Amazon.com

Even after 15 years of releasing albums on her own Righteous Babe imprint, it's hard to know what to make of Ani DiFranco. Some see her as a folkie-punk-bisexual-feminist-radical-crap-kicker, while others reckon she's merely Alanis Morissette with better lyrics. On her 15th studio album the truth just might be somewhere in between. She does dysfunctional family portraits ("Studying Stones") and broken affairs ("Lag Time") just fine, but she also manages to leave room for rambling, autobiographical beat poetry ("Parameters"). And then there is the music. Matching acoustic guitars with earthy funk rhythms and soft moonlight moods with out-of-leftfield song arrangements, it reconfirms the one label everyone can agree upon: fiercely original. --Aidin Vaziri

Recommended Ani DiFranco Discography

Out of Range	Not a Pretty Girl	So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter
Little Plastic Castle	Revelling/Reckoning	Living in Clip

... Read more

Reviews (26)

Ani's still great, and that Kevin guy who gave her 1 star?
This isn't my favorite Ani album, but, like all of her albums, each song has it's moment and application to my own life.I shaved my head once (although, sadly, it I don't have the head for it), found myself wanting to angrily lash out at unrequited love (which is why I absolutely love Dilate), and am now growing a bit older and wiser, which I see happening in her work.And I love the fact that she's still giving the man the finger; it reminds me that I need to give up a bit of comfort for honesty, too.

And, as for Kevin, the fellow who gave the album 1 star.Well, I'm sure he didn't even listen to it as, if you check out his record of reviews, all he does is write reviews with one star.This indicates to me that he is either a bitter, lonely man sitting in his basement blindly raging against some unknown enemy (could it be his own stunning inadequacy?) or he's just a hack who thinks he's being witty by trashing other people.Either way, I do feel sorry for him and hope that he finds some joy in life, before he bites the big one and the only thing proving his pitiful existence will be some pithy amazon.com reviews.So, Kevin, if you're reading this, take a shower, get dressed, and go meet some people.Or take up a hobby.Do something.You need to find some joy in life.

The Fine Ani As Always
Over the last fifteen years, the politically outspoken Ani DiFranco has made a name for herself as a fiercely independant artist.She's created a large cult audience that have followed her every move.Through everything, she's received rave reviews for her music including a Grammy award (2003's "Evolve").Her poetry and her melodies have always stood beyond the test of time despite little radio airplay.This folk-rock artist has often experimented with other genres with her signature sound: punk, funk, jazz, blues, and others.She's never recorded anything below her top potential.Therefore, she's maintained the respect as an artist and as a person.This has influenced many artists who have come after her (Pink, Dar Williams).

In 2005, she changed some traditions with her album "Knuckles Down".Surprisingly, she hired a producer, Joe Henry, to assist in her music.This collaboration resulted in a more folk-pop sound with quality that continues her run as a phenomenal artist.This album shows a more mellow side of Ani.Yet, she never loses her signature musical edge.The melodies and the rhythms flow greatly through the instruments, namely her guitar.The various instrumental line-up keeps this album interesting; yet, the album flows smoothly.Her poetry continues expressing her deep thoughts.This album expresses more of her recent personal turbulances in a less outspoken fashion.Despite, her artistic stance never loses itself.Such quality shows great artistic evolution that makes this album shine.

This allows her performances to remain expressive.As always, her musical talents give her music the heart and soul it deserves.Her performances show her poetic side greatly.Her expressed sadness never loses its emotion.This album shows a more mature side that has never been heard previously.Her passion leaves listeners in a trance.In every song, she slides her listeners to a deeper sense of her theme.Her indistinguishable performances leave a longlasting impact on everybody.All her songs stand out in the modern folk industry.

Through the dying mainstream music, Ani DiFranco always prevails.Her music defines true music."Knuckle Down" is no exception.This album is a great escape from the often-selling-out mainstream music heard too often on the radio.She has never sold out.She remains true to herself and everyone else.Therefore, this album is sure to please new and old fans.

***Expect Ani DiFranco to receive at least two 2005 Grammy nominations: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Recording Package.

Knuckle Down is a must-have..
'Knuckle Down' was my first foray into the musical world of Ani DiFranco, and has quickly become one of my favourite albums of all-time.If you're tired of the generic, manufactured music so common to modern network air waves, this disc is for you.The songwriting is developed and well-thought out, and the tonality of the album is warm and inviting.Do yourself a favour, buy this album.

Back To the Fold
I've read several of the reviews below, and some are very good.My review of this album won't be quite as technical and thorough as those I've read, but I'll give you my honest opinion.This is a great cd.I've been listening to Ani for about 11 years now....I came in around the "Out of Range" and "Not a Pretty Girl" days.I was a very "devoted" fan (read crazed) for much of my late teens and into my early twenties...sometimes driving as long as 10 hours for a concert.I've loved several of her cd's along the way....Dilate, Little Plastic Castle, To the Teeth, Revelling/Reckoning, Evolve.But as life kept on going, and I got older, I became less and less crazed.Not because of her music, but because I had more going on.....more important things to worry about.I didn't even buy Educated Guess (I didn't even *gasp* realize that she had released it!)But after seeing her perform "Studying Stones" on, of all places, the CBS Saturday Early Show, I was intrigued about "Knuckle Down."So I got the cd, and expected to go through my usual Ani routine.Listen to it, think "hmmmm this isn't anything like Little Plastic Castle or To the Teeth or Evolve....I'm not sure I like it," and then a few weeks or months later listen to it and think "OH!I get it, this is awesome!"But I haven't been able to stop listening to it since it arrived in the mail.This cd has snapped me back to that old place.I'm not sure how, and I'm not sure why....but that's what's happened.I absolutely love this disc.It's really hard pick a favorite song (okay, maybe I like "Studying Stones", "Paradigm", and "Sunday Morning" a little more than the rest.)I'm not saying everyone will love this as much as I do.But if you've kept listening to Ani through the years, through all the different bands and styles and personal experiences, I think you'll dig this cd.

not good
This effort, I have to say, is simply not good. I used to like Difranco's stuff quite a bit, but something's missing here, and it's a substantial enough problem that it compromises the entire work.

On a side note, I must defend porterhouse from lucibuis' attack. First, it's not like porterhouse is off the mark. The comments about the music notwithstanding (with which I happen to agree, at least concerning this album, but that's beside the point), all porterhouse did was call it like he or she saw it. Honestly, any objective observer couldn't really disagree. But what is truly absurd is Lucibuis' hypocrisy. Lucibuis purports to give us all a lesson about what makes a great American citizen and why Difranco is just that, right after calling for Amazon to censor porterhouse. Nice. I guess it's good old fashioned stuff like liberty and free speech, but only for those with whom you agree, right Lucibuis? Twisted. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

A ghost, a band, a troubadour. Easily the strangest co-op project ever, and easily one of the finest and most evocative albums of the year. British socialist and folkie Billy Bragg was given unprecedented access to Woody Guthrie's unrecorded lyrics. Teaming up with alt-country band Wilco and quoting from more than 50 years of country, folk, and rock music, Billy and company bring Guthrie's politics, poetry, and morality to the end of the century and prove he's as necessary now as ever. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (119)

I'd buy 10 cds to find this one.
I'd buy 10 cds to find this one! Billy Bragg and Wilco have created the feeling that Woody Guthrie is alive and well and enjoying a little rock and roll. Their use of Woody's lyrics with original music is still true to an evolving Woody if there could be one. The music grabs you emotionally, hard and holds you through each cut. It's riveting. The range is amazing from Woody in love with living cuts such as "Walt Whitman's Niece" to serious political tunes like "Eisler on the Go" that focus on the witch hunts of the '40s and '50s in a very human way. And then there's what could have been a children's song--"Hoodoo Voodoo." Who else but Billy Bragg with help from Nora Guthrie could have done this? The album is a real album. It's all there. You can feel Guthrie writing 1000 songs in twenty years and then spending the next twenty years trapped in a deteriorating body in a state hospital. Sadness but not desperation, Guthrie never gives! up. Bragg extends Woody's contribution by pulling music from the lyrics, many of them written after Woody realized he faced a horrifying disease. Whatever else you do, listen to Mermaid Avenue and love it!

Do you know how hard it is to JUST ADD LYRICS to music?
Especially if those lyrics are over 50 years old, practically poetry, and created by a master songwriter? Or put another way, imagine someone handing you the lyrics to a tune from "Nebraska" and saying, "OK, now just sing it real good." JESIS, I don't think so. And if that doesn't put this stellar effort by Bragg and Wilco into perspective, what more can I tell ya? [Eh, keep yer shorts on, there'll be another 3rd Blind Biscuit Korn Hole album out 'terrectly.] So i'm amazed they pulled it off? And with such interesting results -- there really is something here for all kinds of tastes: from the breadth of musical influences displayed [a bit of Dylan, Lennon, Garcia, the Band, it could on and on] to the lyrical content [from the personal to the political].

Essential? You'd have to agree.

Remember; this is not Woody's music.
This cd at least makes me wonder how Woody would've done it. I think the vocals would be edgier, and clearer,easier to understand and remember, even after one listening, as I can when listening to actual Guthrie recordings. Perhaps some of the sappier melodies here might have been a little harder, a little more manly, for lack of a better term. As for the choice of Bragg; I'd sooner have some digitalizing freak collect all of the appropriate Woody syllables, and put them back together into the 'new' material. Second choice, Dylan. Third choice, somebody who's not Billy Bragg.

4.5 Stars.... Masterful Mix of Guthrie Lyrics and New Music
Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, thought it might be fun to have new music set to Woody's "lost songs" (lyrics to which Woody had music set in his head, but he never published the music). Billy Bragg and Wilco may make a curious, or at least not a very obvious, choice for the task, but boy, are they up for it!

"Mermaid Avenue" (15 tracks, 49 min.) is a true collaboration between the artists. Some songs find Wilco's Jeff Tweedy at lead vocal, Bragg on others. Music on some tracks is written by Bragg, others by Tweedy/Bennett, yet others by Bragg/Wilco. While I'm a huge Wilco fan, I must admit that the Bragg-written songs are more coherent within the Guthrie legacy. Check out for example the sparse "Eisler On the Go", and "Another Man's Done Done" (with Tweedy on lead vocal). The best is "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" (with Natalie Merchant on back vocals). Natalie also sings lead on "Birds and Ships". (So you really shouldn't be surprised by Natalie's fab collection of folk tunes "The House Carpenter's Daugther", issued independently last year).

In all, this is a terrific collection, which deservedly received a second volume as well. Recommended for fans of Billy Bragg, Wilco, Woddy Guthrie, and of course Bob Dylan.

I'll try to be brief, for a change
. . . If you are a Wilco fan and you don't have this album (and Vol. II), you should feel very silly, and buy this right now. It is absolutely sublime. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Most artists who appeal to adult listeners tend to settle into a comfortable niche, but Lucinda Williams refuses to play it safe. Instead, her music stings like an open wound, as she continues to strip away the protective layers from her art's emotional core. Though Williams has long been prized for the naked honesty of her music, this collection is even rawer than its predecessors. From the down-and-dirty bar-band blues of "Atonement" to the Rolling Stones-style swagger of "Bleeding Fingers" to the tricky balance of debasement and transcendence in "Ventura," Williams leaves the nerve endings of her music exposed. With the band opting for first-take immediacy rather than polish, some of the most powerful material is also the neediest, as the singer addresses lovers who have disrespected her ("Righteously") or abandoned her ("Those Three Days," "Minneapolis"). Though her attempts at rap on "Sweet Side" and "American Dream" might cause diehard fans to wince, her willingness to take creative chances reaffirms her position at the vanguard of a rootsy progressivism that transcends musical category. Simply put, there's more Patti Smith in her than there is Patsy Cline. --Don McLeese ... Read more

Reviews (130)

Maybe a bit too honest for some¿
Yikes! Lucinda really split herself wide open on this one. As a huge fan of her self-titled and "Car Wheels..." releases, I struggled with the nakedness of "Essence" and grew to love it. Again, with this release, I had a hard time getting through it the first time, but it gets easier with each listen. The lyrics are sheer poetry, albeit dark, painful, poetry. And Lucinda's delivery makes them darker and even more painful. I think a first-time listener might be turned off if this were their first Lucinda Williams experience.

My favorite song on this release is "Righteously". As I've played it, several people have stopped by my cubicle and asked, "What are you listening to? That song rocks!" Almost stripped down musically, it has a wailing guitar and strong bass line that moves the song along. The last line is my favorite - - "Be my lover don't play no game, Just play me John Coltrane".

"Ventura" has a beautiful steel-guitar, wavy-feeling kind of sound. "Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings" (great title!) sounds very Neil Young-ish to me. "Overtime" is classic heartbreak, almost Patsy Cline-ish...the simple drum work and the verby guitar along with the simple lyrics work beautifully well together.

In most of her songs, Lucinda doesn't subscribe to the pop structure of songwriting - - stanza, chorus, stanza, repeat chorus, etc. Instead the songs are more like poems with wonderful music accentuating them. I can never decide if Lucinda's vocals are a strength or a weakness...they are often rough and "hick-ish", but they do add a substantial amount of depth to the words. While I can imagine a "better" singer singing them, I realize the song would lose so much of its impact if it were slick and smooth.

I think Lucinda has come to terms with never hearing her music played on commercial radio stations across the country. Still, and admirably so, she refuses to sell out her themes and her musical style for the spoon-fed masses, and instead brings out a different kind of honesty, a different kind of love, a different kind of relationship, those not usually revealed or acknowledged in the mainstream. We're talking about abusive and drug-addicted, twisted and unhealthy relationships here. There's not very much warm and fuzzy going on. Proof that angst is a wonderful catalyst for art.

Damn Baby! - A True Cajun Angel
There's a reason why Time Magazine called Lucinda "America's Best Songwriter". She's honest,tortured and their is something sexy and dark about her voice and song writing. She's the girl your mom warned you about - but you couldn't help but following her down the road to ruin (then she'd write a song about you!). This album is not filled with the sugarcoated things on a Phil Collins or Micheal Bolton record. She talks about herion addiction, poverty, child abuse and love lost.

After the first cut, "Fruits of my Labor", I thought this is pretty good. Then, when Rightously kicked in, I said "Damn Baby!!". It's an incredible song, you feel jealous for the person it's written to! You gotta love a song that talks about John Coltrane. Real live Bleeding Fingers is another great track - the guitar work is very reminisant of Kieth Richards on "Exile on Mainstreet". "Those Three Days" is perfectly phrased. One of my favorite cuts is "Minneapolis", you can hear her pain. Lucinda maybe an acquired taste, like scotch, but pour me a glass - straight - and leave me the bottle. She's a poet, writing about real life. Like Dylan or Springsteen, just more honest and a sweet Lake Charles drawl. Buy the albums and don't miss her live!

Another TOP notch CD
Lucinda can do no wrong. With each album, Lucinda gets better and better. It makes my heart warm to see how wide Lucinda's following continues to grow. I miss you Lucy :) Remember B.Dalton in L.A.? LOL

Lucinda's great style mixed with a new sound
Everyone like to try new things, explore new interests and get out of the rut sometimes. Lucinda does that a bit on this CD. There are some Williams fans who may enjoy hearing her explore a new sound. I did not think it was "her". Like Johnny Cash singing Rap or Gene Simmons trying Gospel.

This music deals with anger, disallusionment, heartbreak and disappointment. I like that, oddly enough. What did not appeal to me was the style change for four songs - Righteously, Atonement , Sweet Side, American Dream. Just not the Lucinda Williams I have come to enjoy.

Still, she is free to try new things. If you want to see Lucinda explore new areas, you may like this work. I have always liked her more for her twangy blues sound and wish she had put forth her songs in that style.

I did enjoy the remaining songs.

This is still a good CD, just not her best.

Not her best
When they collect Lucinda's best work, there will be a few songs from this album. "Righteously," "Those Three Days," and "Real Live Bleeding Fingers and Broken Guitar Strings" all belong on a compilation. But Williams overreaches, and it can be painful at times. "Atonement" can be kindly called ill-advised, and many other tracks aren't up to her very high Car Wheels on a Gravel Road and self-titled standards. Maybe she really does need six years to make an album. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

Mermaid Avenue, Vol. II finds Billy Bragg & Wilco setting Woody Guthrie's words to their own music a second time. The result is more sonically diverse than the first installment, but just as rewarding. With guests Natalie Merchant and bluesman Corey Harris lending their voices to this new-century hootenanny, this 15-song disc manages to capture the collective spirit of both IWW and the WTO times. Woody would've been proud of the initial collection; he'd be prouder still of this one. --Steven Stolder ... Read more

Reviews (40)

a posthumous release you'll be proud to own
Posthumous releases usually reek of shoody workmanship, but this inter-generational collaboration between Woody's words and Billy Bragg & Wilco's music is one-of-a-kind.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of this album are the featured singers. Billy Bragg has made good with his connections. Wilco, one-half of the estranged Uncle Tupelo (the band that single-handedly jump-started the roots rock movement) makes for an exceptional back-up band, and Jeff Tweedy pushes some of the better songs, such as "Secrets of the Sea."

Corey Harris, emerging as the new king of the Delta blues, takes it home with "Against the Law". Natalie Merchant adds a song Woody probably sang for his kids, sweet and simple.

The gorgeous thing about this album (and Vol. I) is its beautiful simplicity. The best songs are stripped down. Bragg isn't afraid to use a banjo, mandolin, or anything else deemed "outdated" by modern music. It's classic without being pretentious. When Bragg wails "All you facists are bound to lose," it might as well be Woody singing it.

Best album I've heard this year
I bought this album, mostly out of obligation to the MA1 and Wilco. Man, was I floored! This is the best album I've heard this year. In ways, much better than MA1. It took me a little while to get into Wilco's "Summerteeth", but once I heard this one, I can see Wilco is still as prolific as ever. If you enjoy songs by Wilco like, "Casino Queen", "Kingpin" & "Nothingsevergonna...", you'll be all over this album. There are great tracks like "Secrets of the Sea", very much in the vain of "California Stars" on MA1. I was absolutley amazed by the opening tune, "Airline To Heaven". That is a song for the ages. Also, Billy Bragg is in top form with a great "murder" song, "Meanest Man" and the VERY dark, "Black Wind Blowing". Natalie Merchant & Corey Harris are great additions as well. MA1 & MA2 are a seamless pair of albums and should be appreicated and loved for years to come. A great triumph, Woody Guthrie would be proud.

I think these guys made one mistake:
Perhaps Bragg though he found some old Buddy Holly lyrics.

I stumbled upon a gem...
I was born and bred on rock and roll, but lately I've been more interested in jazz, world music and classical. I'm not really enthusiastic about folk music, but I listen to it from time to time. When I pulled this album from the bin at the library, it was because I had heard some Billy Bragg before and thought it was interesting. I knew nothing of Jeff Tweedy and Wilco. This disk blew me away- ecclectic, original, different yet familiar, I think every track is a winner, even though I like some better than others. Certainly if you are sick of listening to the same old stuff, this is a great mixture of rock, blues, bluegrass, folk, and musical styles that should just be filed under "other." I enjoyed this sequqal much more than the first "Mermaid Avenue" disk- but judging from the other reviews this is an issue of personal taste. Then again, isn't music like that to begin with? I appreciate Woody Guthrie a whole lot more now, and I think it's tremendous what modern independant musicians have done with material from a previous generation. Definately check this disk out- I think it belongs in any serious music lover's collection.

remember the mountain bed
remember the mountain bed!!!!!!!!!!!!!awesome!!!!!!!!say what you like, think what you will, but this song is worth the whole album. If there is such a thing as human, If it has soul, then that soul sounds like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Vic Chesnutt has released a dozen albums in 15 years, and there's not many artists operating at that speed. However, Chesnutt warrants it; the pace simply matches his artistic growth. Ghetto Bells has a powerful resonance that reveals itself slowly. A couple of seven-minute pieces are the heart of the album, both moving forward slowly, but ever so purposefully. One of them,"Rambunctious Cloud," is further sweetened by the presence ofVan Dyke Parks on accordion (who appears throughout, on various keyboards) and a staggering guitar solo from Bill Frisell. It's a mark of Chesnutt's singular songwriting prowess that such a stellar band of disparate players came together, full of sympathetic invention, confidence and grace. -- David Greenberger ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Chesnutt's Sublime Bells
When people like Michael Stipe -"Top 10 finest songwriters today: Vic Chesnutt"- or Tom Waits -"He's fragile like Neil Young, Daniel Johnston and Aaron Neville, songs like strange things you find on the ground"- have this much praise to offer for a fellow musician, I think it is alright for those among us, who long to be moved by great songs, to stop and listen.
Chesnutt new album, Ghetto Bells, is a fine place to start, perhaps a perfect one. At least to me, it conjures up the bare poetic soul of his early classics -"West Of Rome," "Little," the Stipe-produced, or "Is The Actor Happy"- at the same time that it reminds me of the sophisticated musical vision of his amazing 2003's "Silver Lake."
For those who have already fallen under Chesnutt's spell, saying this much will be sufficient or, perhaps, unnecessary. The man has proven to be such uncompromising talent enough times to justify the purchase of his works "sight-unseen." For those who may not know them well, the rest of these words -I hope- may be useful to convince them of purchasing this album.
First and foremost, his lyrics -at once ironic, deeply emotive and deceptively simple-- deserve a place along the great songwriters of popular music. I'm thinking of people like Jimmy Webb, Springsteen or Leonard Cohen, none of whom are references in style, but a sign of Chesnutt's poetic stature.
Listen to songs like "Virginia" -a moving confession of troubled love for his mother- or "Ignorant People" -in which he expresses such sincere gratitude for the life he gets to live- as fine examples of his depth of feeling. Both particularly poignant when you realize that he has been paralyzed as the result of a car accident in 1983, when he was only 18. Both infused with courageous acceptance, and not a single gram of sentimentality.
Musically speaking, although his songs remain faithful to authentic simplicity, these melodies are utterly moving. In addition to the songs mentioned before, I'm thinking of "Forthright," "Rambunctious Cloud" and the incomparable "Vesuvius."
Of course, it does not hurt to have the assistance of Van Dyke Park on piano, accordion and organ -plus the exquisite strings arrangement in "Virginia" - nor the unpredictable beauty of Bill Frisell's guitar, or the masterful drumming of Don Heffington.
Finally, and perhaps the most impressive surprise of Ghetto Bells, is Vic's voice, which it managed to achieve a vulnerability nothing less than courageous, beautiful in its disregard to be perfect and most interested in connecting deeply with the listener.
As Van Dyke Parks said, "Add Vic Chesnutt to your short-list of great Southern Writers. A true Romantic poet! In his works is an unsparing candor, leaving the casual listener amazed, deluged and wrung out again-refreshed with truly informed optimism and shoots of ironic humor, sprouting up in most unexpected places."
This is an extraordinary album, a work that offers hard-earned joy, humble wisdom and and immense relief amidst the caution and self-consciousness so prevalent in recent recordings from respected and more famous artists today.

Masterful fusion of great musicians
This album sounds like a Vic Chesnutt album, with the inimitable vocals and dark-green sounding guitar but it also sounds like a Bill Frisell album as the man's sunsetty guitars perfectly weave through the songs adding dimensions. While Silver Lake had a very good backing band- here the band is not so much backing but adding their own very distinct and musical talents to the mix. Van Dyke Parks accordion (concertina?), string arrangements sound like open spaces or parisian streets. Vic's niece Liz Durrett's layered vocals on "What Do You Mean?" sound like ghosts in a southern forest. The album is well-produced but not over-produced.
Above all- if you like Vic's sparse earlier recordings you should love this as all the musicians add to the songs AND if you like Silver Lake you should love this as the recording is rich sounding. Besides, what other album would have a line about Neopolitan ice cream in a song called "Vesuvius"?

A New Classic....Ghetto Bells
Vic Chesnutt has created a work of art. Like a fine novel, or a film destined to be a classic. With every listen, the characters come to life and the soundtrack is the soundtrack to your life...real or imagined.
"Little Caesar" refers to the obvious leader of the (free?) world..and "Forthright" leads you to a kinder, gentler place...where sincerety is the rule, not the exception.
Excellent imagery abounds with every note, and word of every song, written by a down to earth dreamer. Vic Chesnutt will gain many new fans, with this new release. Deservedly so...
A FIVE STAR recording if ever there was... ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Ani DiFranco's fondness for cheeky self-effacement marks her fourth album, Not a Pretty Girl. Having redefined our whole concept of cult following, the funky, punky singer/songwriter has parlayed her prowess for six-string blues guitar into an unique alternative acoustic sound. This album marks real growth for the musician. Songs like the title track or "Worthy" are more fully realized than many of her earlier pieces that lean toward artful scat or spare guitar and vocal arrangements. It also precedes DiFranco's more experimental work, a characteristic recurrent with increasing frequency on subsequent recordings. --Nick Heil ... Read more

Reviews (68)

Visceral & Beautiful.
In her artistic expression, Ani Difranco embodies such towering virtues as honesty, independence, and compassion. She is a woman committed to making art for art's sake, proudly resisting big time record lables that would undoubtedly censor a voice that needs to be heard in all of it's raw beauty. Since 1990, she has fought an uphill battle to perserve the dignity of her art. And for that, I cannot thank her enough. I have all of Ms. Difranco's c.d.'s and recommend each one. Yet NOT A PRETTY GIRL (made during Ani's transition form Old School...ANI DIFRANCO, NOT SO SOFT...to New School...LITTLE PLASTIC CASTLE, UP, Up, Up, Up, Up, Up) is my favorite. This album is her richest in terms of it's diversity in sound. Ani goes from passioante aggression in a song like THE MILLION YOU NEVER MADE to sublime self-revelation in 32 FLAVORS. Throughout, Ani maintains overwhelmning poignancy underscored by the genuine honesty that makes it all matter on a universal level. This ain't no bubble gum pop music. In this album, Ani offers the world a crystal clear window into a human soul (and it sounds AMAZING). Such an opprotunity must not be wasted. So run to the music store NOW and grab NOT A PRETTY GIRL. And while you're there, get all the others too.

Not a pretty girl
Ani Difranco is about as punk rock as the guys in Fugazi. Unlike most artists today, Ani took control of her own career instead of letting some major record label dictate to her how her music should sound like and whether it was hit worthy or not. I first heard Ani's music when I decided to buy "Dilate" on a whim. It wasn't the easiest piece of music to listen to but I found myself digging Ani's quirky, self-effacing humor. Although my interest in her music has waned over the years, I still enjoy throwing in one of Ani's cds and chilling out to it with a good cup of java. My other favorite Ani Difranco cds includes "Living in Clip", "Little Plastic Castle", "Up, Up, Up...", and "Not a Pretty Girl". I consider "Not a Pretty Girl" Ani's definitive album. It really represents who she is as an artist from the quirky "Tiptoe" to the plaintive ballad "Sorry". Unlike her more recent albums in the past several years, "Not a Pretty Girl" is just Ani on acoustic guitar. The production on the album is excellent. I felt like I was in an intimate club setting watching Ani perform. A few years ago, I couldn't believe that one-hit wonder Alana Davis mutilated Ani's "32 Flavors". I thought it was atrocious. I don't care for artists who covers another artist's song and thinks they have the god given right to alter a few lyrics. Ani's song is vastly superior and has remained a timeless classic. Ani Difranco is one of the few artists who has my respect for bucking the system. Her independent spirit is truly one of a kind.

not a lot of things, actually.
This album feels to me like Ani is grappling with the demons of success. Most obviously is the climax to "Million You Never Made," but several songs find her trying to pin down who she is and who she wants to be. She never really does -- actually, she makes a point of never being pinned down-- but she spends a lot of time explaining what she's not. "Not a Pretty Girl" and "32 Flavors" are songs of definition, and it shows up in other places as well - in almost every song.

This doesn't strike me as one of her best. It is good, as all of her albums are, and has several memorable songs on it, but none that give me the shivers or bring me to tears -- save, on occasion, the angry chant that ends "Million You Never Made," the moment that has to be the center of the whole album. But unlike Dilate or To the Teeth, it's not one I can just put on repeat and never grow tired of. Three and a half stars.

**

i'm still deciding who i want to be today... (a found poem)

i am not a pretty girl
i ain't no damsel in distress
i am not an angry girl
i am not a maiden fair
and i am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere
and i have earned my disillusionment
and i am a patriot
i am warning you i am weightless
i am telling you i'm different than you think i am
and i am telling you that i am different than you are
and i ain't really all that pretty
no i don't prefer obscurity,
but i'm an idealistic girl
and i may not be able to change the whole f***ing world

but i could be the million that you never made
i'm not between you and your ambition
i am a poster girl with no poster
i am thirty-two flavors and then some
and i'm beyond your peripheral vision
i'm tired of being the interesting one
i'm tired of having fun for two
i'm not saying that i'm a saint
i just don't want to live that way

WHERE IT'S AT
If you don't know Ani DiFranco yet, she's the straight-talking, "Why don't more singers say it this plainly?" independent singer/songwriter who's built up such a following that it proves -- yes, there IS room for smarter music in this world.

She's got a killer voice. (How does she sing like that?) And she plays guitar so well that even if you don't know much about the instrument ... you can tell she's good.

NOT A PRETTY GIRL is the perfect album to buy first. And don't worry, once you get hooked -- there are gazillions more from which to choose. That's the great thing about discovering an artist like Ani -- if you find you love her, you can just keep buying more and more!

Is she folk? Is she 'women's music'? Is she punk? Who knows. She's just a very forthright singer/songwriter who writes lyrics no one else dares to produce. (The advantage of having founded her own music company, as I understand it!)

Some of the highlights on this "Absolutely must have" album include THE MILLION YOU NEVER MADE -- a hardore tell-off to the music industry, LIGHT OF SOME KIND -- repenting for being unfaithful, sung with heartfelt, bang-it-up umph, and CRADLE AND ALL -- a beautiful, gut-wrenching ballod that just goes on and on about a rough day in the life of a city girl. Then of course, NOT A PRETTY GIRL is a great feminist song.

NOT A PRETTY GIRL is where it's at -- make it your first Ani album, but don't make it your last.

My Favorite Ani Difranco Album
Everything about this album is amazing and wonderful. Ani brings a sense of security and happiness to the music on this disc, even thought some of the songs are depressing as anything. The best female artist cd I own. If you like female singer/songwriters, then buy this cd. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Following up two of her strongest records, Not a Pretty Girl and Out of Range, Dilate takes a different tack. It's quieter and more lush than previous efforts but just as intensely personal, with songs like "Untouchable Face" that are easier to identify with than many other DiFranco tunes. At the same time, DiFranco's old fans might not recognize the sound here, especially on tracks like the trip-hop-influenced "Amazing Grace," the shuffling "Napoleon," or the indescribable "Shameless"--this isn't the same thrash-folkie of old. There's a lot to like on Dilate, especially if you're a fan of Portishead or Lisa Germano, but it takes some getting used to. After spending time with the album, you may find it as comfortable as your favorite pair of jeans, but you also might find out that the jeans never really fit quite right. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Not Ani's best, but still beautiful.
I have to admit, when I first bought this album a few weeks ago, my reaction wasn't very positive. I was like, "What the hell happened? This isn't the Ani DiFranco I've grown to love!" And songs like "Outta Me, On To You" and "Shameless" still freak me out a bit.

But once I listened to it a second or third time, I really began to love it. Ani's voice is the best it's ever been on any of her records, the lyrics are brilliant as always....now I can't believe I once disliked it so much. My favorite tracks on it are Superhero (such a wonderful song), Napoleon (I get such a big smile on my face whenever I listen to this one), Done Wrong (gorgeous and sad), and Joyful Girl (whispery and pretty).

I love this album because on it Ani displays such quiet, heartfelt emotion that I've never heard on any of her other records. Not A Pretty Girl is still my favorite album of hers, but Dilate will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you, Ani.

Beautiful, intense, emotional, soothing, and even cathartic
I'm not a die-hard Ani fan (an "Ani girl living in an Ani world"), like a lot of my friends are, but I do like her music a lot. This is my favorite Ani album, and although I haven't heard all of her material, I do think that this album is incredible, even better than her grittier "Not a Pretty Girl." These songs are electric and emotionally charged, full of a certain amount of angst (it is the work of Ani, after all, who seems to convey a certain amount of jadedness in her music), but it is graceful angst. Some of these songs are absolutely mind-ravelling in their intensity and grace (for example, "Untouchable Face," "Superhero," "Dilate," "Napoleon," and "Adam and Eve," which are my favorite songs on the album). I'm not too convinced by her cover of "Amazing Grace" (but this may be because I'm not terribly fond of the song itself), but this is the only song on the album that I skip over. All of the tracks are a celebration of womanhood, in a style that is so distinctly Ani's. I can't stand it when some ignorant individuals call her a "man-hater," for she is not (she did marry one, after all!). She sings powerfully about relationships (and the subject of failed relationships seems to be her specialty), with unflinching candor. Integrity is one of her greatest musical virtues, and she seems to bare her soul unabashedly in her songs. Many people feel uncomfortable about a singer whose material is as personal as Ani's, but I find it really refreshing when a singer is capable of speaking so frankly about their personal experiences. And with Ani, it almost seems like you know her personally when you listen to her emotional confessions, and most women can definitely identify with a lot of the situations she depicts. I too have been wounded by unappreciative men, and songs like "Untouchable Face," "Superhero," and "Dilate" have formed part of my own personal soundtrack to failed relationships. Especially the title track, in which she professes that although its lonely to wake up alone, she knows that she's "much better on her own," instead of putting up with someone who does not relate to her, and who takes her for granted. "It's kind of like our little joke, and it's really not funny. . . and I just want you to live up to the image of you I created. . . I see you and I'm so unsatisfied. . . I see you and I dilate." Ani is a woman who fully realizes her worth, who possesses a sense of self-worth which many people have the tendency to sacrifice in a relationship into which they put more energy than their significant other. I purchased "Dilate" after a very messy and painful breakup with a boyfriend who saw my shortcomings more than my virtues, and I listened to it incessantly. A lot of women have said this, but this album really helped me with my healing process after the aforementioned schism. And it also helped to remind me not to make the same mistakes in future relationships. Ani may sound somewhat angry and jaded in this album, but never bitter. This is really an accomplishment, for it's far too easy to surrender to bitterness in regard to someone who has deeply wounded you. It's far more noble, however, to use the experience to acknowledge that you are not to blame for someone who fails to realize your true beauty, and that, when you do find someone who is capable of realizing, appreciating, and admiring your attributes, it's necessary to first realize and embrace them yourself. "Dilate" is an awesome, awesome album. Do get a copy of it, there is such a slight chance, if any, that you'll be disappointed.

Brooding, Blunt and Personal
Some people were annoyed, if I remember right, when Ani DiFranco made this album -- much more brooding and with a lot more backup band than her others.

To them, I said: "She already made like a gazillion albums in her other style! She recorded more songs already than most artists ever will. How long was she supposed to keep going before trying something new?" I figure she has to either reinvent herself or get bored, and I think she made the right choice

I think this album is a TRIUMPH. It's mopey, honest, and absolutely heartfelt. Her lyrics are just as smart as ever.

SUPERHERO is a fantastic song about how when we fall in love, we all become ridiculous cliches ... no matter how 'above it' we thought we were before.

ADAM AND EVE is a powerful, brooding feminist statement about men who "leave you in the morning".

OUT OF ME, ONTO YOU is more or less ... a curse on someone you hate.

I think DILATE is a gem, and every Ani fan should take it back out again and listen to it with fresh ears.

A Jerk with the heartache
Intrigued by the cover, I bought this cd, coincidentally after getting dumped. Then while acustoming myself to the album, I got rejected incessently. My pain was captured perfectly by Ani's Dilate. Its now one of my favorite albums. So sad, so beautiful. It is the perfect crawling into a corner and crying album.

On my "My Fifteen Favorite Albums Ever" list
My favorite Ani songs are scattered across all her albums, so it was tough to pick one album as my favorite, but if forced I'd have to pick Dilate, not for having the most faves but the best total effect. In fact it contains neither of my absolute favorite Ani songs, Not A Pretty Girl and Little Plastic Castles. But this is Difranco at her aggressive folk best, lacking the later jazz and world music influences. Superhero and Napoleon stand out, but all the tracks are clever and moving. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hey Chel you know it's kind of funny...
But you still sound freakin awesome after all these years. This new edition is the best. That voice still breaks my heart and the extra cd makes this worth every dollar. Chel, keep writing and singing.

DOUBLE THE PLEASURE
( THE PACKAGE ) - The re-release comes in a mini-box set format with a 52 page booklet, plenty of pictures and a good introduction by producer Pete Anderson. The album cover is misleading, but then again her last name is Shocked. So maybe it makes sense. If you're wondering about the orIginal cover with the policeman, don't worry none because he can be found on the backside. ( DISC# 1 ) Spanning the rock era for almost 50 years from Bill Haley to Dave Matthews, "Short, Sharp, Shocked" is one of the 5 best albums of all time. The songs range from rockabilly, folk, blues, country rock, and punk folk with superb continuity. The bluesy "Graffiti Limbo" is my personal highlight with Rod Piazza playing great harmonica complimenting Michelle's distinctive vocal style about a poor man who got no justice. The only lowlight on this album was the last song, the original hidden track "Fogtown". It's a straight punk number that didn't fit now or then. A better version can be found on "The Texas Campfire Takes". The sound quality on the 1st CD is a medium improvement from the original release. ( DISC #2 ) A very good selection of almost all acoustic live songs from festivals, shows and home recordings. The sound is 90% professional. The length - 79 minutes. Michelle shows off her down home side with fun conversation and stories between songs. The performances have a hootenanny feel more like "Arkansas Traveler", my favorite cut being "Stawberry Jam" which captures what a brilliant live performer Michelle Shocked is. ( CLOSING ) This woman from Texas has always challenged her fans by releasing something different. ( folk, roots, swing, bluesgrass, dark and gospel CD's ) "Short, Sharp, Shocked" is the definite starting point.

Worthy reissue, good price, bur flawed packaging
I missed out on the original issue, but as "Arkansas Traveler" is
a favorite of mine, I picked up this reissue. Very good album, &
some interesting stuff on the bonus disc. Great price, too, but
the packaging is lame. It is in a paper covered, cardboard
clamshell box, like boxed-set LPs used to come in. This is sealed closed with a round, transparent sticker, which, in my case, tore the paper off the box when I tried to remove it. Inside, the two CDs are stacked on top of each other on a single sponge hub that is glued to the inside of the box. It tore loose the first time I tried to remove the CDs, leaving a sticky, gummy residue inside the box, which would, no doubt, stick to the CDs or booklet if you put them back in loose. You could transfer the CDs into jewel cases, but the booklet is too tall and thick to fit in with them. Very annoying.

Not Short, and Definitely Sharp, Shocked
Got this last night at her show at Harlow's in Sacramento, and had a chance to chat with Shel briefly. Her music begs to be performed live; each tune grows and changes, and like watching your own children, each stage seems like the best they've ever been, until you see the next. Wrote a bit more at my weblog .....

This one's long overdue. We've missed you, Shel.

A CLASSIC CD RETURNS!!!!!!!
This is my all time favorite Michelle Shocked cd. I have the original, but just had to get this one. The second cd is great fun to listen to, with live performances and chat.

Michelle is one of America's treasures! I wish I could see her in person, but she rarely comes close to Alabama. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As she's gone from the Young Woman Who Could to the Woman Who Has, Ani DiFranco has explored more than her share of musical styles, all the while remaining true to her core. Even during her most extreme departures, you could hear the sound of the early albums coming through. On Little Plastic Castle, an album on which people are credited for adding pontifications, incantations, and an "evil machine" to songs, you could--for the first time--hear an almost completely new artist. Call her Ani, version 3; she couldn't have existed without hearing all of Ani, version 1's albums, and she wouldn't be as funky and experimental without the influence of Ani, version 2. She still has a lot to say--about politics, about relationships, about herself--but the messages aren't thrown in your face here (well, not as often). Instead they're wrapped in funky hooks and lots of production--anything you learn from DiFranco on this album will come from pure repetition, and for the first time, the album is varied enough, catchy enough, and subtle enough that you'll push the repeat button while cleaning the house. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (101)

really spiffy album -- worth your money!!
Ani is an incredible artist -- her lyrics are astounding, her sound unique -- truly a revolutionary artist in this day and age, especially when people succumb to the capitalistic industry and buy hanson, backstreet boys, and the like...Ani is just so unique, and refuses to be labeled and goes with whatever comes creatively in her life, which means it always changes...and I love the fact that she's got the ambition to have her own label.

For Ani fans, [shame on you if you haven't gotten it yet ;) ] this will be a very different experience from her earlier days. The sounds are more "modern" -- more than just her guitar and beautiful voice. For newcomers to her music; this is a great album, but not indicative of most of her earlier music. If you want to hear the folk, get "Puddle Dive" or the first album. All of her albums are amazing in their own ways.

Overall, a great album, although her sounds get a tad repetitive for the --very selective listener.-- I like it a lot -- and I was satisifed paying full price for it. Get it -- you won't be dissapointed -- Ani is truly a gem.

Ani's schtick is getting old
Honestly, who cares about weather or not Ani wears lipsick? Not me! And i sure don't think it's worth writing about in a song. Every time I hear the verse about Ani's image I want to cry. It doesn't come across as therapeutic, or strong, or any of the other qualities Ani is sow well know for. It just comes across as pure narcissism. Muck of this album rins with similar sentiment. It is really time for Ani to grow up.

As for this album being more mainstream? It's no more mainstream sounding than any of ther other albums. More people just happen to know about her, so in that respect it has higher visibilty. But the music will not be confused with the Spice Girls any time soon. This album has a lot more pure misses than most of Ani's albums, which tend to be about 30% great, 50% good, and 20% garbage. This album is about 0% great, 50% good, and 50% crap. These words are pure sacrilege to Ani fans, but as a music fan (as opposed to those who worship Ms. Difranco's boot straps) I really can't recommend this album. If you are new to Ani, and are looking to check her out, "Not a Pretty Girl" is a good place to start. But ideally you should see her in concert before you buy anything. Ani is talented, and that comes across much more live, than on her albums. But quite frankly, I just don't need to know quite so much about how she is dealing with fame. And i suspect that there about about 8 people that identify with her on this album, where 80% have on previous albums. This is an album all about her fame. And the musical end isn't so great either. Stay away

Different and Not to be missed
This was Ani DiFranco's first really synthesized, fancily-produced album. And it's a whole different world from the style she was known for before this. Listening to this is definitely like being introduced to a whole new artist. There are more electronics, more experimental song styles, and even her voice has changed a little -- it's a tad raspier.

The lyrics are still just as good -- but don't buy it expecting the old Ani ... you have to love it as something completely new.

And I DID love it!

The songs are made not more watery, but more powerful by the elaborate compositions. The topics capture so many sides of life -- from the pretty to the dark.

One song urges rude people to "just suck up and be nice".

Another song, whose entire atmosphere tells of a desperate hour proclaims, "If you think you know what I'm doing wrong, you're gonna have to get in line."

GRAVEL has a catchy, hardcore beat and really gets across the humor in having an ex that you just seem to keep taking back, no matter what he does.

And it all leads up to the climax -- the final song -- that is more of a hypnotic symphony than a song. It only has a few spoken words -- the rest it says in its swaying rhythm -- but it is absolutely powerful. An expected pinnacle.

The first song or two on the album are just warm-ups. Skip past them to really delve into the riches of this outstanding record.

This album is not to be missed by anyone who likes true-to-the-heart, poignant, powerful experimental music.

A solid album from Ani...
To me this is a solid album from Ani... It's also my first one that I've bought/owned by Ani - got lucky and picked it up in a 2nd hand store (thought it's definitely worth full price)...
Musicwise, 'Two Little Girls' and 'Swan Dive' is my two favorite tracks, though I like them all at varying degrees of enjoyment... As well as I like that it doesn't sound exactly the same from... So after listening to this one, I'm looking forward to one day picking up "Not A Pretty Girl"... Plus, I'm very impressed that Ani performed at the "Women March for Choice" on March 20, 2004... - Savannah Skye...

This one never pulled me in...
I own Not A Pretty Girl, Dilate, and this album by Ani Difranco. While I thouroughly enjoy the first two--Little Plastic Castle never pulled me in at all really. I've given it numerous listens and still I don't think it remotely compares to the other two albums I own by her. The only song that sticks out to me is "Gravel" and even that song I am having trouble recollecting exactly in my mind. I suggest the other two if you are a starting Ani fan. I must admit I'm surprised by the overwhelming popularity of this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After ripping it up on No Depression and Still Feel Gone, their first two albums of twangy punk rock, Uncle Tupelo unplugged for this remarkable tribute--half originals, half political and religious covers--to the band's old-time influences. While the new songs of frontmen Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy are consistently strong here (especially Farrar's "Grindstone"), the album's haunted covers of old folk songs are the true keepers. Tweedy's apocalyptic version of "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" and Farrar's earnest readings of the beat-down "Moonshiner" and the labor song "Coalminers" are as frightening, beautiful, and passionate as anything the band ever recorded. The 2003 expanded and remastered edition adds three unreleased demos, a live version of "Moonshiner," and an instrumental B-side. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (9)

not my uncle
who's uncle is it. Obviously someone in this band has been heavily influenced by "50 cent" but that's my opinion. This recording didn't sound like it is good.

Uncle Tupelo 's finest disc
I love this album. Most people are familiar with the story of Uncle Tupelo, and how they branched off to form two of the best bands of the nineties, Wilco and Son Volt. This disc captures Tupelo at thier finest. The whole disc has a live type feel to it. It is a mystery why this disc has not been elevated to classic status. Maybe if the music industry wasnt so concerned with the flavor of the week, this disc would be more widely played. If your a fan of music with some heart and soul to it, you will like this disc.

Quiet Side
Uncle Tupelo went unplugged on their brilliant third album, March 16-20, 1992. Produced by R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, the album features six cover songs of mostly traditional folk music. The band's signature sound is stripped down to the skeletal remains of acoustic guitars with a dash of percussion and strings. The songs have on overt political nature and the band throws in some religion as well. The overall starkness of the album recalls Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska. Unlike that album which found Mr. Springsteen singing from a first person point of view, Uncle Tupelo act as troubadours, telling the tales of the downtrodden. The album shows the band's versatility and Mr. Buck's subtle production is first-rate.

Uncle Tupelo's best
This is by far my favorite Uncle Tupelo album because this is the album that best shows Uncle Tupelo's folk influence. This album has a perfect blend of original songs, and traditional songs the band learned from a Missouri folk compilation tape they heard. Its also good to see a CD that has worthwhile liner notes. The liner notes explain the band's background and the inspirations for the album, which makes for interesting reading for any Uncle Tupelo fan. Out of all the Farrar/Tweedy albums, I rank this one second only to "Trace".

Must have for all alt country fans
yep !!! bye it right now!!! you're missing out if it's not in your collection. destined to be as classic as any of bob dylans albums. a great collection of acustic music from the band that put alt counrty in the music vocabulary....to bad it it's their last album. while you 're at it you should just get all the uncle tupelo music you can find here....then start buying up the drive by trucker stuff too!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This is what a Greatest Hits album should be!
I have every Billy Bragg album except this one, and the rare stuff on the third disc is tempting me to correct that oversight. Record companies take note - that's how a Greatest Hits album is supposed to work!

For those unfamiliar with Billy Bragg, his music may be best summarized as "acoustic punk", but he has experimented with numerous styles over the course of his twenty year career. This three CD set collects them all, in a rough chronological order. Disc one begins in Thatcherite Britain: you can picture Billy sitting in a smoke-filled pub belting out coarse folk tunes and love songs with tender quirky lyrics; we then follow him outside into the middle of the poll tax riots, with socialist anthems and rich ballads that tell stories of heartache and broken dreams. Disc two starts at a time in Bragg's career I'd rather forget, the Britpop period, but thankfully the salvation of the later 1990s soon follows. Here he returns to familiar themes - disillusionment with the state of the world, left wing Utopianism, and, of course, love - but the music is more sophisticated and polished. There's even a few Woody Guthrie covers thrown in for fun (and to remind us of his politics). Disc three is made up of remixes and rarities I've only ever heard live or bootleg, which is why I'm going to break down and buy the album!

Regardless of your politics, it's hard not to be moved by songs like "Levi Stubbs' Tears" or "The Space Race Is Over", or to reminisce about relationships gone sour over tracks like "The Price I Pay". Billy Bragg is truly a prolific artist, with a poet's soul and a bleeding heart, and this collection of his work is, as the title says, ESSENTIAL.

Pleasantly surprised...Now I am officially a NEW fan
I bought this CD on the fact that it was value for money. Depending on your retailer you can get a bonus third 10 track disc. So overall you have 50 tracks and over 200 minutes of music. WOW! If all music CDs were like that...I'd buy triple the new releases CDs I buy now.

The first disc is the more instantly gratifiable (quiet ambient, sonic, subliminal, primeval and surreal). The second disc needs more spins to appreciate, but still as good. The production values of this CD is first class...high quaility sound: guitars, piano and all sort of modern distortions.
Overall I am impressed by this 3CD set. Now I am a fan of Billy Bragg.

NPWA!
Bragg's tune, "No Power Without Accountability" sums up his political perspective absolutely accurately, and in this collection, his career is summed up just perfectly. This is a writer who puts his head and his heart on the line. Art as politics blazes through his skewering of the western world. While his neo-socialist underpinnings seem at times dated ("Great Leap Forward"), you need to keep in mind that it was no accident that he should turn to Woody Guthrie and in partnership with WILCO essay some of America's heartland-poet's unfinished songs in so compelling a manner. Like Ireland's Andy Irvine, Bragg has taken to the road for the common man. Fatcats of either white or blue collar are pilloried, their efforts at exploiting those who have entrusted them with power are stripped of the rhetoric designed to feed people what they want and laid open as lies meant to enrich the prevaricators. For all the vitriol, there is an incredibly human voice that touches the heart as well as fires the mind.
Besides all that, Bragg can write a damn fetching tune. For all the rhetoric, he can turn around and write something as emotionally honest as "Somedays I See The Point," one of the greatest songs ever written. His early resetting of "Just Walk Away Renee" is shear (you'll get it) genius. There is a lot to consider here and it is all worth the investment of your time. WILCO, The Blokes, his solo stuff: all are delivered with a sense of commitment. The third disc presents some rarities, including a cut from a radio show in Philadelphia that misrepresents its xenophilic title by content. Nonetheless, Bragg is just brilliant with his "Rhyme or Reason." It's irrelevant whether you embrace his politics. What counts is you have before you the works of a man who has considered thoughtfully the human condition and has found cause to say that the least of us should never be trampled upon. His is a noble soul. Fripp says, "With commitment, everything changes." Bragg clearly lives that commitment. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

The mannered vocal style that has always been the most off-putting element of Ani DiFranco's music is still present on this two-disc live set, but for some reason it doesn't matter anymore. Maybe it's the way you can hear DiFranco using her breaths to accent a rhythm section that's downright merciless with its circling, pulsing, scary grooves. Or maybe it's the way, with an audience screaming, she pours heart and soul into "Unforgettable Face" and the story song "Gravel." Whatever, Living in Clip is the album where DiFranco begins to deserve her hype. And "Amazing Grace," backed by the Buffalo Philharmonic, is where she surpasses it. --David Cantwell ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Oh, I adore, you.
A good friend of mine turned me on to Ani sometime last year. So here I am, listening to 2 Little Girls off Little Plastic Castle, and I'm falling into this deep fascination with this voice. So, I go to find an Ani CD of my very own to start off with. I see Dilate, Not a Pretty Girl, Little Plastic Castle, and Living in Clip. My good friend had everything there except LIC. So I bought this one. Thank goodness. This album, twisting in every emotional direction feasible, is a tribute to Ani's musical genius, her live act, and her phenomenal writing. To list a few trully noteworthy gems: "Hide and Seek"--Beautiful in it's haunting lyrics and almost tribal beat. "Napoleon"-- It's sooo much better live! "32 Flavors" Alana Davis (Is that who covered it?) gave it no justice. "In or Out"--Dynamic and stirring, unlike the studio version. "Amazing Grace"--Mmmhmm.;) Also, be sure to wait until the last song on disc 2 reaches 7:00 for about the most giggle worthy display of audience/band interaction I've ever heard!

Ani's good, but only as good as Ani wants to be
I dont dought the talent of Ani Difranco. I just started listening to some of her stuff and i was very impressed with her talent, but i really do think she could reach a new level of excelance that she appearently has no intent to reach. Her live double cd, "Living In Clip" showcases Ani's talented Dave Matthews like guitar work in combination with a Alanis Morisette type attitude that she sings with. Alot of the tracks on this disc sound great and she has proven to me that she is definately a very talented and original voice in the womens music bussiness. My biggest problem with Ani is that it seems to me that she has to grow up alittle, not only in a mature sense, but also in a musical sense. She has the talent to become among the elite women singers in the bussiness, but it seems to me her attitude and her lack of maturity is holding her back. I like her music on this album, but i have to say i really dont like and cant relate to some of her comments inbetween songs, it is almost a musical turn off to this listener. Overall i enjoy her music and do recomend this album, its just a shame to see such a talent limiting her self to mediocre song writing and little imagination.

One Of The Best CDs of All Time
Ani seems to touch every feeling a person can have on this CD. She goes from subtle and soft, to yelling, screaming and laughter. This is the best CD I have ever bought. I suggest it to anyone who likes folk music or has a an open mind towards new things!

Living in clip
Ani Difranco is one of the few artists who has made a successful career out of her do-it-yourself ethics. She has bypassed the conventional career path most artists takes by not signing with a major record label and by doing that, she has a greater percentage intake in the profits from her music as opposed to being in debt for years to a major record label. I always have and always will respect Ani for taking the high road and do things her way. I was a big fan of Ani Difranco when I was a college student in Wisconsin nine years ago. I first heard about her in a magazine (I think) and decided to check out her music. "Dilate" was my first Ani Difranco cd. I was hooked. During the next few years, I would buy her latest cds religiously on the day they were release, one of them was "Living in Clip". I rarely buy live cds but in Ani Difranco's case, I was willing to buy a live cd of her music. Besides there were a bunch of songs at the time I hadn't heard before like the gorgeous "Both Hands" (my all-time favorite Ani Difranco song) and "Sorry I Am". "Living in Clip" is definitely one of the best live cds that I have ever heard. Although each song was recorded in different cities, you would have never guessed that they weren't recorded at one performance. The occasional banter with the audience gives the listener an intimate insight of an Ani Difranco performance. One of the most stunning performances on the cd is Ani's rendition of "Amazing Grace" with the Buffalo Philharmonic. It simply took my breath away. That alone makes this cd worth listening to. Although I am not nearly the fan that I am of Ani's music any more, I still enjoy throwing in "Living in Clip" every now and then. This is a good representation of Ani Difranco as an artist as well as a performer.

The Rocked Folk album of the Century!!!
Living In Clip shines as Ani's most versatile and amazing album yet, out of her 25 five or so. This album covers some of her most classic songs such as the unforgettable Both Hand, Adam And Eve, In and Out, Out of Habit, and Out of Rage. Combining folk rock punk and poetry, Ani definitely delivers in this piece of musical art. With only a three person band with ever so lovable Sara Lee on bass and Andy Stochansky on drums we are given even a bigger treat, but the double album really shines when Ani sings solo only with her guitar. Me being an original Ani fan from the early 1990's I have seen her music evolve and change into something amazing, which is shown through this classic album. If you are interested in becoming an Ani Difranco fan for the first time I strongly suggest this album. Also if you ever get to actually see her live that is the True Ani expierence! I was also given a treat of meeting her, quite an expierence!
Enjoy!!! ... Read more

Album Description

Third Hellcat release for Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros,recorded just weeks prior to the beloved rock legend'sdeath on December 22, 2002. Digipak. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (43)

under the radar
Unlike Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer's passing did not garner a cover shot on Rolling Stone or a stream of rereleases of old past recordings. His death was largely ignored by mainstream media, much as his talent was in life. A frustrating fact for a fan like myself, yet perhaps a blessing in disguise. Reason: his final, posthumous release "Streetcore" could be released 10 months after his death a slip under the radar, appearing in stores almost as a secret gift to Strummer fans. A gift that, ironically, screams for attention with its flourescent orange packaging.

As for the music, "streetcore" is by far Strummer's best solo record. It is raw in parts, and some songs feel a bit unrefined ( example: the infectious "all in a day" whose repititive chorus never seems to end), but the rawness doesn't hinder the record, in fact it helps Joe stay true to his roots which come from not only punk rock, but folk music. The acoustic, coffeshop open-mic feel of Bob Marley's "redemption song" sounds as if it was recorded in one, flawed, but honest take. And the closing track "silver and gold" smells of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, a couple of Strummer's heroes, and is a fitting end to a brilliant career and life.

But the record isn't merely an ode to folk music, oh no. There are some songs that play like outtakes of old Clash recordings, most memorably "coma girl," "burnin' streets" and "get down moses." Three songs that, with there fusion of punk and reggae would have easily fit on "Sandinista" or "London Calling."

I'll take great record over a cover story in Rolling Stone anyday.

a bit disappointed
I read all these reviews and I get excited then buy the CD only to be let down. I love everything the Clash ever did. I thought earthquake weather was very good. The Walker soundtrack was excellent. Loved Trash City and Love Kills. Rock Art was OK (Yalla Yalla's a great tune), I didn't like Global as much as I tried to. Same deal for streetcore. Get Down Moses is very good, the best song on the album. I thought his version of Redemption song was quite awful to be honest. I like Arms aloft and Coma girl could be a great tune but I cant get past the lyrics. The other tunes just seem to ramble lyrically and melodically and don't go anywhere. If it weren't Strummer I'd only give it 2 stars. Oh yeah- try listening to his vocal on the Blackhawk Down version of Minstrel Boy-- It'll send chills down your spine. RIP joe

P.S. don't bag on me for being honest..I'm just as much a fan as you are

Fitting End to an Amazing Career
When I think of post-humously issued albums I inevitably think of Nirvana's Unplugged in New York. That album reminds me of a funeral procession, and I can't help but think back on how great Kurt Cobain was as a person and as a musician. What surprises me about Joe Strummer's last album is that it's the complete opposite of Nirvana's. This album is a celebration of life, and while I can't help but feel sad about Joe Strummer's passing this sadness is my own and not his. Listening to it is like witnessing the prodigal sun returning home. For his last few albums Joe Strummer had delved into world beat, eschewing his rock roots, and while I feel those albums were successful, I also believe that his return is even more triumphant. Streetcore is a return to rock in many ways, but Joe doesn't ignore the vast amount of influences such as reggae, dub, blues, and folk. If anything these influences are just integrated better. Every song is strong on this album, and even the acoustic numbers pulse with life. Perhaps a little older, a little wiser, and a little more laid back, but Joe never gave up living beyond the status quo. This album didn't make me want to go back and relive London Calling for the one-thousandth time, instead it made me want to hit play again. Now when I think of post-humously issued albums, Joe Strummer's finale has a place right next to Kurt Cobain's.

a great farewell for the true warrior-poet
This record was probably around the best released in 2003. It symbolised a great swannsong for Strummer and his hugely undererrated group. You get the feeling that it wasn't quite finished; that there were a few more tricks and lyrics the great man Strummer would sharpen up (and in all honesty 'Rock Art...' is perhaps more consistent). Nevertheless, he goes out with an awesome bang. Some individual tracks on this album are among the finest cuts Strummer produced in the latter - and earlier - parts of his career. Tunes like 'Coma Girl', 'Long Shadow', and his version of 'Redemption Song' are marvellous.
'Ramshackle Day Parade' is the best though. Everything Strummer was all about in its scope, musicianship, and political passion. I find it tragic that two great songwriters, Joe Strummer and Johnny Cash - the best representations of Britain and America I can think of - passed away when we needed them most, as the lunatics ("the deranged cowboys") in command of both these great nations ruin them. RIP Joe and Johnny - you are sorely