- Audio CD (2 Jun 2003)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Wea
- ASIN: B00009QI3U
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 79,008 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Revelator |
| 2. My First Lover |
| 3. Dear Someone |
| 4. Red Clay Halo |
| 5. April the 14th, Pt. 1 |
| 6. I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll |
| 7. Elvis Presley Blues |
| 8. Ruination Day, Pt. 2 |
| 9. Everything Is Free |
| 10. I Dream a Highway |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The considerable promise carried forth on Gillian Welch's first two albums is thoroughly fulfilled on Time (The Revelator). Welch has traded the guidance of her previous producer, T-Bone Burnett, for the sympathetic studio skills of her longtime guitarist-harmony singer David Rawlings, who loosens the reins just enough to allow moments of spontaneity to sparkle within the duo's spare, eloquent playing. "Revelator" is an instant classic, perhaps the first great American folk song of the 21st century. "I Want to Sing That Rock and Roll" is three minutes of Louvins/Everlys-style bliss. "April the 14th, Part 1" haunts its historical context with an achingly melancholy melody. It all leads up to the epic 14-minute "I Dream a Highway", one of the finest closing tracks ever put on record. --Peter Blackstock
Product Description
Limited special offer.Jawdropping 2001 album from the fabulous US roots-rock femme featured on "O Brother Where Art Thou?".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
51 of 51 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm a bit of a Johnny-come-lately where Gillian Welch (and Dave Rawlings) are concerned. I saw Joan Baez at the Summer Sundae in Leicester last year and then some live performances on TV. When I bought her last album 'Dark Chords on a Big Guitar' I found that two of my favourite songs were written by Gillan Welch, who I'd vaguely recalled from seeing a concert (on TV again) by people involved with the soundtrack of 'O Brother, where art thou?'. So I took the plunge and bought this.
I've been blown away by this CD and in my humble opinion the only other album that this can compared it to is Van Morrison's 'Astral Weeks' and I say that as someone who has listened regularly to that particular album for over thirty years.
It has that same stripped down simple instrumentation and haunting lyrical edge. I wont do a song by song comparison but to me 'Madame George' and 'I Dream A Highway' inhabit the same musical space and share the same atmosphere. Both artists were not confined by the length of the track or the obscure, oblique and repetitive nature of the lyrics, sang over very simple guitar chords with a minmum of musical ornamentation.
I was fortunate enough to Gillian Welch and David Rawlings at the Cambridge Folk Festival and if anything they're even more personal and intense playing live. If and when they come back to the UK and you like their music make sure you see them.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I discovered Gillian Welch purely by chance, hearing a minute or two of her music on a TV show about modern female 'country' artists. I was amazed at what I heard, wrote down her name, and went out and bought some of her material, including this. It's one of the best CDs I've bought in the past two or three years. And primarily being a rock music fan and musician, who never buys 'country' music, that surely indicates that Welch goes way beyond the constraints of any particular format.
As other reviewers have noted, it's a very stripped-down sound, almost reminding me of early Dylan. I find her, similarly, a rather enigmatic artist, and the last song on the album is unusually long, very much the sort of thing that Bob Dylan sometimes goes for. But there's humour in it, too, it's not all serious stuff. And that was also a classic characteristic of Dylan's early work.
Despite the rather basic two-instrument plus one (or two) voice line-up seeming a bit restrictive, in practice it isn't restrictive at all. In fact, I think it's an advantage. Each song has its own musical character, and that's because Welch (and friend!) are highly creative, and don't need to alter the instruments etc to get variation in their overall sound. They've got plenty to say, and they don't run out of ideas. Gillian Welch is surely a major 'find' who deserves a much higher profile, and I'm sure she'll get it. In a somewhat unusual move, the CD includes a 'live' track, which sits very well with the studio numbers. A great album!
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
In the same way that it's impossible to classify Miles Davis as 'jazz' because evrything abt his music bursts out of the confines of that label, so it is with Welch - & especially with this album - to call it country or folk or bluegrass or whatever would be to do it an injustice. Quite simply this album is unique - there is nothing like it to be found anywhere - even her other recordings don't come close. It's possible to find adjectives like sincere, intelligent, dark, soft, brooding but somehow they don't do Revelator justice - one needs bigger words like truth & perfection & timeless to come close to giving an impression of how this now famous recording affects. Just two acoustic guitars & two voices - but two very different people - Welch is laid back, 'late' on the note & very feminine whereas David Rawlings has an aggitated masculine urgency which Welch embraces & controls beautifully to produce songs with real underlying tension - nothing middle-of-the-road abt this - in fact this recording reveals more abt true feminist politics than anything else I've come across - this album reveals how women will save the world.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A revelation
The Harrow & the HarvestTime [The Revelator]I bought this as recommended by "1001 Albums to listen to before you die" and I am so glad I did. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Bear
mastered way too hot / loud ??
This CD has the dubious distinction of being the LOUDEST in my entire collection? My normal listening level for acoustic music is at 3 or 4 on my hifi amp. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Alf Pillage
This CD should be issued in a carved wooden box
It's just too wholesomely good for a plastic case. Two voices, two guitars, 10 excellent co-written songs. Read more
Published 12 months ago by M. A. Fraser
Beautiful
I love Gillian Welch and have been a fan for many years. I think all of her albums are must haves but this is perhaps a favourite. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Andromeda
time - the revelator: Gillian Welch
I love this album - I've listened to other Gillian Welch albums but this is the one I paid for - its stripped down and haunting, just vocals plus harmony and 2 guitars. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2009 by L.Buddy
I was thinking that night about Elvis
I find this record very mellow, melancholic and gorgeous. It has such a perfectly blue mood. I love 'Elvis Presley Blues'. Read more
Published on 11 May 2009 by K. Usher
amazing!
I just had to write about the marvel that is "I Dream A Highway" the last song on this cd, if there's one song you hear in your lifetime make it this one! Read more
Published on 19 April 2008 by Mr. Iain R. Graham
The first non-blues album..
...I have bought for some time now. I was lent a copy of the Revelator DVD and was immediately taken by Rawlings and Welch-great songs,guitar playing and singing. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2007 by Graham Stephenson
Amazing and Powerful
This is by far the best album I own with every track being timeless and outstanding. The song lyrics are deep and reveal more on each listen. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2006
Good, not great
Gillian Welch are superb - but while this is a very fine record with two songs that rank easily with their best stuff (The Revelator and the epic I Dream a Highway), the album as a... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2006
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