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Nanci Griffith is one of life's observers, an archivist of memories. Along with Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle she maintains her position as one of the most important voices in Americana; an impassioned songwriter unafraid to tackle difficult subjects head on.
In Hearts In Mind, her 15th studio album, we see her both as a child, watching wide-eyed as her beloved stepfather plays the piano, and as a worldly woman striding through streets of Hanoi, angry at those in power who have learned nothing from a century's worth of war.
Once married to a Vietnam veteran, Nanci has repeatedly addressed the conflict in her music, most eloquently on her last album, 2002's Clock Without Hands. It's no surprise, then, to find her revisiting the subject twice on this album, with "Hearts Of Indochine" and the gentle "Old Hanoi". Comparing herself to Graham Greene in his Vietnam novel The Quiet American, Griffith depicts a country shrugging off its war-torn image to become a place of peace and progress. She finds herself searching these sacred streets for old Hanoi, like a mother struggling to come to terms with her child gaining independence.
The 9/11-inspired "Mountain Of Sorrow" brings things up to date. Julie Gold - Griffith's friend and writer of her most celebrated hit, "From A Distance" -explains in the sleevenotes how she watched the collapse of the World Trade Centre from her New York flat and was so traumatised by the experience that she couldn't compose for two years. A call from Griffith spurred her into action and this cathartic song about dealing with loss is the result.
Resolutely optimistic, Griffith always looks closer to home to restore her faith in human nature. "Beautiful" details her love for her stepfather and the happy family unit at which he was the centre, and bright opening track "A Simple Life" shows a yearning to return to the more straightforward life her mother led.
But, sensitive soul that she is, the chirpy Texan always manages to over-egg the treacle pudding somewhere on her albums. Here it's through the syrupy orchestration of "Rise To The Occasion", written by Ron Davies as a wedding present to Griffith's Blue Orchestra band members Pat McInerny and Le Ann Etheridge.
It's not all worthy and serious, however; the mood is lifted by guest Jimmy Buffett on the tongue-in-cheek "I Love This Town" and by the cracking "Last Train Home", which is all dusty Texas honky tonks and broken hearts.
These are finely drawn accounts of love and war, and it's Griffith's eternal optimism which shines through above all else. --Sue Keogh
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About the Artist
Texas singer/songwriter Nanci Griffith is known for her meditations on relationships, the ties that bind families, and the journeys that threaten to break lives apart. Her style seamlessly blends folk, bluegrass, and country. Griffith's records may seem spare--although the layers of strings add signature texture--but lyrically she pushes beyond easy melancholy and into the weightier subject of love's struggle against time and distance.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having seen Nanci Griffith at her Albert Hall concert this autumn, I bought her new CD, remembering earlier classics which return again and again to the player. I don't want to say that this CD is disappointing, but let me at least say it is "mixed". The band are excellent of course, and Nanci sings beautifully (although in a rather deeper throatier voice than in earlier recordings. Some songs are excellent (Heart of Indochine), but others are disappointing, even slightly embarrassing (Beautiful).
Griffith chooses interesting subject material of course, even covering the Ted Hughes/Sylvia Plath relationship (When Ted Loves Sylvia). Ron Davies joins Nanci on "Rise to the Occasion", a moving duet, creating the emotional pull which is a feature of so many of Nanci's CDs.
"I Love This Town" is an ironic evocation of American small town life, and is greatly amusing.
In summary, this is a mixed album, a few gems but quite a few songs which I can only describe as fillers. Worth buying for Griffith fans of course, but lacking that "must have" spark which would make this a classic.
34 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I hate those overzealous, underthinking critics who scream "masterpiece" at the loud drop of the latest phenom's cd or movie or novel. They should back up, slow down, contextualize and think before they speak and toss superlatives. Having said that, I'll take nominations for other--less overused--words to describe HEARTS IN MIND. It has "masterpiece" written all over it and throughout. It's been worth the wait. Nanci seems to have backed up, slowed down, contextualized, thought and most certainly felt. She "rises to the occasion."
When I hear a new album, I usually mention the songs I like best and the ones I find slightly less successful. That approach would be pointless here. There is so much good stuff here on all kinds of levels that I'll leave it to those of the NANCINET more acute, more analytical and with better memories than mine to fill in some of the wonderful details and connections. Perhaps the only problem I wonder about concerns those for whom HEARTS IN MIND is their first Nanci album to hear. They'll probably love it but will miss so many references and reflections which connect very emotionally with other Nanci compositions and performances.
A few fairly random thoughts:
Nanci's and Elizabeth's Cook's "A Simple Life." Literal and yet ironic as a first song. Nanci does seem to be simpler here, detailing and playing counterpoint with many of her old themes and a few new ones. Her voice--as beautiful as I've heard in ages--seems simpler and straighter here. But, the irony of the illusion is that the simple themes and settings harbor very complex issues and feelings. Nanci the novel writer is here. Nanci the historian. Nanci the faithful observer. Nanci with the huge heart. They are all here. Nanci with the "Big Blue Ball of War" view and Nanci with the appreciation of the small and the "Beautiful."
No better time than now for "Heart of Indochine" and "Old Hanoi" and "Big Blue Ball of War"--at least no better time than before the upcoming election day. The first two songs bring one of my favorite movies to mind--THREE SEASONS with Harvey Keitel. I will never be able to watch that movie again, feel its beauty and sadness without thinking of these two Nanci songs. "Big Blue Ball of War" brings us right around to Julie Gold's "From a Distance." More counterpoint. A theme and wonderful variations as with many of the songs here. Speaking of Julie Gold, her "Mountain of Sorrow" may suffer on the surface when compared with the 9/11 songs on Lucy Kaplansky's great last album. But with Nanci's delivery here, we're in the midst of wonder and tears.
Nanci looks back and connects with her older songs and the people of her heart. "Beautiful" and her stepdad and mother. "Before" does it explicitly. Listen and count how many Nanci songs she brings together here. There are at least three songs on "HEARTS IN MIND" which sound like classic Nanci songs of the past but which are very new. How many performers or composers have been inspired just once by parts of Wim Wenders' great WINGS OF DESIRE? Well, now there are two in the Nanci canon--amazing.
Covers. A real gift with superlative cover performances as well as Nanci originals. I don't know how to begin to describe Lee Ann Etheridge's "Back When Ted Loved Sylvia." It certainly carries more heft, clarity and emotion than the recent Plath film with Ms. Paltrow. I guess only Nanci could make me enjoy Jimmy Buffett who guest vocals on Clive Gregson's "I Love This Town." More fun than many barrels of monkeys. Ron Davies' exquisite "Rise to the Occasion" is so touching and subtle I'm reminded that I can't help but love Nanci's way of singing love songs--like no one else--and Mac MacAnally sings it with her! More connections to the earlier Nanci--the duet of all duets, Nanci and Mac on "Gulf Coast Highway." As simple and as beautiful a love song as Nanci and Charlie Stefl's "Love Conquers All" manages to avoid all the obvious dangers of cliche and ... soars.
Her Blue Moon Orchestra. One of you much more eloquent that I could write a Sherlockian monograph on the wonder of their playing here. I'll just mention a few things. Hooker's piano/keyboards throughout reminded me of the famous image when Jane Eyre and Rochester part and he talks about the invisible string tieing them together heart to heart. John Catchings' cellos and strings. Doug Lancio's guitars. Clive Gregson's mandolin and accordion. And Nanci's harmony duet singers: Cathryn Craig and Jennifer Kimball. Oy!
Don't miss reading the song notes when you get your copy. Charlie Stefl's on "Love Conquers All," Pat McInerney's on "Rise to the Occasion," and Nanci's on "Big Blue Ball of War" are alone worth the price of this album.
When I hear a new album, I usually mention the songs I like best and the ones I find slightly less successful. That approach would be pointless here. There is so much good stuff here on all kinds of levels that I'll leave it to those of the NANCINET more acute, more analytical and with better memories than mine to fill in some of the wonderful details and connections. Perhaps the only problem I wonder about concerns those for whom HEARTS IN MIND is their first Nanci album to hear. They'll probably love it but will miss so many references and reflections which connect very emotionally with other Nanci compositions and performances.
A few fairly random thoughts:
Nanci's and Elizabeth's Cook's "A Simple Life." Literal and yet ironic as a first song. Nanci does seem to be simpler here, detailing and playing counterpoint with many of her old themes and a few new ones. Her voice--as beautiful as I've heard in ages--seems simpler and straighter here. But, the irony of the illusion is that the simple themes and settings harbor very complex issues and feelings. Nanci the novel writer is here. Nanci the historian. Nanci the faithful observer. Nanci with the huge heart. They are all here. Nanci with the "Big Blue Ball of War" view and Nanci with the appreciation of the small and the "Beautiful."
No better time than now for "Heart of Indochine" and "Old Hanoi" and "Big Blue Ball of War"--at least no better time than before the upcoming election day. The first two songs bring one of my favorite movies to mind--THREE SEASONS with Harvey Keitel. I will never be able to watch that movie again, feel its beauty and sadness without thinking of these two Nanci songs. "Big Blue Ball of War" brings us right around to Julie Gold's "From a Distance." More counterpoint. A theme and wonderful variations as with many of the songs here. Speaking of Julie Gold, her "Mountain of Sorrow" may suffer on the surface when compared with the 9/11 songs on Lucy Kaplansky's great last album. But with Nanci's delivery here, we're in the midst of wonder and tears.
Nanci looks back and connects with her older songs and the people of her heart. "Beautiful" and her stepdad and mother. "Before" does it explicitly. Listen and count how many Nanci songs she brings together here. There are at least three songs on "HEARTS IN MIND" which sound like classic Nanci songs of the past but which are very new. How many performers or composers have been inspired just once by parts of Wim Wenders' great WINGS OF DESIRE? Well, now there are two in the Nanci canon--amazing.
Covers. A real gift with superlative cover performances as well as Nanci originals. I don't know how to begin to describe Lee Ann Etheridge's "Back When Ted Loved Sylvia." It certainly carries more heft, clarity and emotion than the recent Plath film with Ms. Paltrow. I guess only Nanci could make me enjoy Jimmy Buffett who guest vocals on Clive Gregson's "I Love This Town." More fun than many barrels of monkeys. Ron Davies' exquisite "Rise to the Occasion" is so touching and subtle I'm reminded that I can't help but love Nanci's way of singing love songs--like no one else--and Mac MacAnally sings it with her! More connections to the earlier Nanci--the duet of all duets, Nanci and Mac on "Gulf Coast Highway." As simple and as beautiful a love song as Nanci and Charlie Stefl's "Love Conquers All" manages to avoid all the obvious dangers of cliche and ... soars.
Her Blue Moon Orchestra. One of you much more eloquent that I could write a Sherlockian monograph on the wonder of their playing here. I'll just mention a few things. Hooker's piano/keyboards throughout reminded me of the famous image when Jane Eyre and Rochester part and he talks about the invisible string tieing them together heart to heart. John Catchings' cellos and strings. Doug Lancio's guitars. Clive Gregson's mandolin and accordion. And Nanci's harmony duet singers: Cathryn Craig and Jennifer Kimball. Oy!
Don't miss reading the song notes when you get your copy. Charlie Stefl's on "Love Conquers All," Pat McInerney's on "Rise to the Occasion," and Nanci's on "Big Blue Ball of War" are alone worth the price of this album.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I've been a fan of Nanci's for going on 16 years and her new album Hearts in Mind is right up there with Flyer, The Last of the True Believers and Storms. My favorites are Simple Life, Big Blue Ball of War (does that sound sortof gospel to anyone else?) and Back When Ted Loved Sylvia. As a storyteller you can't get any better than this and as a collaborator she amazes me over and over again. Great first album for those just discovering Nanci and a one that will become a worn out disc for us longtime fans
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One star? Must be platinum
This is a beautiful album.
If anyone sees Nanci Griffith, they will know that she attempts to deliver everything with the utmost honesty and conviction - and this album... Read more
If anyone sees Nanci Griffith, they will know that she attempts to deliver everything with the utmost honesty and conviction - and this album... Read more
Published on 12 Sep 2006 by isis 1958
let down
As a huge Nanci Griffith fan I was very exited to see a new album, but was really dissapointed when I played it. Read more
Published on 14 Dec 2005 by Christine Hosey
another poor one from Nanci
Another mediocre to poor album from Nanci. Up to the album Late Night Grand Hotel Nanci was getting better and better after which it has been a slow slide down to this.
Published on 4 May 2005
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