Ani DiFranco¿Which Side Are You On?
Righteous Babe Records [2012]
Fire Note Says: First studio album in more than three years finds Ani DiFranco still as relevant as ever.
Album Review:
On Ani DiFranco's 17th album, ¿Which Side Are You On?, balance, as she sings repeatedly on the the fourth track "Splinter", seems to be the lens through which she recorded this record. Amidst the reworked and raucously political title track that was once popularized by Pete Seeger in the sixties and songs like "Amendment" are beautiful and intimately lyrical melodies like the "Albacore" and "Hearse", the later reinforcing the theme of balance with the honestly sung lyric "there is nothing like dancing our dance of give and take".
Album Review:
On Ani DiFranco's 17th album, ¿Which Side Are You On?, balance, as she sings repeatedly on the the fourth track "Splinter", seems to be the lens through which she recorded this record. Amidst the reworked and raucously political title track that was once popularized by Pete Seeger in the sixties and songs like "Amendment" are beautiful and intimately lyrical melodies like the "Albacore" and "Hearse", the later reinforcing the theme of balance with the honestly sung lyric "there is nothing like dancing our dance of give and take".
Fans of Ani's work are familiar with songs as rally cries for justice and human rights, however, tracks like the aforementioned "Amendment" highlight the natural progression of politics for women as our passions become fueled by our perspectives as partners, mothers and sisters in arms. The song which tackles everything from the ERA, to abortion, to the culture of birth in our society boasts the lyric "our family is so big and we're all so very small, let a web of relationship be laid over it all" this perhaps being Ani's reaffirmation that "it takes a village".
While ¿Which Side Are You On? is a solid offering from the Righteous Babe herself it remains to be seen how many new fans are drawn in by this record. As a fan of Ani D's since the early 90's, this album continues in the same vein of calling on us to be better human beings with her easily recognizable voice and well known guitar chords. So, just as she brings us out on "Splinter" - "here's to staying connected to everything"!
Key Tracks: "Splinter", "Amendment", "Hearse"
Bands With Similar Fire:
Joanna Newsom
Billy Bragg
Anaïs Mitchell
Ani DiFranco: Red Letter Year [Fire Note Review 9/29/08]
Ani DiFranco Website
Ani DiFranco Facebook
Righteous Babe Records
-Reviewed by Michelle Moore
While ¿Which Side Are You On? is a solid offering from the Righteous Babe herself it remains to be seen how many new fans are drawn in by this record. As a fan of Ani D's since the early 90's, this album continues in the same vein of calling on us to be better human beings with her easily recognizable voice and well known guitar chords. So, just as she brings us out on "Splinter" - "here's to staying connected to everything"!
Key Tracks: "Splinter", "Amendment", "Hearse"
Bands With Similar Fire:
Joanna Newsom
Billy Bragg
Anaïs Mitchell
Ani DiFranco: Red Letter Year [Fire Note Review 9/29/08]
Ani DiFranco Website
Ani DiFranco Facebook
Righteous Babe Records
-Reviewed by Michelle Moore
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