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Ani DiFranco
Red Letter Year
Campus Correspondent CD Review By Marion Olea
North Central College
Taking two years to record, Ani DiFranco’s Red Letter Year (Righteous Babe) is an album showing DiFranco’s more loving, calmer, and some might say, optimistic side; something which has been lacking in her previous albums. Back with a new motto, “Don’t forget to have a good time,” Red Letter Year focuses on the relationships she has with her daughter and man in her life, as well as the political, religious and feminist views she has employed in all her previous albums.
Starting off with the politically charged track “Red Letter Year,” DiFranco quickly transitions into one of the more powerful tracks off the album (“Alla This”). With lyrics such as “I won’t pray to a male god / cuz that would be insane / and I can’t support the troops / cuz every last one of them is being duped,” DiFranco stays true to her convictions and provides thought provoking ideas that will leave anyone talking. “Smiling Underneath” and “Way Tight” show DiFranco’s more sentimental side when dealing with love and are sure fire hits.
However, the album begins to lose steam quickly about halfway. “Good Luck” and “Star Matter” are forgettable tracks that will leave you reaching for the skip button. “The Atom” can only be described as strange but a gallant effort filled with somewhat powerful lyrics that fall flat on delivery. DiFranco ends the album with a reprise of “Red Letter Year” that is more upbeat, cheerful, and energetic; the track really makes use of the jazz band and embodies the spirit of New Orleans. Working more with a band has also overpowered her solo guitar work; a signature of hers in earlier years. While Red Letter Year might not be one of DiFranco’s better albums, it is definitely worth checking out for the first half.
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