American Kid
Patty Griffin · 2013
46 min · 12 tracks · folk music
Intimate storytelling unfolds over gentle melodies, blending folk traditions with poignant reflections on love, loss, and identity.
Top tracks — play these first
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Faithful Son — This track stands out for its haunting melody and narrative that explores themes of loyalty and sacrifice within familial relationships, showcasing Griffin's storytelling prowess.
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Don't Let Me Die in Florida — The song combines humor with poignant reflection on mortality and homecoming, highlighting Griffin’s ability to blend lightheartedness with deeper emotional truths.
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Ohio — A beautifully crafted tribute to the state that shaped her upbringing, this song captures a sense of nostalgia while weaving in vivid imagery and personal history.
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Gonna Miss You When You're Gone — With its bittersweet tone and delicate instrumentation, this track encapsulates the feeling of longing and farewell, making it an emotional centerpiece of the album.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and intimate performances, though it follows familiar folk traditions.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of acoustic instrumentation, with guitar and piano forming the backbone of most tracks.
- Many songs employ a narrative structure, with lyrics that unfold like short stories, often reflecting on personal themes.
- The tempo varies slightly across tracks, but the majority maintain a gentle, contemplative pace that encourages introspection.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- heartfelt storytelling through song
- steady pacing for reflective moments
- personal narratives with emotional depth
- for quiet evenings
- gentle melodies for introspective listening
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer upbeat party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2013, American Kid is Patty Griffin's sixth studio album, following her critically acclaimed record, Downtown Church. At this point in her career, Griffin had established herself as a respected figure in folk music, yet she continued to evolve artistically, drawing on personal experiences to shape her songwriting. This album marks a return to her roots while also exploring new thematic territories.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dar Williams· Neko Case· Brandi Carlile
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Go Wherever You Wanna Go 3:46
- 2 Don't Let Me Die in Florida 3:47
- 3 Ohio 5:12
- 4 Wild Old Dog 4:46
- 5 Mom & Dad's Waltz 2:55
- 6 Faithful Son 4:54
- 7 Highway Song 3:12
- 8 That Kind of Lonely 4:23
- 9 Irish Boy 2:45
- 10 Get Ready Marie 2:59
- 11 Not a Bad Man 3:44
- 12 Gonna Miss You When You're Gone 4:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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