FRED GRITTNER: In the American Grain

Echoing the title of one his songs, things are falling into place for Fred Grittner. The St. Paul Minnesota singer-songwriter has recorded Copper-Lined Sky, a collection of original songs that showcase both his commitment to lyric writing and his determination to hone a distinctive musical sound.

From the driving blues chords on the National guitar that open "Savior Blues," it is clear that Grittner has locked into a sound that merges the best of blues, folk, old-time country, and rock. Unlike Transfer Point, Grittner's 1995 eclectic maiden album, Copper-Lined Sky is built around a framework of acoustic guitars, harmonica, violin, mandolin, acoustic bass, and muted drums. Grittner notes that this direction evolved over the course of 1995: "I started out with a full rock band, but as the year went on it became clear that the occasional unplugged coffee house gigs with Dan Lippert on harmonica and Dale Jernberg on harmony vocals and guitar were producing a special sound."

When the trio went into the studio in late 1995, they captured both the intimacy and the energy of their live performances. On five of songs Grittner upped the passion quotient with the addition of Carolyn Boulay on violin. Boulay, a regular member of Lori Line's Chamber Orchestra, is also featured on Paul Westerberg's new album, Eventually.

As for the songs, Grittner continues to demonstrate his lyric mastery. An early listener of the album remarked on the wordplay and the "veins of irony" that await the careful listener, yet also commented that the themes of Grittner's work struck a deep chord inside, to the point of asking "Whose life is this you're singing about, anyway?" From the acerbic social commentary of "Savior Blues" to the wry "Always Something Hanging Over Me," Grittner pinpoints the frustrations of everyday life. The regret of love lost is captured in "Under the Influence of Love," while the passion of love found is laid bare in his solo performance of "You're a Woman." The sensual "Fire at Midnight" details the arc of romance.

Grittner continues to explore the issues of loss and renewal that he first touched on in Transfer Point's "Ghost of the Moon." Grittner: "'Ghost' was written about the struggle of my brother-in-law Patrick Lippert (Executive Director of Rock the Vote) with AIDS. I wrote "Nothing Ever Changes in My Heart" for Patrick several months before his death. I played it for him and I hope he saw how much we loved him and how he would always be with those who loved him. But after he died, there was a feeling of great loss. I wrote "Common Prayer" for Patrick the following year to document what our family was feeling. I sang it at a memorial service for Patrick and I sang it again at the memorial service for James Malveaux, another friend who lost his long battle with AIDS, and to whom I dedicated Copper-Lined Sky. Grittner will contribute a percentage of the proceeds from the album to AIDS-related support organizations.

The album does have its lighter notes. The rollicking, greasy country romp "I Did" and the mixed-up universe of "Copper-Lined Sky" make clear that Grittner likes to pull out the stops and have fun.

Grittner is pleased with the early reaction to Copper-Lined Sky: "I think we succeeded in putting together a group of songs that hang together musically and lyrically. I wanted to create a sound that stuck to the basics, that evoked the feel of some of my favorite albums: Dylan's John Wesley Harding, the Band's second album, Gene Clark's Roadmaster, and T-Bone Burnett's Criminal Under My Hat. Today they are calling this type of music Americana,' which I guess is a good way of grouping writers who draw on the great folk traditions in American music."

All of this musical activity leaves Grittner dazed at times. As a court administrator for the Minnesota Supreme Court and part-time law professor, he seems to be living a triple-life. "I never would have predicted what has unfolded in the past two years. I had pretty much given up performing years ago, but once I got back into it, playing has been more fun that ever."