Ani Difranco Double Live Album: “So much shouting So much laughter”

Jimmy Weasel - Friday, 25 October, 2002 - Print Version

I'm not going to pretend to be the biggest Ani fan there is for the simple reason that I am not. I own a fraction of her releases all up, but this does not mean that have no perspective when listening and analysing her material. I hadn't even known about the album until a few days after its release when I was stumbling around a CD store under the guise of seeking out street publications, when it was brought to my attention by the Girl. On an impulse, I purchased the album without knowing anything about it, other than it was an Ani Difranco CD (and more than likely worth listening to). When I realized it was a live album, I initially balked and put something else on; I guess I wanted new songs. A day or three later, on a long car trip, I decided to listen to the whole thing uninterrupted and was astounded by the whole effect. It's been looping for ages since that point, bringing forth remarks from both "friends" and "family" as: "what are you listening to? This music isn't like you", "don't you normally listen to crap music" and "Ani Difranco has another album? That's some funky goddamn backup band*".

This particular album, though, is a series of recording from a particular tour in 2000 to 2002 with a six piece band that does nothing other than expand and enhance her already amazing sound. The songs are from prior albums and include some poetry she's written along the way, including a poem about many things entitled "Self Evident" which continues to rock my world every time I hear it.

The whole album is a little over two hours by my calculation, and well worth the listen. The backing musicians add extra dimensions to songs where previous there was only guitar and Ani. An I think that's what makes the whole album so much more than just another release from "Everyone's favourite female singer songwriter" (as those who need to sell the album describe her). There's a bluesy-funky-folksy kind of feel all over the place and at times a song will blend into the next. There's also a little banter between some songs, and a few minor screwups that seem to be ignored, yet add to the live and unproduced/natural feeling of the album. The sound itself is very clear; all parts of the ensemble are accounted for, and never do the screams and noise of the audience dull the vocals leaping from the stage.

More stuff about Ani Difranco can be found on her label.

*Quote may not be accurate. All apologies to Mr Belvedere who may have said it, but he's said so many things that I might have confused his words.

Jimmy Weasel

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