I LOVE LOVE LOVE this artist

LAURA LEEBOVE
Special to the star
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/462432


NEW YORK – Ani DiFranco is notorious for releasing an album a year and 2008 will be no exception. Red Letter Year, the artist's 20th release since 1990, will arrive Sept. 30 via her own Righteous Babe label, and is one of her cheeriest, funkiest and most collaborative to date.

The opener/title track begins with DiFranco's slow acoustic guitar, which quickly gets hidden by horns and piano. Her vocals are slightly distorted and echoed in a fashion similar to "Millennium Theater" from the album "Reprieve." While DiFranco's signature percussive fingerpicking is missing throughout most of the album, her acoustic comes through on "Star Matter,'' "Present/Infant'' and "Way Tight.''

"Emancipated Teenager" is akin to the fast, horn-heavy jazz of ``Deep Dish" from 1995's Little Plastic Castle but with synths and a string section. The strings also are a focus on other tracks, including "Alla This,'' "Good Luck" and "The Atom.''

Red Letter Year was strongly influenced by DiFranco's daughter with partner/producer Mike Napolitano, most obviously in ``Present/Infant" and "Landing Gear," both of which have been staples in her live shows throughout the past year. "For someone who ain't even here yet, look how much the world loves you," she sings in the latter.

As per usual – and just in time for this year's presidential race – DiFranco's political musings take center stage on several tunes. On "Alla This" she disses praying to a male god and on the title track she sings about a "man with a monkey for a face'' representing the white race.

DiFranco is touring North America until the end of July. She'll tour the U.S. again from mid-September through early October, before a six-date European tour at the end of that month.

I just bought tix to see her in Lawrence in September. Will be my 4th time seeing her. Each time is so different and kick a ss. Cannot wait for the album!!

U catching any of this tour Mojo?

No.... BOO!! but I am sure she will continue to tour with this album release.

I saw her last July in San Diego and it was AMAZING. My first time front row @ an Ani show ... she was, as always, AWESOME! Like you said it is always something different. She is a TRUE Artist in all senses of the word.

I have seen her 2 times before that (Toronto & Montreal)

I will catch her later in the year for sure...I'm sure there will be more tour dates announced soon.

Please post a review and/or pics when you get back from the show. I would LOVE to hear!!!

xo

they usually don't allow pics. at the venue I am seeing her at, but I will be sure to post a review when I get back.

did u get the live at babeville dvd?

YES ... I just got it recently. I realy liked it. I wish she would have chatted a little more with the audience ~ and that it was longer .. LOL!

She just has SO MUCH great material!!!! I wish the show would go on forever.

I also purchased "Trust" at the same time. Have you seen that DVD? It was the 2004 tour with the songs from the "Knuckle Down" album. I saw her in Toronto that year for the first time.... That was a great album too!~

Yeah Babeville was good....I was SOOO happy that she pulled out "Not A Pretty Girl". I had been dying to see her play that live.

I got the Trust DVD a year or so ago at Best Buy. Was browing through the music dvd section and was blown away to see an Ani DVD there so I had to purchase it.

I'm nervous about my concert because I just enrolled in classes for the fall and noticed that I have one on the night of my show...and it only meets once a month and that's one of the **** nights it meets!! ahhhhh!! Will have to have a nice chat with the professor....can't miss Ani.

No No .. you can't miss Ani ~ I'm sure that your prof will understand .... Maybe he/she is a fan .. ha ha Ani's lyrics are pretty cerebral sometimes

Enjoy the show and I can't wait for a review ... and a list of tunes if you can!!!

I like the new one "Alla this" ..She did it on the Babeville DVD - but I saw it live in San Diego last July! maybe the studio track will be on the next CD?? I will get it the day it hits the internet I can't wait!!!