Review: Robert Plant Returns With Folky Album ‘Saving Grace’ With Suzi Dian – Another Rootsy Gem

Robert Plant has returned with his first solo album since 2017’s Carry Fire, this time with a new backing band Saving Grace (whose name also doubles as the album title), a band he’s been touring/playing with since 2019. Of course, in the interim we saw him reconnect with Alison Krauss for 2021’s Raise The Roof. I’ve been a fan of Plant’s solo work since his debut Pictures At Eleven that came out when I was in high school after the demise of Zeppelin’s drummer John Bonham and the dissolution of Led Zeppelin. With this laid back rootsy album it’s clear that Plant could care less about anybody clamoring for a Zeppelin reunion. That’s one of the things I’ve always respected about Plant, he follows his muse wherever it takes him. He’s a little like Ozzy, not soundwise, but no matter who he works with the results are always pretty stellar and this album is no exception. Some albums are better than others, but there isn’t really a bad album in his solo catalog. Well, Shaken N’ Stirred wasn’t my cup of tea but it had some great moments.

While Plant steadfastly ignores pleas for him to reunite with his original band, it has seemed like a Zeppelin-esque year here at B&V. We of course celebrated the 50th anniversary of their landmark 1975 old school, double-album Physical Graffiti…we do so love our double albums here.  The band itself celebrated the anniversary with the release of the excellent Live EP with four killer live tracks from the album. Of course earlier this year the fabulous documentary Becoming Led Zeppelin about the band’s formative years hit theaters. With all of that going on Jimmy Page celebrated the 25th anniversary of his collaboration with the Black Crowes, Live At The Greek, that saw the band play a bunch of Zeppelin covers with Page. It may be forty-five years since they disbanded but they have weighed heavy on my mind this year…and now we get a brand new Plant solo record!

I kept seeing concert announcements over the last several years on social media for Plant shows with Saving Grace but didn’t know much about them. Apparently Plant met banjo player Matt Worley in his local pub. I don’t know if that’s true, but what a bit of good fortune for the banjo player. “Honey, guess who I met down at the pub tonight…and he wants to form a band!” That’s a B&V inspired origin story if I ever heard one, but I digress. They decided to pull together a “collective” of musicians to play folk standards and old, traditional blues tunes. They rounded out the line up with Suzi Dian, who gets billing on the LP, she sings and plays accordion. Plant has been enamored with having someone to harmonize with since his first album with Krauss, 2007’s Raising Sand. He’s done two albums with Krauss and one with a group named after his first band with Bonham, Band Of Joy, which featured the harmony vocals of Patti Griffin. Plant’s voice, which is already remarkable, paired with a female singer is an amazing thing to behold, no matter who the female singer is. They rounded out the lineup for Saving Grace with Dian’s husband Oil Jefferson on drums, Tony Kelsey on guitar, Barney Morse-Brown on cello. Clearly with all these acoustic instruments you should be thinking “Gallows Pole” and not “The Immigrant Song,” if you follow my thought process.

I really like this album although it’s not going to scratch any Zeppelin itch you’re having. It was heralded by the first single “Everybody’s Song,” a cover of a band called Low. I’ve posted about it already, but it a phenomenal track. This album, like 2002’s Dreamland consists of all cover songs. They cover tracks from Blind Willie Johnson to Memphis Minnie to Moby Grape. The album starts off with three great songs. They kick off with “Chevrolet,” which yes, I’ve already added to my Playlist: Songs About Cars. The basic elements of the album are laid out – Plant’s vocal dominates, Dian harmonizes over hushed drums and acoustic guitars and yes, a banjo. “I’m gonna buy you a Chevrolet, Just do somethin’ for you now…” Suzi Dian may not be Alison Krauss but she and Plant sound great together. “As I Roved Out,” is an over six minute clinic on harmonizing. This might be my favorite track on the album. The muted instruments really create some dramatic settings for Plant and Dian to sing over. Towards the end of the track, the music mostly falls away and we’re left with just Plant & Dian’s vocals and it’s stunningly beautiful. Another absolute favorite of mine was the third track, “It’s A Beautiful Day Today” that is as sweet and pretty a song as the title would imply. It’s a Moby Grape cover.

Now, this band is described as a “collective” in some of the press I’ve read, so be forewarned that Plant cedes lead vocals to both Dian (on 2 tracks) and Matt Worley on one track. Worley sings on the creeping blues of “Soul Of A Man,” which sees Plant blow a little harmonica. And even though Worley is singing lead, Plant and Dian do harmonies as well. Worley does a nice job with the track, but when Robert Plant is in the band… Dian does most the lead on the jaunty “Higher Rock.” Although Plant does sing a verse and of course harmonizes with her as well. I’m not a big gospel fan, but I like this song, Dian acquits herself well. Dian also takes the lead on “Too Far From You.” These are not bad tracks, but if you’re expecting Plant on every track, you should be prepared for these three tracks with different lead vocalists. Plant’s presence is never far away, no matter whose at the mic.

Of the rest, there’s some pretty amazing stuff here. “Ticket Taker” was a track from a band called the Low Anthem, who I’ve never heard of. It’s an absolute knockout of a song. Plant/Dian harmonize over gentle acoustic guitar. It gives off real 60s coffee house vibes as does the next track, “Never Will I Marry.” It’s as folk music as these guys get. It’s practically acapella. They end the album with the old traditional track, “Gospel Plow.”

Plant always had roots in folk music, it’s one of the reasons Page felt confident to go from hard rocking anthems to some of the quieter stuff on say, Led Zeppelin III. I really like how he indulges that love of folk/traditional blues/roots music here. I wonder if, like Dreamland, he’ll follow up with an album of originals that he and Saving Grace put together. As far as I’m concerned, Plant could sing excerpts from the local phone book and I’d listen… if we still had phone books? I’ll take whatever new music this legendary singer wants to put out. Whenever he follows his muse, he really puts a lot of passion into it and this album is a good example of that.

This has quickly become one of my favorite albums of the year. Check it out soon… this is perfect late night, sitting on the patio watching the sun fade kinda music… perhaps with a tumbler of full of your favorite libation…

Cheers!