Search - Ani Difranco :: Evolve

The Worst!

J. M. R. | 04/02/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I started listening to Ani in 1996. I immediately loved her music. The first song I heard was "Gratitude" followed by "Untouchable Face". I own all of her albums, excluding the spoken word ones, "Knuckle Down", and "Educated Guess". Ani was my very favorite musician from 1996 to 2003. I saw her in concert numerous times. She is an exceptional lyricist, and though some find her music to be harsh and her voice unappealing, I love her singing and instrumentals also. I loved every album that she released up to this one, including "Reveling/Reckoning," which some of her older fans didn't like.



I hate this album. I find it horribly disappointing. Even if it weren't Ani it would be disappointing, but the fact that it is makes me dislike it all the more. It's depressing and boring. The lyrics are not up to her usual standards, or even the standards of a lesser artist. The sound is dull and unpleasant. She should have taken a long vacation rather than record this album. Her heart is so obviously not in it. It's forced and often incoherent. It's like she had nothing to say, but she tried to say something anyway. It's self indulgent and somewhat pathetic sounding, like she's complaining in a half assed way about something she isn't even clear on. I also think the instrumental aspect is overdone.



After listen to this album a few times I found that not only did I never want to hear it again, but that I couldn't even listen to Ani's older albums for quite some time. That's how disgusted I was. That was my honest reaction. I just felt so ripped off and disillusioned. I know that some people like this album, and that is almost inconceivable to me, especially considering the quality of Ani's earlier work. I did not buy another Ani album again. I did listen to some tracks off of "Knuckle Down" and "Educated Guess" online, and I didn't like them either. I have only recently started listening to her pre-evolution works again.



I would not recommend this album to anyone, Ani fan or not. It's just awful. Buy something released before 2003."

Ani Difranco "evolves" into a cliche

Nervous Girl | 09/08/2008

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I hate what Ani Difranco has become. Her earlier music was deep and complex, she sang about interesting topics and used really interesting music styles. It was always kind of preachy, but in a way that seemed unintrusive, because of the way she was able to make her opinions somehow beautiful and intriguing.



I guess she's "evolved" though... into a smug, self satisfied, holier-than-thou liberal extremist. In some of the songs I felt like she was barely making an effort to pass off her preaching as music... in one long ranting song, she simply plucked at guitar strings while stealing lines from Utah Phillips and talking about how bad average americans are and how virtuous she is."