- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Music from the Film) [Deluxe Edition] · 2000
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Music from the Film) [Deluxe Edition] · 2000
- Soul Journey · 2003
- Revival · 1996
- Time (The Revelator) · 2001
- Time (The Revelator) · 2001
- Time (The Revelator) · 2001
- The Harrow & The Harvest · 2011
- Time (The Revelator) · 2001
- Revival · 1996
- Soul Journey · 2003
- Boots No. 2: The Lost Songs, Vol. 1 · 2020
- The Harrow & The Harvest · 2011
Essential Albums
- Gillian Welch and songwriting partner David Rawlings have developed and refined their own blend of country, folk, and bluegrass on this release. It’s the most austere and personal of her three albums to date and the one with the least instrumental variety. Most of the songs are performed on two acoustic guitars with Rawlings adding his melodic guitar lines and sublime close harmony singing (he also produced the album). The songs are complex and lyrically rich and deal with themes that revolve around the nature of time and its effect on subjects ranging from love to art as in the dreamy Roy Orbinson-esque “Dear Someone,” the front porch bluegrass of “My First Lover” and “Red Clay Halo,” and the epic bookends of “Revelator” and the 14-minute “I Dream a Highway.” Filled with subtle power and grace, Time - The Revelator is a deeply moving work and arguably the duo’s definitive artistic statement.
- Released in 1996, Revival is Gillian Welch’s graceful and self-assured debut. Her devotion to bluegrass and old-time American music is evident across the album and she pays homage to the form not through studied mimicry but by adding her own work to the tradition. One could easily mistake “Orphan Girl,” “Barroom Girls,” and “By the Mark” for traditional Appalachian tunes, which is a compliment to her vivid lyrics, storytelling skill, and the depth of these vocal performances. Her clear, haunting voice conveys a range of emotions, from tender and fragile on “Orphan Girl,” “Only One and Only,” and “Paper Wings,” to tough and defiant on “Pass You By” and “Tear My Stillhouse Down.” Joined by her songwriting partner David Rawlings, a highly skilled guitarist who adds intricate and evocative melody lines throughout along with excellent vocal harmonies, most of the songs feature spare arrangements and just two acoustic guitars. Some well-placed electric guitar (courtesy of the legendary James Burton), bass, and drums are used to powerful effect on a few tracks as well. Unhurried and timeless, Revival is a powerful statement beautifully presented.
Albums
Artist Playlists
- She's now an American musical treasure.
Compilations
More To Hear
- Maggie Rogers picks the 5 Best Songs on Apple Music.
About Gillian Welch
Singer/songwriter Gillian Welch became an Americana icon in the late ’90s with a stripped-down sound that embraced old-timey influences while adding a modern lyrical touch.
- HOMETOWN
- New York, NY, United States
- BORN
- October 2, 1967
- GENRE
- Singer/Songwriter