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Music Review: Patty Griffin - 1000 Kisses
Ah, the perfect album. Dylan did it with "Blonde on Blonde" and again with "Blood on the Tracks". Some say Springsteen did it with
"Nebraska". The Beatles did it several times, depending on who you ask. Patty Griffin has done it on "1000 Kisses".
Now, I'll let it be known. I am a fan of Patty Griffin. I think she is insanely creative, an unparalleled songwriter, and gifted singer.
I do not however, hold the opinion that she can do no wrong. While her first album "Living with Ghosts" is a masterpiece, her second
album "Flaming Red" felt like a mis-step from start to finish. On "1000 Kisses", her third record, Patty makes the true follow-up
to "Living with Ghosts".
The record begins with "Rain". A simple song about being hurt so badly that all you can do is hang on while the rain pours down.
Beautifully recorded guitars mixed with simple percussion and piano combine to create a full sound that still leaves room for Patty's
amazing voice. This song alone is better than anything she had previously recorded.
Next comes "Chief", a song that saw some airplay recently on CMT (country music television) and also on better radio stations. Accordions
and mandolins join the mix on this song giving it an almost celtic feel. Great tune.
After a stripped down cover of Springsteen's "Stolen Car" and a heartbreaking vignette of a heartbroken factory worker ("Making Pies")
comes the beautiful ballad "Be Careful".
Next is "Long Ride Home", a duet with Emmylou Harris. Griffin tells a tale of a widow traveling home from her husband's funeral.
"Someone dug a hole six long feet in the ground
I said goodbye to you and I threw my roses down
Ain't nothing left at all in the end of being proud
With me riding in this car, and you flying through them clouds"
This song is the highlight of the record for me. It raises questions about long marriages and how sometimes, even though they are long,
they are filled with heartbreak and regret. Harris' harmony simply sweetens the deal.
"Nobody's Crying" is a bit of a mystery but seems to be a last prayer for a deceased former lover. In the liner notes, the lyrics to this song
are accompanied by a picture of Griffin praying. Musically and melodically, this song is stunning.
For the last two songs, the record takes a surprising twist. First, on "Tomorrow Night", Griffin sounds like she is singing Billy Holiday
in some smoky bar. Accompanied only by guitar and muted trumpet, this song was made for slow-dancin.
Finally, on "Mil Besos", Griffin ends the record with a beautiful spanish flavored song with the lyrics actually in Spanish. Mi no
hablo espanol, but if I could, I'm sure I would agree with whatever she's saying, as it is sung beautifully.
The only fault this record possibly might have is its length. It clocks in pretty short but as they say, better to leave 'em wanting more.
Review by Greg Adkins
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