What makes Old Believers by Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons notable?

This album received positive reviews from critics, particularly for its lyrical content and musicality, allowing it to resonate within the folk rock community. It helped solidify Cory Chisel's place in the genre, contributing to the ongoing revival of traditional folk sounds during the early 2010s. When 'Old Believers' was released in 2012, Cory Chisel was transitioning from his acclaimed debut album, marking his second full-length project. This album followed the success of his earlier work, showcasing a more mature sound and thematic depth as he continued to develop his artistic identity.

How many songs are on Old Believers?

Old Believers has 12 tracks, running approximately 39 minutes.

Old Believers

Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons · 2012

39 min · 12 tracks · folk rock

A haunting blend of folk rock melodies and introspective lyrics that evoke a deep sense of nostalgia and longing.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Old Love — This track captures the bittersweet essence of nostalgia with its reflective lyrics and haunting melody, serving as a centerpiece for the album's themes of memory and loss.
→
Please Tell Me — With its poignant storytelling and emotive delivery, this song exemplifies Chisel's ability to convey vulnerability, making it a standout moment in the album.
→
Over Jordan — This closing track features rich instrumentation and spiritual undertones, encapsulating the album’s exploration of faith and mortality while leaving a lasting impression.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

50 /100

Foothills

Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong lyrical content and varied instrumentation, but lacks a cohesive arc across its length.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the second half introduces more varied rhythms and instrumentation.
The lyrics often reflect personal narratives and introspective themes, with a focus on storytelling throughout the record.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 This Is How It Goes 1:25
2 I’ve Been Accused 2:43
3 Old Love 3:23
4 Never Meant to Love You 3:48
5 Please Tell Me 3:09
6 Laura 2:46
7 Foxgloves 3:51
8 She Don’t Mind 3:27
9 Times Won’t Change 2:46
10 Seventeen 2:49
11 Over Jordan 4:03
12 Wood Drake 5:30

What to play next

Go back to

Death Won't Send A Letter

2009

Full Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons discography Artists like Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons

folk rock

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata