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May 7, 2013With its immediacy, economy, cagey strength, and vulnerability, Griffin delivers these 12 songs not as gifts or statements, but as her own evidence of what is, what was, and what yet may come.
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May 7, 2013Griffin digs deep into introspective lyrics, some with historical references, to display her distinctive vocals and original songs with stripped down arrangements that use space and the silence between notes to create shimmering music you won’t soon forget.
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May 16, 2013There are points when Kid feels a little boxed; "Mom & Dad's Waltz" plays trite in the indicated time signature, and "Wild Old Dog" delves too far into its God-as-errant-mutt metaphor. Nevertheless, Griffin re-emerges with her best foot forward, sparse folk for the working man ("Faithful Son").
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May 9, 2013Patty Griffin has clearly been saving the best of her own material for a long time, making this perhaps her finest hour.
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May 8, 2013If it can be said that Griffin has been toiling in the shadow of Emmylou Harris, then American Kid is the long-overdue moment that puts the full range of her talent on display.
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MagnetJun 17, 2013Intensely personal and musically powerful, Griffin captures the bold spirit of her family's history with top-notch songs. [No.99, p.56]
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May 14, 2013One of the best albums of the year so far.
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May 7, 2013Taking emotional truths and cutting to the quick, her razor-sharp sense of detail has never been sharper.
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May 16, 2013American Kid successfully recaptures Griffin’s acoustic roots in haunting and moving fashion.
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Q MagazineJun 17, 2013It's her devastating voice and ear for the smallest details that ultimately makes all the difference. [Jul 2013, p.104]
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May 17, 2013Her unusual harmonies with Plant on "Highway Song" and the hypnotic "Ohio" match anything from his celebrated Raising Sand LP.
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May 13, 2013A compelling experience.
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May 13, 2013A triumph.
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Jun 11, 2013American Kid is a triumph of songwriting and expressive singing.
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UncutMay 7, 2013It's a record that manages to sound deeply affectionate without being sentimental. [Jun 2013, p.70]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 17 out of 19
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Mixed: 0 out of 19
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Negative: 2 out of 19
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May 9, 2013
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May 9, 2013
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May 9, 2013