Woodland

Released in 2024, Woodland marks the first collection of original material from Gillian Welch and David Rawlings in over a decade. The album is named after their Woodland Sound Studios in Nashville, which was nearly destroyed by a tornado in 2020. This context of destruction and subsequent restoration permeates the record, lending a resilient, grounded quality to the songwriting. Sonically, it remains true to their signature minimalist approach, centered on two acoustic guitars and their iconic vocal harmonies, though it occasionally incorporates subtle orchestral flourishes and harmonica. Critics from Pitchfork and AllMusic praised the album for its 'timeless' quality and the duo's uncanny ability to make new compositions sound like ancient folk standards. It stands as a definitive late-career statement, shifting slightly from the dark, parched desolation of 'The Harrow & the Harvest' toward a more luminous, albeit still melancholic, acceptance of life's cycles.