06/18:  Song of the Day.  Gillian Welch–The Way It Would Be

I’ve been a fan of Gillian Welch’s music from the very moment that I first discovered her debut album Revival back in 1997.  The music on that album instantly reminded me of the old country songs and hymns that my grandmother would sing or hum while she cooked in the kitchen.  This was real country music, not the bubblegum crap that parades as country music on CMT these days.  There is a timeless quality to Gillian’s early songs, almost to the point that you can’t tell if they were written in 1927 or 1997.  It’s truly amazing, deeply-rooted American music.

In the time since first discovering the beauty of Gillian Welch’s music (as well as that of her performing partner David Rawlings), I’ve seen them live maybe 15 times at various festivals and solo concerts (including a performance here in C’ville back in November of 2003).  And as new albums were released, I was right there waiting for them and I still haven’t been disappointed.  (For my money, Gillian’s Time (The Revelator) album from 2001 is still one of the finest country-folk records of the last ten years to my ears, but I’m always up for a good debate.)

[Gillian Welch photo by John Chiasson]

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Gillian’s last album was Soul Journey in 2003.  It was a departure of sorts from past recordings in that it included more percussion, electric guitar, and at times, a rumble instead of a stark strum.  It almost sounds like the sister album to Neil Young’s Harvest from 1972 in its feel and rhythm.  Sadly, it’s also the last record Gillian has released.  Which isn’t to say they stopped playing music.

The Way It Would Be by Gillian Welch

They still perform around the world to huge audiences (the biggest crowd I’ve seen them in front of was in San Francisco and there were easily 100,000 in attendance…easily) and they have appeared on a number of albums as guest artists including recordings by Old Crow Medicine Show, Robyn Hitchcock, and Bright Eyes.  Probably the coolest recording Gillian and David have made available since 2003 is the download of their 2004 live performance of the Radiohead song “Blackstar”. (which you can purchase from their download store here in MP3 form for the nice price of 99 cents).

But still no new album.  I’ve read in a number of publications that they’re writing new songs.  I’ve even seen a few of them performed live.  I’ve included one of those new songs (in video form) above.  It’s my favorite of their yet to be recorded material.  In the end, I guess I should be thankful that Gillian and David have put themselves in a position where they can record when they want to and not when they have to.  But I’m ready for a new album.  Here’s hoping it comes along sooner than later.  In the meantime I’ll just keep asking:

O Sister, Where Art Thou?

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