Band of Joy is the ninth solo studio album by the English rock singer Robert Plant and the first with his new backing group, the Band of Joy. It was released on 13 September 2010 in the UK and 14 September in the US.
Background In addition to the song "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down", which is the opening theme for the Starz television series Boss, the credits of BBC One's Luther for an episode aired on 16 July 2013 and the season two finale of the Syfy series Defiance, the album is notable for the song "Monkey". The song, originally by the band Low, is slowed down to a grinding, spooky gothic rock tempo and mood that is different from Low's version. It is arguably the least similar to other tracks on the album (except for "Satan"), which for the most part carry folk rock or progressive rock moods. Although it is not a staple at Plant's live performances, there have been instances where he has performed it.
The album debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart and at number three on the UK Albums Chart. The first single released from the album was "Angel Dance".
Critical reception
Band of Joy was received positively. Metacritic's aggregate score for the album is 80 out of 100,Metacritic, Critical Reviews for Band of Joy. Retrieved on 13 January 2011. indicating "generally favorable reviews". Rolling Stone, while only giving the album a three-and-a-half-star review, ranked it number eight on its list of the 30 Best Albums of 2010. Q magazine in its January 2011 edition ranked Band of Joy as the second best album of 2010, stating that, "free from having to imitate his 20-year-old self in Zeppelin, the sexagenarian sings to his strengths here, with Miller and Griffin his not-so secret weapons on an album that pinwheels between gentlemanly country-blues ("Cindy, I'll Marry You Some Day"), spooky lo-fi ("Silver Rider") and charming '60s pop ("You Can't Buy My Love")."
Awards The album was nominated for two Grammy Awards, including Best Americana Album and the song "Silver Rider" for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance. Frontman and vocalist Robert Plant was nominated for best British Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards 2011.The Brit awards 2011, Brits.co.uk, Retrieved 18 February 2011.
Track listing
Personnel Robert Plant – vocals, backing vocals (1, 2, 3, 5, 11), arrangements (9, 11, 12)
Band of Joy Darrell Scott – accordion, acoustic guitars, mandolin, octave mandolin, banjos, pedal steel guitar, lap steel guitar, backing vocals (1–4, 6, 7, 10, 11) Buddy Miller – electric guitars, baritone guitar, mando-guitar, 6-string bass, backing vocals (2, 3, 6), arrangements (9, 11, 12) Byron House – bass Marco Giovino – drums, percussion, backing vocals (3) Bekka Bramlett – backing vocals (1, 2) Patty Griffin – vocals, backing vocals (2–5, 8, 10, 11)
Production Buddy Miller – producer Robert Plant – producer, sleeve design Mike Poole – recording, mixing, editing, reconstructions Gordon Hammond – assistant engineer Tim Mitchell – recording assistant Ted Wheeler – studio assistant Jim DeMain – mastering at Yes Master (Nashville, Tennessee) Alex McCollough – mastering assistant Richard Evans – character audition, compilation and assembly Michael Wilson – photography Bill Curbishley – management Nicola Powell – management
Charts Weekly charts Chart (2010) PeakpositionAustralian Albums Chart"Robert Plant – Band Of Joy" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 13 August 2018.18Austrian Albums Chart21Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)6Belgian Albums Chart (Wallonia)10Canadian Albums Chart"Robert Plant Chart History". Billboard Canadian Albums. Retrieved 13 August 2018.7Danish Albums Chart16Dutch Albums Chart37Dutch Alternative Albums Chart6Finnish Albums Chart44French Albums Chart21European Top 100 Albums29German Albums Chart13Greek Albums Chart4Italian Albums Chart13New Zealand Albums Chart6Norwegian Albums Chart2Polish Albums Chart 14Scottish Albums Chart"Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 19–25 September 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2018.3Swedish Albums Chart6Swiss Albums Chart13UK Albums Chart"Robert Plant". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2018.3US Billboard 200"Robert Plant Chart History". Billboard 200. Retrieved 13 August 2018.5US Rock Albums Chart"Robert Plant Chart History". Billboard Top Rock Albums. Retrieved 13 August 2018.2
Year-end charts Chart (2010) RankEuropean Top 100 AlbumsEuropean Top Ten Albume 2010, Billboard.com. Retrieved August 2011100Swedish Albums Chart"Årslista Album – År 2010" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 13 August 2018.77UK Albums Chart"End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2010". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 August 2018.97
Certifications
References