Downtown Church

I, like lots of others, was a little worried when I heard that Patty Griffin's newest effort was a gospel/spirituals recording. For me, the concern wasn't so much that I dislike the genre, but that I couldn't bear a Patty Griffin album full of someone else's lyrics. Patty is one of our great poets, and the world needs the gift of her words -- weary, wise, and every now and then containing a glimmer of hope and light.

As it turns out, this genre has plenty of that, and Patty Griffin seems right at home on the stage of that downtown Nashville house of worship. "People steal / they cheat and lie..." So begins the record, and over the course of 14 tracks Patty Griffin struggles between light and dark that lives inside us. It's epic, and very, very beautiful.

I know a lot of folks aren't fans of "gospel," but the good news is that this record really has more of an "O Brother" arthouse feel that will play nicely in the kitchen when friends are over...Read more

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...Read more

I reviewed this on the UK site when I had just heard it streamed live. Now I have had the album for a few days and it is possibly even better than I had thought. An album built very much around gospel songs, it has enough of Patty's 'typical' sound not to put off those who do not take to gospel.There are wonderful backing singers on this album, from Emmylou Harris to Raul Malo to Regina McCrary, there are exquisite instrumental touches from a superb selection of players led by Buddy Miller (who persuaded Patty to record this album in the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville, giving it an authentic feel) and above it all soars Patty's voice, the best in modern popular music. This is the only artist whose I can put on repeat time after time after time. Difficult to say why her and not others, but her voice, her story songs, her empathetic backing are all absolutely timeless. For real gospel inspiration, listen to Move Up or If I Had My Way, For rocking rockabilly try I Smell A...Read more