowess - most notably drummer Clive Deamer, who more than once channels the power of John Bonham if not the flair. Plant keeps his concessions to modern music mercifully subtle and well-placed, whether it's the hip-hop backing beat in first single "Shine It All Around" or the computer processed tribal drumming in "Somebody Knocking." Such touches settle nicely in the songs without overpowering them, allowing for a slightly more modern feel to the record.

This is all well and good for the first listen or if you have this spinning as background music, but closer attention starts to reveal the significant flaws that weigh the album down. The first thing that pops up is that Plant is not just sticking close to his roots and influences, he's downright stealing melodies from them. It's forgivable when you first notice that his Led Zeppelin IV sounding ballad "All the King's Horses" blatantly nicks from "Hey Jude," but downright annoying when it sinks in that "Dancing in Heaven" is little more than a lazy pairing of another Beatles' classic, "Rain," and Plant's own "All My Love."

Another major stumbling block here is the painfully lackluster lyrics. His mystical mumblings and religious references may once have been exciting and groundbreaking back in 1972, but in 2005 they come across as lazy and trite by the time you hit the fourth or fifth track about some mystical muse. However, seeing as how these lyrics haven't changed all that much since the earliest days of Zeppelin, it's a little hard to fault him for them now.

After all, people listening to a Robert Plant album aren't likely to be looking for deep lyrical introspection - they are just hoping to hear a former master of hard rock do his thing. And for a fifty-seven year old man well into his fourth decade making music, he rocks pretty damn hard. If you are willing or able to look past some of the monotony of subject matter and lack of original ideas, you may just get some enjoyment out of hearing a legendary vocalist backed up by a group of talented session players. Just be thankful that Plant's not trying to pair with Daddy Yankee on a reggaeton remix of "Whole Lotta Love," there's definitely something comforting about living in the past.