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Gillian Welch
Soul Journey
(Acony)
First Appeared at The Music Box, November 2003, Volume 10, #11
Written by John Metzger
Over the past few years, Gillian Welch has won over the hearts of folk
purists who fell in love with her sophomore effort Hell Among the Yearlings
as well as her work on the mega-selling O Brother, Where Art Thou
soundtrack. Although they stuck with her through Time (The Revelator) on
which she penned what she termed "really tiny rock songs," which were set within
the context of back porch, dust bowl ditties, her latest outing Soul Journey
seems to have everyone in a snit. It’s not quite the uproar that Bob Dylan faced
when he plugged in an electric guitar at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965, but
it’s a commotion, nonetheless.
For the record, Welch hasn’t completely abandoned the folksy fare of her past
as evidenced by the bluegrass-tinged No One Knows My Name as well as the
presence of a pair of traditional tunes (I Had a Real Good Mother and Father
and Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor). The rest of Soul Journey,
however, is without a doubt a change of pace for Welch, though it’s also a
logical extension, a continuation of the ideas that she first explored on
Time (The Revelator). The subtleties that have graced her work since her
debut are still in place as is her love for soft, slow-rolling melodies that
spring from the heart of Appalachia. But for this outing, the rock influence
becomes a little bigger, her palette more colorful, and as a result, much of the
album sounds like a cross between Lucinda Williams and Neil Young.
Unfortunately, this is somewhat of a mixed blessing because Soul Journey
winds up with a transitional ambience, as if Welch is stuck between two
worlds and isn’t certain how to merge them together. Yet, it’s also a looser
affair, one that feels more accessible without feeling forced. While it’s not a
masterpiece, it’s a good effort, one that puts an interesting twist on what
could have become a tired formula. More importantly, Soul Journey is far
better than the mainstream press would lead one to believe.  ½
Soul Journey is available
from Amazon. To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
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For UK orders, please
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2003
The Music Box
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