American Kid

American Kid is the seventh studio album by American singer-songwriter Patty Griffin, released on May 7, 2013, by New West Records. The album was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee. Griffin recorded the album as a tribute to her late father.[1]

American Kid
Studio album by Patty Griffin
Released	May 7, 2013
Recorded	2012
Genre	Folk, folk rock, Americana
Length	46:35
Label	New West Records
Producer	Craig Ross, Patty Griffin
Patty Griffin chronology
Downtown Church (2010) American Kid (2013) Silver Bell (2013)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[2]
American Songwriter	[3] [4]
Blurt	[5]
The Daily Telegraph	[6]
Exclaim!	8/10[7]
The Independent	[8]
musicOMH	[9]
The Observer	[10]
Paste	9/10[11]
Rolling Stone	[12]
Uncut	7/10[13]

American Kid has been universally acclaimed by music critics. At Metacritic, the assign a weighted average score to ratings and reviews from mainstream music critics, which the Metascore for the album is 85, and this is based on 15 reviews.[14] At AnyDecentMusic?, they have a weighted average rating of an 8.5-out-of-ten, and this is based upon 12 reviews and ratings.[15]

Thom Jurek of Allmusic found that "with its immediacy, economy, cagey strength, and vulnerability," that the artist has created a release meant "not as gifts or statements, but as her own evidence of what is, what was, and what yet may come."[2] At American Songwriter, Jim Beviglia proclaimed the album to be "a tour de force of nimble songwriting and emotional performances."[3] Also at American Songwriter, Hal Horowitz called it "shimmering music you won't soon forget."[4] Jordan Mainzer of musicOMH called it "one of the best albums of the year so far."[9] At Blurt, Steve Pick vowed that "this perhaps [is] her finest hour."[5] Martin Chilton of The Daily Telegraph noted how "American Kid is a triumph of songwriting and expressive singing."[6] At Exclaim!, Jason Schneider alluded to how this release "puts the full range of her talent on display."[7]

Nick Coleman of The Independent told that this is "a compelling experience."[8] At The Observer, Neil Spencer proclaimed this to be "a triumph."[10] Holly Gleason of Paste highlighted how Griffin is using "emotional truths", and "cutting to the quick," with a "razor-sharp sense of detail has never been sharper".[11] At Rolling Stone, Will Hermes noted how "it's clear her writing remains as surprising as it is masterful."[12] Rob Hughes of Uncut called this "a bewitching piece of work, with or without the hired help", which is because her "elegant phrasing and nuanced delivery", and in doing so the album "manages to sound deeply affectionate without being sentimental."[13]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Patty Griffin, except where noted.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Go Wherever You Wanna Go"		3:46
2.	"Don't Let Me Die in Florida"		3:46
3.	"Ohio"		5:12
4.	"Wild Old Dog"		4:47
5.	"Mom & Dad's Waltz"	Lefty Frizzell	2:55
6.	"Faithful Son"		4:54
7.	"Highway Song"	Griffin, Robert Plant	3:13
8.	"That Kind of Lonely"		4:22
9.	"Irish Boy"		2:47
10.	"Get Ready Marie"		3:00
11.	"Not a Bad Man"		3:48
12.	"Gonna Miss You When You're Gone"		4:05
Total length:			46:35

Personnel

• Patty Griffin – vocals (all songs), guitar (1-8, 10-12), piano (9)
• Cody Dickinson – drums (1, 2, 3, 4, 10), percussion (1, 3, 4, 6), jug (10)
• Luther Dickinson – guitar (3, 4, 5, 6, 10), slide guitar (1), banjo (2)
• Doug Lancio – mandolin (1, 4, 5, 10), guitar (2, 3, 5, 6), baritone guitar (11)
• Craig Ross – guitar (1, 3, 7, 8), baritone guitar (2, 3, 4, 7), bass (2, 10), organ (6, 7), piano (11), backing vocals (6), percussion (3), Omnichord (12)
• Robert Plant – duet vocals (3, 7), backing vocals (6)
• Byron House – bowed bass (7, 8)
• John Deaderick – organ (10, 12), piano (10)
• Luther, Cody, Doug, Roy, Patty – drunken choir (10)
• Mike Poole – mixing (all songs)

Chart performance

Chart (2013)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[16]	36
US Folk Albums (Billboard)[17]	4
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[18]	5
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[19]	11
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[20]	3

References

1. Schlansky, Evan (March 7, 2013). "'Patty Griffin Explores Family Ties On American Kid'". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
2. Jurek, Tom (May 7, 2013). "American Kid – Patty Griffin : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
3. Beviglia, Jim (May 5, 2013). "Patty Griffin: American Kid". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
4. Horowitz, Hal (May 6, 2013). "Patty Griffin: American Kid". American Songwriter. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
5. Pick, Steve (May 9, 2013). "PATTY GRIFFIN – American Kid". Blurt. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
6. Chilton, Martin (June 11, 2013). "Patty Griffin, American Kid, album review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
7. Schneider, Jason (May 8, 2013). "Patty Griffin – American Kid". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
8. Coleman, Nick (May 11, 2013). "Album: Patty Griffin, American Kid (Columbia)". The Independent. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
9. Mainzer, Jordan (May 14, 2013). "Patty Griffin – American Kid". musicOMH. Retrieved May 27, 2013.
10. Spencer, Neil (May 12, 2013). "Patty Griffin: American Kid – review". The Observer. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
11. Gleason, Holly (May 7, 2013). "Patty Griffin: American Kid". Paste. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
12. Hermes, Will (May 17, 2013). "Patty Griffin, American Kid". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
13. Hughes, Rob (June 2013). "Patty Griffin: American Kid (Columbia/New West)". Uncut (193): 70.
14. Metacritic (May 7, 2013). "Critic Reviews for American Kid". CBS Interactive. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
15. AnyDecentMusic? (May 7, 2013). "American Kid by Patty Griffin reviews". PalmerWatson. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
16. "Patty Griffin Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
17. "Patty Griffin Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard.
18. "Patty Griffin Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard.
19. "Patty Griffin Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
20. "Patty Griffin Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard.