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Post by Sean without an H on Sept 7, 2006 23:24:03 GMT -5
Okay, I've teetered back and forth on this one... but I'm thinking of picking up some Patty Griffin, after seeing her name thrown around so much (here, Andy O, Jeremy Casella, etc.). Question, where do I start? Anybody have any opinions? Favorites? Things to avoid? I'd love to get some advice/feedback  Sean PS I've got both Leeland's new Cd and the new Jars record. Leeland's growing on me, but gosh... I don't think Jars has ever let me down (even If I Left The Zoo... maybe I didn't know better). It's pretty rockin', and pretty awesome. (Esp. "Work", "Oh My God" and "Light Gives Heat") |
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Post by Sean without an H on Sept 7, 2006 23:33:47 GMT -5
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Post by Greg adkins on Sept 8, 2006 7:45:47 GMT -5
I got the new Jars and new Hem records... both are amazing.
As for Patty Griffin, let me kind of run down her records for you. Patty is AMAZING and you will love her, I promise.
Living with Ghosts - her first album. It's just her and a guitar... the whole time... she recorded the songs as demos and the label just said "that's so good, just release the demos". It really is that good.
Flaming Red - This is much more of a rock record... includes some amazing songs ("Tony" is jawdropping) but this is probably my least favorite of her records. That said, it's still incredible.
1000 Kisses - This one's probably my favorite. It's much more mellow and acoustic and it really showcases Patty's amazing voice and writing. The songs "Rain", "Long Ride Home", and "Be Careful" are my favorites but the whole thing is just fantastic.
Impossible Dream - I'd put this as my third favorite, closely behind "Living with Ghosts". Continues with the more acoustic sound of 1000 Kisses but adding some light horns and a little more piano. "Kite Song" is my favorite here but "Useless Desires" is incredible too.
There's also a live album that is good, but I'm not including it here in my rankings...
Trust me on this man... Patty won't do you wrong. I'd start with either 1000 Kisses or Living with Ghosts. If you want a a sampler, get on Itunes and download these songs:
Let him Fly
Rain
Nobody's Crying
Long Ride Home
Tony
Christina
Poor Man's House
Not Alone
Kite Song
Useless Desires
Top of the World
That ought to send you running back for more.
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Post by Jeph on Sept 8, 2006 8:17:17 GMT -5
Any fan of Griffin simply can't say enough about her. I totally second Greg on all that. She's just powerful and, man, what a great songwriter. Those songs Greg listed are like a 'best of' Patty. You could make a cd of just those songs and have possibly one of the best cd's ever made. I'm being totally serious.
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Post by Sean without an H on Sept 11, 2006 14:13:28 GMT -5
Just a quick update on the Patty Griffin front...
Okay, thanks to you guys' recommendations, I decided to pick up A Kiss in Time off of iTunes... I've always been a sucker for live interpretation, stage banter and the general non-producedness of live albums. Also, as of about ten minutes ago, I snagged a two-pack of Living with Ghosts and 1000 Kisses off of eBay for $9.75 total (yeehaw). I won't have those for several days, but I should get a chance to dig into Kiss in Time some time soon.. I haven't gotten to listen to too much of it yet, but I like what I've heard. I'll give you my fuller impressions once me and my laptop end up in a quiet place for a little while =).
P.S. What do you know about a song of hers titled "Dear Old Friend" off of a "13 ways to live" compilation? I found it on iTunes, and I'm really digging the sound from the clip... sounds like what you've described as "classic Patty" (or something haha).
Thanks for the recommendations!
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Post by Sean without an H on Jan 19, 2007 22:30:07 GMT -5
Hey Greg, what do you know about Silver Bell? What's your take on it? Just curious =)
PS And what about that new album dropping soon? I think I'm excited (finally picked up Flaming Red last week too! )
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Post by Greg adkins on Jan 20, 2007 13:34:37 GMT -5
Silver Bell is alright... certainly not my favorite of her records but it's cool to hear it. I have a bootleg copy of it... do you have it? It's got some really great songs on it. I like "One more Girl" a lot and I like the version of "Top of the World" on there a lot better than the one on "Impossible Dream".
I'm excited about her new record... that's an automatic buy for sure!
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Post by Sean without an H on Feb 5, 2007 19:57:01 GMT -5
Okay, so I know the record releases tomorrow, but I found this today on RMFO.net ... www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7122567It's an NPR story from Friday on Patty... the kicker, you can stream (via Realplayer) three tracks - Heavenly Day, Bad New and Come up the Mountain. I just have to say, after taking an MLK class... yeah, i've listened to Up the Mountain at least three times in the past 30 minutes. Absolutely, phenomenonally beautiful. Solomon Burke recorded this first (her song), but it's got nothing on this version. Sadly enough, my B&N pre-order for Children Running Through hasn't shipped yet. Totally le sigh. Oh well, it'll just rock my world later this week. |
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Post by Greg adkins on Feb 6, 2007 8:22:21 GMT -5
I downloaded this as soon as I woke up this morning from Itunes. Can't wait to listen to it!
- Greg
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Post by Sean without an H on Mar 9, 2007 14:42:21 GMT -5
Hey greg, I've been meaning to ask about this for a little while... would you be interested in doing a little Patty Griffin swapping? I pre-ordered my copy from B&N and it came w/ a two-track bonus CD. I'd be more than happy to trade you a good copy of those songs for "The Moon Song" (iTunes exclusive)... save us both from buying the album again, if you're interested (not that I have time/money to do that right now, but still...) PS Thanks again for pointing me her way... I'm officially in love with the music, and what's really cool, my wife likes her too! (Especially Living with Ghosts, though I'm leaning towards Impossible Dream being my fave). With so much music out there, and so little really worth sinking your teeth into, it's a rare treat to get ahold of something so great. (And I'm not sure, but it might have something to do with helping me fall in love (again) with Over the Rhine... amazing. Btw, do you have their Mp3 rarities? I found a site where you can get ahold of all of them [40 or so Mp3s] if you want the link) |
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Post by Sean without an H on Mar 9, 2007 14:44:36 GMT -5
PPS Not to keep talking, but a Patty-related question: I have to say I'm so happy her label never released Silver Bell. Maybe it comes from hearing "old" songs on new releases in different contexts, but I really felt like the record was very disjointed... like sticking flaming Red and the [as yet unrecorded] 1000 Kisses in a blender. Honestly, like Jeremy Casella's Innocence Fires, it's a shame the artists got treated so badly but I think it might have been the best thing that could have happened to their music.
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