Gillian Welch "Time (the Revelator)" (2001) - got it
The film "O Brother Where Art Thou" had revived public interest in rootsy,
folky Americana. Welch and her writing/performing partner David
Rawlings had previously worked with the producer of that soundtrack,
T-Bone Burnett. They'd agreed to have Burnett as their producer when
he'd let them know he was happy to stick to their approach of minimal
instrumentation.
The pair themselves had recently been working with Ryan Adams on his
'Heartbreaker' album and "Time (the Revelator)" was the pair's third
album under Welch's name.
The album is a rootsy sort of mountain music. It feels like a weird mix
of music that's 100 years old an brand new at the same time. The
opening track is nice and mellow, then it heads into "My First Lover"
which is more of an upbeat banjo-heavy track. The one that (by its
name) sounds like it should be punchier "I want to see that rock n roll"
is all vocal harmonies and restraint.
"Ruination Day part II" has an almost dangerous tone to its subdued melody. Like there's murder under the notes somewhere. "Dear Someone"
is my favourite off the album, a nice trotting pace rendered in
acoustic guitar and a vocal harmony that wouldn't have been out of place
90 years ago, or 150 years ago or last week.
Another one of those albums where owning it is one of the many perks of being married to my wife.
