The Loving Kind (Nanci Griffith album)
Encyclopedia
The Loving Kind is the 19th album by singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith
. It was released June 9, 2009 on Rounder Records. Comprising thirteen songs (A fourteenth was released as a bonus track on iTunes
), it was her first release of all new material since 2005. The album tackles political topics such as Loving vs. Virginia (The Loving Kind) and capital punishment
(Not Innocent Enough), as well as songs about Griffith's heroes, such as Townes Van Zandt
(Up Against the Rain). The BBC
gave the album a generally positive review, stating that "It does sound like her muse is finally on the mend."
, while Money Changes Everything and Things I Don't Need reflect the economic downturn that took place as the album was being written. Up Against the Rain and Cotton were written about Townes Van Zandt
and Lyndon B. Johnson
, while Not Innocent Enough is about Phillip Workman, a man who was sentenced to death after the shooting of a police officer. Across America is about Barack Obama
's campaign, while Still Life is a glaring criticism of George W. Bush
. Sing is an autobiographical song about Griffith's love for Folk
and Country Music
.
's Jerry Shriver gave the album 3 out of 4 stars, stating:
"Wielding a clear, insistent voice and a soft acoustic guitar, the folkie star tackles a host of weighty topics, including interracial marriage, capital punishment and the second Bush era. But this is no tedious polemic: A crack backing group renders sweet country-inflected arrangements, and Griffith tosses in a couple of honky-tonkish weepers and a tender ode to Townes Van Zant."
Out of the fourteen tracks on the album, nine were written by Griffith. Money Changes Everything, Party Girl, Tequila After Midnight, and Pour Me a Drink are covers of other artists work. One of These Days was written by Griffith for her "The Last of the True Believers
" album in the 1980s.
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
. It was released June 9, 2009 on Rounder Records. Comprising thirteen songs (A fourteenth was released as a bonus track on iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
), it was her first release of all new material since 2005. The album tackles political topics such as Loving vs. Virginia (The Loving Kind) and capital punishment
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
(Not Innocent Enough), as well as songs about Griffith's heroes, such as Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
(Up Against the Rain). The BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
gave the album a generally positive review, stating that "It does sound like her muse is finally on the mend."
Lyrics and inspiration
The lyrics in "The Loving Kind" are much more political than Griffith's previous work. The Loving Kind was written after Griffith read an obituary of Mildred LovingMildred Loving
Mildred Delores Jeter Loving and her husband Richard Perry Loving were plaintiffs in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia ....
, while Money Changes Everything and Things I Don't Need reflect the economic downturn that took place as the album was being written. Up Against the Rain and Cotton were written about Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
and Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
, while Not Innocent Enough is about Phillip Workman, a man who was sentenced to death after the shooting of a police officer. Across America is about Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's campaign, while Still Life is a glaring criticism of George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Sing is an autobiographical song about Griffith's love for Folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
.
Reception
The album received mostly positive reviews. USA TodayUSA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
's Jerry Shriver gave the album 3 out of 4 stars, stating:
"Wielding a clear, insistent voice and a soft acoustic guitar, the folkie star tackles a host of weighty topics, including interracial marriage, capital punishment and the second Bush era. But this is no tedious polemic: A crack backing group renders sweet country-inflected arrangements, and Griffith tosses in a couple of honky-tonkish weepers and a tender ode to Townes Van Zant."
Track listing
- The Loving Kind
- Money Changes Everything
- One of These Days
- Up Against the Rain
- Cotton
- Not Innocent Enough
- Across America
- Party Girl
- Sing
- Things I Don't Need
- Still Life
- Tequila After Midnight
- Pour Me a Drink
- Love is Love (iTunes bonus track)
Out of the fourteen tracks on the album, nine were written by Griffith. Money Changes Everything, Party Girl, Tequila After Midnight, and Pour Me a Drink are covers of other artists work. One of These Days was written by Griffith for her "The Last of the True Believers
The Last of the True Believers
The Last of the True Believers is singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith's fourth album, and her last with the folk music-oriented Philo Records. The acclaim accorded her from her previous Once in a Very Blue Moon and the current album would gain her a contract with a major recording company after this...
" album in the 1980s.