Many have heard of Ani DiFranco. Far fewer have actually heard an Ani DiFranco album.
I have an inkling it’s her reputation as a folkie-granola-bisexual-radical-femme-Nazi that makes some music lovers shy away. But maybe such a daunting reputation is slightly misleading for one of the most prolific, genre-bending artists around, who’s been covered by and collaborated with everyone from Prince and Dave Matthews to Chuck D and Woodie Guthrie.
DiFranco has long been one of America’s premier independent artists, as well as one of the most prolific. “Knuckle Down”, her fifteenth studio album in as many years, reaffirms why DiFranco reigns as one of the best (and certainly most underrated) singer/songwriters of her era.
Yet those fans looking for another trademark DiFranco album will be surprised. Releasing an album a year for 15 years may be impressive, but in recent years DiFranco has failed to showcase her enormous talent, producing a slew of albums that were decent, but ultimately formulaic and contrived.
“Knuckle Down”, however, is perhaps one of the best DiFranco albums in years. Lyrically, she relies heavily on memories and examines her past with an accepting reflection. Musically, the use of strings and electric guitar, along with subtle orchestration, set this album apart.
“Knuckle Down” opens with a slice of DiFranco at her best. The self-titled track is full of the gritty, aggressive guitar and scathing lyrics that has become her brand. The same classic DiFranco sound resonates on “Manhole”, one of the albums strongest tracks. But from there the album takes an unexpected turn from moody to melodic, from angry to ethereal.
On “Seeing Eye Dog” DiFranco uses bluesy guitar and vocals combined with a ghostly percussion to create a haunting, mellow sound. She uses the same techniques to back up her only spoken-word track on the album, “Parameters,” combining her new folk-strings fusion with melodic slam poetry.
What ultimately makes this album successful is its cohesiveness. For once, DiFranco composed an album not one song at a time, but as a whole. By focusing on the big picture, “Knuckle Down” becomes a thoughtful, unified portrait rather than a mere scattering of thoughts.
DiFranco may have had to loosen up to get “Down,” but despite surrendering a bit of her edge she still undoubtedly embraces the musical fringe. Her increasing lyrical moderation is practical and progressive, and is sure to win her new fans if they’re only willing to listen.
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