Downtown Church cover

Downtown Church

Patty Griffin · 2010

47 min · 14 tracks · folk rock

A soulful collection of gospel-inflected folk songs that evoke deep spiritual introspection.

Why this album works

'Downtown Church' was well-received, earning Griffin a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Folk Album. The album's blend of traditional gospel with folk sensibilities resonated widely, contributing to a renewed interest in Americana and folk music within the contemporary scene.
Career context
Released in 2010, 'Downtown Church' marked Patty Griffin's return after a five-year hiatus following her album 'Children Running Through'. At this point in her career, Griffin was already an established artist known for her poignant songwriting and emotive vocal delivery, seeking to explore her spiritual roots through this project.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 House of Gold 2:53
  • 2 Move Up 2:44
  • 3 Little Fire 4:07
  • 4 Death’s Got a Warrant 1:43
  • 5 If I Had My Way Standout 3:24
  • 6 Coming Home to Me 3:33
  • 7 Wade in the Water Standout 3:08
  • 8 Never Grow Old 3:11
  • 9 Virgen de Guadalupe 3:32
  • 10 I Smell a Rat 2:31
  • 11 Waiting for My Child 4:16
  • 12 The Strange Man 3:38
  • 13 We Shall All Be Reunited Standout 4:11
  • 14 All Creatures of Our God and King 4:17

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata