The River & the Thread is the thirteenth studio album by American singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash.

[6] Holly Gleason of Paste rated the album an eight point eight, noting that "With The River & The Thread, she comes home with the warmth reserved for knowing where we're from.

"[11] At Record Collector, Terry Stauton rated the album a perfect five stars, exclaiming that "It's a record that her late father would have been enormously proud of, and the first essential country album of 2014.

"[4] At Allmusic, stating that the artist "learned to make every word and every note count, and this album confirms once again that she's matured into a singular artist with the talent and the vision to make these stories of her travels in the South come to vivid and affecting life.

"[2] Jim Farber of the New York Daily News rated the album four stars, affirming that "As always, Cash's vocals aren't brimming with character, but their tidiness suits her observational lyrics and considered personality.