Time (The Revelator)

Not sure about all the 1 star reviews, feels weird to really hate, what's basically stripped back singer songwriter folk/bluegrass. 1sts songs brilliant perhaps the rest is a little unambitious.

Much better than I expected. Pleasant sparse meandering melancholy. Rating: strong 7/10

This was somewhat more palatable when it leaned more closely into folk than country, and for what it's worth it's probably well performed, but my ears just do not agree with this sort of stuff whatsoever. It's my musical equivalent of being stuck on a bus with a crying baby. Also I really don't see what this contributes to the list that earlier country/folk offerings hadn't already expressed.

A phenomenally great album. It's hard to stand out in the crowd when you make music like this, and somehow Gillian Welch has done it.

Boring

Sort of like a less enjoyable Suzanne Vega, but not significantly so. 2/5

Mooi minimalistisch, nummers lijken af en toe teveel op elkaar

Solid bluegrass album. Doesn't seem to define or greatly influence the genre but a solid and subtle listen.

I’ve always heard that Gillian Welch is one of the best bluegrass musicians out there today, but I had never taken the time to listen to her music aside from her tracks on the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. Honestly, I’ll Fly Away is such a great song, so I have no idea why it has taken me this long to listen to anything else she has released and it’s a real shame because this album is amazing! The opening track has some of the best acoustic guitar playing I’ve heard. I love the dissonant, out of tune opening notes. The rest of the phrasing throughout reminds me that I am no where near this level of a guitar player. Absolutely wonderful singing that fits in perfectly with the guitar too. The second track introduces a simple and reserved banjo, but overall, the top notch singing and playing really doesn’t let up for the rest of the album. This album feels like a late summer campfire jam. One that’s taking place at the end of the night, embers burning low, after the party has wound down and everyone is feeling a bit melancholic and reflective. Adding this to my list of favourite discoveries on the list so far.

This is gonna sound silly but Gillian Welch doesn't sing with a vibrato and it really kinda killed the listening experience for me. Otherwise, the bluegrass moments were really good.

Way too boring

Relentless melancholy of the lonely life of the prairie

Malo

Folk with gospel and country vibes. Blech. Not for me.

Equal parts Country, folk, blues, and Americana. I adored this album, despite being completely unfamiliar with Welch. Will be looking to pick this one up on vinyl whenever I get the opportunity. This was right up my alley. 5/5

Excellent album. Lyrics like hangnails and sweet melodies. Bluegrass with a modern woman at the helm.

I'm really liking how minimal the album is.

chatice

Very nice change of pace.

Gillian Welch is undoubtedly talented. But while I get that this fits certain environments, I find it peaceful but boring. Also, most songs (especially the last track) could stand to be shorter.

Душевно и милл, но непонятно почему здесь.

I’m fine with country music - I’ve loved the Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash albums I’ve heard - but I guess I need it to have more pep. Also, ideally, murder. And no bluegrass. Sadly, there’s not a single peppy, murderous, un-bluegrassy song to be found here. Gillian Welch isn’t for me, but she’s good at what she does. Favorite song was “Dear Someone,“ which sounded like a lullaby. 2.5/5

When a personal fave comes up it's hard to properly evaluate. Iistened to this 25 years ago when it came out and still listen today.

I enjoyed it, it was an interesting mix of genres, both of which I'm fond of. Some of the songs seemed a little long but they all worked well. Would listen again!

Some good some bad. Pretty fine album

It’s maybe not the most exciting album but I really enjoyed it. Her voice was lovely and there were some really nice harmonies. The instrumentation was great, sparse but in a way that really worked for the songs. Just a very nice chill vibe. Fav song: Revelator Least fav: Ruination Day, Pt.2

Starts out with a great earworm but didn’t really like how it slowed down. Good country though. Can see songs from this being played over a travel scene in a movie. Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song - revelator Least fav- dear someone

Awesome intro song, thought I'd get more of this precisely composed stuff, but the following three songs are much simpler. Still pretty music, though. April the 14th Part 1 had a strong allure to me as well, but what's mind blowing right now to me is that I didn't notice I Dream A Highway was 15 minutes until I had a re-listen. She obviously had a talent with setting an atmosphere for songs, but it's written in stone after hearing such a long song not wear out its welcome, so smooth, sad, but warming.

So human. Come back for a reality check.

i was in the mood for something slow today and this delivered. rather than yeehaw-country vibes, this is more smoky appalachian mountains-country vibes, which really worked for me. listened to it twice and added it to my library.

A pleasant enough listen, but not particularly memorable. Decent American folk music, I guess.

Very similar but probably not superior to The Milk Carton Kids, which would be a better inclusion in my opinion. Still, quite liked it after April 14th part 1 onwards

This one really grew on me, spectral and sparse but also enchanting and a little psychedelic, really picked up from the Elvis song on and pulled off a 14mins closer.

Some beautiful music on this album. Enjoyed the opener and it also finishes strongly. The middle of the album is a bit generic and lets it down.

A lot of surprises recently, I could just live in some of these songs they are so nice

meh

Gillian done sung me the fuck to sleep

Really good and sleepy for me. 4 easy stars.

The opening title track is great - the rest is a bit mopey and filler-y but still the instrumentation and performances were very very good. I guess this is my kind of 'mopey'

Despite her voice and whatever talent she may have, and despite the songs and the music, she’s just another one of those artists I could easily do without listening to. I don’t know - after more than two years of following this project, I’m really starting to question the purpose of this list more and more; and it deeply bothers me to listen to so many albums that, in my very humble opinion, aren’t essential albums that anyone should hear before they die :-( And, to wrap things up, I have to say once again: country music really, REALLY isn't my thing :-(

Erste Track hät Hoffnige gmacht. Nachher aber virel generic Country :(

erstes lied isch ok. alles andere tönt gliich langwiilig. han agfange skippe

Really nice and peaceful, different sort of feminine than im used to.

Time (The Revelator) is an album that's fine but it's not one i have a whole lot to say about. This album gave me severe deja vu to an album i listened to earlier this month, that being Gram Parsons' Grievous Angel as they have a lot of things in common. They both mostly have fairly slow moving country songs, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have similar qualities in their vocals to Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris and they even have a live song mixed in there as well. This album was certainly a pleasant listen and there isn't too much i can complain about except for the fact that it doesn't have much going for it as it just feels like it's imitating other country records. Best Song: Elvis Presley Blues Worst Song: I Dream a Highway

Clever songwriting, crisp production and really clean bango plucking. I’m a little ashamed I hadn’t listened to Welch’s work previously but this was a fantastic folk album. Her partner David Rawlings deserves a nod for some fine guitar work and production as well. 4 stars

This would be 3.5 but the draconian system of ranking has tied my hands. It’s real nice, and I’m sure much more interesting in 2001 before the wave of minimalist, melancholic alt country.

Another familiar one that I haven't listened to straight through in ages. These songs are ridiculously good. "Everything is Free," the depressingly sharp Napster-critique that is relevant to all of us in gig economies serving the oligarchs. The epic "I Dream a Highway." Two songs about(ish) the assassination of Lincoln echoing through time. Elvis Presley. Classic folk tunes like "Red Clay Halo" and existential blues like "Revelator." Also, David Rawlings is such a brilliant emotive guitarist, and the recording shows off the tones he can get from his instrument. They're a phenomenal and unique duo. Lyrically profound and musically lovely. When this popped up I was a little surprised this was here instead of *Soul Journey* with its sunnier hit, "Look at Miss Ohio," that I think is know by more people and resonates easier with people's radio/playlist desires. But this album is definitely a monumental folk album, and it might be the greatest thing recorded in Nashville in the 2000s.

Listen again

Captivating in its acoustic simplicity also a record “out of time” could have been written and performed any time in the last 60 years or so

Eintönig irgendwann

Revelator - 87 My First Lover - 77 Dear Someone - 83 Red Clay Halo - 82 April The 14th Part 1 - 85 I Want To Sing That Rock And Roll - 87 Elvis Presley Blues - 74 Ruination Day Part 2 - 78 Everything Is Free - 81 I Dream A Highway - 93 Time (The Revelator) - 79

jerma...

Great artistry on this album.

Great album with some great instrumentation. Truly reminded me of Big Thief and Adrianne Lenker - i’m sure there’s some influence there

Hoo boy did I ever have trouble getting into Welch and Rawlings. The deliberately imitative vocal affect and instrumentation from these 2 carpetbaggers really, really, really was a tough sell for me. Hey, I’m a New Yorker/Englander musician myself, it would’ve never occurred to me to try on an Appalachian guise in a million years. But...after over 20 years...I finally got over myself and embraced Time, if not wholly, at least in part. I Dream a Highway is a masterwork.

Burde egentlig vært i min gate, men ble fryktelig kjedelig i lengden. Svak 3.

Okay

I really, really dislike folk music. However, I thought the April 14 song was very interesting.

Einfach nur langweilig! Lohnt nicht!

This was interesting and different from what I usually get. I loved the bookends but then the rest of the album sort of blended together for me

Probably could’ve died without hearing it but it was overall decent just long

Somehow "Time (The Revelator)" has passed me by until now. It is a quite delightful album: the quality of the song-writing and performances are fantastic throughout, complemented by a dry, sparse production that fits the music perfectly. It is a record out of time - its release would have fitted in extremely well in the late 1960s or early 1970s. A central element that immediately catches the ear is the wonderful guitar playing across the record, particularly the choice of dissonant chords here and there. By the time we get to the exceptional 'Elvis Presley Blues', there is another striking realisation - this album features a complete absence of drums or percussion. Instead, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings create the entire pulse, drive, and sense of rhythm using only their two acoustic guitars. While there are plenty of stand-out tracks on this record, 'Dear Someone' is a personal highlight: a ballad reminiscent of the classic Hank Williams style, rendered with simple, heartfelt charm. A quarter of a century after its release, this album feels even more detached from contemporary musical trends. Given the trajectory of modern popular music, it is hard to say whether it would be favourably received by younger generations of reviewers. Yet its timeless quality remains undeniable. Aside from the remarkable guitar work, the most arresting discovery here is Gillian Welch’s voice. It is sad, romantic, wistful, and quite beautiful - a voice that captures the quiet gravity of these songs and leaves a lasting impression. Five stars. 1 "Revelator" (4/5) 2 "My First Lover" (4/5) 3 "Dear Someone" (5/5) 4 "Red Clay Halo" (5/5) 5 "April the 14th Part 1" (5/5) 6 "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" (4/5) 7 "Elvis Presley Blues" (5/5) 8 "Ruination Day Part 2" (5/5) 9 "Everything Is Free" (5/5) 10 "I Dream a Highway" (5/5) Total - 47 Average - 4.7 429/1001 227/429 albums reviewed were new to me.

Good if you were on a horse crossing America in the 1800s and she was on the back with a guitar, but I'm not.

Liked it. Wasn't sure what to expect from this one, but I liked it.

Another album I wonder why it is here. There are 1,001 albums that sound like this. Nothing new here.

I really like Gillian Welch and her work with Dave Rawlings, and some of the tracks on this record are real standouts, like the title track, Everything is Free, and Red Clay Halo. To a degree, though, the songs run together, which bumps it to a 4/5 for me. Still an album I'll return to in the future.

An album that isn't among my favourite genres, but an accomplished performance. The sparseness of the music pushes focus onto the vocals which are haunting and evocative. Ultimately, though, the melancholic content of the majority of the lyrics suggest I won't be rushing to replay the album.

Some fine, some quite jarring. Nothing significant enough to bring me back.

Nyt ei oikee osunu omaan mielentilaan ollenkaan tai sit ei oo mielentilasta kiinni ja oli vaan huono

Näin levyn kannen ja tuli heti mielikuva millasta musaa on tulossa. Kuuntelin levyn ja se mielikuva piti täysin paikkaansa. Ei tää genre vaan lähde yhtään.

Ois tää voinut olla paljon pahempaakin. Genrenä taas eksoottinen alt country. No jos ei muuta niin ehkä sillä irtoo hyvät pisteet joskus katkarapupelissä. Loppujen lopuks tässä ol aika vähän ärsyttäviä elementtejä ja parit ihan hyvätkin fiilistelyt.

Eka biisi lupaili vähän enemmän, että voisi olla jotain kivaa ja folkahtavampaa singer-songwriter -kamaa, mutta aika nopeasti se sitten lässähti ihan perus tylsäksi kantriksi. Ei nyt mitään kauheaa paskaa, mutta ei myöskään semmoista että koskaan enää tähän palaisin. Luultavasti huomenna olen jo unohtanut kaikki biisit.

Unexpected gem. Discovering these is what this list is all about

Här finns ett par riktigt fina känsliga bitar men merparten rinner mest igen öronen

Det är ändå rätt okej folk- och bluegrasssånger. Men problemet är att Gillian har en så alldeles identitetslös sångröst. Det är lätt man somnar.

Ganska slätstruken Singer/songwriter country, även om de tar sig lite efter ett par lyssningar. Gillade bättre vad hon gjorde på soundtracket till Oh brother where art thou.

Gilliam Welch fick ett publikt genomslag med sin medverkan på soundtracket till O brother where art thou. Det är albumet är väldigt långt från stämsång med Emmylou Harris. Rakt igenom trist singer songwriter.

Loved it. Very distinct sound that I imagine is more prevalent now than when this album out.

Consistently pleasant

This was mostly lightly-engaging meditative alt-country. When it stays in quieter moments, I enjoyed the sound and the feeling. I was glad Welch mostly seemed to be avoiding the sort of harmony singing often found in bluegrass -- it's a sound I can't bear for too long. Unfortunately, some of the more upbeat songs in the running order get too close to it (Red Clay Halo, Elvis Presley Blues) and it's just not working for me. The best moments on the record are probably the opener, Revelator, and Everything Is Free. The latter is especially great lyrically -- I'm sure I'd heard it before, possibly in a cover version. At any rate, this was a pretty chill listen I mostly enjoyed even if it's not something I'll likely return to.

This is lovely

Beautiful voice and quality writing.

I prefer her work when she plays with others. I found this album to be just so sad and a little too sparse.

Капец, как грустно и уныло

I got American Beauty by Grateful Dead the other day and I feel like that album and this one are like the two ideals of what Americana should be

Really enjoyed this. Its kinda of what I have been looking for in country - dark and morose and with a hint of bluegrass.

The Revelator This was great, and a nailed on 5 after just the first two tracks - I love Revelator’s dark and mournful tone, and My First Lover’s bluegrass groove is excellent. Dear Someone’s pared back and direct arrangement is superb. April the 14th has a brilliant melancholy to it, again with a lovely arrangement. I love the vocals and harmonies on I Want to Sing that Rock’n’Roll. Elvis Presley Blues is great and I love the folk-blues, Dylan-esque Ruination Day Pt. 2, as well as the sparse and beautiful Everything is Free. And it closes on the low key and sprawling I Dream a Highway. Her vocals are superb throughout, and I love the playing - part folk, part blues, part bluegrass - and production, it’s a lovely sounding and beautifully played album. 5. 🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️🛣️ Playlist submission: Revelator

Cattle. Dust. Horses. Being scalped by a Red Indian. It's an album absolutely steeped in traditional bluegrass and yet turns out to be so much more. There's also a clear influence of early rock n roll balladry - Everly Brothers sound an influence, and Elvis's ballads also. 'Dear Someone' is a lovely tune indebted more than a little to 'Are You Lonesome Tonight'. 'Elvis Presley Blues' is more like Jackson C Reilly or Bert Jansch folk-picking, with the blues bends. 'Ruination Day 2' follows that Jansch theme, albeit slowed down to a crawl. Then there's an alignment with contemporariy lo-fi folksters - Bonnie Prince Billy and Songs Ohia come to mind, not least the opening track 'Revelator', which is bleak, southern-folk; and the melancholic simplicity of 'Everything is Free' and ''April the 14th, Pt I'). All those elements stop it being hokey, and give the album a character and nuance that your typical, percussionless 'singer and guitar' album often fails to achieve. It finishes with the 15 minute 'I Dream a Highway', so slow it almost goes backwards, and yet you don't want it to end.

I'm not usually into country music, but I found this record easy to listen and enjoy. Gillian welch has a soothing voice and the tracks, although very similar between them, have a comforting and intimate vibe. I will definitely listen again to this record.

I wasn't expecting much from this one, I honestly thought I was in for another boring, slow acoustic slog, but it totally blew me away. It's the perfect mix of bluegrass and alt country and raw americana, just a really intimate, stripped-back sound. Since there are no drums or fancy production, the whole thing just breathes, Gillian Welch’s voice is haunting, and the guitar work is incredible. It’s definitely a slow, moody burn, so it might not be for everyone, but every single note feels important. Songs like "Revelator", "Everything Is Free", and "Elvis Presley Blues" are top tier songwriting, and even the super long "I Dream a Highway" kept me hooked the whole time instead of dragging. Such an unexpected gem, I wanted to start it over the second it finished.

This is kind of hard to rate, because I feel like this is a perfectly executed album in a style of music that I would be in the right mood for like 1% of the time. The singing and guitar playing is beautiful, and the overall vibe is really consistent and atmospheric, which I love. But this kind of sparsely arranged, slow tempo folk music mostly bores me, except for at rare times when it catches me in just the right introspective sort of mood. I think if I listened to this album at just the right moment it would hit me like a train and be a really emotional experience, but on this listen I just wasn't really into it - and I think that would be the case for me the vast majority of the time

Folkzinho country gostoso

One of those albums that skirts the lines of a lot of genres. At times country, at times rock, at times blues, at times folk. Usually I can't stand this style, I find it too soporific, but I enjoyed this more than I expected to.

01) Revelator - 6,0 02) My First Lover - 5,5 03) Dear Someone - 5,5 04) Red Clay Halo - 5,0 05) April the 14th Part 1 - 5,0 06) I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll - 6,0 07) Elvis Presley Blues - 5,0 08) Ruination Day Part 2 - 5,0 09) Everything Is Free - 5,0 10) I Dream a Highway - 5,0 TOTAL: 5,30 (53/100) Current ranking: 919/1024

that was a hard listen, amazing singer and if one song popped up in a cultivated playlist of relaxing songs, or used in a soundtrack of a film for a melancholy section, I would think its great. But this music at a full length album just isn't for me

Man I've had a lot of country lately. This one at least isn't super country-ish. More folky, with some bluegrass elements. She's also not a bad guitarist. Some of these songs are a little mopey for me, but others are pretty decent. The last song is a chore at 15 minutes of moping. 2/5.

One song on this album is almost 15 minutes long. FIFTEEN MINUTES. I'm pretty sure that's longer than the Teen Idles' entire discography. Anyways, I think country music still isn't for me, but (excessive length aside) some of the songs on this album were quite nice.

Not for me

An unexpected gem. Listened to it a couple of times in youtube, then grabber her discography to explore.

Hahaha no