Woodland (album)
| Woodland | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 23, 2024 | |||
| Studio | Woodland (Nashville, Tennessee)[1] | |||
| Length | 40:57 | |||
| Label | Acony | |||
| Producer | David Rawlings | |||
| Gillian Welch chronology | ||||
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| David Rawlings chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Woodland | ||||
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Woodland is the seventh studio album by Gillian Welch, the third studio album by David Rawlings (his fifth including his studio work with Dave Rawlings Machine), and the second studio album to be credited to the pair as a duo. Released by Acony Records on August 23, 2024, it is the first album of original material from Welch since 2011's The Harrow & the Harvest, and from Rawlings since 2017's Poor David's Almanack. Their 2020 album, All the Good Times (Are Past & Gone), consisted entirely of covers of preexisting songs.[2]
The album is named after Welch and Rawlings' Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2020. The artists stated in a press release that the songs on Woodland are "a swirl of contradictions, emptiness, fullness, joy, grief, destruction, [and] permanence."[3]
The album won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.[4]
Singles
The first single from the album, "Empty Trainload of Sky", was released on July 19, 2024.[5] It was followed by "Hashtag" on August 9.[6]
Critical reception
Year-end lists
Numerous critics and publications listed Woodland in their year-end ranking of the best albums of 2024, often inside the top ten.
| Publication/critic | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOJO | The Best Albums Of 2024 | 4 | [7] |
| Uncut | 80 Best Albums of 2024 | 2 | [8] |
Track listing
All tracks are written by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Empty Trainload of Sky" | 3:24 |
| 2. | "What We Had" | 3:58 |
| 3. | "Lawman" | 4:31 |
| 4. | "The Bells and the Birds" | 3:13 |
| 5. | "North Country" | 5:12 |
| 6. | "Hashtag" | 3:34 |
| 7. | "The Day the Mississippi Died" | 4:55 |
| 8. | "Turf the Gambler" | 2:49 |
| 9. | "Here Stands a Woman" | 5:17 |
| 10. | "Howdy Howdy" | 4:05 |
| Total length: | 40:57 | |
Personnel
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
- Gillian Welch – vocals (all tracks), guitar (tracks 1–9), bass (2), banjo (10)
- David Rawlings – vocals, guitar (all tracks); organ (tracks 1, 7), string arrangement (2, 6), guitjo (3), harmonica (8)
Additional musicians
- Russ Pahl – pedal steel (tracks 1, 2, 5, 6)
- Chris Powell – drums (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7)
- Brian Allen – bass (tracks 1, 5)
- Kristin Wilkinson – section leader, viola (tracks 2, 6)
- David Davidson – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- Jung-Min Shin – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- Mary Kathryn Van Osdale – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- Jenny Bifano – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- David Angell – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- Wei Tsun Chang – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- Janet Darnell – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- Annaliese Kowert – violin (tracks 2, 6)
- Chris Farrell – viola (tracks 2, 6)
- Monisa Angell – viola (tracks 2, 6)
- Seanad Chang – viola (tracks 2, 6)
- Kevin Bate – cello (tracks 2, 6)
- Austin Hoke – cello (tracks 2, 6)
- Alicia Enstrom – violin (track 6)
- Betsy Lamb – viola (track 6)
- Jennifer Kummer – French horn (track 6)
- Patrick Walle – French horn (track 6)
- Morgan Jahnig – bass (track 7)
- Ketch Secor – fiddle (track 7)
Technical and visuals
- David Rawlings – production, mixing (all tracks); engineering (tracks 3, 4, 6, 8–10); mastering
- Matt Andrews – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 4–10), mixing (2, 4, 8–10)
- Ken Scott – engineering (tracks 1, 2, 5–7)
- Brent Bishop – engineering assistance (tracks 1, 2, 5–7); additional engineering, technical support
- Barry Wolifson – additional engineering, technical support
- Ted Jensen – mastering
- Alysse Gafkjen – photography
- Lawrence Azerrad – graphic design
Charts
| Chart (2024–2025) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[9] | 84 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[10] | 137 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[11] | 95 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[12] | 45 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[13] | 74 |
| UK Americana Albums (OCC)[14] | 2 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[15] | 5 |
| US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[16] | 36 |
References
- ^ Heinrichs, Audra (August 25, 2024). "Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Survived a Devastating Storm to Make New 'Woodland' Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ Chandler, Stacy (July 19, 2024). "New Album Coming Down the Track From Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings". No Depression. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 19, 2024). "Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Announce Album and U.S. Tour, Share New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ Bloom, Madison (February 2, 2025). "Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Win Best Folk Album for Woodland at 2025 Grammys". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
- ^ "Listen: Gillian Welch and David Rawlings Preview 10th Studio Album 'Woodland' with "Empty Trainload of Sky"". Jambands. July 19, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ "Gillian Welch & David Rawlings Share New Single "Hashtag": Listen". Stereogum. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "The Best Albums Of 2024". Mojo. December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2025.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (November 8, 2024). "List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024". brooklynvegan.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 February 2025". The ARIA Report. No. 1822. Australian Recording Industry Association. February 3, 2025. p. 6.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland Studios" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland Studios" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 6/12/2024 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – Woodland Studios". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
- ^ "Official Americana Albums Chart on 6/12/2024 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 13/12/2024 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 24, 2026.
- ^ "Gillian Welch Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 24, 2026.