American Kid

Critical reception

American Kid has been universally acclaimed by music critics. At Metacritic, the assign a weighted average score to ratings and reviews from mainstream music critics, which the Metascore for the album is 85, and this is based on 15 reviews. At AnyDecentMusic?, they have a weighted average rating of an 8.5-out-of-ten, and this is based upon 12 reviews and ratings.

Thom Jurek of Allmusic found that "with its immediacy, economy, cagey strength, and vulnerability," that the artist has created a release meant "not as gifts or statements, but as her own evidence of what is, what was, and what yet may come." At American Songwriter, Jim Beviglia proclaimed the album to be "a tour de force of nimble songwriting and emotional performances." Also at American Songwriter, Hal Horowitz called it "shimmering music you won't soon forget." Jordan Mainzer of musicOMH called it "one of the best albums of the year so far." At Blurt, Steve Pick vowed that "this perhaps [is] her finest hour." Martin Chilton of The Daily Telegraph noted how "American Kid is a triumph of songwriting and expressive singing." At Exclaim!, Jason Schneider alluded to how this release "puts the full range of her talent on display."

Nick Coleman of The Independent told that this is "a compelling experience." At The Observer, Neil Spencer proclaimed this to be "a triumph." Holly Gleason of Paste highlighted how Griffin is using "emotional truths", and "cutting to the quick," with a "razor-sharp sense of detail has never been sharper". At Rolling Stone, Will Hermes noted how "it's clear her writing remains as surprising as it is masterful." Rob Hughes of Uncut called this "a bewitching piece of work, with or without the hired help", which is because her "elegant phrasing and nuanced delivery", and in doing so the album "manages to sound deeply affectionate without being sentimental."

Track listing

All tracks written by Patty Griffin, except where noted otherwise.

Personnel