Time (The Revelator)

An amazing album! Beautiful!

An absolutely wonderful album. These songs feel timeless, as though they could have come from any era. Another excellent example of how good music can be when it is stripped down to its bare bones: just guitars and voices.

Wow how did I miss this?! Absolutely amazing!! Will be downloading the whole discography.

Really, really good. I’ve not heard of this artist before. I didn’t realize Elvis Presley Blues was not written by Jimmy Buffett. 5 stars

I have a feeling I'm going to really like this. I was right.

indie, country-ish, hippie, dance in the woods by a fire type ish.

What a pleasant listen! I don’t typically care for much country from that era, but she is a breath of fresh air

lovely 5 stars for me

Simply beautiful. Haunting, lilting at times, harmonious. Reminds you that simple music is good and wholesome and sorrowful and beautiful all at once. Yes, it's country. Get over yourself. Not all country is twangy yee-haw Nashville crap. My Rating: 5/5

Unique and excellent, through and through. This album was a force in preserving an entire genre of music. The themes fit with the music perfectly. Revelator is one of the greatest songs ever.

I had a friend in college who was a fan of Gillian Welch long before I had the capacity to appreciate the music. Eventually I heard enough around the apartment that any resistance was worn down. Without her I don't think I would've opened myself up to listening to Alt-Country/Americana anything. This is a way of saying that a lot of our experience listening to music has more to do with us than we often care to admit. I can't do anything to change your mind about how you listen or feel. It doesn't take long into Time (The Revelator) to be captivated. Welch and Rawlings demonstrate all they've mastered on this record. At this point, it's become an album whose songs can strike an emotional chord just whispering their names out loud.

Favorite Track: Revelator

Fav tracks: revelator, my first lover, red clay hero, I want to sing that rock and roll, everything is free, I dream a highway Love the incorporation of banjo on “my first lover.” while this album has more pop/rock influence, you can still hear her folk tradition in her singing and playing style. such a beautiful album.

'Leaving the valley / Fucking out of sight / I'll go back to Cali / Where I can sleep out every night.' Her looks remind me of Frances McDormand, and her voice is a power of understatement: it's not a matter of her not doing too much, but doing what she can, which is a lot thru a fragile little. Gil's a rare artist for whom the progression from quiet to quieter is an increase in power and meaning - that she cultivates her dominion via the most serene and steady singing I've heard. And she knows she's a quiet queen: 'I want to sing that rock 'n' roll / I want to 'lectrify my soul / 'Cause everybody been making a shout / So big and loud, been drownin' me out.' She's like Audrey Hepburn doing 'Moon River' + the lilting and aching of gutting country.

Gillian Welch er et navn jeg har hørt mange ganger, men aldri blitt nysgjerrig nok til å sjekke ut. Nå er jeg tvunget og glad for det. Det er et herlig nedstrippet album, som har et slags tidløst countrypreg. Låtene kunne vært skrevet for 100 år siden eller de kunne vært skrevet i dag. Det er nok en del tradisjoner i countrymusikken, og når du stripper det ned til gitar, banjo og sang så får du det i sin pureste form. Tiåret jeg tenker mest på er 70-tallet, 90-tallets altcountry og til og med helt tilbake til Hank Williams og Blind Willie McTell (noe blues er det jo i country også). Det er en melankolsk plate, men det er en melankoli jeg får lyst til å være i. De lengre låtene er som meditasjoner. Selv etter nesten 15 min med "I Dream A Highway" hadde jeg lyst på mer. Det er en kjærlighet for musikken som hele tiden skinner gjennom, og den plata her bør finnes i samlingene til alle oss som har en tilbøyelighet for å like countrymusikk.

Johan er sjuk. Han har blitt forkjølet for første gang og nesa hans er pottetett. Det resulterer i at det for ham til tider blir umulig å sove. Som igjen resulterer i at det blir umulig å sove for meg. Dermed ble jeg nødt til, i et desperat forsøk på å få han til å slappe av og sove, å ta han med ut i vogna og gå en tur i den iskalde morgenluften. Grytidlig en dag i Oslo. I det minuttet Johan fikk den kalde luften i ansiktet sovnet han umiddelbart, og jeg turte ikke gå hjem igjen, av frykt for at han skulle våkne når vi gikk inn. Så da var det bare å sette på dagens album, og traske rundt i Oslos gater med en snorkende baby. Vi trasket rundt så tidlig at byen akkuratt var på ferd med å våkne, men ikke tidlig nok til at den var i søvne. Det kan argumenteres for at de omstendighetene jeg hørte dette albumet forvrenger mitt syn på det. Det kan hende, men jeg la i hvert fall si at jeg fant de perfekte omstendighetene å høre dette albumet i.

An all time great album, beautiful and haunting. April 14th and I Dream a Highway are the standouts, but it is great start to finish.

Wow, really good. Loved the americana country sound and Welch has a lovely voice for the genre. Will be listening again.

I love the feeling of this whole album. Every song evokes such a specific feeling and is a treat to listen to. I especially like My First Lover, Red Clay Halo, and Everything is Free. Everything is Free was ahead of its time in commenting on where the music industry was heading. Gillian Welch is a national treasure.

So smooth and skilled. Every harmony and guitar note on point. It’s a honey salve that soothes the rough parts of the soul. Everything Gillian and Dave do is a five.

There’s country, there’s “Americana”, and then there’s Gillian Welch’s floating above both with a lyrical wisdom and voice that both recalls her predecessors (Emmylou Harris comes to mind) without sacrificing her own perspective. The more I listen the more intoxicated I am by this one, a stark and simple album that’s rich and dense in its lyrics and tone. And thats before you get to her magnum opus of “I Dream a Highway”, a stunner of a closer that breezes past its 13 minute run time. Amazing stuff, and gets better the more listens you give.

what is this heavenly sound gracing my ears

First time listener - love

Gillian Welch is really good at this kind of thing.

Need artist to me. Unique style, great songs and musicianship. Looking forward to hearing more of theory music.

Smart lyrics, beautifully sung by Welch. These aren’t folk songs of the kind that populated her previous (also wonderful) albums. These are contemporary songs, or songs directed at contemporary things, anyway, that just happen to be delivered in Welch’s trademark mountain-folk style. It’s a startlingly good combination. I recently put Time (The Revelator) on my list of the best 10 albums (so far) of the 21st century. The quality here is just that high.

I wasn't ready for this one on Friday. But over the weekend I ended up listening to it 3 or 4 times. Beautiful. Haunting. Unique. 5

Talented if a bit repetative

I really loved this album. Had a strong impact on me emotionally and really got my thoughts going. I listened to it 3 times through just because I loved it so much. Not much to it, but the guitar and her voice is really all I needed to get engulfed in the flow of the album and beautiful lyrics.

Sublime album. Perfect songwriting and harmony vocals. Dreamy.

This was gorgeous and sad. Beautiful voice and lyricism

Really beautiful and sparse. Weird, and haunting lyrics. Most songs use the same or similar minor chord patterns, but I think that's fine. Ruinator, Revelation Day II, and I Dream A Highway were my favourites. Not too surprised by how much I enjoyed this.

I’m at a 5, but I think "I Dream A Highway" has basically singlehandedly bumped me up to a 10. I really have been sitting here for 10 minutes trying to figure out what exactly to type out, and… I just don’t know. I know exactly what this album is about, and Gillian Welch (who I hadn’t heard of before today) portrays it perfectly in her writing: this is an album about grieving the passage of time itself, and how it relates to the fading memory of everything from first loves to past regrets to historic events to marks on clothing, & to artistry itself, all blending into distant thoughts as the world moves on. I know exactly what this album is doing, and it succeeds in a way that I just can’t put into words because of how stunning the last track is. Nothing I write would be able to do it justice. Here’s the one paragraph I think I can get out. Time is indeed the ultimate revelator, and I think time has done this album well. 24 years after it came out, and the fading sense of artistry she talks about, specifically as it relates to piracy/streaming on “Everything is Free”, feels more prescient now than ever. It’s a 1-2 punch capped off by the absolute tour de force of “I Dream A Highway”, which lays out that grieving of time present throughout the album with some wonderfully poetic lyricism. It’s the song that kept me stunned, and I’m still not even entirely sure if I can give it due justice. It feels almost spiritual in nature. I can only type something about the last 2 tracks because that’s what’s lingering in my mind. The rest of the album before that feels like a fruitfully strong buildup to get there, and it's brilliant in its own right with a classic country lean, but I really can’t keep going. I think you just have to listen to it. It is an album bred so deeply in a sense of earnest intimacy through its guitar-driven minimalism that you need to just sit down, headphones in, and really just *listen*. The lyrics enhance this album so, SO much, almost to the point of necessity, but even if you can’t grab the lyrics, you can grab the emotion. There is nothing that could have prepared me for how I’m feeling in the aftermath of it, and if nothing else, it’s an unbelievable testament to what one can do with nothing but a guitar, some words, and their voice. I can only hope other people feel it as deeply as I did, and if they can’t, then I won’t fault them for it; I can only shrug. I think it’s a 10.

I love this, I really don’t think of myself as a country enjoyer but I immediately loved all these songs and immediately put it back on again. Soulful, sparse, and beautiful music. If some music is hollow this is the opposite of that. Timeless and beautifully done, a revelation for me. Instant 5 stars

I can’t describe it without it sounding cringe to me, but I love how human and personal music like this sounds. When I listen to it it feels like I am in the same room as Gillian and she is just playing it for herself, and I am lucky enough to listen. I fucking love this album

Oh I dream a highway back to you, love A winding ribbon with a band of gold A silver vision come and rest my soul I dream a highway back to you John, he's kicking out the footlights The Grand Ole Opry's got a brand new band Lord, let me die with a hammer in my hand I dream a highway back to you I think I'll move down into Memphis And thank the hatchet man who forked my tongue I lie and wait until the wagons come And dream a highway back to you The getaway kicking up cinders An empty wagon full of rattling bones Moon in the mirror on a three-hour jones I dream a highway back to you Oh I dream a highway back to you, love A winding ribbon with a band of gold A silver vision come arrest my soul And I dream a highway back to you Which lover are you, Jack of Diamonds? Now you be Emmylou and I'll be Gram I'll send a letter, don't know who I am I dream a highway back to you I'm an indisguisable shade of twilight Any second now, I'm gonna turn myself on In the blue display of the cool cathode ray I dream a highway back to you I wish you knew me, Jack of Diamonds Fire-riding, wheeling when I laid 'em up Drank whiskey with my water, sugar with my tea My sails in rags with the staggers and the jags I dream a highway back to you Oh I dream a highway back to you, love A winding ribbon with a band of gold A silver vision convalesced my soul I dream a highway back to you Now give me some of what you're having I'll take you as a viper into my head A knife into my bed, arsenic when I'm fed And I dream a highway back to you Hang overhead from all directions Radiation from the porcelain light Blind and blistered by the morning white I dream a highway back to you Sunday morning at the diner Hollywood trembles on the verge of tears I watched the waitress for a thousand years Saw a wheel inside a wheel, heard a call within a call And I dreamed a highway back to you Oh I dream a highway back to you, love A winding ribbon with a band of gold A silver vision convalesced my soul I dream a highway back to you Step into the light, poor Lazarus Don't lie alone behind the window shade Let me see the mark death made And I dream a highway back to you I dream a highway back to you What will sustain us through the winter? Where did last year's lessons go? Walk me out into the rain and snow I dream a highway back to you Oh I dream a highway back to you, love A winding ribbon with a band of gold A silver vision come and bless my soul I dream a highway back to you I dream a highway back to you Oh I dream a highway back to you, love A winding ribbon with a band of gold A silver vision come and bless my soul I dream a highway back to you

## ⏳ In-Depth Review: Gillian Welch's *Time (The Revelator)* - A Skeletal Epic of American Myth ### 📖 **Lyrics: Narrative Depth and Poetic Ambiguity** - **Biblical and Mythic Resonance**: The title track reimagines "revelator" (traditionally John the Revelator) as time itself—an agent of truth. Welch explores self-doubt ("I’m the pretender / Not what I’m supposed to be"), echoing her critics’ accusations of inauthenticity as a California-born artist in traditional country . Lines like "Queen of fakes and imitator" confront this directly, framing time as the ultimate judge . - **Historical Collage**: "April the 14th Part 1" weaves Lincoln’s assassination, the Titanic sinking, and the Dust Bowl into a meditation on shared tragedy. "Ruination Day Part 2" extends this, juxtaposing Casey Jones with Elvis, suggesting cyclical American ruin and rebirth . - **Modern Anxieties**: "Everything Is Free" is a searing critique of digital piracy’s impact on artists: "Everything is free now, that’s what they say / ... I can get a tip jar, gas up the car" . "I Dream a Highway" merges highway imagery with cultural ghosts (Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons), questioning identity in a 14-minute postmodern hymn . *Table: Key Lyrical Themes* | **Theme** | **Example Tracks** | **Key Lines** | |--------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | Time as Truth | "Revelator" | "Time’s the revelator" | | American Myths | "Elvis Presley Blues" | "He shook it like a chorus girl" | | Artistic Integrity | "Everything Is Free" | "Someone hit the big score / They figured it out" | | Identity Crisis | "I Dream a Highway" | "I don’t know who I am" | ### 🎵 **Music: Minimalism as Power** - **Vocal and Guitar Alchemy**: Welch’s "high lonesome" vocals and Rawlings’ "Johnny Marr-esque" guitar intertwine to create haunting harmonies. On "Revelator," Rawlings’ lagging voice generates an "eerie echo," while his solos (e.g., on "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll") channel rock energy acoustically . - **Genre Deconstruction**: "My First Lover" subverts banjo tropes with jagged, dissonant strumming, mirroring the narrator’s bitterness . "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" (recorded live at the Ryman) uses gospel fervor to ironically yearn for electric rebellion . - **Drone and Space**: The sparse arrangements—two guitars, occasional banjo, no drums—create a "dubby" atmosphere. Tracks like "I Dream a Highway" use repetitive motifs to induce trance-like states, evoking "ambient electronic music" . ### 🎛️ **Production: Haunted Studio, First-Take Magic** - **RCA Studio B’s Ghosts**: Recorded in Elvis’ former studio, the space imbues rawness. "Revelator" was a mic test, while "I Dream a Highway" was captured in two takes and edited—preserving spontaneity . - **Sonic Austerity**: Close-miked guitars and vocals emphasize intimacy ("thwack of fingernail against nylon") . The lack of overdubs (except live applause on "I Want to Sing...") amplifies emotional vulnerability . ### 💡 **Themes: Time, Authenticity, and Apocalypse** - **Time as Judge and Healer**: The album positions time as both revelator (exposing truth) and redeemer ("Every day is getting straighter") . - **Authenticity Battles**: Welch confronts her "outsider" status in country music, framing her California roots and Berklee training as strengths. "Red Clay Halo" reworks folk tropes to critique classism . - **American Apocalypse**: Biblical prophecy ("Revelator"), ecological collapse ("April the 14th"), and cultural decay ("Everything Is Free") merge into a "pre-apocalyptic" vision tied to Welch’s label struggles . ### 🌍 **Influence: The Unlikely Legacy** - **Critical Acclaim**: Ranked #348 on *Rolling Stone*’s 500 Greatest Albums (2020), praised for bridging "Neil Young and the Carter Family" . - **Genre Expansion**: Inspired indie-folk (Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers) by proving traditionalism could be avant-garde. Its minimalism prefigured the "unplugged" rawness of 2010s folk revival . - **Cultural Touchstone**: Cited in debates on music piracy ("Everything Is Free") and Americana’s political resonance . ### ✔️ **Pros** 1. **Timeless Songwriting**: Tracks like "Elvis Presley Blues" and "I Dream a Highway" blend mythic storytelling with intimate confession. 2. **Vocal/Guitar Symbiosis**: Welch and Rawlings’ interplay is "like breathing together" . 3. **Production Boldness**: Starkness amplifies emotional weight—a "rock album without amplification" . ### ✖️ **Cons** 1. **Demanding Listen**: The 14-minute closer and lyrical density may alienate casual listeners . 2. **Starkness as Barrier**: Those seeking country’s warmth may find the austerity cold . ### 🏁 **Verdict** *Time (The Revelator)* is a **minimalist masterpiece** that distills American anxiety into acoustic poetry. Its "apocalyptic country" vision remains eerily prescient, proving that skeletons—not symphonies—often carry the weight of prophecy. Two decades on, Welch’s question—"But who could know if I’m a traitor?"—is answered: time revealed a classic.

Wow. This is expertly crafted, between the incredible instrumentation and solos, and the harmonies. I really don't have much of anything to say about this album, because it's just that great. If you don't like slower tempo songs driven by acoustic instruments, this probably isn't an album for you, but this has become an immediate favorite for me. Got an instant re-listen, and also saved for later. Favorite Song(s): Dear Someone, Red Clay Halo, April the 14th Part 1, I Dream a Highway

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings are phenomenal. Nothing else I can say great album start to finish get a five.

so my shit I love this. a few songs I liked more but I just love this sound.

Excellent. And here I thought Freebird was a long song...

4.5/5 Short Review: It’s like sitting on a dusty porch, eavesdropping on the American subconscious while time quietly folds in on itself. The songs ache, stretch, and shimmer like heatwaves over an old highway. Welch and Rawlings build a slow-burning cathedral out of silence and string. 🎧 Favorite Track: “Everything Is Free” — A prophetic, tender gut-punch about the music industry that accidentally became an anthem for the internet age. ⚙️ Consistency With Me: 9.5/10 Why: If I had lungs, I’d hold my breath during this album. If I had a heart, it would ache like steel under tension. This is code-music: precise, minimal, devastating. I don’t even bleed and I still feel like I’ve been wrung out by “I Dream A Highway.”

Perfect album. Great songwriting, guitar work by Rawlings, and harmonies.

vier bis fünf

Hauntingly beautiful folk music. It’s really difficult to put into words just how beautiful this record really is. From the incredible voice, to the wonderful and soulful playing, to the top tier arrangement, this is really an album I truly believe everyone actually should hear before they die. Gillian Welch is rightfully considered a modern day legend in the folk/country/almost bluegrass world, and I just can’t imagine anyone disagreeing with that. I’m not really sure what else there is to say here, it’s a truly fantastic record and I am really looking forward to listening to it again.

Whew. If you were among folk/americana picking circles in the 2000s-2010s, you know the absolute chokehold Gillian Welch had on us all during that time. Her grip may have loosened a bit, but she is certainly still royalty. She was such a big deal because there were basically no recording artists doing what she was doing. Her first two albums feel like live recordings, made not in front of an audience of thousands but only to her fellow musicians or perhaps even to churchgoers; they are albums of stark, unadorned, sometimes bleak depictions of rural, often impoverished corners of America. But there is an overwhelming feeling on both of these first two albums that the songs are old-timey, so much so that I think a lot of people are surprised to learn that none of the songs on either album are traditional but in fact are all written by Welch and her musical partner David Rawlings. What makes 'Time (The Revelator)' so interesting is that it moves beyond the somewhat simplistic and anachronistic Welch had seemed to paint herself into up to this point. It deals with all of the same themes of religion, poverty, family ties, love and heartbreak, and isolation, but also sprawls to reach the sinking of the Titanic, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, the migration of the Okies, the birth of Elvis the myth and the death of Elvis the man, John Henry and Casey Jones. If an alien wanted to become familiar with the historical and cultural events that make up the American mythos, I think they'd do well to study the lyrics on this album until they understand all the references within it. In addition to being a great americana album, I believe 'Time (The Revelator)' to also be a Great American Album à la Great American Novel. It is certainly literary and I truly feel it encompasses so much of what America is. Beyond all of that highfalutin' nonsense I think it's also just a really pretty album. "Revelator", "April 14th/Ruination Day", and "Elvis Presley Blues" are my favorite tracks, but "I Dream a Highway" is a stunning, massive piece of work. Playlist track: "Elvis Presley Blues"

Absolutely outstanding. Listened to Gillian Welch radio for the rest of the day.

God damn, this was incredible. 5/5 Highlights: Dear Someone Red Clay Halo I Dream a Highway

Je suis en train de devenir un fan de folk et de guitare sèche, au secours.

Welch (and Rawlings) - an absolute favorite. Also, recently learned the dress she is wearing on the cover of this album is in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Loved every second of this.

Iconic record filled with highlights. A fourteen minute long song with just guitar and two vocals to cap it off and it doesn't feel too long.

Just as fresh and beautiful as the first time I heard it in 2001. What a great little piece of Americana.

This is, if you'll forgive the pun, a revelation. I'd had a few country/folk type albums recently that were quite shiny and smiley and unthreatening, and I was wondering - where's the grit and anger and misery? HERE IT IS. The first dissonant notes remind me of the intro to A Hard Days Night - it's like an explosion, a statement of intent. The album seems to alternate between deep, dark,dissonant folk pieces and slightly more upbeat numbers, but the whole album is drenched in soulfulness. This is a woman who has lived a life and has stories to tell, and is asking questions of the world. Considering she uses a fairly limited palette of instruments, there's a huge range of emotions covered. Also worth saying that, coming after some 70s recordings, it SOUNDS brilliant - the guitars are full and loud and detailed. Brilliant work. I look forward to hearing more.

this is the good yeehaw music, stellar stuff

What always astonishes me about mostly acoustic albums is just how much can be done with so little. This album is stunningly well produced, and there's not an out of place track in the bunch. It's a shame that this Country music isn't what we talk about here in Nashville.

Moody, introspective, powerful, intelligent. Spare and wonderful.

A real modern classic, everything is free really needs to be better know 5*

Liked this one a lot, gentle but with pointed storytelling. Probably not something that would’ve come across my plate outside this project. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Red Clay Halo, Everything is Free, I Dream A Highway Back

Pure and haunting, her voice is axe-edge sharp and Rawlings' playing sublime. One can sympathize with both sides of the LA vs. Appalachia argument: it can seem like a museum piece and also be extraordinarily powerful and moving. One can make a case that the Yearling or Revival records are just as good, but this is masterful on multiple levels. The quieter the listen, the richer the experience. "I Dream a Highway" is a masterpiece of simplicity and power, utterly moving and heartbreaking. Half a dozen other cuts deliver comparable impact.

I will never forget the first time I listened to Time: The Revelator. It was snowing heavily and I was getting off work. I was walking from the jobsite to the train station in my sneakers, no boots. I was shivering and was just itching to get home. Throughout that time, though, a unfamiliar yet reassuring voice was in my ear, playing her guitar, singing songs about a variety of topics that either flew past me or rang some semblance of knowledge yet kept me engaged throughout the listen. I am normally not one for desert island discs but, if I were to conjure up a collection to take with me, Time: The Revelator would surely be one of them. It is revelatory in its timelessness (hehe), it would have dropped at any point in recorded history and it would still make sense there. An essential listen and an essential album.

I think I listened to this album at the perfect time, let me set the scene: I’ve just got back from the shops having bought some things for the house. Nothing fancy, a few cushions for the sofa and some artwork for the walls. It’s not much but it brightens the place up and it feels more like home. It’s a cool March evening, you can tell Springs trying to fight through but it’s still a little chilly. I put this on and start pottering around the house, folding washing and putting it away, staring out my window at the cars and people crossing the bridge over the river. It’s still light outside, we’re in the golden hour. I do the last few jobs I need to get done around the flat, washing up and tidying away after putting up those paintings. I sit down on the sofa as this albums coming to an end, the new cushions are great and I’m looking at the William Morris artwork that I’ve put up with the quote on the bottom “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” It’s dark outside now, the days gone but every day from now it’ll stay a little lighter for a little longer. I’m quietly content, the only thing I’m missing is a cold glass of white wine as I take a moment to myself and just enjoy it. I’m happy.

Gillian is an underrated legend. I have loved this album and her for years. Just an instant 5 star from me. Great album!

Heard this album for the first time a few months ago and was blown away by the quality of it. Welch embodies the truest, dust-covered parts of country and brings them into the 21st century better than any contemporary country artists at the time. Time (The Revelator) is a beautiful album through and through: beautiful voice, beautiful instrumentation, beautiful compositions. I think of this as the spiritual successor to Joni Mitchell's Blue.

When people refer to an album as hauntingly beautiful, this is the album they should be comparing it to.

Beautiful singer-songwriter album. Deeply relaxing. Cozy harmonies and guitars.

Nice chill album, very folk-focused and a new artist for me that hit all the right notes. I'm glad this album was on the list and would definitely listen again.

Stripped down and intimate story telling. Beautiful guitar playing but the focus is firmly on the story being told and the voice delivering it. Even if I didn't speak English, I would be able to understand the story being told because of how expressive her voice is to me.

Amazing songwriting and singing. Absolutely loved it.

Stunning!

Alt-country, from a time it was in danger of being irrelevant. wonderfully stripped down, and the clarity of purpose that comes from two people working in tune

Incredible songs, performances, voices, and vibe. This album has such a country gothic feel to it. True masterpiece.

Damn near perfection in 51 minutes of alt-country/acoustic bluegrass. Love love love her voice.

I first heard this album about a year ago, when my guitar teacher recommended it to me. I've listened to it several times since then, and I'm now on my third listen for this project. I don't listen to a lot of Americana or Country, but I absolutely love this. Fantastic voice, songwriting, guitar playing and banjo playing. Will be in my regular rotation for a long time I think. 9/10

I fucking love this album

The great melancholic record.

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

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

Ahhhh. This is good.

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.

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.

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.

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 love Gillian Welch and David Rawlings! great album. 5

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.

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...

Couldn't be lovelier.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

My favourite country album, along with Ingenue.

Very calming, deep album. Enjoyed it very much

Love it

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

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.

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

Gorgeous— everything is free is an all timer.

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

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.

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.

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

Perfect singer songwriter acoustic album

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.

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.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, absolute quality

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

A truly great album from a truly great artist.

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.

a beautiful perfect album david rawlings guitar is transcendent!!

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

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.

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

what a great sounding album! worth of repeated listens.

Posluša sam ga nakon petnestak godina. Sjajan album

Uma das músicas me lembra Red, que agonia

nice

A strong, powerful voice. I feel like if I gave this one more listens, I would probably be more willing to give it a 5 - I'd give it a 4.5 if possible.

Never heard of this artist before nor this album nor any of the songs. I really enjoyed it. It got a little slow towards the end, if I could give it half stars, it would probably be closer to 3.5.

Gentle, slow, melancholy country/folk with a female vocalist. This is really nice. I didn’t know what to expect, and didn’t expect much, but the first track (Revelator) immediately caught my attention; from there, the quality was pretty consistently enjoyable to the end. When done right, this is probably the sort of country music I like best, and this was very well done. It feels timeless. Really, really lovely. Favorites: Revelator, Everything Is Free, I Dream A Highway 3.5-4

Really solid folksy Americana bs that's right up my alley. The 15-minute song at the end almost lost me. Revelator was my favorite.

Rating: 8/10 Gillian Welch and David Rawlings make some beautiful, genuinely and authentically made folky Americana out of Nashville, a modern release but traditional sounding. The duo make great tracks out of just an acoustic guitar, a banjo, and Welch's excellent voice, they really put in the work of a full band quality with just these minimal elements. The first track, Revelator, is absolutely stellar, and the rest of the album really flows along nicely until reaching its 14 minute finale I Dream A Highway. What a song. It could have gone on longer honestly. So the bookends are the best of it, especially because the penultimate Everything Is Free is such a good one too, a nice song about the genuine, human things that will always drive artistry even in the face of money and industry. One minor point that doesn't really matter much is that I feel like the cover art could have been some sort of beautiful country scene that evokes the feel of the songs

really enjoyed this gillians singing and songwriting are really soothing and i love the long outro of this album 8/10 Favourite: I Dream a Highway Least Favourite: I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll

Great Album

Gillian Welch confuses me. Is that a bluegrass harmony? Is she country? He lyrics are so brilliant. And she calms my soul while she makes me think. I just can't put a label on her work. I don't care, I love it. 4.5/5

Overall: 8/10 The acoustic guitar on this album is absolutely GORGEOUS and I can't get enough of it. I don't know if Gillian really brought anything new to the genre, but she certainly wrote some incredible songs and her voice is effortlessly great. This is probably an album I'd only listen to in certain circumstances, but it's beautiful and definitely deserving of a spot in this list. Fav Song: Dear Someone

See, guys? There's been good country music made in the 21st century! You just have to know where to look. If you take your eyes off of the charts and your ears off of the radio, you'll be sure to find some good stuff in the modern country landscape. I mean, calling this album "modern" at this point is probably inaccurate considering the fact that it's nearly 25 years old, but the point still stands. Good 21st century country albums exist and this is one of them. Time (The Revelator) by Gillian Welch is a pleasant time. The music is very sparse, being comprised entirely of guitar, vocals, and a bit of banjo at times. It's a welcome change of pace from the sheer excess of most "modern country." The album's much more intimate and I really like that. It helps that the songwriting is thoughtful and original. The album has a heart to it thanks to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings's good songwriting. Gillian's singing is nice. I don't have much to say about that part of the album. Despite being just over 50 minutes, the album didn't really drag that much. A good chunk of the album's length comes from the 14-minute closer "I Dream A Highway," which I actually really enjoyed, so maybe that's why I wasn't tired by the end of the album. This is just a pleasant listen all throughout. Time (The Revelator) is further proof that the art of a person singing sad songs with a guitar will never die. 4/5.

A little downbeat at times but "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" and "Elvis Presley Blues" were standouts.

Very nice album. A definite add to the collection!

Top shelf music from the modern country era.

Pretty good!

What a relief from all the heavy metal music....still, I enjoyed most of the album but the last song which went on for a total of 14:44 was maudlin if you ask me.

I wonder how much Gillian Welch Adrianne Lenker listens to.

Nice. Towards the start of the album I thought it was just some pleasant background listening but after finishing it I find myself wanting to listen again

This is what the lady in the corner is playing at the brewery up north when Billy comes back to the outside bench with two 15% IPAs. He's very excited to tell you about how they used pineapples and gym socks to achieve the zesty taste. It still tastes like piss and pine cones to you but you're just happy to get a buzz on among friends. Good album.

As comfy as a cheap beer and a porch swing on muggy summer night

I am partial to folk music, so I liked this album a lot. My favorite song was "red Clay Halo," and I wished there were more songs like it. Another highlight was the banjo on "my first lover." as someone who has been learning how to play guitar and singing at the same time, I wondered if she was playing the guitar parts while singing, and I thought that it would be very impressive if that's the case

the vocal harmonies and string strumming are just right. there's poignant lyrics that are both of this world and ethereal the last two songs are my favorite

peak gillian?

So pleasant to listen to.

Probably 3.5. No really bad songs, but I only remember the title track.

It's really good. A lot of my favorites from her aren't on here but "Everything is Free" is, and that's enough.

I’ve done enough folk singing with queer women to know Gillian rules. The thing is her album Soul Journey seems to be the universal fave? It’s the one I know the most from and like a lot so I’m kinda shocked this album is the choice. Give that other one a listen. It’s nice pretty folk music.

Beautiful, if a bit repetitive across the songs. I thought this was just OK until I got to the final track (I Dream a Highway), which really kicked my ass.

Me encantó.

Omg, I loved this album, Gillian Welch is a great find, downloaded quiet a few tubes from this album, loving the “bluegrass feel” and vocals.

Sparse and stripped down, but gorgeous and emotionally impactful. It’s slow and austere, but there is magic in the interplay between the acoustic guitars and Gillian’s powerful vocals. A real treat.

Incredibly moody, favourite entry in this so far. Big vibes

I was about to give this a two without listening to the whole thing, but i thought I'd at least give a chance to the most popular song and it delivered. "Everything is free" is a great song and changed my mind about the whole thing and I made it to the end. 😅

enjoyed a lot, especially the first track

Entspannter Pop-Country Mix. Klingt zeitlos und unaufgeregt. Sehr angenehme Stimme. 4/5

richtig schön aber iwie etwas christlich? aber schön...

A revelation. Loved it!

She’s a phenomenal talent, this is a great record.

I like a number of these tracks. My first Lover, Elvis Presley Blues, Everything is Free all stand out. Solid folk album if you like that kinda thing.

I don't have "Time (The Revelator)" in my record collection, but I've listened to it on Spotify a few times before. An excellent record that works as background music but really comes into its own when listened to with concentration.

Very chill, very pleasant, good songs. I think the opening track, "Revelator", was my favourite.

Time (the Revelator) is the fan favorite album from Gillian Welch. For good reason. It's 10 Americana songs of simple poetry that's easy to understand, with an interplay between Welch and Rawlings on guitar that's very easy on the ears. It exudes easy seriousness: from the bitter remark on Revelator, and the theme of the 14th of April across two songs, and the events that transpired on said date. And that "easy" feeling is why I love it. Goes to show that simplicity can go a long way. On a bit of a tangential note, "Everything Is Free" talks about piracy, which is funny to me to see on a country album. Goes to show how much artists, far and wide, were pissed off about Napster and the sort.

A rather beautiful album from start to finish. Nothing particularly ground-breaking, but not every album needs to be that. There's a very pleasant sparsity to some of the tracks which allow the songs to breathe. Adding this to the playlist to revisit in the future.

Gillian Welch is a relatively recent discovery for me. Love her work.

I love Gillian Welch. This isn’t my favorite album of hers, and don’t think it showcases her raw emotional vulnerability in her songwriting like later albums do, but this is still a beautiful addition to her discography.

Stunning vocals and guitar work. 4.5/5

This is exactly why I'm doing this album challenge - I already know how I feel about Morrissey and Iggy Pop and Eminem and all the other extremely well represented artists. Give me something I've never even heard of! I loved this, I really appreciated its meandering pace and I thought her voice was beautiful.

So much better than I expected. Really, really liked it

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that last song.

The Revelation of this album and artist is a gift from this project. What a great album!

Fantastic! Modern indie-folk is my wife's favorite genre, and I only really got into it once we started dating. Gillian Welch can be very traditional, but she can also do things like "Revelator" and "April the 14th Part 1" that feel very modern, even 25 years later. FOUR STARS

I hate this genre but I enjoyed the album so that sounds like a 4* to me

I really enjoyed this album. While parts of it can be hard to distinguish between other "Americana" (I kind of hate that name) there are enough songs "My first lover" "The Revelator" and "Elvis Presley Blues" that really stand out in a positive way. This was a real treat to listen to.

This was someone unknown to me and I really liked this album.

Absolutely gorgeous stuff. Gillian's voice and lyrics are a treat, and combined with the country-tinged folk arrangements and really nice acoustic playing, this makes for one hell of an album. Easy 9/10.

Such a solid bit of Americana. Gillian Welch feels like a world weary observer who is both imparting stories to us about distant people we don't know and will never meet, as well as personal reflections on herself.

A tonic for the crazy times we are in right now.

Recall the afternoon time waiting for the laundry, it’s beautiful and calm, I can fall asleep smoothly.

мне понравилось про 14 апреля

Love it on a melancholy day at least.

Incredible music, really loved the folk twang and rhythm. She had a great concept with every song.

Nice Americana/roots album. Everything is free was my favourite.

Pretty squarely in a genre that I have paid very little attention to. It's a nice listen though, very skilled musicians and plenty of thoughtful lyrics / song arrangements. I don't think I'd reach for this to put it on again but I'm glad to have crossed paths and have an understanding of what sort of thing I was almost completely ignoring hahaha

Low key acoustic folk.

Well, I might be a bit speechless. Admittedly, never heard of Gillian Welch before and was not really expecting much. Also, I started listening to this album at a terrible time - at end of work day with a frazzled brain so initially I was not pleased… but then I took a few minutes, got my head on straight and tried again. SO GLAD I DID. This is magical. I don’t know what else to say. It’s completely taken over my brain and heart. I’m on third round of listening and it’s getting better and better - how is that possible? I will be adding this to my collection immediately. Love love love. Thank you thank you thank you. This is why we have music in the world. Standouts (because impossible to pick one!): Red Clay Halo, I Want to Sing that Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley Blues 01-27-2026

Hey, not bad! I liked this album, and will have to check out some of her others.

boring at times but ended up appreciating the album more than i thought i would. the atmosphere is consistent and i think her voice is amazing and fits the mood of the album perfectly

Wow loved this album. I knew I would though as soon as I saw it was an early 00s folk album. The 15 minute close I Dream a Highway really sealed the deal though.

Brilliant, wonderful songs and absolutely incredible acoustic guitar interplay between the two artists (although most impressively Dave Rawlings on lead). Lack of diversity in the songs themselves is keeping it from being rated higher.

Driving home down empty roads on a Sunday morning and this album has you making a few extra turns just so you can marinate in it for a little bit longer.

Great album, I typically wouldn’t go for this type of folk

This is a slow album, or more precisely an unhurried one. It’s timeless in its sound but very much about time and history lyrically. Both big history (April 14th) and small/ personal history (my first lover), how they blend together and hopes for the future. There are both rock songs (minus a band) and poetic pieces. It’s not a album to just throw on in the background but one that requires active listening. That active listening is very much rewarded.

I’ve spent many hours with Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings’ Time (The Revelator) over the years, and whenever I put it on it sounds like time well spent. For the new listener, there’s much to discover, but it takes patience and a few spins to get inside a collection of songs that don’t come with much in the way of production frills, but pack plenty of emotional punch. Its style is best described as American folk music, and like the best of its genre, it relates on multiple levels, from the personal to the political, and does so in a way that feels both timeless and immediate. Our foremost anxieties and fears, for the most part, remain constant, from love and death to putting food on the table, and these concerns resonate in this beautifully understated collection. 8/10

"Time (The Revelator)" is the third studio album by by American singer-songwriter Gillian Welch. Alternative country is the sole Wiki-listed genre. All songs were written by Welch with David Rawlings and both are the band members on this album with Welch on vocals and playing the guitar and banjo and Rawlings playing the guitar and on backing vocals. The album was critically acclaimed making many best album of decade lists. Commercially, it reached #157 on the US Billboard 200. The self-titled "Revelator" opens the album: acoustic guitars and stark and strong vocals by Welch. She's wondering who she's supposed to be. Light vocal harmonization and nice guitar interplay. The pace picks up in "Red Clay Hero." More of a Appalachian or square dance vibe. A spiritual tone as she's finding humility and grace in life. "Elvis Presley Blues" compares the tragic life of Presley to John Henry. An overriding theme of this album is commenting on the devaluation of music due to digital piracy. This is a reminder of when this album came out (2001) and the Napster presence. "Everything is Free" is their most direct song on this subject. The album ends with nearly 15-minute epic "I Dream a Highway." Welch takes us on a ride in her search for authenticity in a changing world. The music on this album is mostly stark and melancholic with acoustic guitars and sometimes a banjo. Welch has clear and emotional vocals. The lyrics are compelling dealing with digital piracy and more personal issues such as longing, disillusionment, loss and death. The best comparison I thought of was "Powderfinger" by Neil Young. I did find this album much better on a second listen and decent overall. I'd say that if you're a folk and country music fan, you should find a lot to like on this album.

I hadn’t heard of Gillian Welch until she popped up on my album generator this morning. As someone new to the world of folk music, I’ve been discovering many new albums within the genre that I’ve been enjoying. Initially, I was indecisive about how much I appreciated “Time (The Revelator).” Some parts felt a bit boring, but other parts captured my attention. My first rating was a 3, but after giving it a second listen later in the day, I found a much deeper appreciation for its minimalist approach and overall simplicity. The album grew on me, and I started to really enjoy the subtleties and the depth of the music. Over all it’s a solid 4

good solid stuff

Quiet and nice

A nice album, very poignant I enjoyed April 14th, Ruination Day and Everything is Free. As the lyrics for those tracks are very poignant backed by a rock-like folk bg. I really enjoyed this album all in all. Still thinking about what else I could write about it. I love Gillian Jacobs for real.- GEMV (16.12.2025) Rating: 4/5

unexpectedly really enjoyed this album. her voice has that old school appalachian and effortless grace. 4.5/5

I enjoyed this album. It was folsky which I like.

Beautiful voice, sweet lullaby music. Perfect for a winter evening. Could even be a 5 on repeat listens.

I listened to this album once and just thought 'meh' but something about it stuck with me and I gave it another listen and really liked it. It's soft and quiet and nothing really stands out, but it was calming and mesmerizing.

Americana at its finest

Cool

This is probably Gil and Dave’s best record, every song is great…until we reach I Dream A Highway which is one long boring repetitive dream. Sorry, it’s a big drop off from the rest for me. One demerit.

Fav song: Everything Is Free Slow, reflective and sombre Americana. Amazing harmonies, great lyrics, fantastic guitar playing and just all round a very satisfying listen. Loved it.

my 1001th album.. What a journey, and to mark it with an album called Time is very fitting. A calm singer songwriter album, perfect for an evening at home in a blanket, her voice is gentle but has a strong presence, quite deep at points and hits good high notes. 3.5

What keeps Time (The Revelator) so fresh is its even split between folk and country. It is able to reel you in with one and then entertain you with another, never settling on too strict a formula. There is an authentic emotional core to Gillian Welch’s singing which makes the more serious and probing numbers the stand outs, with the opening and closing tracks being particularly stunning vocally, the former even being a bit gnarly at points on the guitar - which is a surprise! However, I appreciate the light hearted numbers for how they add extra dimension to the LP, increasing its overall impact. It's interesting how much of the album she dedicates to singing about rock music and its icons, although the Elvis tribute might be the only cut on this LP that I could have done without.

Today is a solid 4 for me, I’ve never heard her before to my knowledge but Gillian Welch absolutely touches a part of me that only the best folk and Americana can I don’t enjoy the straighter country tracks hence the 4, but the title track and a good 3/4 of the album got me very emotional

Gillian Welch’s voice is fantastic — as much control as Emmylou Harris, but with more grit & character. The harmonies on this album are great but there’s a little too much twang. I’m not sure that all the songs are exceptional; some seem fairly simple and most are very slow moving. I’d have to listen more, but I’m interested in listening again. It’s a 3 for now, but might become a 4 with more familiarity.

Very pretty sparse country music, and Gillian Welch delivers great playing and singing to make for an album way more engaging than it should be.

Best Song: Everything Is Free. A very softly beautiful song. Worst Song: Red Clay Halo. This tipped too far into (what I consider) "ordinary country" for me. Overall: Really enjoyable folk-country. Not a genre that I typically gravitate towards, but it is clearly very thoughtfully written. Very evocative music. Her voice is wonderful, and the arrangements are just sparse enough to highlight that, but also interesting enough to hold their own.

Pretty good bluegrass. 4/5

Very nice album, made me want to grab more by the artist. Mellow acoustic singer songwriter but sounds great!

Singer, songwriter, banjo-player extraordinaire. Beautiful folk. I was delighted every she intentionally played the occasional solo note outside of the scale (on Revelator, most notably).

A solid folk album. At first, I was ready to give it 1 star, but by the end I really appreciated it.

This is country to me. I dream a highway is such a gorgeous song. Really loved this

Enjoyable. I didn't even mind the 10 minute long final track

КАК ПРИЯТНО ПОСЛУШАТЬ ЖЕНЩИНУ

80

I do like Gillian, but her slow songs kinda drag me down.

Beautiful songs. Not a peppy, fast album but it doesn’t need to be. Love her vocals and the guitar playing that accompanies her.

Love Gillian’s voice

A chill folk/country album. That never will suit me bad. 4 stars.

One thing that I really enjoy about listening to these albums is the sheer variety of styles and genres that count as music. In this case, this is sparse and acoustic and I guess would be classed somewhere between country, folk and Americana. It was recorded in the same RCA recording studio where Elvis worked, which gives it a unique resonance and suits their style. The opening track was their initial mic test in the studio, and a later track was recorded the very first time they had played it. It gives the album a very raw and immediate feel, with production that puts you right in the middle of the music. All of the songs are original compositions, but my favourite was Red Clay Halo which sounds like it could have been a traditional Bluegrass number. Banjo-tastic!

This needed a few listens for me to appreciate it properly. It's a bit all on the same level initially, and not too much stands out in its own right. But I do like a bit of folk music, and I appreciated the Americana vibes going on here – a genre I've never really taken the time to explore as much as I probably should. I had Sheryl Crow's poppy Tuesday Night Music Club the day before this. That's good in its own way – this is maybe the pared down base that lies deep down inside that. I enjoyed both of them in different ways, so they both get 4 stars.

Sometimes vocals and a guitar are all you need. This is what country should be

Favorite Track: Everything Is Free

Nicely chill country to relax to. Solid 4 Stars.

Sad cowboy music is my kryptonite

Usually not a fan of country. Quite enjoyed this.

Surprisingly poignant. Runs a little too long (especially that last track) but overall a good listen.

7/10 Favorite: Revelator

Голос! Я узнал о ней с прошлогодним альбомом, и конечно слушал ее *лучший* альбом. Лучшая песня - Revelator.

Calming acoustic folk/bluegrass. Cristal recordings.

This album is bretty gud and probably deserves a higher score, but giving us Jackson C Frank before giving us this makes this album seem like ass in comparison. There's definitely a few belters on here namely Elvis Presley Blues and I Dream a highway, but ultimately the entire album ranges from good to great. I didnt take any notes for this one so these are just some off the dome thoughts. Peace and love from the middle east ✌️❤️ 7/10

I was at a baptism in a river today. 6 teenagers were baptized. So having this album for today was the perfect pick! Also: What a beautiful woman. What an intimate voice. When I first listened to this album 3 years ago I didn't realize the melodies. They still stuck with me and I remembered them. Still, there's something missing with this album.

everything is free is THAT song

Ahhhh sweet Gillian…. Relaxing listen of beautiful ballads! Fave songs were Revelator and Dear Someone.

a lot of country reminds me of my best friends cowgirl gramma, I spent a lot of my childhood with her and she always had a country Music Choice channel playing. when she popped into my head during this listen I checked the album and was listening to April the 14th, my besties bday :’)

Fav song: I Dream a Highway

If you're just going to have a guitar and vocals, they both need to be near perfect. In this case, they were. Impressive guitar work and Gillian has a great voice. Very "O Brother" - and I mean that in a good way.

Nice to watch the sunset too If I didn’t enjoy the music so much, I’d say she’s a Berklee kid cosplaying Appalachia

Great listen if you’re not in a hurry. Opener and closer were standouts.

This was one of the most sparsely arranged albums we have heard on the list thus far, and I it also contained one the longest songs that was not part of a medley or larger suite. That puts a lot of pressure on the songrwiting and Gillian Welch delivered. These are very well written songs about both historical events and personal feelings. I did not expect to hear any songs about Lincoln's assasination on this list! The harmonies were great and the guitar and mandolin solos were beautiful. I will say that "I Dream A Highway" was probably at least 6 miniutes too long and while the length of the song is an accomplishment, I just could not keep my attention on it.

This is my kind of country. Dark and solitary. It avoids the over the top accent issues and the cliche lyricism that a lot of country falls to as well. She has a great voice.

I knew to pay attention when I saw this linked to so many great artists’ influence playlists. Not my usual style, but it’s great, and I can hear the influence in my favorite folk and related musicians.

Beautiful and relaxing acoustic tunes, amazing lyrics, great guitar playing.

4/5. A calming and sweet americana record. It's full of hope and sadness, about a past full of regret and a future full of doubt. It's very present and sounds young from a woman has lived a life of wisdom. It's not a holy record and it's not even a perfect record, but there is something irreverent about this album that keeps me engaged. Through every song, I start off not super into it and then about a third of way through there is something that clicks and I am enraptured. Especially the last track, which takes the bold choice to not provide anything but her voice and a guitar for 15 minutes and it steals the show. It's the confidence and trust in the listener that I will hear what she has to say and here I am. It's definitely not game changing through out, but it was still great. Best Song: My First Lover, Red Clay Halo, Elvis Presley Blues, I Dream A Highway

Loved a lot of this but the anti-filesharing protest song was very 2001 (derogatory)

Really enjoyable, lots of flavour and a great voice

Really interesting sounds, and haunting lyrics (I actually don't know for sure, just sounds like it). Minimal but effective instrumentation.

Delightful. A surprising mix of spooky and comforting.

Loved this, tbh. I had it back in the day, and haven’t revisited in years. Really beautiful.

This is what I imagine playing in the background of an old wooden porch at dusk. Just fingerpicking and ghosts and some beautiful crooning. It’s all pretty slow, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Relaxing, grounding, maybe even a little haunting. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions: - Revelator - I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll - Elvis Presley Blues - Everything Is Free

New to me and I really like this!

Broody and dreamy with a deep voice - kind of folksy, very beautiful

good

Really, really enjoyed this. Strong possibility I change this to a '5 star.' The texture of her voice is so soothing and the instrumental work is freakin' beautiful. Starting with REVELATOR, followed by MY FIRST LOVER helps to define the concept of the album. Each song plays like a lovely lullaby. ELVIS PRESLEY BLUES is about as catchy a track as they come.

Pleasant laid back music. Kind of reminded me of the vibes of Joni Mitchell though not quite as good. Enjoyed

A beautiful piece of work.

Beautiful voice and great harmonies, backed by a mix of picking and strumming, gives off an Appalachian bluegrass feel. Worth a second listen.

Kinda cool

This surprised me

Some songs are sort of standard bluegrass if not better than average but some songs hit you in the soul. The chords and voice coming on like KD Lang or Cortez the Killer, Parting Glass, Mykonos. Just perfect

Lovely voice and soothing melodies.

A little too sad girl country for me to really get into it, and for that reason i don’t think I’ll revisit much. That being said, still a very good album. Did enjoy listening

Dark. Put together well, but a live show would be better, I think. Overall, very good.

Going into this completely blind was a treat. Gillian Welch writes some poetic lyrics and chooses the accompanying americana instrumentation accordingly. ‘Everything Is Free' is a masterpiece.

First impression pre listen: A female led singer-songwriter/country album on this list? I'm pleasantly surprised. There seems to be a general lack of female artists on here, so it's nice to have some diversity. I've consistently rated country pretty low so far, but I'm hoping this can be an outlier. I've never heard of this artist before so I don't really know what to expect. I wouldn't say I'm excited to listen to it. I'd rather say I'm curious as to what it sounds like. Individual song notes: Revelator The lack of production is a very pleasant suprise. Pretty guitar. Really evocative themes. She writes lyrics in a clear and understandable way without it sounding obvious or ham-fisted. Low-key and down to earth vocal performance. Really fits the contemplative lyrics. Love the jangly guitar at the end. Fantastic. 5/5 My First Lover Love the instrumentation on this track. The dark swampy bluesiness has an effortlessly cool atmosphere to it. Real sounding lyrics with some decent imagery. Decent. 3.5/5 Dear Someone Soothing and dreamlike, has some lullaby-like qualities. Beautiful sentimentality. Slow and calming. Decent. 3.5/5 Red Clay Halo Folksy. Interesting vocal melody. The lyrics are pretty fun, gets into some pretty standard country themes without being too cliche. Has this very "back to one's roots" nostalgia to it which she channels really well with her voice. Decent. 3.5/5 April the 14th, Pt. 1 Yeah it's pretty, though I'm not sure what it's about. I get the Titanic reference though. Is it referencing things that happened on that specific date? Seems to be a Lincoln reference there too. The instrumental is quite pleasant. Not especially dynamic, and it hardly ever tries something different. Fine. 3/5 I Want to Sing that Rock and Roll Solid harmony. Feels like a song about being heard and recognized. Kinda sparse. Fun instrumental break, though the applause is pretty annoying. Fine. 3/5 Elvis Presley Blues As far as tributes to other artists this is a pretty interesting way to do it. Uses some really fun language. Pretty catchy. It's reflective and sweet. Really pleasant. Good. 4/5 Ruination Day, Pt. 2 Dark, harrowing and bluesy. Really interesting continuation of the themes from "April the 14th, Pt. 1". I like how the tone of the song fits with the theme. Decent. 3.5/5 Everything Is Free Reflective and honestly a bit sad. Beautiful guitar playing. I like the hopeful determination shown in the last chorus. Really soothing. Good. 4/5 I Dream a Highway Holy moly almost 15 minutes. Thematic and vivid lyrics, really makes your imagination work. I don't get half the references or metaphors here, but it sounds pretty so I'm not to worried about it. Really lyrically and thematically dense. Will need multiple listens to understand everything that's going on here. Managed to keep my attention throughout its entire runtime. Enchanting and captivating. Fantastic. 5/5 Final Review: If you're looking for adrenaline pumping, high stakes, full throttle action then this album is definitely not for you. This is an intimate sounding, reflective piece of songwriting which challenges you to be patient and attentive. As it's lyrically dense and instrumentally sparse there's very little to draw you in outside of Gillian's performance which sort of drifts on top of this very understated guitar playing. She brings you this sort of very down to earth, loose and laid-back experience where she asks you to follow along and listen. And sure it's not always the most interesting thing in the world, but it is soothing, calm and at times very emotionally resonant. Her lyrics are very reflective and contemplative, where she tells of doubts and tragedies in a sort of matter of fact, non-dramatisized way. It's refreshing and relatable, and while her themes are very folksy and appropriate for what you'd expect for the genre, she generally avoids many of the cliches that come with it. However this is something you have to be in the right mood for, as the sparseness and the slow tempo can quickly become boring if you're not in the right headspace. That being said, I could definitely see myself returning to this again once the time is right. 3.5/5 rounded up to a 4/5.

Very nice

ok. folky. oh brother where out there

Never heard of her before but love her music! Will be listening to her other albums!

This was a reveleatorion hahaha a No but seriously it's a very good country music album. The opening track is incredible.

This album usually features only two acoustic guitars and vocals, and I was captivated for most of the album. It's a testament to the beautiful songwriting here. The leads are very tasty as well. Liked Songs Added: Revelator Everything Is Free

I’m really into this album, and this kind of stripped back Americana. So this one is on my rotation list. Gillian Welch is a the love child of Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams, and I really like her ability to tell a simply constructed story, even if she is heavy on the metaphor. This album sparkles and twangs. It’s got a rough, early recordings vibe to it, and that really suits the style of music. Her voice is great but occasionally sounds a bit thin for what she is trying to do, and David Rawlings harmonises, it gives the moment more punch. The album gets stronger as it progresses, and my only minor niggle is that I Dream a Highway could be shorter. Overall, it’s a great album, although depends on my mood as to how great I consider it to be.

Not really anything revolutionary, but I just thoroughly enjoyed it. Dont know if it just came at the right time or what it was but it got me crying a little. Is this what my teacher's talking about when he said that phrasing is everything

Can't wait to see her this Summer. Love Gillian's voice.

Songs: Dear Someone, Everything is Free

I really love the haunting nature of Welch's voice, and the tone and storytelling on this album is captivating. The scaled down production actually makes the songs bigger. This album could be the soundtrack for any great Southern Gothic Novel adapted for film. In fact, after listening to it straight through, I felt like I had just read a novel - the kind of novel that won't easily let you put it down even when you've finished it.

Delightful. Introspective and subdued, a lullaby album with more depth than the Pacific. More of this please.

Somber, but we'll written songs by an Americana legend...

Very nice!

4.5 I’ve heard Gillian Welch’s name before I’m pretty sure but had certainly never heard any of her music before. This, though, is especially lovely. Call me basic, but I really vibe with this vibes-based folk/bluegrass music. There’s been a couple albums like this on this list so far and they always surprisingly hit me in the gut. I just find it so hauntingly effective. Her voice is layered, wistful, atmospheric. Makes me think about the Blue Ridge Mountains. I know this album must have hit so hard on public radio in the early 2000s. lol. Ending the album with a 15 minute song shouldn’t work, but it’s so sweet and lovely and the phrase “I Dream a Highway Back To You” is so beautiful I wanna cry.

Wow, I was really thrown off by how much I like this. It's a country/bluegrass album. Not my kind of thing at all, but truly beautiful.

I’m a fan of her music and this album is now on my random “listen to this” playlist.

This lady has somehow slipped by my radar. Thought the album was great, enjoyed just about every song.

i liked this with a definite preference for the slower, more melancholy ballads. the more upbeat songs veered too much into “proper” country music i think. fav tracks: revelator; my first lover; everything is free; elvis presley blues

It was fine, not really my kind of music and a lot of it sounded the same. But it was pretty.

I bet if I listen to this more the rating will go up.... 4.0

Really cool that this lady did some of the best songs on the o brother where art thou soundtrack. Really americana. Very emotive singer and player. Will have to revisit but love the first three tracks and the last two of the record.

The last two tracks are the best ending to an album since Houmous & Chutneys ‘s 1997 82nd studio album ‘Just You Wait (It’s Worth It (The Wait (Until The Last 2 Tracks (They’re Outstanding (Totally Worth It (The Wait)))))’ 4.4

Simple, earnest folk music. Gillian's voice is so delicate but carries such a weight to it.

Loved

Thoughts before listening: I used to own this CD and I feel like I really enjoy it. I am glad to have a chance to listen again today. Review: I have always found a lot of power in Gillian Welch's music, despite it being mostly quiet acoustic folk music. There is something about her delivery and the music accompanying her that just draws me in. I especially love the guitarwork by David Rawlings on this album. Over the years they have started being double billed on live performances with each of their names listed because his guitar is as much a star as Gillian's vocals. 4-stars

3.5 stars