December's Child

Reception

Writing for Allmusic, music critic Steve Kurutz praised the album's "minimalist approach" and wrote "Whether singing about around-the-clock meth labs or newspaper roses sold by the side of the road, he creates fully realized worlds within each song on December's Child. The lo-fi folk vibe of the earlier self-released Creekdippers recordings and 2000's My Own Jo Ellen remains... but the electricity and amplification have been turned up a bit, too—rather than deliberately eschewed as he seemed to prefer after first going relatively solo."

Track listing

All songs by Mark Olson except as noted.

1. "How Can I Send Tonight (There to Tell You)" – 3:46
2. "Still We Have a Friend in You" – 3:52
3. "Alta's Song" – 3:49
4. "Back to the Old Homeplace" – 2:29
5. "December's Child" – 4:21
6. "Nerstrand Woods" – 4:38
7. "Cactus Wren" – 4:41
8. "Climb These Steps (We Will)" – 3:24
9. "How Can This Be" – 3:18
10. "Say You'll be Mine" (Olson, Gary Louris) – 4:01
11. "One Eyed Black Dog Moses" (Olson, Victoria Williams) – 5:59

Personnel