Patty Griffin has always been an artist fearlessly, eagerly willing to follow her muse wherever it may take her, and few artists can bare their souls in the recording studio with such compelling results. For her ninth studio album, 2015's
Servant of Love,
Griffin has given herself more creative freedom than ever before, as it's the first release from PGM Recordings, her own independent label. While
Servant of Love doesn't sound like an album she couldn't have made for one of her former sponsors, it is a bravely eclectic, often enigmatic work that doesn't announce all its attentions at first glance, but allows
Griffin to use her lyrics and voice to communicate a soulful style that's as much about tone as the literal message of the verses. As the title suggests,
Servant of Love is, for the most part, a collection of songs about love, but these are not love songs per se. Instead, these tunes ponder the mysteries of attraction (the title song), the downsides of failing relationships ("Hurt a Little While" and "Good and Gone"), the love of a mother for her child ("250,000 Miles"), the power of physical attraction ("Snake Charmer"), and the nexus where love and spirituality meet ("Shine a Different Way" and "There Isn't One Way"). The circular patterns of "250,000 Miles," "Made of the Sun," and "Everything's Changed" suggest Eastern modalities finding a common ground with American folk and blues, while
Ephraim Owens' trumpet on "Gunpowder" and "Servant of Love" adds an earthy jazz undertow to the arrangements, which takes this album just outside the boundaries of rootsy Americana. And though some of the tunes are whisper quiet while others howl like a honky tonk on Saturday night,
Griffin knows just how hard to hit the material whatever the surroundings, and her vocals are emotionally intelligent and expressive throughout, while
Griffin and producer
Craig Ross coax some splendid performances from their session crew.
Servant of Love is an album that needs a few spins to be fully appreciated, but it's as sincere, heartfelt, and artful as anything
Griffin has released to date, and if the form may seem elusive to some listeners, the content is powerful and satisfying, a reminder of why
Patty Griffin is one of our best singer/songwriters. ~ Mark Deming