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Downtown Church
 
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Downtown Church

Patty GriffinMP3 Music
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)

Price: $9.49
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Album Savings: $8.57 compared to buying all songs

  • Original Release Date: January 26, 2010
  • Format - Music: MP3
  • Compatible with MP3 Players (including with iPod®), iTunes, Windows Media Player
 
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  Song Title Artist Time Price  
Play   1. House Of Gold Patty Griffin 2:52 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   2. Move Up (Feat. Ann McCrary, Regina McCrary, Jim Lauderdale, And Buddy Miller) 2:43 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   3. Little Fire (Feat. Emmylou Harris) 4:07 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   4. Death's Got A Warrant (Feat. Regina McCrary And Ann McCrary) 1:43 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   5. If I Had My Way (Feat. Regina McCrary And Ann McCrary) 3:24 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   6. Coming Home To Me (Feat. Julie Miller) 3:32 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   7. Wade In The Water (Feat. Regina McCrary And Mike Farris) 3:07 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   8. Never Grow Old (Feat. Buddy Miller) 3:11 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   9. Virgen De Guadalupe (Feat. Raul Malo) 3:31 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play 10. I Smell A Rat Patty Griffin 2:31 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play 11. Waiting For My Child Patty Griffin 4:15 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play 12. The Strange Man (Feat. Regina McCrary And Mike Farris) 3:38 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play 13. We Shall All Be Reunited Patty Griffin 4:11 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play 14. All Creatures Of Our God And King Patty Griffin 4:16 $1.29  Buy MP3 
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Product Details


Customer Reviews

I have been playing this CD in my car ever since receiving it. Janniepoo  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
98 of 101 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars This time, light wins January 26, 2010
Format:Audio CD
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.

Check out "Death's Got a Warrant." It's a capella except for the thudding percussion that sounds like God stomping across the floor as he comes after you.

The first time I heard the final track, "All Creatures of our God and King," I had to stop what I was doing. It is so pure and lovely, it almost feels... well, sacred.

The revelation on here is Patty's voice. Honestly, I don't think she has ever sounded this good. "I Smell a Rat" is a showstopper, and man is she is spitting nails. I didn't know she had it in her.

I'm ready to place "Downtown Church" near the top of her brilliant catalog. Like the rest of her work, it is full of sadness and a weary awareness of the darkness around us.
... Read more ›
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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 performed with a wider and more mainstream audience in mind. By comparison, 'Downchurch Church' has a definite organic feel to it - noticeably more so when compared with the soulful 'gospel-pop' of 'Up to the Mountain' or even the cathartic 'Standing' from 'Impossible Dream'.

Instrumental accompaniment is semi-acoustic with keyboards and electric guitars (but they are never intrusive), and the drums/percussion (on some songs) give the album a little more rhythmic impetus than most of her others. The songs are mainly slow to medium tempo, but there are a few up-tempo ones also; some comments about my favourite songs :

HOUSE OF GOLD (Hank Williams) - A haunting rendition of this country-gospel classic with lyrics which define its apocalyptic mood.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute joy January 28, 2010
Format:Audio CD
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 Rat. For a different take on a jazzy classic, listen to Wade In The Water and for 'typical' Patty listen to the beautiful Coming Home To Me or Never Grow Old. And to round it off there is an outstanding version of the old spiritual We Shall All Be Reunited and a charming straight rendition of the classic hymn All Creatures Of Our God And King, with just John Deadrick on acoustic piano. This is the album of the year so far, and if I hear a better one all year, I shall be delighted but very surprised. Essential listening and an even more essential purchase. Brilliant beyond words.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars A good idea, but diminished by only occasionally good renditions
Patty is very good when she sings with Emmy Lou Harris (2 songs) but tends toward shrillness whenever she sings high notes. The album overall is sorta OK. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Robert Schaefer
2.0 out of 5 stars Not the usual
This isn't what I've come to expect from Patty Griffin. Lots of annoying repetition. There are a few good songs, but all in all, I wish I hadn't gotten this.
Published 1 month ago by Patrick J McLaughlin
5.0 out of 5 stars Best release of her career?
I had always heard of Patty Griffin but had never purchased any of her material. She surfaced on my radar with her recent recordings with Robert Plant and Band of Joy. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dale M Christiansen
4.0 out of 5 stars At the top of my list,
Love her voice, on this cd but my favorite is still Living With Ghosts. The musical backing pushes her voice forward. Love her stuff.
Published 3 months ago by Clayton Robert Watt
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE it.
Fantastic album! I love all the work she does with other artists, I love the sound - definitely a good development for her sound, for her career. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Rachel in Texas
5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Moving Album
The soulful gospel and melodic hymns on this album are the perfect fit for Patty Griffin's voice. The songs are moving and lovely in everyway.
Published 8 months ago by Bookey
5.0 out of 5 stars Patty Griffin Downtown Church
[[ASIN:B00307Q90A Downtown Church] I can't stop listening to this album, I love spiritual, blues/blue grass roots music and Patty has a beautiful voice. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Cloudyday
5.0 out of 5 stars Patty goes to "Church"
I really enjoy being able to here the songs performed by the writer, so Patty Griffin's music is always a treat for me. I am also at times a linear note and credit junkie. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Arty 49
4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, wonderful album
This is just a fantastic album! Griffin has an almost otherworldly, haunting voice, and so pure and crystalline. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Jangle Cat
5.0 out of 5 stars Great album!
THis is a wonderful and uplifting album. I honestly play this album on Sundays when I don't make it to church. :)
Published 16 months ago by erb22
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