Patty Griffin - Silver Bell

***1/2

The 'Silver Bell' keeps on rolling!

'Silver Bell' was originally recorded back in 2000, that may seem a long time to get an album out that even puts Guns 'n' Roses to shame, but to fair you need a bit of a the back story first. Patty has released a number of albums in the intervening years yet this one became a victim of the A&M record company changing ownership around the millennium and being shelved. This is not an album that deserved to go on the shelf for the world to never hear. In fact that would never have happened anyway as the Dixie Chicks had already covered both 'Top of the World' and 'Truth #2'.

This is classed as a Folk record but shows that it often you cannot pigeon hole any act as it has aspects that certainly are Folk but a number that could be classed as erring more towards Alternative Rock and little dabble in the Pop scene here and there. Truly the sign of a person happy with the music they are making and not conforming to a type and feeling the need to have all their tracks sound the same. This variety keeps your interest throughout the whole work. Indeed I am not bar far the only one impressed by Patty Griffin’s body of work having had her songs covered by an equally diverse selection of artists including amongst others Dolly Parton, Bette Midler, Ben Harper and Ellie Goulding.

The album opens with a dark sounding number ‘Little God’ which draws you in almost hypnotic fashion before going a bit more bluegrass almost in ‘Truth Pt. 2’. ‘Perfect White Girls’ shows the diversity I mentioned having more of a blues rock feel about it. Most of the tracks have quite a stripped down feel with the vocals taking centre stage. Title track ‘Silver Bell’ is one that hits you in the face picking up the pace and the power. The latter part of the album has a quieter sound with ‘Sorry and Sad’ and closing on ‘So Long’ drawing it a satisfying end.

I must admit to not knowing a lot about this artist before being asked to review this, a reflection on me not Patty. But I will certainly be looking for more from now on. Some odd things seem to happen in music and has this album been left to gather dust it would have been a mighty injustice. So now it is out there for the first time in thirteen years I suggest you go and take a listen, either to fill the gap of somebody you know and love or like me discover something wonderful.

Review by Jon Cooper 

Listen! to the Track 'Sooner or Later' Below...