Mighty Rearranger [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

Robert Plant, Robert Plant & the Strange Sensation | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Extra tracks
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B000HWZ5XI
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,261 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Another Tribe

2. Shine It All Around

3. Freedom Fries

4. Tin Pan Valley

5. All The Kings Horses

6. The Enchanter

7. Takamba

8. Dancing In Heaven

9. Somebody Knocking

10. Let The Four Winds Blow

11. Mighty Rearranger

12. Brother Ray

13. Red, White And Blue

14. All The Money In The World

15. Shine It All Around

16. Tin Pan Valley

17. The Enchanter

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the weeks leading up to this album's release, Robert Plant was the unlikely hit at the South By Southwest music festival, delivering such a scorching set with his band the Strange Sensation rockers a quarter of his age simply got back on their planes and went home without playing a note. This can most likely be attributed to the fact that, unlike most his classic rock peers, Plant has rarely settled since moving on from the Led Zeppelin behemoth. Over the course of eight solo albums, he's experimented with doo-wop, synth-pop and even drum'n' bass. But it's only at 56 that the Golden God is hitting his stride. On "Tin Pan Valley," he sings, "My peers may flirt with cabaret/ Some fake the rebel yell/ Me, I'm moving up higher ground/ I must escape their hell." Mighty Rearranger draws out the best qualities of his otherworldly voice, surrounding it with rich Middle Eastern textures, soft blues accents and gorgeous psychedelic swooshes. It's in keeping with the spirit of 2002's exotic and lush Dreamland, only it sounds more refined. The quiet bits are quieter and the loud bits are timely reminders that Plant was once a man possessed by a dozen dead wolverines. He's not kidding when on "Shine It All Around," he sings, "These are the days of my life/ Bright, strong and golden." --Aidin Vaziri

Product Description

Hitting #6, 2005's MIGHTY REARRANGER, drew widespread accolades and showcased Plant fully in command of his venerable powers--the London Observer raved, "Plant's best showing since Physical Graffiti in 1975." Stellar tracks include "Another Tribe," "Shine It All Around" and "The Enchanter." Five bonus rarities include remixes of "Tin Pan Valley" and "Shine It All Around."

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I' for one, "LIKE THIS!", May 11, 2005

By 

Music Enthusiast "Mark" (Glendale, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mighty Rearranger (Audio CD)

This is simply a fine album. Reflects the wisdom of a 56 year old mega rock star who's seen it all, done it all and has been surrounded by the best; coupled with the young raw talent of today. Unlike albums like Page/Plant, "Walking towards Clarksdale", where there is basically guitar/bass & drums, Plant has always, and continues to expand all horizons with jazz, techno, and instruments and beats from around the world. All of the above factors come together on Mighty Rearranger. What's different here, is Plant really speaks his mind about world affairs, as opposed to singing about lemons, shaking down nightgowns, and hearing the back door slam. He started the rant about world issues in the last song in Fate of Nations, but really ran with that baton with Mighty Rearranger. In fact, "Freedom Fries" could have been written by Eddie Vedder or Bob Dylan.

The sound mix is incredible. You are going to get a great soundstage effect on even a modest system. Go to a high-end stereo store, and have them play "Somebody Knocking". You feel like you are sitting across a 40 foot wide stage.

The whole album flows nicely. You can hear from afar as background, as well as enjoy as a listening centerpiece. Play it at a party! Here are the songs, blow-by-blow:

Another Tribe blew me away. I heard the album for the 1st time using headphones and I think I played this song 10 or 12 times before letting it roll to Shine it all around. Opens with them banging on a Bendir(Moroccan drum) to the beat of the opening of Zep's Rock n Roll, and with acoustic guitars, clever techno effects, and a waltz-like orchestra-like effect, I was completely living outside my body. Pure entertainment; mission accomplished! Subtly, the bass-line seems like a sped up version of the line used during the bow-solo in the studio version of Dazed n Confused.

Shine it all around has a Bonham type of drum beat with a murky bass line. A typical Plant-solo rocker. A perfect single for the album, also the one most unlike the others.

Freedom Fries is a venomous attack on the situation in the middle east. Musically, they're attacking the Bendir to an off-beat guitar. As one reviewer put it, you'd need 3 legs to dance to this beat. The song is sung in a similar fashion as Tall Cool One, or the song that opens the Manic Nirvana album.

Tin Pan Valley is Plant's introspection and statement about staying young in his profession. Musically, like a cross between Pearl Jam's Faithfull (slow part) with The Who's keyboards from Eminence Front while Plant whispers along. Then the song explodes in the climax like the Wanton Song on steroids. Should silence all the people maintaining Robert's lost his voice.

All the Kings horses is a cross between Song to the Siren(Dreamland) and Going to Calif(Zep IV).

The Enchanter is an album highlight. Like a Pink Floyd song in many respects. So many things going on here. John Baggot's keys are a highlight. When the solo hits, the speakers all but jump off the ground. Seems like you hear something new during each listen. In the outtro, play it loud and on good speakers. The pounding bass is at such a low frequency, you hear things in the house/car shaking as opposed to hearing the actual bass.

Takamba is a rocker, plain and simple. This attack on Blair has shades of Black Dog and Nobody's Fault but mine. This song could have easily fit onto Zep's Presence album.

Dancing in Heaven is a soothing listen. Similar to an acoustic version to Dancing Days.

Somebody Knocking is classic. Using a myriad of Moroccan and Malaian instruments, mixed very well, has Plant singing his heart out like southern blues. Again, a classic experience on very high-end audio equipment.

Let the Four winds blow is a rocker and features the rhythm section. The drum/bass is punchy like a heavyweight on the large hanging bag.

Mighty Rearranger reminds me of early, pre-Machine Head Deep Purple. The beat reminds me of a kid skipping down the sidewalk and the guitar riff is vaguely reminiscent of How Many More Times(Zep 1). Includes Honky-Tonk piano and Harmonica.

Brother Ray is about a minute of chanting; a small tribute to Ray Charles. Then 16 seconds of silence pass, and the hidden track is a 7 minute techno remix of Shine it all around. Not even vaguely detectable as originating from Shine it all around; but is fun nevertheless.

In summary, this is a great album for anyone into good rock n roll. It reflects talent, wisdom and the openness to experiment with non traditional instruments, and incorporate them into good rock songs to make them better. I strongly recommend this album.

77 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OK there is such thing as a 56 year old rock star., May 10, 2005

By 

William Miller (Ocala, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mighty Rearranger (Audio CD)

I have suggested in this very forum that it is mystifying to me that people will fork over huge sums of hard earned money to see a middle aged rock "star" whose last relevant music was decades old (hello Mick Jagger, how ya doin' Rod Stewart?). That sentiment certainly does not apply to Robert Plant. He has never released a truly bad album and this one ranks with his best. There is not a bum track on this disc, and "Tin Pan Valley" alone is worth the price of admission.

While there are other 60's and 70's heroes of mine who have aged gracefully (see e.g. Van Morrison), only Neil Young comes to mind as being able to rock as convincingly thirty plus years into a career. Here's to another decade of great music from arguably the best rock and roll voice of them all.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Past, Plant, Future, May 22, 2005

By 

doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Mighty Rearranger (Audio CD)

While his contemporaries are playing the oldies circuit and imitating their 25 year-old selves to sparse audiences that are doing the same, Robert Plant is still looking forward and taking chances. Robert is no longer trying to avoid his Zep past, like he was on his first few solo albums, and instead he is now applying his past accomplishments toward the advancement of his new music. The key point about this album is that Robert has once again allied himself with a talented young band, The Strange Sensation this time around, and the youngsters whip up a fascinating mixture of new age, worldbeat, and mature rock that is the perfect compliment to Robert's sublime voice and mystical lyrics. These guys manage to make a completely run-of-the-mill grunge riff sound exotic in "Shine It All Around," and deliver more surprises like desert-fried delta blues in "Somebody Knocking" and New Orleans R&B in "Mighty Rearranger." Other intriguing tracks like "Tin Pan Valley" and "Dancing in Heaven" really feel like believable modern updates of the folkier passages from the third through fifth Zeppelin records, and even the obligatory techno remix hidden at the end of the album somehow manages to mix Robert's past and future. All guys in their mid-fifties should be this full of wonder and ambition. [~doomsdayer520~]