Music Review: Patty Griffin, Servant of Love

By Tyler Hodg

Patty Griffin is a musical treasure. There is no modern poet that can come close to the brilliance that she puts out, and her music stands high above almost everything else. But all that is great has to fall at some point, right? In the case of Patty Griffin, that theory has yet to be proven. Her latest album, Servant of Love, is yet another entry in her fantastic catalogue.

A follow-up to the “lost” album Silver Bell, Servant of Love is further evidence that Patty Griffin is not bound by any sort of limitations when it comes to creating music. Her songs have always been experimental—and this album is no different—but the latest work from the genius singer-songwriter is a bit more tame than what her fans might be used to.

Nearly half of the songs on the album are ballads, with “Gunpowder” and “Snake Charmer” being the most up-beat—but that’s not to say the slower tempo songs are boring. In fact, the ballads ultimately shine through as the brightest tracks on the album. “You Never Asked Me” features a wonderfully emotional chord progression, while “Shine A Different Way” is a classic-sounding Patty Griffin acoustic track.

The ability to pair melodies and thought-provoking lyrics so well is what makes Patty Griffin special. The opening line of the album, “I want to live by your ocean / Moved by the waves / No one can see,” is seemingly optimistic, but is set to a haunting piano piece. The fusion of emotions creates an outstanding aura that is incredibly hard to describe. The song stays with you long after it is over, as do most of the songs on the album.

Patty Griffin’s Servant of Love is a must-get, must-listen, must-love, kind of album. It would be unfair to categorize her music, considering it’s an equal blend of country, pop, rock, and soul, so it is simply best to leave it just as “great music.” Each and every album that Patty Griffin releases has its own identity, and Servant of Love is no exception.

Servant Of Love was released on September 25 by Thirty Tigers.