Ani DiFranco – Red Letter Year
by Bambi Weavil
Ani DiFranco
Red Letter Year
Official Site: http://www.righteousbabe.com/ani/redLetterYear/ani.html
Official MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/anidifranco
To purchase through our site: Red Letter Year
“I’ve got myself a new mantra,” Ani DiFranco shares on her new studio album, Red Letter Year. “It says `Don’t forget to have a good time.’” Red Letter Year, is full of joy, hope and less sadness, it is clear that Ani is in a very good place in her life with herself and her family.
There is more of a jazz/folk feel to this album, and it quickly shows Ani’s comfort and strength in mixing up the genres. Ani doesn’t steer away from her political views in the clever “Alla This” and the wonderfully brilliant acoustic song “The Atom”, while dealing with her self image while embracing her new daughter in “Present/Infant.” “Landing Gear” focuses more on Ani’s motherhood, and the song could easily be called “look at how much the world loves you” which is the centerpiece of the lyrics. Ani is appreciating her happiness and the simple things in life in “Smiling Underneath.”
“Way Tight” reminds me of her older material, while staying true to Ani’s new mantra. “Emancipated Minor” is more upbeat and more of a rock tempo than anything else on this record, and the writing is reflective of what Ani doesn’t miss about her youth. “Good Luck” is one of the best written acoustic/jazz songs on the album, with lyrics such as: “a body slipping into disease / quietly making that choice / while the joy drains out of a voice.”
Ani recorded this album in New Orleans, which could easily be the fourth band member on Red Letter Year. The Crescent City has become Ani’s second home and favorite place to record, for it’s cultural, musical and spiritual wealth, that has given Ani so much love and strength in her truths on this album. Ani gives us another high quality record full of optimism, hope and growth, and proves why she is a dependable high quality artist.
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