Patty Griffin - Downtown Church
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CD Details
Artist: Patty GriffinEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2010-01-26
Music Label: Credential Rec.
Soundtracks:
- House Of Gold
- Move Up
- Little Fire
- Death's Got A Warrant
- If I Had My Way
- Coming Home To Me
- Wade In The Water
- Never Grow Old
- Virgen de Guadalupe
- I Smell A Rat
- Waiting For My Child
- The Strange Man
- We Shall All Be Reunited
- All Creatures Of Our God And King
Music reviews of Downtown Church
Music Review: Heartfelt and at times, uplifting music - with Patty in fine voice
Rating: 4 Stars
With 'Downtown Church', Patty Griffin presents the listener with a selection of gospel/religious songs including several traditional numbers. I think she has one of the most expressive and soulful voices to be heard in popular music today; compared with earlier albums, her vocals have mellowed a little, but she hasn't lost any of her distinctive emotional and soulful edge - it's still there simmering away. 'Downtown Church' was mostly recorded in Nashville's Downtown Presbyterian Church with Patty singing from the pulpit; she is joined by a number of other artists, some of whom have accompanied her on recent tours (see sample playlist).
I don't think the album quite re-captures the stridency and raw emotion of 'Living With Ghosts' and, with only 2 self-penned songs, it's not an album which showcases her skill as song-writer. However, I feel it represents a significant departure from 'Children Running Through' which, in my opinion, was an album of music produced and performed with a wider and more mainstream audience in mind. By comparison, 'Downchurch Church' has a definite organic feel to it - noticeably more so when compared with the soulful 'gospel-pop' of 'Up to the Mountain' or even the cathartic 'Standing' from 'Impossible Dream'.
Instrumental accompaniment is semi-acoustic with keyboards and electric guitars (but they are never intrusive), and the drums/percussion (on some songs) give the album a little more rhythmic impetus than most of her others. The songs are mainly slow to medium tempo, but there are a few up-tempo ones also; some comments about my favourite songs :
HOUSE OF GOLD (Hank Williams) - A haunting rendition of this country-gospel classic with lyrics which define its apocalyptic mood. Sung mainly to the accompaniment of acoustic guitar and subdued organ (occasional acoustic bass and electric guitar also), no drums/percussion (that I could hear).
LITTLE FIRE (Patty Griffin) - Beautiful slow-tempo song in Patty's 'classic' style. It features mellow electric guitar and strains of plaintive pedal steel; also acoustic bass and delicate brushed drums. Emmylou Harris supports with harmony vocals.
IF I HAD MY WAY (SAMSON AND DELILAH) (traditional/Rev. Gary Davis) - Up-tempo song featuring Patty and the McCrary sisters singing in a call and response pattern - guaranteed to get you up off your chair and clapping your hands. Resonant, twangy electric guitar and super drumming/percussion. Just when the song really starts to groove, it finishes (but you can always play it again).
VIRGEN DE GUADALUPE (traditional) - Patty certainly has a deft vocal touch when she sings in Spanish - if you liked her singing 'Mil Besos', you should like this also (although it is a different style of song). Smooth harmonies from Raul Malo - plus acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, accordion and piano all adding to the Mexican flavour of this slow tempo song.
ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING (traditional) - This 13th. century hymn written, in its original form, by Saint Francis of Assisi is beautifully sung by Patty - she drops her characteristic soulfulness to give the song a 'straight' rendition. Accompaniment is from piano and acoustic bass only.
Other favourites are : 'Wade In the Water', 'Never Grow Old' and 'Waiting For My Child'. A couple of songs were not for me : 'Coming Home To Me' is a great song but, for some reason, I couldn't take to its arrangement or Julie Miller's accompanying vocals; also, 'I Smell A Rat' is more akin to early rock 'n' roll than gospel - it's an OK song, but not one of Leiber & Stoller's best.
'Downtown Church' is a fine album alright, but it remains to be seen whether the somewhat more 'specialized' nature of the music affords it the same wide appeal as her other albums. '1000 Kisses' still remains my favourite album by Patty Griffin, but this one comes close.
Description of Downtown Church
Hailed as one of Americana and folk music's most esteemed artists, Patty Griffin has sold over a million records and was awarded with the Americana Music Association's highest honor as "Artist Of The Year" in 2007. Griffin has received multiple Grammy nominations and has toured the country relentlessly, creating avid followers wherever her music is heard. She is a natural songbird that can hush an audience with her performances, but Griffin's power is in her passionate storytelling with a voice that is mournful yet uplifting. Patty Griffin's new album, Downtown Church, is a collection of Gospel-infused songs produced by longtime friend, bandmate and acclaimed producer Buddy Miller at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. Downtown Church brings to life Gospel songs that have influenced contemporary music in a way that only Patty Griffin can do.Country CDs
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