Reviews (page 3 of 7)
This is really beautiful. Rides the line perfectly between country and folk.
I hadn’t heard of Gillian Welch before, but I was curious to check out this album — and I’m really glad I did. It’s a beautifully stripped-back blend of folk and bluegrass, with minimal instrumentation that really lets the vocals and lyrics shine. What surprised me most was how much I connected with it — the storytelling is exceptional and pulls you in with each track. Favorite songs: I Dream a Highway and Elvis Presley Blues stood out to me — both are haunting and beautifully written. Least favorite: I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll felt a little out of place. The sudden shift to a live track broke the flow of the album for me. Album artwork: I love the cover — simple, but striking and perfectly suited to the mood of the music.
Have never heard of her before, instantly falling in love with her mysterious sounding voice.
Welch doesn't just chronicle life’s passing moments, she crafts revelations that will follow us through our own.
A rich album with a distinct sound and an artful voice. It can be self-indulgent, but it’s a great piece of work. Best song: Revelator
Straightforward and a very pleasant listen, I really enjoyed most of the tracks on this album.
Not normally a fan of country/acoustic music, but this was really good
Very chill. We enjoyed this one as lot actually, despite never having heard of Gillian Welch. Slow and gentle without being overly melancholic. We'll be listening to this again.
Good country album. Enjoyed it
I don't like country but I actually enjoyed this!
good chill acoustic
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings cracked my top 25 of 2024 with their stellar album, Woodland. While I don’t love this album quite as much, it’s still a great album. I also enjoyed her contribution to the Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. I love Welch’s ability to create a meditative trance like backdrop for her often dark and insightful stories of American life. Also worth your time and in a similar style would be Hurray For The Riff Raff, although they have a bit more full band Americana type of sound. Over all, Time (The Relevator) is an incredible Folk/American album worthy of 4 stars.
This quiet little album surprised me. I found it spare, unadorned, but effective. The songs have a hazy, meditative quality that draws you in without trying to impress. It feels honest, real, and timeless, never reaching for more than it needs. Though it was quite minimalist, it was very evocative and moody. It all seemed carefully crafted yet not fussy, and it's a big change from a lot of the '70s prog rock I've been getting in the past few days, so it was like a breath of fresh air. Overall I really enjoyed it, though the final track dragged a bit for me at 14 minutes long. Still, the album made a strong impression.
Another singer-songwriter album I can actually stomach, this time probably because of the tinges of dreamy darkness. Good writing background music.
Pleasant 3.5 stars
I do like a good acoustic album
Pleasantly surprised. I thought this was gonna be some boring, whiney music. It was whiney but I liked the country flavour
Nice pleasant album.
Bare-bones but soulfully executed and good. 3.8
Enjoyed this way more than expected. Strong songwriting. Snappy production helps a lot.
-Just what I imagine to get by something labeled as "american folk" -Nostalgia and melancholic love lyrics -Put it through an old radio low-pass filter and make it fit into "Fallout" OST -Love the sound of the guitar on this
Nice to hear a significant change in Genre from this generator so far - majority has been rock and pop, with a splash of Hip Hop, nothing folky or country... until now! Gillian has a wonderful voice and storytelling ability, she conveys her feelings in such an awesome tone that kept me hanging on her every last word. Sure, folk/ country can sometimes sound a bit same samey, but in the context of this album and at this point in her career, Gillian has nailed her own sound. The Guitar is SO pretty and compliments Gillian's cadence so wonderfully. The harmonies that become more commonplace as the album progresses is the exact growth you want to hear from an album like this. All these observations, stories, poems, they crescendo into a nearly 15 minute monster; I Dream a Highway. Favourite Songs: My First Lover, Dear Someone, Elvis Presley Blues, Ruination Day, PT. 2.
Bardzo klimatyczne i surowe, ale nie jestem w stanie traktować na poważnie nikogo kto pisze trwającą kwadrans gitarową balladę. Ładne to i smutne i humorzaste, ale na Boga po co takie długie? Cowboy by dawno zasnął i spadł z konia przy czymś takim. 7/10
Knowing only that Welch is a singer of country/folk/Americana, I began my listen with skepticism; even when I can recognize good songwriting and performing talent, this isn’t typically the kind of music I like best. After a few songs, the album really started to win me over. Some of the songwriting on here is just stunning — I mean, “Everything is Free” by itself earns this album an entire star. Must-listen #63.
All I really know from Gillian Welch is Look at Ms. Ohio, and I love that song. Curious about the rest of the album. Love the vibe, she's got a great voice for this type of music. Man I had a period of my life where I listened to so much shit like this, this is really bringing back to that, I like this a lot. Maybe gets a LITTLE bit same-y, but I like it.
Always a pleasant listen. Really nice acoustic performances. I like the longer, rambling songs
I've been meaning to listen to this for a while. I'm always here for anything in the Americana/folk/singer-songwriter/bluegrass ballpark. I really liked this and plan to give it another listen because I know it will grow on me even more. The title track and April the 14th, Part I are the standouts from my first listen. Not so long ago, I had Time Out Of Mind (from 1997) by Dylan. The song Highlands is over 16 minutes long and closes the album. I Dream A Highway reminded me of this as it's over 14 minutes and also closes the album. While I love the refrain, "I dream a highway back to you," I'm still uncertain whether I enjoy its runtime. Although I did find Highlands tedious, whereas as this was relaxing. The whole album makes me want to be outside on a warm spring day, swaying in a hammock with my eyes closed.
3.5/5
Reminded me of home, quite lovely. I thought the last song was gonna last forever.
bonito disco to impressionado
Great voice. Good music. Definitely be listening to her more in the future.
Good, cosy, nice. Didn't change my life but was utterly good!
Solid...subdued. Will look into more of her catalogue. 4/5
December 28, 2024 HL: “Dear Someone”, “April 14th”, “I Want to Sing Rock and Roll”, title track Gillian Welch (& David Rawlings) will be #1001! If the list ended here, I’d feel pretty darn satisfied- with some exceptions. Kate Bush’s only album is The Sensual World? Bebel Gilberto there, but no João? Time (the Revelator), more like Timeless (the Revelation). I may need more time yet to process this album, but as far as “dark and hymnal country” goes this is up there with the best. I have never heard another song with the phrase “staggers and jags”, besides “Barrett’s Privateers”, until today. The closer is a pretty remarkable ending, with some repeats of earlier poetry and imagery, though its 15 minutes does get a bit monotonous. Only five albums left that I’ve already heard: (Led Zeppelin I, In Rainbows, Tubular Bells, Hounds of Love, & Veckatimest) so I really only have 83 left to get through! Out of 1089 🤯
Beautifully crafted, in a way that makes you miss the fact that they have been crafted - some of these songs (in particular "Dear Someone") sound like they were handed down through many generations of mountain people, whereas they were all written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings). Great performances, splendid arrangements, and awesome harmonies throughout.
This is one of the finds of the Proj for me. It is so incredibly moving in places - particularly the opening and closing tracks, which really hit you like a gut punch. I think if and when I give this repeat listens, it might make its way into five territory. I'm really quite stunned by it.
✅ Everything Is Free ✅✅ I Dream a Highway Hadn’t heard of Gillian before, and it’s been a pleasure! I love her voice. Just wish the tempo were a bit faster—my stomach lurched slightly when I saw the 14-minute run time on I Dream a Highway. But it was extremely beautiful.
OK I don't usually take the time for multiple listens in this project, but by coincidence I did for this one, and the second time through was far superior to the first. I get it now, this lady is cool.
I had heard of this artist in passing but I never sat down to listen to her. Very much enjoyed this album.
I was first introduced to Gillian Welch through the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack, and been a fan ever since. This is probably my favorite album of hers.
Had this on in the background for the first listen and it is just so damned calming. I have a soft spot for stripped down alt-country. Everything is Free is a fantastic song. Just beautiful in composition and delivery. Similarly, I Dream A Highway is disarmingly beautiful in its simplicity. Drawn out to nearly 15 minutes, the instrumentation isn't doing a lot, but I'll be damned if it doesn't feel perfect. Her voice is so relaxing, it feels as if it ought to be listened to sitting in a cabin during a snowstorm with a fire rolling. This was an enjoyable ride all the way through and I could see myself throwing this on again without question. For me this is a soft 4 -- in the 8.2 territory.
Never heard of her before but really great music, even if this is something I don't usually listen to.
Country
Loved. Sweet. Calming.
A good album, I liked Revealer, My First Lover and I Dream A Highway.
Will definitely be listening to more of this when I get a chance. Really enjoyed this album, especially Everything is Free and I Dream a Highway
Really enjoyed the messy instruments at the end of the first song. Sometimes this album doesn’t stand out since there’s so much good folk music out there. But the really long final song was my favorite. It felt weird and ambitious and over-dramatic and haunting!
3.5 rounded up to 4. I didn’t know any songs off this album but love Look at Miss Ohio from her 2003 album.
Nice stuff. A bit languid at times, but pretty enjoyable.
This genre is not my favorite, and that’s probably the difference between a 4 and a 5 here. Because within the limitations of this genre, I think Gillian Welch is the best. Every song here is a (n Americana) banger, but you don’t end the album with a 14-minute song unless you think it’s a big artistic statement deserving of that space on the record. Luckily, it is (glares intently at The Doors). This post talks about it well: https://www.nodepression.com/i-dream-a-highway-gillian-welchs-song-of-america-explicated/ But at its simplest level, I’ve always heard it as three things: a lament for an old way of Nashville/country music that isn’t coming back (in 2001! I wonder how she feels now), a love song in the style of an Odyssey—returning to someone from your past, and a death song (where the You is God). I’m not at all confident the lyrics support all of that, just a vibe I get. But what a beautiful, mysterious way to end the album. Sublime.
Not usually a fan of country but this was good
You know, this really grew on me over several listens. I figured I'd like it, but the first time through I was very meh.
I was not previously familiar with the artist or album before listening. This album was a breath of fresh air. The album has a classic country/folk sound and her voice is fantastic. I enjoyed this a lot, even though this isn't a common genre for me. I would come back to this one for sure.
an unexpectedly pleasant listen! i'll certainly be returning to this
Never listened to Gillian Welch before and this was a great surprise. A really varied and interesting country album with very sincere and thoughtful lyrics, and strong performances throughout
I don't know how many Gillian Welch albums are on this list but I would have guessed 1, and that it would have been her debut. She and Dave Rawlings have enjoyed one of the great musical partnerships of the past several decades and this is a fine example of it.
Really enjoyed this, especially the title song, My First Lover, and the last song--I dream a highway. Sometimes Welch's voice doesn't live up to her goals for it but it really works on those songs. Nice album I'll listen to again.
This was pretty solid.
Good album Standout songs: Dear Someone Elvis Presley Blues I Dream a HIghway
Beau dans sa retenue, son dénuement qui n'est pas pauvreté.
A really lovely listen :)
She was a revelation for me. I liked her dark ballads reminding me of Lera Lynn, though this harsh contrast of these gorgeous ballads with cheerful country songs makes me confused) Anyway, it’s 4
Never heard this album before but it was great
I really like Gillian. I think there's some really remarkable songs here but it just doesn't quite hit the 5 star level for me. It's a definite strong 4. As a side note I listened to this uninterrupted on a rather beautiful autumn night and it seemed to be the perfect setting to do so.
I have kind of a soft spot for singer-songwriter indie types and this album pushes that in a country direction. I wasn't sure if I would like it and I definitely did. It's sad and emotional and Welch's voice is sweet and soothing. The title track is strong and the songs on the back end are high points.
I could very easily write an essay on this album. I wasn’t really familiar with Gillian welch and country music is always a stranger to my British ears. But I loved this, it feels like the end of one of those movies where they’re all huddled up by a fire. I shall return to this album.
I had not listened to this album since my copy was lost in a move. I still love it's gentleness.
Liked this quite a bit with few exceptions. Melancholic without being broody. A good gray day listen.
This wasn't bad. I'd need to be in the mood for low key and mellow to listen to it again.
I think I was surprised by how much I liked this. Very pretty voice, stripped down production. I will listen to this one again.
A fairly minimalist folk album. If Low was an acoustic band I suspect they’d sound like this. Lots of Americana feel and at times almost a cappella.
4.5
Glad I didn’t skip this. Very enjoyable country/folk. Great guitars, banjos, etc. 4/5
Absolutely love this album (9.5) ★★★★½
Wonderful ambience, a few more boring tracks in the middle, but mostly great
Great album. Super pretty folk/Americana songs - 4.5 stars
This warranted more attention than I was able to give it yesterday, but even so, the simplicity was beguiling, the lyrics were beautiful and the structure was strong. Great album (I think) 4 stars for what I think it is, but this might be adjusted when I listen again, when slightly less distracted
Hermosa voz!
That was a really quite nice album!
A mellow, laid back alt-country album. Bare bones, strings squeaking, right up the mic songs. Through a log on the fire, watch the embers rise, have a drink of whiskey and listen to the album. Best Tracks: Revelator; Elvis Presley Blues; Everything Is Free
This is nice folky music.
saw them in santa monica with my dad in 1996 and little did we know…
Great stripped down style of Americana. Lovely guitar and vocal harmonies.
3.5
Not my style, but sounds good.
Beautiful singing and a very consistently good album. I enjoyed a few songs greatly and the storytelling of the Ruination Day songs was incredible.
Not the biggest country fan, but funsies
I like some good, haunting alt country. I didn't love every song on this record, but most of it is great and I would for sure play this again often. 4/5.
Really enjoyed this, surprisingly. It's not really my genre, but it's pretty great all the way through. 4/5
Listened to this twice and feel like there's more I'm missing. I like the voice and general vibe though
First two tracks have a really cool feel to them. Red Clay Halo is a good song. I Dream A Highway is awesome, its just like everything I want in a chill acoustic song.
Very sweet, kept a couple of tracks.
Constantly blown away by this woman! This album was no exception.
I'd heard her name but never really knew her music. It's pretty good!
melancholy and thoughtful country from the mountaintops. it's an album that makes you think with its lyrics. i really like albums that are like poetry, having plenty of tunes about the human condition and the pondering thoughts about it all... it's also very relaxing. i could probably sleep like a damn baby listening to this.
Good album. Gillian Welch has a great voice, and the production and composition is great. Not sure why its on this list over some other more foundational bluegrass and folk stuff, but still worth a listen. 4/5
I’m not a massive folk listener, I don’t listen to it often or know much by any means…but sometimes I do like a little folk and have an itch to scratch. This was a nice album to scratch the itch I occasionally get. :) a couple of the songs I liked less than others, but generally easy listening. First half was better than the second though.
was vaguely familiar with her from that o brother where art thou soundtrack, but this is lovely! at some point i'll revisit and spend more time with it but surprised it had me sitting down and enjoying a 12+ minute track with that closer. not a big country person but alt country and alt folk i'm pretty into.
3.5. Really Lovely.
First song got me very excited - discordant twangs of the guitar on that country accent felt like grounds for subversion but the PJ Harvey-ness of the guitar seemed to fade a bit. Recentered to me with April 14th - think it’s because I’m reminded of wish you were here. 3.75
Pretty, but dragged.
-when I saw that this is an "country" album, I was like "whatever", but after first listen, I actually came around to enjoying this album. -such a calm album -I like the guitars -I also like the voice -I feel like this is more of an Americana album tho -I found another rainy day album. Thanks 1001albumsgenerator.com ! -favorite songs: Revelator, Dear Someone, Red Clay Halo, Elvis Presley Blues, Everything Is Free, I Dream A Highway (<3) -least favorite song: Ruination Day
Immediately feel the need to re-listen when I can focus more on the lyrics. Seems like there's a lot to absorb.
major, major props for having your album's 15 minute closer be its most compelling song.
Great album, excellent lyrics and emotive vocals. One I will be sure to listen to again
I was already familiar with Gillian Welch and feel like I had heard 1 or 2 of these songs before. This was a beautiful album, the opening track grabbed me right away.
Også megachill kanskje litt deprimert
It's nice to rediscover artists you've forgotten about. Weirdly on the first listen I wasn't really sure about this but it did grow on me especially April the 14th Pt. 1. This is maybe a 4.4 at the moment. Other faves Everything is Free and I Dream a Highway.
Reflective
This was lovely and soothing and I enjoyed it. It was so soothing that I almost fell asleep, though, especially that last 15-minute track. There wasn't anything here that I have to revisit, but I was glad to spend some time here.
Sometimes albums are about when you hear them. I probably would have given this three stars. It's a little too sparse and the arrangements are a little too simple. But this hit me at the right time, in the right place.
Beautiful, as always with Gillian Welch.
Opening track is quite lovely, quiet and acoustic. The next couple songs are a lot more twangy but it's stripped down and her voice isn't overly country. I much prefer the folky, Americana sounding songs like Revelator, April the 14th and Everything Is Free. The long last track I Drama Highway is more of the bluesy stuff I like the highlight of the album. Relaxing stuff, but emotionally charged. Good find.
Not bad stuff
She's got such a sincere approach to songwriting with an incredibly easy-to listen-to sound. That first track is such a sad album starter. I do love how even though it's generally a sad song, there's a lot of borrowed chords from other keys so it's not all sad/minor chords all of the time, and rather it is interspersed with major chords to keep it "grey" instead of so obviously black or white. Great chromatics in the lead guitar too. I really love these lines in track 1: "Leaving the valley, and fucking out of sight I'll go back to Cali where I can sleep out every night And watch the waves and move the fader" really cool wordplay on "watch the waves" being either/or/and ocean waves or soundwaves. Lots of great lyrical homages here too. I heard Courtney Barnett cover "Everything Is Free" a few years back and it's become one of my favorite modern folk songs. I love the sentiment and I love how unpoetic and straightforward the lyrics are, "I can get a tip jar Gas up the car And try to make a little change Down at the bar Or I can get a straight job I done it before Never minded working hard It's who I'm working for. Every day I wake up Hummin' a song But I don't need to run around I'll just stay at home And sing a little love song My love and myself If there's something that you wanna hear You can sing it yourself. And everything is free now That's what they say Everything I ever done Gotta give it away Someone hit the big score They figured it out That we're gonna do it anyway Even if it doesn't pay." I personally have some frustrations with the music industry not being something that you can make a living with and I've admittedly been part of my problem, being a bad kid and torrenting mp3's and albums and full discographies of bands. I have spent tens of thousands on CD's, merch, and tickets over the years of my life, but there's a long list of people who make huge profits in the music business and the musicians tend to be towards the bottom of that list. I do wonder what the milieu of music would look like on a grand scale if the industry was different and went down an alternate route. Right now it feels like there's a proliferation of huge artists (the Taylor Swifts, Beyonces, Drakes, Ariana Grandes etc) who make an absolute ridiculous amount of money, and then everyone else kind of scrapes by. There's the mega famous and then everyone else, instead of the mega famous, and then the middle class who could still make a living with music, and then the amateurs who can't. I'll always remember meeting a death metal drummer who was a hero of mine- incredibly talented and in one of the biggest death metal bands ever, and meeting him at his workplace, as a cook at a NYC coffee shop. He worked with my friend and my friend said "don't make a big scene out of it though, he doesn't want it to be a big thing that he works at a coffee shop". It was amazing to meet him but depressing that someone so talented would still need a day job to pay the bills. Folk music to me has always centered around authenticity, and I think it's admirable and brave of her to write a song about being frustrated with not getting money from her music. Strong 4 for me.
Great voice! I would say this was mostly music that I would listen to ... and then there was the Elvis song and some other songs that were not by cup of tea. The last track was beautiful.
One of my favorite albums. Her voice, the writing, the way it pulls from country tradition yet also subverts quite a lot. Pieces here have a distinct songwriting character, yet still manage to span a breadth of country song types. It’s an album where I think yeah this definitely should be on the list and should be heard by everyone.
This was a completely unexpected delight. I don't typically lean into Americana, Bluegrass, Country, or Folk, but this album checked off all of those boxes and made for a very relaxed Wednesday morning listen.
I listened to this album a few months ago and it didn’t really stick with me. This time around, really enjoyed it. Earnest songwriting, straight forward instrumentation, real vulnerability on display.
Fifteen-year-old me heard one Gillian Welch song and did NOT appreciate it, but forty-something me is so happy to have been properly introduced. This is quiet and acoustic but somehow bright and warm; her voice is soft (not whispery) but strong… I don’t usually enjoy singer-songwriter/acoustic music, but for whatever reason, this has turned out to be an exception. If you’re the same way, and aren’t thrilled about getting this album, I would say give it a shot anyway. Definitely surprised me. Another day I’m grateful for this list!
I love Gillian Welch, but this album felt kind of like a dirge. I like Revival so much more. Still 4 stars because she and Dave Rawlings are awesome.
favourite song ruination day pt 2 was way more into this than i anticipated.
I like the style, but don’t love the lyrics. Overall solid though.
This has all the elements of something that i should really dislike. Turns out, i don't dislike this at all. Elvis Presley Blues is a dote.
I don't have the background or the knowledge to say anything about this other than I liked it quite a lot.
little inauthentic (but who cares right) but a smooth and easy listening experience. i love this flavor of country.
A peaceful easy feeling with a gal and her guitar. I like her croons. Would’ve loved a livelier track or two thrown in, but it was a relaxing listening experience.
I like this a lot more than I thought I would. This is not so much “country” in the Garth Brooks sense. She does more of the O Brother, Where Art Thou style of old Americana folk music. Soft, melodic and peaceful. Very pretty and measured. Quality.
Erfrischender Country mit coilen Banjo
Schöner Singer-Songwriter Verstehe den Hype ums Album nicht ganz. 3-4
4.0
I have to be in a certain mood to listen to a lot of folk/country music and the closer to an authentic sound, the better. I've been familiar with Gillian Welch since this album came out, as I've listened to similar sounding artists, but what sets Welch apart is the sincerity and passion she displays in her music. This is easy to listen to, not in the "easy-listening" sense, but it's hard not to like her playing, her voice and her always interesting songs. I can listen to this on repeat all day, it's that good!
Can't say I'll listen to it intentionally, but certainly no complaints. Not a bad album.
Mellow
Listened all day.
Definitely has a classic country-gospel voice. Good record
This is my first time listening to Gillian Welch. Such simple, soothing, soulful music. Keeping true to the roots of Appalachia and bluegrass.
I enjoyed the lyrics, but it isn’t my preferred vibe generally. I did, however, fall asleep to it for a long nap and slept very well so I’ll give it a 4 🫡
Zu meiner Schande muss ich gestehen, dass ich von Gillian Welch noch nie etwas gehört habe. Für mich ist allein schon die "One Album a Day"-Challange ein Gewinn wegen solche Alben wie "Time" von Gillian Welch. Ein wunderschönes Folk-Album mit einer unglaublichen akkustischen Guitarre, die nur vor Spielfreude strotzt. Was mich fasziniert an den Arrangements, dass hier eine perfekte Mischung aus Harmonien und Dissonanzen entstanden ist, aber insgesamt das Album trotzdem harmonisch klingt und die Dissonanzen wohldosiert nicht zu überhören sind. Wahre Kunst. Die Songs "Revelator", "I want to sing that Rock'n Roll" und "Everything is free" stechen hervor. Aber es sind insgesamt 10 wundervolle Songs in 50 Minuten.
Epic
Part 1 was good
A calm cool alt country album that reminded me why I like her music, I only know her other work from a few tracks but I was happy to hear this and came away satisfied.
Very good but not too outstanding. I love bluegrass music for its calmness, but when listening more to the lyrics of this one it truly carried. Welch is incredibly talented as a songwriter and I really enjoyed this
I didn't like it at first but it grew on me by the 4th or 5th track. Blue Grassy-ness and folksiness of the album permeates every track with crazy topics like the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Big fan now
Certainly not an album for all occasions, but I love this album and artist. We saw her play the TLA in Philly, I think it might have been in support of this album (maybe the one after) and Gillian and Dave were amazing (we got to say hello as they were entering the theatre at the same time we did). Any way... great great album with standout tracks (Red Clay Halo, Everything Is Free, Elvis Presley, My First Lover), exquisite interplay between the two artists, and a sound for the ages. It's shy of a 5 for me only because it's a little plodding taken as a whole. But Gillian sure do 'lectrify my soul.
This is a 3.5 - was very nice and chill to listen to while going Christmas shopping am unsure if I will listen to it again. She has obviously influenced some artists I really enjoy.
Really dig the opening title track. The rest is super solid as well. April the 14th is very nice. Also, Everything Is Free. That 14 minute closer ain’t bad. But that title track especially. 👌 4/5
shes pretty! i hope her album is as pretty as her album cover is. It's good. Solid 3 or 4 stars. I dont crave it necessarily, but I see why shes an icon.
I love this album, it's a banger. Some really nice guitar, song writing, great lyrics. Only criticism is that Revelator is by far the best song and does sound a bit out of place with the rest for style.
Strong first half but the album sort of fades out. Love her voice, the guitar and the melodies.
Melancholy folk and bluegrass. I've never heard of this one before but it was incredibly absorbing. Music to close your eyes and daydream to.
super album, country folk. J'ai adoré un super vibe slow smooth. C'était bon ce matin. 4.5
Very happy with this, when I saw the painfully 2000’s album cover I had low hope for this but I thought it was phenomenal. Lyrics were good voice was great guitar was great somber vibes were immaculate. No horns but that’s okay. -B
Really love this style of country. She has a beautiful voice perfectly suited for these songs
Songwriting and soul. Post-punk mellow gold. Love it!
I liked many parts of this album maybe just cuz I was walking on a lovely fall day 🤷♀️
I think I like this album more than I feel like I like it right now. It's a mood that I'm not in.
Gorgeous instrumentals and voice. Relaxing and a little haunting
I enjoy the simple vocals / music. Was a lovely listen for Monday drive in. I will likely look for more from Ms Welch
Just Welch and Rawlings, co-writing and wielding their guitars on a quiet collection of excellent, stripped-down American folk tunes with some deep, intelligent lyrics rich in metaphor. And Welch's voice... just timeless and iconic. It's everything you want American music to sound like. Her woven lyric imagery is superb, detailing the American experience in every moment, from the time of Lincoln through the time of Elvis all the way up to the moment of pondering a broken heart over a whisky and water.
Really grew on me!
Happy to finally have a woman artist in the mix. :)
Great folk music, but it made me soooo aleepy
I do enjoy Americana/Folk/Country, and this album is great, but I need some variety. Revelator, Red Clay Halo and Everything Is Free are great songs.
Very calming
Как же круто 8/10
Ret vild med den her plade, selvom noget af det bliver lige country nok. Hørte den tilfældigvis også for et par uger siden
I had an expectation for how this would sound that was completely wrong. This album was somber and interesting throughout and the songwriting is excellent, especially the title track. Really good.
She sound great.
Nice intimate Americana
I've always loved Revelator, and Everything is Free. Beautiful and sparse. But a whole album in one go is a little bit much for me.
One of the surprises of the generator for sure, timeless voice.
Soft, beautifully written and featuring that certain something that singer-songwriter/folk just DOES. A GORGEOUS overall experience that satisfies throughout. Well-written and indeed excellent.
Album 174 of 1001 Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator) Rating : 4 / 5 Favorite Track : Elvis Presley Blues What a peaceful listen. Such gentle songwriting. This is a really good album. Put it on. Relax. Let it do its thing. (Side Note : Her parents were writers for the Carol Burnett Show)
Lo escuché como 3 veces. Dear Someone es mi track favorito.
I really enjoyed this album that I must have missed when it was first put out!
A highly polished yet broken gem.
Some sweet melancholy blues, nothin wrong with that. It's pretty enjoyable and sometimes relaxing to listen to, I could see myself listening to this again if I ever really crave some Americana blues.
don't wanna be giving so many Albums 4s but this is solidly solid. some duds but I dream a highway, revelator, etc are just so good. great stuff
Reminded me a lot of Joni Mitchell, love her voice and the atmosphere here songs create.
Favourite tracks: revelator; I dream a highway; to my lover; Elvis Presley blues
Gezellige singersongwritermuziek, twee gitaren, een vrouwenstem en meer is het niet. En het werkt prima.
7/10 not a genre I’m a big fan of, but still a pretty great album I can appreciate; very talented musician(s)
Had its ups and downs but very nice overall
Good classic country
Slow does not equal boring, people. This album is full of clever imagery and allusion. She's a great songwriter. This was far from boring. Bonus points for the stealth two-parter. Best tracks: April the 14th Part 1 and Ruination Day Part 2
god
Really great americana/folk album Gets a little bit boring in the middle but the first and last tracks make up for it Favourite tracks: Revelator, My First Lover, I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll, I Dream A Highway
Sometimes this website is nice to me. Sometimes it gives me an album I already know I'll love. Sometimes it gives me an album that I'm already intimately familiar with. Sometimes it throws a curveball and catches me looking and gives me something that I'd never have found otherwise. This falls squarely in that last category. My goodness, what a voice Gillian has. Her vocals are drop dead gorgeous, and her guitarwork is no joke either. Revelator, Everything Is Free and I Dream A Highway are worth the price of admission alone-- but just about everything here is pure alt-country gold. The southern-fried donkey in me is happy he's got another album he's been needing for his entire life. A red clay 4/5.
Was ready to be bored but her dark silky voice over bare bones folk was exactly what I needed today. Could be talked up to a five.
Vähän yllätyin että tää levy on tällä listalla :D Ei siinä, tää on kova levy mutta kun tuota Everything Is Freetä on tullut niin paljon kuunneltua. Hyvää akustista folkkia ja suoraan mun akustiselle listalle taas
Actually a pretty good folk album! I really liked Gillian vocal skills, soothing voice and an interesting range. Instrumentally, I'm not into folk that much, I think you really have to be in a mood to appreciate it, but somehow Gillian made it much easier to get into this album with her skills. Positive experience.
Country music has a lot more to over than just cowboy stuff and this album is a wonderful example for it. This is alternative country sliding into folk with darker, brooding themes. I love it! The opener is gorgeous. After a while you'd wish for more diverse arrangements though.
Beautiful folk album! Really enjoyed this one and excited to discover more from her. 8 out of 10
Here's another name I've heard a million times but never listened to. Some really great bluegrass, singer-songwriter stuff here. Will listen to more.
Damn I was reading ab this album while listening to the last album and expected to fully hate it. But it’s so good. Nothing like i’ve really listened to before but i love it. Wow. Was not expecting a 4 here
Un disco ideal para un día de lluvia. No lo conocía y me gustó, lo voy a escuchar de nuevo en estos días. Me sumo al team que milita la media estrella, le hubiera puesto tres y medio pero redondeo para arriba.
Utterly beautiful.
Today's album was a real surprise! Before today, I hadn't heard of Gillian Welch before, or so I thought. Turns out, she provided a few songs to the O' Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. That happens to be one of my favourite movies, and I also own that soundtrack on vinyl. The songs she provided are: Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby and I'll Fly Away, two absolutely beautiful songs! Upon listening to this album, it was more of the same. Bluegrass/folk/singer songwriter with subtle country undertones. Absolutely love the guitar/banjo combo that is prevalent on most songs on the record. I Dream A Highway is an absolute epic of a song, clocking in at 14 minutes in length. I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll is a lively song that was recorded live. April 14th (Part 1) tells the story of a few shitty things that happened on that date throughout history. This story is continued in Ruination Day (Part 2). The topics include: The sinking of the Titanic, a severe dust storm hits the US Midwest, leading to the area being called the Dust Bowl, and the assassination of Abe Lincoln. The way that Gillian weaves lyrics and music is absolutely perfect. Overall, a phenomenal album today. One I will definately be listening to more often! Favourite songs: Red Clay Halo, Revelator, April the 14th (Part 1), My First Lover, Everything is Free Least favourite songs: Ruination Day (Part 2) 4/5
i’m sure there are plenty of albums just like this which are better, but to me nothing compares
What a soulful, autobiografical and yet traditionalist american folk record. Great Pick!
Some great songs but also some dull ones. I mostly liked the really sparse instrumentation but I’m intrigued to see if any of her other albums have a fuller sound. 4 stars mainly for the title track, my first lover, red clay halo and Elvis Presley blues.
Excellent album. I know Gillian Welch, she's one of those songwriters perennially nominated for Grammys that most people have never even heard. But I've certainly heard "Everything is Free," an amazing song about the devaluation of music and the emotional labor of artists. I think I first heard it via cover(s) from Phoebe Bridgers and Courtney Barnett. It sounds like a song that's been around forever, and I know it will. There are other fantastic songs on here too, even on first listen. "Elvis Presley Blues" felt more insightful than the entirety of Baz Luhrmann's shitty movie. Loved the long, drawn-out closer that is "I Dream a Highway." I will always welcome heavy songwriter albums like this on the list. Favorite tracks: Everything is Free, Elvis Presley Blues, My First Lover, I Dream a Highway. Album art: Pretty simple shot of Gillian, gets the job done I suppose. For this kind of music, it would hardly make sense to do much more than this. 4.5/5
Sweet voice and guitar, lightly dark lyrics, nice all around
Good country
I would like to find more country music like this
Liked this more than I thought I would!!
This album makes me feel so romantic about music. Just so soft yet forceful, so tender yet unrelenting. Gillian Welch takes complete hold of your attention and you are naturally drawn into the level of detail in the instrumentation. Beautiful textures that develop gently. I believe that we don’t need constant stimulation and a million different instruments to make something so layered and dense, and this is a great example of letting the art breathe. Something simple can be so much. There’s just a wonderfully admirable level of depth here that I will continue to wade through. Faves: Revelator, Everything Is Free, I Dream A Highway, Dear Someone, Elvis Presley Blues, I Want To Sing That Rock And Roll, Red Clay Halo
I liked this a lot, though a couple songs (the initial title track, and Everything is Free) stood way above most of the rest for me, which came across as pretty standard bluegrassy folk, well performed but not extraordinary.
Allison Krauss meets Joni Mitchell with a strong hint of Emmylou Harris thrown in for good measure. Norah Jones became the breakout star around this time, but a world with better sense would have made Welch a star instead.
My second favorite genre is girl with guitar (or piano). This fits.
Did like this, will need to listen again to get a better idea of it
Great album, chill, but slow
I'd listened to this a few weeks ago. It's three stellar songs spaces throughout - Title track, I Wanna Sing and the astonishing and astonishingly long end track. They sustain interest throughout with just two guitars or banjo and vocals. Absolutely usually hate this kind of stuff, so it's a strong four.
I heard this one because I was deep in my LimeWire phase at the time and was downloading anything that anybody talked about. I didn't know who she was, didn't know her music. I wouldn't even consider myself a big fan of the sort of alt-folk/country whatever it is that this is supposed to be categorized under. But I loved it. 'Everything is Free' is an all-time great song for me (and quite ironically so, given my LimeWire addiction at the time). 'Revelator' isn't far behind. Plenty of good stuff in between. Love the sound of the guitars, too. Pair this with Neko Case & Her Boyfriends' Furnace Room Lullaby. (Dammit that album better be on this list somewhere or it's all horse puck.)
What are the politics of taking a Black folk song ('John Henry') and turning it into a paean to Elvis (despite the nuanced lyric, especially in the third verse where the legend of John Henry is brought front and centre). Much to ponder! I've never heard any Gillian Welch before now, and I'd like to hear more. The first couple of tunes are wonderful, spiky minor-key numbers and forbidding lyric sheets. As a whole this album lulls (anaesthetizes?) the lyric a little too much for this listener; and the music, whilst wrought in lovely shapes, is derivative. But Welch is a great, haunted singer and an even better songwriter, so these are minor quibbles.
Pure and haunting and true, no matter if musical hipsters are making the music. Sometimes the homage is better than the original.
enjoyable, moody
Very enjoyable even if a little overly stripped down at times. I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley Blues, and I Dream a Highway were great
Beautiful, haunting, lovely voice
I didn't know this artist at all and I had no expectations. Finally, the more I think about my listening, the more I say to myself that I liked the album and that I will certainly return to it. It's emotional, warm and tormented folk like there were few in the early 2000s. Does the album bring something different? Does he belong in the challenge? No idea, but very nice discovery in my case.
Pared back gentle songs. She has a lovely voice and the subtle harmonies round out the sound.
This album is a heartsong that speaks to the places I emerged from: slow, rural, earthy. It is interesting to read her story as an adopted child born in NYC and then being raised in L.A., finally landing in Nashville. I was somewhat sorry I did because I always thought her voice came from the kind of place I did, but it turns out that's not the case. That created a dialogue about authenticity for me, but nonetheless, an album like this by a woman whose biological mother may have grown up in the mountains of North Carolina still feels like she never left those blue hills. Or maybe has strived so hard to find them. I know the feeling.
I listened to this album a fair amount in the early 2000s. It occupies the same sad hole in my heart where Aimee Mann and Elliott Smith also reside. I can only listen to them when it's a little gloomy out and when I am in a certain mood. Gillian Welch's voice and harmonies are beautiful. I love the way the music highlights traditional bluegrass instruments like the banjo but with a dark twist. If I had one critique it would be that sometimes the music is so slow and soft it sometimes takes on a droning/dirge-like feel that can put me to sleep. Like I said, gotta be in the right mood.
i'm very glad to learn about this
Loved this. Buttery folky harmonies, finger picks n strums. What more do ya need?
Thus is lovely. County/Americana can be a bit suspect but this is sparse, haunting and leaves a warm feeling. 2 people picking acoustic guitars and GWs velvet voice. It all holds together well as an album. Will play again. Strong 4.
First time listen but I knew from the first track that I was gonna dig the whole record. Will definitely listen again.
Another “revelation” for me. What a voice! The simplicity of the accompaniment invites careful attention to nuance and fosters a refreshing intimacy. This album calls for many rehearings!
This is rather a special album.
Calming melodies with some strong lyrics. Not my cup of tea but still really good.
слушать заебанным по пути домой после утомительного и дурацкого дня и обязательно одному. альбом открывается не сразу, мне сначала не заходило: ну красиво, ну лампово-спокойно, я тут ващета пытаюсь наслушаться перед смертью. но эта музыка действительно очень сочетается с чувством одиночества и (извините, если пошлость) может сделать момент особенным.
Calming melodies with some strong lyrics. Not my cup of tea but still really good.
My default setting is rock, but it's 5 in the morning and I'm delightfully drunk. Sometimes you need to listen to something stripped back like this. Great album.
Revelations of red mud, blood, blues and Elvis. Strong stuff.
Ok country album 3 Ok, it's really good 4
I have Revival and Hell Among the Yearlings and really liked them, but I guess I stopped with this album because grad school penury. Folks think this is where it all comes together, but I miss the intensity of the earlier albums.
Love this. Very beautiful... calming.
I remember hearing a live, duet version on Youtube of "Everything is Free" and thinking it perfectly summed up the state of the music industry today, from a sad but funny personal perspective. I read "How Music Got Free" around the same time. They made good companions. The title track is epic and there's really no filler on the album. Just the two of them strumming away, unaccompanied, playing original material - some Appalachian, some bluegrass, some folk, some country mixing it up enough so that it stays fresh. Great lyrics throughout! I was leaning toward a 5 but my co-judge told me to calm down.
I am liking the sparseness of the songs. Even with just a guitar, there is still variety in the songs. Ruination Part Day is so dark, whereas other songs are more cheerful. My confusion as to why this album is on the 1001 list. There are other country artists that could have easily made the list: Alison Krauss comes to mind immediately. I don't see what Gilian Welch's voice or style stands out from other country artists of this ilk. Still, I like this type of music every so often as a bit of a "palate cleanser" so to speak. I just don't find it a cut above the rest of this type.
Man... detta var swag... shoutout till henne!
Very nice. The title-track is particularly gorgeous. Will most probably revisit as years go by... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 963 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 16 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 8 (including this one) Albums from the list I will *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 12 Albums I might not be able to judge (some might end up on my final list but it's because I recognize how culturally important they are): 2
Delicious harmonies, feel bad for David Rawlins that it isn't a shared credit - he feels as much a part of this album as GW. Cowgirls are just as important as cowboys and here's the proof.
first listen this sort of folk is the soul of the usa
A little sleepy, but great. Dreaming too much of that highway. Great guitar work.
Country com bastante carga melódica.
Before the voice arrived, I knew I would like this album. I'm not sure what the non-verbal tell was; In the lyrics the attraction is clear. Religion, music, love, home, death: Holy things which we all have mysterious lonely access to. Either that or the music sounds like the country music of my folks from when I was young. As always, songs named after times, separated into parts and spread across a tracklist are welcome. As is deceptive simplicity. I haven't figured out precisely how deceptive this record is.
Short and very sweet stripped back bluegrass roots folk. Gillian and Dave are magnetic on stage. This is a fine example of their work. Title track is the best.
Another of those albums I missed when it came out which is a shame as I love Gillian Welch's contributions to the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack. I'll admit Time (The Revelator) loses my interest towards the end but I have a feeling that this would fade with more listens and an increased familiarity of Welch's style of Folk Country. After this album I do want to listen to more of her work
3.5/5. This was pretty good. It's not exactly what I like to listen to, but I can appreciate it. I think the last song is too long, however.
This is a VIBE. I love the guitar solos and acoustic sound. This is one I will definitely listen to again and again. My first lover had this down south sound to it.
I found my calling while sitting on my roof and replacing 1688 screws: this album. I’m not sure if was the slight fear of heights, dehydration, or exposure, but it resonated with me
moody country
Based on this album, Gillian Welch is the folk version of Aimee Mann because they have like the exact same voice. Regardless, I liked this album overall but a 14 minute final track was a tad excessive even if it was still good. Fav: dear someone
Very enjoyable
Very simple, just her and some guitar/banjo accompaniment. Really solid Appalachia sound.
Lovely acoustic album with songwriting that ebbs and flows gracefully. A little on the country/stripped down side for my tastes but undeniably a great album. Fave track: I Dream a Highway
pretty good!
This is very nice. I prefer the more modern sounding tunes to the purist traditional stuff, but it's all very good. Guitar playing reminds me a lot of Milk Carton Kids, who I adore. If you like this, I recommend you check them out. 4 stars.
My dad loved the music of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, so I've known this album for years. I love the way their guitars and voices intertwine, the snaky guitar leads that occasionally dip into dissonance, and the haunted melancholy feel of it. Probably my favourite album of hers. A unique sound.
Excellent Gillian Welch album, with various 5* songs, such as the opener and the two final songs.
3.5 | Que disco tan tan agradablemente sorpresivo. Al parecer las portadas de mujeres en vestidos de flores con fotos mal tomadas son un buen augurio. Country blues folk muy muy bien hecho. La música a pesar de ser tan clásica Americana no se siente ni trillada y de hecho con ciertos arreglos se siente bastante moderna. Voz muy buena, letras inteligentes. Nunca la había escuchado pero podría ser de los mejores countries alternativos que he escuchado.
aan het genieten. een rustig country album met een mooie vrouwenstem. Zeker tof om eens te luisteren. Ik ga het opslaan maar weet niet of ik er vaak naar ga terugkeren.
inviting yet mysteries tunes
It's good to listen to folk once in awhile
Not usually my taste but this album was great! I can imagine putting it on when someone comes over for dinner / chill
Powerful stuff - reminds me of singers like Fiona Apple, Sheila Nichols and Cathy Davey... just a really strong, emotive, cosmic voice, she knows what she wants to say and says it in a way that's greater than the sum of its parts. Really enjoyed
This is really lovely album. The sweet and simple acoustic arrangement is excellent, and Welch's soft, bittersweet vocal will put you in a contemplative mood. As one reviewer put it, there is a sadness to these songs, even when the lyrics don't particularly call for it. The pace is slow and lingering, which some people may not like, but it's a really enjoyable listen. Not a bad song on here, really. Fave songs: Revelator, Everything is Free, Dear Someone, I Dream a Highway
interesting album, i had to actually sit still and listen to it to really appreciate it. Since the melodies are simple and its mostly voice driven.
Beautiful voice...
Reminds me a lot of Laura Marling (or I guess the other way around). Nice, calming country sounds.
Tengo una fascinación por los temas en donde lo único que se escucha es la voz, algún que otro piano y guitarras/bajos. Esa sonido medio "unplugged" siempre me gustó y este disco tiene mucho de eso. Hace muchos años que tengo la costumbre de escuchar covers en versión acústica de temas que me gustan mucho mucho pero siendo intepretados por gente random de youtube. Es mi paco de hace muchos años. Volviendo, esa cosa "intima" me gusta demasiado. La voz de ella me encanta y esa guitarra con el banjo se hablan muy bien. Me lo puse a escuchar a la noche, mientras escriba el 365 y creo que es para eso, para desconectar del día. Disco rutero pero de esos que sirven para regresar al hotel. Me da a música de esos películas donde el protagonista está medio bajón, bebida alcohólica en mano y mucho fuera de foco pero que el sentimiento que te quiere transmitir es que todo va a estar bien. Revelator, Dear Someone, Everything is Free son los temás que más me gustaron. El último tema de 15 minutos siento que es innecesario. Los primeros 3 minutos es escuchable, después parece que el tema entró en un infinite loop. La muerte. ¿Volvería a escuchar el disco? Sí. 8 ludomatics.
Not a fan of traditional country, but this album I really enjoyed. Highlights: Revelator, Red Clay Halo, Everything Is Free
A šta je zadnja stvar predivna. Vrh albuma a ujedno i kraj. Lijep country/Americana album, laganih nota i lijepog glasa. Također zadnji dan u Prvči NG M-1, pa znam koji sam album slušao zadnji ovdje jer smo sa ovim krenuli taman negdje u drugom tjednu kad sam krenuo ovdje raditi. Ovaj album ću još preslušati par puta sigurno, vruće ljeto u prirodi ili rana jesen. Definitivno vjerujem da je za to vrijeme.
Pretty cool and relaxing country music, with some rad harmonies at times.
Beautiful, soulful, Americana.
Nice and pretty, but didn't deliver enough to stand out
Very quiet music. David Rawlings is amazing.
The Carnival is strong with this one. I dug the album.
Quite nice
It’s alright. First 2 songs had my excited but the rest is whatever.
moody, Americana, Appalachian, music. i dug it.
Something you have to really sit down and concentrate to enjoy.
Good (relatively) modern folk album. Firmly rooted in the genre's traditions, but it sounds clearly not from back in the day. Competently written and performed from front to back. The first song is the best and most memorable, but there really isn't a low point to be found here. Key tracks: Revelator Dear Someone
Highlights: Revelator, My First Lover, Dear Someone, Elvis Presley Blues, Everything Is Free At times reminds me of Joni Mitchell because of its folky nature, but tracks like Dear Someone also remind me of artists like k d lang. The album has a solid start, but kind of loses its appeal towards the end. The last track works as the album closer, but it is far too drawn-out.
It started off surprisingly nice, but it sounded like the same song over and over again.
Not terrible, in fact I enjoyed some of it. But some of the sounds were too melancholy and some songs sounded too similar.
This was nice
2.5
A good mix of styles. Country, Americana, bluegrass. It's great background music at an outdoor bar on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Not a big fan of country but it's okay in small doses.
5.5/10
Perfect chill country album that really fit my day. Probably should be more subjective but its my own list so who knows, i may read review later and need a perfect chill country album to fit my day
wispy, not extremely my thing, but there's still something compelling about it. favorite song is Everything Is Free or Elvis Presley Blues. soft 3
A nice album of simple country folk. It's enjoyable and sounds great, but it doesn't have that something that really draws me in.
This was quite enjoyable, I’d consider relistening
Made me want to rewatch Justified with the first few tracks
Not a bad album, but really generic. Nothing standing out.
A bit too minimal and slow for me. It has great songs: Revelator, My First Lover, Everything is Free, but the rest mostly just kinda passes by without leaving a strong impact. I don't really get why the last song has to be so long either.
It was nice but the slow pace became boring the more I listened.