Patty Griffin
A Kiss in Time
(ATO)
First Appeared at The Music Box, January 2004, Volume 11, #1
Written by John Metzger
In the wake of a massive corporate merger, Patty Griffin lost her contract
with A&M, and having nothing left to lose, she settled into the home studio of
friend and guitarist Doug Lancio to record a few tracks "just for fun." It’s not
unusual for these types of relaxed, easy-going, no-pressure projects to yield
career-defining moments, and such was the case with Griffin’s wildly successful
1000 Kisses, which garnered rave reviews, grabbed a Grammy nomination,
and launched a 10-month tour that concluded at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, the
prestigious home of the Grand Ole Opry. The recently released A Kiss in Time
features nearly an hour’s worth of highlights from this event and includes
material culled largely from her hit album as well as its predecessor Flaming
Red. Though it gives little indication as to where Griffin will head on her
next effort, which incidentally is due in early 2004, it does offer a shimmering
overview of her career thus far. The set shows her to be a passionate performer
with a powerful voice that simultaneously exudes great strength and tremendous
vulnerability as well as a songwriter who isn’t afraid to tackle heavy subjects
— Tony is about a former high school classmate who was so persecuted for
his sexual orientation that he was driven to commit suicide, while Christina
ponders the life of an heiress who finally finds joy within the eyes of her
child, only to suffer a heart attack and die. Combining elements of country and
folk, her songs also are adorned with the essence of rock ’n‘ roll. This
undoubtedly has caused many rightfully to compare her with Emmylou Harris,
Lucinda Williams, and the Indigo Girls, and if Griffin’s formula isn’t entirely
unique, she successfully makes it work with an emotional display that lifts her
music above that of the typical singer-songwriter. Consequently, A Kiss in
Time is a captivating collection full of subtle beauty and puissant
poignancy, one that finds Griffin being anything but complacent about her
newfound popularity. ½
A Kiss in Time is available
from Barnes & Noble. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2003 The Music Box