Soul Journey is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter Gillian Welch. It was released on June 9, 2003 by Acony Records. As with all of her previous releases, it is a collaboration with David Rawlings.
Soul Journey | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 9, 2003 | |||
Length | 39:07 | |||
Label | Acony | |||
Producer | David Rawlings | |||
Gillian Welch chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 78/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blender | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[4] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mojo | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.1/10[8] |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Uncut | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The album was something of a departure from previous albums by Welch and Rawlings in terms of instrumentation, including a larger band and instruments like drums and an electric bass.[12] Welch has described the album as "more spontaneous" than some of her previous works.[13]
Soul Journey received generally favorable reviews.[14]
Several outlets, including Mojo called it "perfect", with reviewers praising the wistful tone and instrumentation of the album. The Guardian said of her work "[Welch] strips country back to its spiritual and storytelling roots... Welch has refined her bare and beautiful songs and on Soul Journey embraces the blues. Loss and loneliness are her closest friends"[15][16]
Upon the vinyl re-release in 2018 Relix said the album contained "some of their most indelible songs... Soul Journey makes it equally hard to tell where the past ended and the present began, or remember why anybody ever thought there was a difference."[17]
However, some have expressed disappointment in the album. Pitchfork described it as "a tad raptureless" and others were displeased with the fuller, multi-instrument sound.[13] Welch has said in response that "on some level, it should be a departure from other albums... Everything's not supposed to sound the same, you want it to reflect change and growth."[12]
All tracks are written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings unless otherwise noted.[18].
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Look at Miss Ohio" | 4:16 | |
2. | "Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor" | Traditional; additional lyrics by Welch | 2:45 |
3. | "Wayside/Back in Time" | 3:28 | |
4. | "I Had a Real Good Mother and Father" | Traditional; additional lyrics by Welch | 3:14 |
5. | "One Monkey" | 5:36 | |
6. | "No One Knows My Name" | 3:16 | |
7. | "Lowlands" | 3:19 | |
8. | "One Little Song" | Welch | 3:12 |
9. | "I Made a Lovers Prayer" | 5:03 | |
10. | "Wrecking Ball" | 4:56 |
Chart (2003) | Peak position |
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Australian Albums (ARIA)[19] | 69 |
UK Albums (OCC)[20] | 65 |
US Billboard 200[21] | 107 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[22] | 1 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[23] | 10 |
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Discography |
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Related articles |
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