MOG Editorial Review

Leaving listeners eight years between albums often leads to heightened expectations, and Gillian Welch's The Harrow & The Harvest is no exception. Luckily for us, though, she delivered on the hype and then some, as Welch and Rawlings get back to basics with their sound after exploring more modern sounds on 2003's Soul Journey. This time, their folksy brand of bluegrass has gone back to having a pastoral vibe, evoking the tradition Southern gothic on bleak tracks like "Dark Turn of Mind" and "Silver Dagger." Luckily, though, the cloud of melody that hangs over The Harrow & The Harvest enhances the listening experience, giving us a sense of peace even as the unease from Welch is more than obvious.