Patty Griffin: Children Running Through
I love Patty Griffin. And just when I think she can’t top what she’s already done, she’s done it with “Children Running Through.” The CD is by far the most musically diverse of her CD’s and her incredible song writing shines through with every track.
The CD opens with the first of the many new words I’ll use in describing Patty Griffin: sultry. “I’ll Remember” has a haunting, slinky bass line and some downright sexy vocals that remind me of vintage Cowboy Junkies.
The next song, “Stay on the Ride” could well be my favorite Patty Griffin song ever. It’s got everything. The lyrics create one her most vivid song characters since “Chief” from “1,000 Kisses”. It’s bluesy a la Bob Dylan and has a sweet horn section that puts it over the top.
“Trapeze” is yet another great character song. It’s a beautiful waltz number, and, as if Patty Griffin’s angelic voice weren’t enough, Emmylou Harris joins in on backing vocals. Here’s a video of the song performed live, although without Ms. H.
In this song and “Let You Go” Griffin belts out the vocals with wild abandon and grit. “Flaming Red,” one of her earlier CD’s has some rocking numbers, but on this CD, when she lets go it has a much heartier feel… she seems more comfortable and confident with her belting.
The CD also employs a wide variety of instrumentation. “Stay the Ride” has the slick horn section, and “No Bad News” has almost a mariachi feel. Two other tracks, “I Don’t Ever Give Up” and “Crying Over” feature beautiful string arrangements.
The only song that really doesn’t grab me is “Railroad Wings.” Not because it’s not a great song, but the lyrics processed in my brain like so many Fall Out Boy songs. The first time I heard it I wondered why Patty Griffin would be singing about dress designer Vera Wang. Then I wondered how many other heterosexual males know who Vera Wang is.
From start to finish, “Children Running Through” has everything one could hope to find in a Patty Griffin CD. The joy is discovering there’s of her here than we’ve ever really heard before.
Comment!
How did you like “Children Running Through”?
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Children Running Through is my favorite all time album now. I have always enjoyed Cowboy Junkies, Rickie Lee Jones, Ms. H., , Lucinda Williams,Cheryl Crow, Beth Orton, Melissa Etheridge, you know chic music! But once I discovered Patty’s music I rarely listen to any thing else, well this a.m. I ldid listened to Laura Neyro. Thank you, Thank you for the live performance’s of Patty Griffin on your blog.
Vicki