Ani DiFranco
In the interest of full disclosure – I like Ani DiFranco’s music. That makes it a bit more difficult to write any sort of objective review for this veteran folk/rock ballad singer. After all, she rose to the front lines of the recording industry in short order about 17 years ago and became a household name among a section of the intelligent listening public.
So what can be said about this latest work, Canon CD (2007 Righteous Babe)? “Both Hands” is well, pretty good, to put it simply. “Millennium Theater” is, in the best DiFranco style, a mix of good lyrics and good music, telling a story that would stand by itself as words. But the guitar treatment would be fine as a background sound track too.
She goes to her energetic place with “Fire Door,” running words at the listener as quickly as her tongue and lungs will allow. I think it works, just as it did for another great veteran, Joni Mitchell. DiFranco takes these new tunes and some of the standards from her career on an extensive tour (November through March). She travels from Atlanta and Durham, N.C. through the northeast, including New York. The tour moves south again, to Philadelphia and eventually on the Langerado Music Festival at Everglades National Park in Florida.
By the way, check out “Hello Birmingham” from the new CD! DiFranco does her some of her best vocal work here. This tune also has some of that good old simmering frustration about the world. Oh, and if you are not familiar with DiFranco as a singer, check out some of her past albums. There are plenty to choose from.
Tags: indie, music, ani difranco, independent music, indie music
Ani Difranco has been around quite a while. My question is why haven’t I listened to her before ? Her song “Fire Door” is um, interesting, but my personal favorite from what I have heard so far is “Untouchable Face”. I can hear a lot of her music in other newer artists who no doubt have been influenced by her.
I am not a big fan of Ani DiFranco, but she’s pleasant to listen to, especially if you, like me, aren’t into hard or metal-heavy music. As a Miami native, it’s also great to know that she’ll be in South Florida March 9 at the Langerado. The Everglades NP isn’t that far by car, so I ought to swing by there then.
I love rock ballads, the oldies mainly, sixties, seventies and those great years, but until today, I had never heard of Ani DiFranco. I went to her myspace and checked, sounds cool, a bit of pop, but I liked her voice and the lyrics from “both hands”, sounds very cool
Ani DiFranco slightly resembles Alanis Morest, with more Folk. I found the playful rhythm uplifting. This was the first I had heard of Ani DiFranco, but I would be extremely interested in seeing her at my favorite local eclectic coffee/tea house. She would fit in wonderfully with drum circle night. She is on my “tell my friends” list.
Alanis Morissette? Ah, yeah, that’s who comes to mind when I hear Ani’s songs. I knew there was someone whose music had a similar vibe – as it were – but I couldn’t quite figure out who until I stumbled upon AusQtie’s comment.
I’d love to catch her in concert someday…so here’s to hoping she’ll perform in Miami soon!
I have heard a few of Ani DiFranco’s songs, but I have not really become a fan. I don’t not like her, it’s just that she’s a bit different from what I usually listen to. She does remind of Alanis Morissette a little bit. They do give off a similar vibe.