Living With Ghosts

Patty Griffin | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 1996)
• Original Release Date: May 21, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fontana a&M
• ASIN: B000002G4U
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (128 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,273 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #30 in Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > Singer-Songwriters
  • #39 in Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk > General

Editorial Reviews

It's not surprising that Living With Ghosts, the first Patty Griffin album, has all the immediacy and intimacy of a bunch of demos knocked up by a songwriter during those brief early moments when the songs are still vibrantly new and exciting, zipping around in her brain like atoms in a molecule that's about to tear itself apart. After all, a bunch of demos is exactly what it is. Recorded back in 1996, the rootsy young Bangor, Maine singer-songwriter used these minimal acoustic guitar and voice recordings to score a publishing contract but, fortunately for anybody who loves nothing better than a good song well sung, they were considered good enough to release in their raw state. Comparisons to Bruce Springsteen crop up in her press reviews, but she's really somewhere in between Bonnie Raitt and Lucinda Williams, sparky and sincere, honest and uncomplicated. Although lacking the production values and country-rock band arrangements of her later albums, songs like "Let Him Fly" and "Every Little Bit" need nothing more than Griffin gives them here. --Johnny Black

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 97 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing debut from an amazing talent.... October 26, 2000

By E. M. Carey

Format:Audio CD

I've heard Patty Griffin say that her debut wasn't exactly her style, that she didn't really want to do an acoustic studio album. However dissatisfied she may be, she has created a masterpiece. Her tremendous voice and poetic lyrics carry the CD beautifully. From the pain of heartbreak in 'Every Little Bit' to the whimsy of 'Mad Mission,' Patty writes songs that tell stories, and then she conveys them with a clear, strong, gorgeously terrific voice.

This album is definitely one of the best I've ever owned. It's hard to imagine that someone can exhibit so much range within a pretty narrow genre, yet Patty manages to do it. Each individual song can stand on its own as vividly and poetically written, beautifully sung and performed; together, they become a seamless, smooth, coherent album, one with enough different pieces to suit whatever mood I'm in. Living With Ghosts is one of the few albums I can listen to over and over and still enjoy the surprises and nuances of every song.

It's become quite common now for other artists to cover Patty's songs, from the Dixie Chicks to Emmylou Harris to Ben Harper (whom I heard sing my all-time favorite Patty song, 'Mary,' which is on her second CD). But no matter how good these other versions - and singers - are, they never quite achieve the power that Patty does. And this is the place to begin getting to know Patty, discovering what others have about the beauty of her music. This CD is innovative yet classic, mellow yet powerful, simple yet complex... it's almost beyond description except to say, again, that it's one of the best I've ever heard or bought and one that everyone should give a try. And after this one, there's the very different treat that is 'Flaming Red,' but that's a whole different story... Just buy this one, settle down, and enjoy the ride of truly great songwriting, singing and music.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I cannot say enough about this CD February 1, 2001

By MUSIC LOVER

Format:Audio CD

Normally I wouldn't take the time to write a CD review but for this one, it's worth it. Thank goodness I bought the Lilith Fair CD which features Patty singing "Cain" or I would not know her music today. I am a musician, and "Living With Ghosts" is probably in my top five favorite CDs. Patty's voice is ethereal and her songwriting is worthy of endless praise. I had the pleasure of seeing her in concert with Emmylou Harris and she is as good live as she is on the recording. I'd have to say that I am in love with most of the songs on this CD but most notable are "Moses", "Every Little Bit", "Sweet Lorraine", "Mad Mission" and "You are Not Alone". To hear her sing is like looking into my own soul. It is as if I wrote the songs myself. I highly recommend "Living With Ghosts" to anyone who appreciates high quality, solid, sincere songwriting and multi-faceted female folk singers. Patty is a little bit country, a little bit rock and roll. Run, do not walk, to buy this CD.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Spare and Special May 25, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

The mental image I instantly get when I put on this CD is of the artist, sitting alone on a darkened stage with her guitar, a single spotlight focused on her while she plays. That's the kind of intimate performance that fills this this album. Patty Griffin is an enormously talented woman who is undeservedly almost unknown - I'd describe her sound as a cross between Bonnie Raitt and Emmy Lou Harris. Some of the best tracks are "Let Him Fly" (covered recently by the Dixie Chicks, I think), "Every Little Bit" (a heartbreaking song about a damaged love affair), and "Mad Mission" (kind of an odd little song, but with undeniable charm). The closing track, "Not Alone," is as sad and beautiful as anything I've ever heard. If you love live performances - well, here's a studio recording that has the feeling of one. It's as if she's playing only for you.