Listening To.......Patty Griffin's Downtown Church

I've been a casual Patty Griffin fan for a few years now. When I first heard her, I was blown away by her voice, and equally impressed by her songwriting, but, for whatever reason, I just never became a die hard fan. I think some of her previous albums may have just been a bit too "intense" for me at the time. But her latest project, Downtown Church, has left me stunned. Enamored. Mesmerized. I am now, unabashedly, a Patty Griffin zealot.

Technically, the album is a gospel record, although I think even those who are not particularly religious can still enjoy the record from an American history perspective. Sometimes the term "Americana" is used as a catch all genre, for anything that doesn't quite fit in another category, but this album is pure Americana in the truest sense of the word. The songs collected here manage to unearth the essence of perhaps the most deeply rooted American musical tradition: gospel music. Jazz, country, rock and roll: all these genres, and more, can find their origin in the gospel music tradition. What's so amazing about this album, and probably only possible because of the virtuosity and complexity of Griffin's voice, is the way she is able to seamlessly unite the styles of both African American, Appalachian, and even Latin American gospel traditions. It is, indeed, pure soul.

The album was produced by Buddy Miller (one of my all-time favorite musicians), and features duets with Emmylou Harris, Julie Miller, Raul Maulo, and others. The project was recorded in the sanctuary of Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, a fascinating endeavor you can read more about here.

I've been listening to this album all summer, and continue to be amazed.