'Joy' in the eye of the beholder

Fans of 2007’s “Raising Sand” have been waiting anxiously for whatever Robert Plant would pull out of his sleeve next.

Die-hard Led-heads, on the other hand, have been waiting for him to ditch the solo act and head out on the reunion road.

The wait is over with Plant’s new solo album, “Band of Joy,” which continues Plant’s exploration of bluegrass and acoustic-style covers and effectively squelches hopes that he’ll return to rock ’n’ roll anytime soon.

The album kicks off with a catchy groove in “Angel Dance,” which features banjo, mandolin and perfect sliding vocals. Other upbeat numbers include “Central Two-O-Nine” and “You Can’t Buy My Love.”

The rest of the album ranges from gospel to folk, from dark and spooky to soft and pretty.

If there’s a low point, it’s “Falling in Love Again,” a 1950s-style love song that doesn’t do Plant’s voice justice. “Harm’s Swift Way” provides a high point, with a sweeping, nostalgic tone and strong presence.

Overall, it’s a solid, haunting album that continues to push Plant’s boundaries as an artist — if you’re into that kind of thing.