Welcome, Convalescence is the second album by South San Gabriel, recorded at Slobberbone singer Brent Best's Denton house in January 2002 and released in April 2003 by Munich Records.[1]

Welcome, Convalescence
Studio album by South San Gabriel
Released	April 2003
Recorded	January 2002
Studio	Brent Best's house, Denton, Texas
Genre	Rock
Label	Munich/Undertow

The album features all of the members of singer Will Johnson's main band, Centro-Matic, as well as Best on guitars and Joe Butcher of Pleasant Grove on pedal steel guitar.[2]

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]

Allmusic reviewer John Schacht gave it a 4-star review, calling it "one of those brilliantly despondent records so gorgeously executed it lifts your spirit just to be able to feel its sadness", and "a melancholic masterpiece".[2] No Depression commented on its "beautifully languid melodies that exert a subtle, hypnotic pull", stating "Quiet desperation rarely sounds this enchanting."[1] The Austin Chronicle's Michael Chamy gave it three and a half stars, stating "all eight tracks are winners" and describing it as "the summer album you want to hear while nestled up to the air-conditioner after coming in from the 100-degree heat. The definition of cool."[3]

The Manchester Evening News gave it a more mixed review, stating "like the eponymous river, too much of this album just flows by murkily".[4] The Chicago Tribune was similarly ambivalent, stating "Will Johnson's songs are undeniably pretty, but the slow pace and his affected, sleepy drawl can be distracting."[5]

Track listing

1. "New Brookland"
2. "Saint Augustine"
3. "Smelling Medicinal"
4. "Everglades"
5. "Like a Madman"
6. "Evangline"
7. "Ariza/284"
8. "The Splinter Angelic"

Personnel

• Will Johnson - vocals, guitars
• Scott Danbom - vocals, keyboards, violin
• Mark Hedman - bass, guitars
• Matt Pence - drums, keyboards
• Brent Best - guitars
• Bryan Vandivier - guitars
• Joe Butcher - pedal steel guitar, organ, mellotron

References