Time (The Revelator)

I had never heard of Gillian Welch before thi sprang up in my playlist. My appreciation for country, Americana, bluegras and such is a little limited, due to both a lack of knowledge and a wariness based on prominence of the genres' more embarrassing examples. So, I hope you understand that I began playing this album with open-mindedness, but with a dash of trepidation. Within a minute the album had struck me with a haymaker, mocking me for my hesitancy. This album is not only brilliant, it's obviously, mathematically brilliant. I try not to use hyperbole, but I am struggling to describe this album without resorting to such. Both unadorned and luxurious, this is the result of exquisite care taken with both art and craft. If you don't appreciate this faultless yet human treasure, then you should have a good long talk with yourelf.

It’s Been a long time that I heard an album of which I loved every song on the first listen - wonderful

I went back and gave it another two listens that day.

An unexpected delight. Sparse, but doesn't really need much. Feels like am intimate back porch jam. Blends bluegrass, country, and folk expertly. Vocally reminds me of Bonnie Raitt. Didn't expect to give this a 5, but here we are. Favorite tracks: "April the 14th", "Elvis Presley Blues", "Everything Is Free"

2 of 5 (10/5/21) When people ask me what it was like to be part of the Nashville music scene, they're hoping to hear about a vibrant, exciting community creating innovative and unique new musical offerings for the world to hear. "What's it like to see a songwriter set at the legendary Blue Bird Cafe?" they ask, wide eyed and eager. Well, 90% of it sounds exactly like this. Generic, country-adjacent, sad-sack, wanna-be-crooner, singer-songwriter noise. Boring and samey. God forbid you be an actually exceptional female singer-songwriter in Nashville. It's nearly impossible to rise above the noise of all of the girl-and-guitar acts glutting the stages, bars, and coffee houses of Nashville, TN. The main reason this didn't get a 1-star review is because the track "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" is excellent and completely different from the rest of the album. And no wonder. It's recorded live at The Ryman and produced by T-Bone Burnett who's exceptionally good at what he does. If the whole album had followed the lead of this one track, this review would have been significantly different. Sadly, for everyone who has to listen to this album, it doesn't and this track stands alone, an island in a sea of mediocrity.

A mighty achievement in the field of boredom.

One of the best albums all time--enough said, but I'll say more. The marriage of poetic lyrics and tasteful, subtle instrumentation in this album is unlike anything I've ever heard. Most songs are just 2 instruments, and yet each is a distinct arrangement completely articulated around the story painted by the words. The experience of this album is akin to sitting in a room with a master painter or other artisan and watching a masterpiece come to life quietly and softly before you.

Everything modern Americana should be

Wonderful album. It was nice to listen to it again, and it was as beautiful as I remembered it to be.

Had never heard of this before but how perfect is it?! Beautiful understated singing and melodies. A fantastic discovery

Such an instant crush on her. Incredible music

It wasn’t offensive to the ears or anything I just could not connect to it in any way

I bailed on this after about 3 songs. Not my thing at all. Not really a fan of singer songwriters, and I much prefer John The Revelator.

Fantastic! Great feel for period pieces. She's right up there with Allison Krause in her song writing. Loved this album and will listen to it many more times.

I bought this album when it was first released and I still find it amazing. Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings as a songwriting, singing, and guitar-playing duo are far, far too overlooked. Each one on their own is phenomenal; together, I really just love what they do on so many levels. My first real exposure to them as a duo was when I saw the concert film, 'Down From The Mountain', which was strung together from performances at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, USA, by musicians who contributed to the amazing soundtrack from 'O, Brother, Where Art Thou?' Ms. Welch and Mr. Rawlings did a live performance of 'I Want To Sing That Rock And Roll' that went straight and deep into my heart and has never left me. It's stunning. And now I get to re-listen to the whole darn album thanks to this project. Even one listen to the opening track, 'Revelator', sets me on the journey on another plane. Thank you.

An extremely lovely album.

Awesome.

Love her albums … The songs keep giving

Really love this.

Spare and haunting in a way that leaves the listener oddly fulfilled. Just gorgeous.

This album by Gillian Welch is a meandering contemplative blend of folk and bluegrass. The music itself it rather sparse which draws attention to and highlights the vocals. The album is pervaded with a sense of melancholic reflection that leaves the listener feeling the weight of the lyrics. There is an earnestness to this album which really draws me and I have found myself re-listening to it.

I’ve never been a fan of this type of music either. I felt really haunted listening to it though, it was full of pain even when the lyrical content was reflecting something innocuous or positive. Too slow, too “artsy” for my taste but fuck if I didn’t *feel* something

This sounds pretty, but as I learned earlier that Steve Albini died last night this record has passed by as attractive noise. Am very sad and defaulting this to three.

“Time (The Revelator)” by Gillian Welch (2001) Maintaining the bare essentials of folk, this album moves the serious listener beyond Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, and Judy Collins into the twenty first century. And it makes the serious folk fan wish that time would not only reveal, but stop, dammit. Welch’s singing and songwriting are respectable exemplars of the genre, sometimes (“Revelator”and “April the 14th, Pt. 1”) bringing to mind David Crosby’s more thoughtful work. But the performances are under-rehearsed. Nearly every track could have used at least one more take. Lots of clunkers in there. Lyrics are neither deep nor clever, but are suitably poetic, with plenty of intriguing images and reverie. David Rawlings’ support on guitar is shaky, with more than a few flubs in his all too improvisational accompaniment. But his backing vocals are well suited to Welch’s compositions, providing occasionally mesmerizing harmonies. Welch’s banjo playing (especially on “My First Lover”) is not particularly accomplished, although her banjo break in the unsubtly sarcastic live performance of “I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll” is outstanding. Really. “I Dream a Highway Back to You” is beautifully evocative, if you have the patience to sit through 14:39 of mournful reflection. Since I did, I paid the price in sadness. I need another cup of coffee. 2/5

Uninteresting in every way

There have been albums to come up here that I called boring. Typically folk, singer-songwriter affairs. Well, this record is more boring than any of those previous entries. This probably has appeal to those who like bluegrass or Americana, but I neither enjoy or relate to this music. If I could sum my opinion into one word, it would be - zzzzzzzz.

Phenomenon songwriting, musicianship, with intimate soulful vocals. I knew how good “Everything is Free Now” is, but turns out the whole album is gold

An amazing songwriter

I'm always concerned when it looks like country or folk as that can be particularly awful (although it can be great). Vaguely aware of the name, the book reminds me she was on that O Brother Where Art Thou bluegrass soundtrack which was lovely. Particularly 'Ill Fly Away', the track she did with Alison Krauss. Have to say I am loving this. The slower tracks, Revelator and April 14th, remind me somewhat of Red House Painters (latterly Sun Kil Moon), then there's a mix of upbeat bluegrass and good Americana (which is thin on the ground, imho) to ensure the mood doesn't sink too low. Perfectly pitched, beautiful music. The Revelator indeed.

Good

SO pleasant to listen to, it soothes me. I don't usually listen to music like this, but I felt like this album cast a spell on me that makes me want to return. Good American folk music makes me yearn for earlier American days. America used to have this whole mythos and majesty surrounding it. There was a unifying American spirit. Now, everything that once was sacred and beautiful has been destroyed in the name of progress. I'm not patriotic at all but the loss of such a sense of awe and majesty makes me mourn, in the same way Nietzsche mourned the "death of God". There's nothing inspiring to believe in anymore. All that's left to find meaning in is phony social justice and vapid consumer culture

Beautiful, timeless folk/country/bluegrass. Strong and heartfelt performances. I like it. The down side is that it's really not very original or creative. For an album released in 2001, this is all stuff that could have been recorded 50 or even 70 years earlier. There is nothing here you haven't heard before. Still, periodically people need to return to these kind of classic/roots sounds and this record does a great job delivering it.

Gillian Welch's third album, Time (The Revelator), finds the folk vocalist and musician shifting her attention from achingly beautiful mountain ballads to achingly beautiful pop/rock ballads. Regarding this album, Welch states: "As opposed to being little tiny folk songs or traditional songs, they're really tiny rock songs. They're just performed in this acoustic setting. In our heads we went electric without changing instruments." This philosophy is most evident in songs like "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" and "Elvis Presley Blues," with her longtime collaborator David Rawlings accompanying her on Louvin-esque high harmonies and vintage guitar. Fans of the duo's neo-old-timey sound will be happy to hear a few of their familiar, intimate dust bowl folk songs peering through the fence posts. The banjo-driven "My First Lover" could've been recorded on Alan Lomax's back porch, while the title track aches and moans along with the best of her two previous albums. Rawlings' production on the album remains warm and intimate throughout, capturing the subtleties of the acoustic instruments and earthy harmonies. Highlights include the passionate romp "Red Clay Halo," which includes the best elements of time-honored folk stylings and their newfound passion for rock & roll, and the hushed awe that captures the audience in the Ryman Auditorium during the live recording of "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll." Time (The Revelator) ends with an unprecedented 15-minute track called "I Dream a Highway," which drifts lazily through the album's final moments, sweetly dozing in the current like Huck and Jim's Mississippi River afternoons. Welch and Rawlings are at the top of their form and continue to make the best Americana recordings without resorting to drenching their albums in guest stars, but by writing and performing heartfelt songs that speak with a clear and undeniable honesty.

It's OK. I kept waiting for the tunes to really get going but they never did.

Gillian Welch was perfect for the O Brother soundtrack. Not my jam beyond this context.

Her voice is very soothing. Perhaps her voice being so fragile necessitates the music being scant. Keith Moon attacking the drum kit just wouldn't work. Regardless, Mr. Rawlings is very capable picking the 6 strings.  I don't really know her music except for the gospel song  "I'll Fly Away" which she sang as a  duet with Alison Krause on the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack.

Pleasant enough, a little too twangy for me. The last song lingered way too long. 14+ minutes of going nowhere slowly. Yawn.

I found this extremely boring

Just drifted right past me. I'm usually pretty receptive to this kind of thing, but the melodies were too slight and the instrumentation too basic, dare I say dirge-like. Nah

So there’s country, and there’s folk, and there is singer/songwriter. This is all three rolled into one. Not a fan.

What came first? Gillian Welch or Lilith Fair?

Unexpectedly good - took a bit to grow on me.

She should have tried harder at rock and roll if she wanted to sing it. Not a fan.

Jesus Christ, this was boring. So boring. My brain is so sluggish I can't even think of a better word for boring.

If you like country there are a couple tracks that are pretty good otherwise this isn’t something you must hear.

Not really my vibe

country cringe

Not my jam

It's country and I suffered through it.

Didn't enjoy.

so so dull

I liked the first song. That was all. Best track: Revelator Worst tracks: My First Lover, Dear Someone, Red Clay Halo, Elvis Presley Blues + all the rest.

Too slow for my tastes

This is how a country album should be done. A banjo, an acoustic and a great voice. An understated masterpiece. This is the kind of thing I wanted to find going through this list.

Cool sad folk vibe throughout. Never heard this album before but it felt super comfortable and familiar like I want to sing along. David Rawlings lead guitar is so nice. I was thinking at the end of the I want to sing that rock j roll solo wow what a great solo and then there was applause. IlDream a Highway is like the song that never ends. Such a vibe almost like trance inducing after the first 12 minutes

I really loved this, amazing how much of a vibe they can create with just guitar and vocals.

I didn't think I'd heard of Gillian Welch before going in to this (which turned out to be slightly wrong - I loved her contributions to the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack) but within the first 30 seconds I knew this was going to be a personal favorite. Appalachian folk meets slowcore? zomg yes! Will definitely be digging deeper into her discography. Fave tracks - "Revelator" and "Everything is Free" are both so good they bring tears to my eyes and goosebumps to my skin.

Gillian is incredible. Somehow she can sing about Elvis shakin his hips and both make me laugh but also feel super heavy and complex feelings about culture / the human experience / feeling grateful / etc. Extra bonus that she's BFFs with the D'Rawl Machine.

Much better than I expected it to be. I like this nitty-gritty American music, but I also can take only so much most of the time. Besides the excellent musicianship (and sparse arrangement), what really grabbed me was the sincerity of the lyrics and Welch's delivery. I listened to this one twice, back-to-back, and I'll return to it.

On another day, this mellow sound would have suited me better. But today, I would have preferred an upbeat track or two for the soundtrack to my walk. No matter, it was still very nice...and not an overrepresented artist or genre...

I was between a 4 and a 5 start on this and I'm deciding to go with 5. I love everything about this, it's so simple and pure with Gillian's voice and the guitar. While simple I don't get tired off the sound, this is an example of how music stripped down completely can hold an emotional punch like no other. I think this inspired a lot of the more modern folk/country that I really enjoy.

I love Gillian Welch and David Rawlings! great album. 5

I'm mad at myself. I love Americana and I've heard Gillian's name mentioned online in spaces which cater to my music taste. I love Joanna Newsom, Bill Callahan, Neko Case, Songs: Ohia, and just everything in this scene. I'm giving this 5 stars on the strength of the final sprawling track alone. The rest of the album is a warm bath that I'll soak in for years to come, but that final track has signalled both a new revelation and a sadness of passing and letting go on every listen so far.

I liked this quite a bit, although its downbeat style sort of hit me on a downbeat day and I struggled to enjoy it. This morning I played it while having a lazy morning in bed and found a connection. Beautiful!

How have I not heard her before ? This is right up my street. Folk/Americana magic.

4.5 rounded up. I like the somber tones of the music and the unique tones of the vocals.

Ahhhh. This is good.

Couldn't be lovelier.

Great folk album

Oh what a great album, love the storytelling and Welch has a great voice. Only thing about this album I really hate is the cover, just a bad picture to me

My favourite country album, along with Ingenue.

Very calming, deep album. Enjoyed it very much

To me this is a very pure natural album. Minimalist musically, but lyrical content that reads like literature. She has the voice to pull this off, which I dont think many artists would be able to without it sounding clumsy or cheesy. April 14 is a strange one. Apparently the wreck of the Titanic, Black Sunday (dustbowl), and the assassination of Lincoln all happened on 4/14. It's a bad day. Also interesting that this was a critically acclaimed product of Nashville in 2001. A lot has changed in 23 years.

Stunning and beguiling, Ms Welch is clearly a captivating artist and these songs are beautifully crafted. Elvis Presley Blues is a brilliant number, full of both humour and poignancy. Sadness and longing suffuses the album and is brilliantly captured.

Love it

this is a great album and it is going into my repeat rotation

Gillian Welch is an institution and an icon of the Americana/Folk genre.

This is just a gorgeous Bluegrass-ish album. Welch's voice is incredible -- and I love the arrangements here. Just quiet, pensive, and beautiful. Unexpected bangers: I Dream A Highway, Dear Someone, Red Clay Halo

good good folk, welch don't miss

"Everything is free now; that's what they say", begins "Time (The Revelator)"'s most streamed song, addressing the changing state of the music industry against the unceasing rise of consumerism and the Internet. But then comes the clincher: "we're gonna do it anyway; even if it doesn't pay." And so it goes. Whatever else this astounding record might be, it's also an ode to the beauty and power of music. It's remarkably intimate, and gently hypnotic. Gillian Welch and musical partner, David Rawlings, are the only players on the record, and together they create a galaxy of sound from the belly of a hollow old studio. Welch locks in the heartbeat of each song on either acoustic guitar or banjo, while adding the soul with her beautiful alto croon. Meanwhile, Rawlings adds body on tasteful, intricate lead guitar. For prime examples of his labyrinthine playing, listen to the climactic end of "Revelator", the sparse and spacious licks in "I Dream a Highway", or the live recording "I Want to Sing that Rock and Roll", where his blistering solo results in a jump-scare cheer. So what are the songs like? Sometimes they're playful, with bluegrass stylings ("My First Lover", "Red Clay Halo") and sometimes they're soothing (the gorgeous lullaby of "Dear Someone"). Sometimes they sound as ancient as music itself, to the point where self-aware contemporary touches (reference to The Steve Miller Band, Elvis's death, even the f-bomb in the lead track) catch me off-guard. And sometimes time collides all at once: "April 14th pt. 1" and "Ruination Day pt. 2" draw together the sinking of the Titanic, the Dust Bowl storm and Lincoln's assassination as events which happened on the same day in different years. It's epic in scope, as though all of America's past and present has eroded into a giant sand-timer, before coming out the other end in musical form. This is perhaps conveyed best of all in the closer: "I Dream a Highway". Each time I've listened to it, it's quietly held me paralysed in its grasp for fifteen minutes. It's light as a feather and unbearably dense at the same time, and makes me feel like I'm also dissolving into that stream of sand, as it stretches out into a black hole. Transcendent. So there we have it: in Gillian Welch's world, music is a gift to give away, a manifestation deep down in the soul, a highway slowly dreaming its way to all of us. I'm not quite sure how, or why, but I've been entranced enough to include all of this poetic nonsense in my review, and also to make it my first five-star country album. What a special work.

It’s fascinating how much you can do with just your voice and guitar

Simply gorgeous all the way through. So glad to have run into Gillian and this album today.

i love love this album, i grew up with it so that's probably why but i think all these songs are fantastic and her voice and the arrangement is just soooo evocative. it's so nostalgic and melancholic.... you will always be famous

I had never heard of this artist before yesterday. She has a beautiful voice that would be very difficult to not want to listen to. The album was so well done with each song easily flowing from one to the other. I added it to my library and will likely listen to it over and over. I highly recommend this one no matter what genre of music you prefer.

Gorgeous— everything is free is an all timer.

A truly great album from a truly great artist.

An American icon. A gift for all. A blessing personified. How fortunate I am to live during a time that I got to see Gillian Welch's career unfold. Someone gave me Revival right when it was released and I was hooked. Revisiting this well loved album after many years I was moved to tears by Everything is Free. I went back and played this song a second time and was simply gutted: And I'm gonna do it anyway Even if doesn't pay A woman of substance. Wholesome as fuck. Andre and I saw Gillian and Dave perform on South Street years ago. We even bumped into them getting out of their car as they headed into the venue. Our friend ran up and shook her hand. I stood on the side, mouth agape, kind of shaky from being so close to this angel's presence. The concert was hours of pure bliss: two guitars and harmonies, pure perfection.

This is terrific. I wasn't familiar with Gillian Welch before this, but this is extremely reminiscent of other Americana/Bluegrass artists I love like Lula Wiles - who were clearly inspired by Gillian themselves. Singer/Songwriter Americana like this isn't something I've explored deeply, and it's clearly a shame because artists like Gillian have influenced some of my favorites. I'm looking forward to exploring her discography more.

Great album, one I've enjoyed many times. The performances are fantastic. That close harmony between her and Rawlings is special. Also, I love his guitar solo on I Wanna Sing that Rock and Roll. I remember playing for my parents once, and they could not stand her singing, which shocked me. They both thought she was flat. I still don't quite understand that comment, but I thought it was interesting that they instantly had the same opinion.

a beautiful perfect album david rawlings guitar is transcendent!!

I’ve listened to this before on a top list. Multiple exposures solidifies the excellence.

Hadn’t heard this one but love many of her songs.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, absolute quality

Perfect singer songwriter acoustic album

Best country/ folk album I’ve probably ever heard

Fantastic, I could listen to this all day. The guitar style is my favourite - is it bluegrass or Appalachian? Either way, it's hauntingly beautiful.

Great album. Super pretty folk/Americana songs - 4.5 stars

Great album. Heard it years ago and it was better than I remember. Title track is my favorite. 4.5 stars

I’ve been on a bit of a folk/Americana kick lately so this hit the spot perfectly for me. What a lovely find.

I knew the name but never listened. Absolute banger of an album. Some great alt country. Have to explore more of her discography.