Typically accompanied by little more than an acoustic guitar or two, and perhaps a banjo, Gillian Welch has developed a reputation for her stark yet enthralling take on traditional Americana. Working with partner David Rawlings, Welch brings conviction and humanity to her sparsely arranged but vividly rendered songs, which touch on country, folk and mountain music in equal measure. Her T. Bone Burnett-produced '96 debut album, the beautifully wrought Revival, set a tone for her subsequent work, and her contributions to the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack boosted her mainstream appeal.