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American Kid
Studio album by Patty Griffin
Released	May 7, 2013 (2013-05-07)
Recorded	2012
Studio	Zebra Ranch Studio G!
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)

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

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
American Songwriter
Blurt
The Daily Telegraph
Exclaim!	8/10
The Independent
musicOMH
The Observer
Paste	9/10
Rolling Stone
Uncut	7/10

The album was universally acclaimed by music critics. On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 85/100 based on reviews from 15 critics, and on AnyDecentMusic?, it has a weighted average rating of 8.5/10 based on reviews from 12 critics.

Jim Beviglia of American Songwriter proclaimed the album to be "a tour de force of nimble songwriting and emotional performances", and Hal Horowitz, also of American Songwriter, said the album contains "shimmering music you won't soon forget." Martin Chilton of The Daily Telegraph wrote that "American Kid is a triumph of songwriting and expressive singing." Jordan Mainzer of musicOMH called the album "one of the best albums of the year so far", Neil Spencer of The Observer called it "a triumph", and Nick Coleman of The Independent called it "a compelling experience."

Thom Jurek concluded his review for Allmusic by stating that, "With 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." Steve Pick of Blurt called the album "perhaps" Griffin's "finest hour." Jason Schneider of Exclaim! said the album "puts the full range of talent on display." Holly Gleason of Paste wrote that, on the album, Griffin was expressing "emotional truths" and "cutting to the quick," and that her "razor-sharp sense of detail has never been sharper". Will Hermes of Rolling Stone noted that "it's clear writing remains as surprising as it is masterful." Rob Hughes of Uncut called the album "a bewitching piece of work, with or without the hired help", due to Griffin's "elegant phrasing and nuanced delivery", and said it "manages to sound deeply affectionate without being sentimental."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Patty Griffin, except where noted

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

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. Archived from the original on 2013-06-21. 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.

• 2013 albums
• Patty Griffin albums