A couple of days ago, I heard Gillian Welch had a new album out. Finally. It's been something like eight years. So I started prowling around the internet this evening to find out what I could. I've always had a soft spot for anyone who sings in an Appalachian folk style with that old-timey, heartbreaking harmony. Whether they're from Appalachia or not. A few people through the years have added to this style quite nicely, but not many do it better than Gillian. Her new album is called, "The Harrow and the Harvest." I'll tell you right now, not everyone will find this to their taste. It's a tad dark, but then, so is life sometimes. If a little dark doesn't sound inviting, I understand, but you'll be missing out on what I feel is some very fine harmonizing by two very fine musicians, singing about some very real people.
Here's Gillian Welch and David Rawlings with, "The Way It Goes."
Lyrics: http://sweetslyrics.com/885058.gillian
That was terrific, the lead, the harmony and the instruments! I have loved folk music since the early 60's and this is very , very good!
ReplyDeleteHello Teresa:
ReplyDeleteAlthough we had not previously known of Gillian Welch, we have listened to 'The Way It Goes' with interest for it is always, we feel, good to experience new things. What we do like, and from what you say, is the way her songs are representative of a particular place and culture.
Oh man. Good news! I think I've actually worn grooves in my previous Gillian Welch CD.
ReplyDeleteI love the rhythm and the harmony, as you said. Because of my years of dance, I tend to overlook words in a song, but it's only the beat or rhythm that I seem to hear. I have to force myself to hear the words being sung.
ReplyDeleteManzanita@Wannabuyaduck
MONTUCKY, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I think mountain people especially feel that pull of the high lonesome. :)
ReplyDeleteJANE and LANCE, Thank you for being willing. It is good to experience new things. We all should remain open to the possibilities. One never knows what interesting idea or feeling might be discovered.
MURR, I might have known you'd be a Gillian Gal. Pure and simple and close to the bone.
MANZANITA, I've always been more of a lyric kinda gal, but it's the combination and the feeling they express in me that gets me moving, either emotionally or physically. Dancing is good for the soul, as you well know.
I feel a little weird when I admit that I rarely listen to music, preferring silence or conversation instead. Maybe I'm influenced by my husband who must have been a cloistered monk in a previous life.
ReplyDeleteOH, that was wonderful, Teresa.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever seen the movie, The Songcatcher? It is, I think, one of those Aidan Quinn productions (he is in it) that usually move a little more slowly and have some impact. Anyhoo, Songcatcher is about a woman who heads into the mountains to try to retrieve the lyrics and notes of the old Appalachian songs that have been handed down but never recorded. It is a period piece, told in the early 1900's, and, I think, beautifully done. You might want to find it.
I quite like dark. And I have just listened to the track you have provided the clip to and I can say that I very much like Gillian Welch. I have never come across her before so that is another debt I owe you, Thanks.
ReplyDeleteTeresa try Alison Krause too...
ReplyDeleteALAN, I'm so glad. It's fun sharing music. There is, despite the need for Light in this old world, still great beauty to be found in the "dark."
ReplyDeletePAUL, I might well be Alison Krauss' No. 1 fan. Have been for a million years, it seems. I place her a bit more in the bluegrass group, but she is good and really transcends all groups. Her work with Robert Plant is some of the best music put out there.
DJAN, It's often a matter of what place music held growing up and it was literally everywhere in my life and always has been. I do need to be careful, though, so music contributes to, but doesn't control my mood. It can sway my thoughts too much sometimes....
ReplyDeletePENNY, So glad you like it. The Songcatcher sounds very enticing. Appalachian music, a period piece, and Aidan Quinn. What's not to love? :) I'd seen the box some time ago, and then let it slip through unwatched. Thank you So Much for the reminder!
Just beautiful! I love this type of music!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all you wonderful comments on my posts. I do appreciate them!
Hey BB, glad you liked it. I've had fun following your Pretty the Doll Chronicles... Love your humor, a little bit twisted, just the way I like it. :)
ReplyDeleteI like this type of music a lot.
ReplyDeleteI love the artwork on the cover of their album...and I like dark. Always love when others share music...the mainstream media seems to like the control over of us and forces us to listen to the same stuff over and over again...so I appreciate something new and fresh on the ears. Thanks Teresa.
ReplyDeleteHej Teresa. I like the music.
ReplyDeleteAbout the drawing on the album? It looks like it's from the Art Nouveau period, but her face and arm are too modern. Is it by an American artist? It's a very pretty cover.
Grethe ´)
ONE FLY, It definitely has a certain feel to it. It's real.
ReplyDeleteKARENA, You might like the Youtube video that's showing them giving their cotton covers a coffee bath for aging them, each having its own characteristics. I almost posted that! There is so much good music out there that doesn't see the light of day, certainly not the radio airwaves. There are some exceptions, but Clear Channel all but killed off any good listening.
GRETHE, It does have an Art Nouveau look to it, doesn't it? It's an ink drawing by a young man named John Dyer Baizley. It went from his drawing to a letterpress and it turned difficult, as these things can, and they've posted a video about the process and the bit of "drama " around it. It's a bit long, but if you're interested you can click on the you tube logo, see this video pop up and then go to the sidebar and see the options in which this one is included. There's also the one I mentioned to Karena (above) regarding the coffee bath they gave each individual cotton cover. I'm glad you liked the music. The melody is what has stuck with me all day and I find myself singing or just humming it.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this info about this fine artist, Teresa. I'll try to look at the options.
ReplyDeleteWhen you have got a melody inside your head it will stay there for a long time! Last week I had Greensleves inside my head for days, because I heard it on the radio!
´)
Grethe, Yes. They can be infectious!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this :) Twice in my life I've tried to learn to play guitar, but it just isn't meant to be. My singing voice is terrible.But I can always listen and in my head pretend that it's me :)
ReplyDeleteHi Li, I plunk away with very little fanfare. I keep thinking I will work on it more, and then learn the mandolin my son gave me over a year ago. One of these days... :)
ReplyDeleteHey Teresa E, Can you link us up to the lyrics? I can't quite grasp them!
ReplyDeleteHey R.W. I just posted a link in the body of the post, before the "video."
ReplyDeleteThanks for turning me on to her; I am sure I heard her before but was unaware of her name, I just listened to Everything is Free on youtube - which is a poignant song for me, I must get one of their CDs.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree, somebody worth getting to know. Because of blogging and meeting bloggers who are much more knowledgeable about such things than me, I am beginning to enjoy 'country music'?
ReplyDeleteI love the lonely, dark tone and the harmony. Where would I start to find out about such music?
LINDA, She has such a nice sound and it's about real people, people we all know or know of and it does have a poignancy that we all can relate to at different times. Thanks for listening.
ReplyDeleteFRIKO, There are many fine musicians out there. Another I would recommend is Alison Krauss. She has the voice of an angel. Youtube offers many songs by her, also. Usually on the sidebar you can find others that are similar. Some bluegrass and some folk music both offer similar sounds. I hope you have fun discovering!
I am like DJan, preferring silence to music -- despite the fact I used to play the violin and studied music at Columbia as well as UH. There must be a psychological reason for this. Bad memories, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThat is some serious talent. That sound is indeed haunting. I'm going to check out more songs by this great duo.
ReplyDeletegigi, I certainly do appreciate silence and need ti when I'm writing, but road trips wold not be road trips without it, and many evenings music keeps me good company. Music can evoke some strong emotions....
ReplyDeleteSteven, If you're the Steven who posted Gil Scott-Heron, Thank You, very much. If not, welcome anyway. :)
You know, there's the dark and then there's the DARK. To me, the dark is just a part of life. Regardless, I don't see this song as dark. It's just the way it is.
ReplyDeleteRarely do I listen to music clips in blogs, but I had heard Gillian briefly a ways back and liked her. I love this song! And now, must be on my way to itunes to buy the album.
Thanks for sharing this.
Hi Linda, Well, dark is such a relative term, isn't it? I thought some of my readers would find it so, so I felt I should "warn" them. For me, too, it's just life reflected in music, as it should be.
ReplyDeleteMy people have dealt with hardship through music and laughter for centuries. It is in the DNA of the Appalachians. We live in the moment, in general, more than any people I have known in my travels. The lyrics remind me of Kurt Vonnegut's immortal, Buddhist tag line, "So it goes." Thanks for this Teresa.
ReplyDeleteHi Cletis, I miss Kurt. His perspective on the current shenanigans would be illuminating.
ReplyDeleteLove Gillian Welsh. She did one of my favorite versions of Gram Parson's Hickory Wind. Love Emmy's version too. Really happy to hear Gillian has a new album out. An enduring talent. THANK YOU!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you like her, too.
ReplyDelete