"Downtown Church, Patty Griffin's seventh album, is the equivalent of a slow walk into a field of wildflowers — a journey in which you look up at a bluebird sky and take a deep breath with your eyes closed. It sounds like the soundtrack to a spiritual awakening, which makes sense, given that it's a gospel album: On it, two Griffin originals rub alongside gospel standards, including "Wade in the Water" and "Waiting for My Child."

From First Listen: Patty Griffin's 'Downtown Church'
by Elena See
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122500765#

What a nice treat. Listen to Patty Griffin's new album in it's entirety on NPR before it's released on January 26.

I've only been following Patty's music for a few years now but ever since I saw her live at Fort Worth's Main Street Art's Festival back in 2006, I discovered a treasure trove of music and poetry I never knew I was in search of. I immediately purchased all her previous albums and saw her again the following year at Stubb's in Austin.

Some of my favorite songs are "Rain", "Useless Desires", "Kite Song", "Burgundy Shoes", "Heavenly Day" and the entire album "Living with Ghosts" which includes my personal favorite and what I like to think of as 'my song', "Time Will Do The Talking".

-raquel