Revival | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 9, 1996 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Country, folk, bluegrass | |||
Length | 41:21 | |||
Label | Almo Sounds | |||
Producer | T Bone Burnett | |||
Gillian Welch chronology | ||||
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Revival is the first album by American singer-songwriter Gillian Welch, released on April 9, 1996. Revival was nominated for the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. [1]
The plant described in the song, "Acony Bell" appears to be Shortia galacifolia , also known as the Oconee bells. Welch later began her own record label under the name Acony. To celebrate the album's 20th anniversary, Welch re-released Revival as Boots No 1: The Official Revival Bootleg which included demos, outtakes and alternate versions of the tracks in addition to eight new songs.
Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine wrote: "Gillian Welch and her musical partner may have hailed from Los Angeles and Rhode Island, respectively, but they arrived on the alt-country scene in 1996 as if they’d just melted out of Depression-era Appalachian Mountain ice." [2]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Chicago Sun-Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | A [5] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Village Voice | B− [10] |
Mark Deming of AllMusic called it a "superb debut" and wrote, "Welch's debts to artists of the past are obvious and clearly acknowledged, but there's a maturity, intelligence, and keen eye for detail in her songs you wouldn't expect from someone simply trying to ape the Carter Family." [3] Bill Friskics-Warren of No Depression praised the album as "breathtakingly austere evocations of rural culture." [1] Ann Powers of Rolling Stone gave Revival a lukewarm review and criticized Welch for not singing of her own experiences, and "manufacturing emotion." [7] Robert Christgau wrote Welch "just doesn't have the voice, eye, or way with words to bring her simulation off." [10] Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine wrote: "Every subsequent album has contained alt-country gems, but it’s nearly impossible to surpass this perfect debut." [11]
All tracks are written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, except where noted.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Orphan Girl" | Gillian Welch | 3:57 |
2. | "Annabelle" | Gillian Welch | 4:03 |
3. | "Pass You By" | 3:57 | |
4. | "Barroom Girls" | 4:14 | |
5. | "One More Dollar" | 4:34 | |
6. | "By the Mark" | 3:40 | |
7. | "Paper Wings" | 3:57 | |
8. | "Tear My Stillhouse Down" | Gillian Welch | 4:32 |
9. | "Acony Bell" | 3:06 | |
10. | "Only One and Only" | 5:33 |