by Xochitl Campos
Daily Lobo
The legacy of folk music is the story of the common man, or woman.
In a genre made famous by musicians like Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly, the music is just a melodic background to what the artist has to say. The music may not always be as memorable as Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man" but being the next Pussy Cat Doll is not necessarily the objective. These guys are not after the big bucks. Folk is a genre of humility. How often do you see folk artists on TRL? Never. They just want people to know their story, and their guitar, or banjo, is their soap box.
That is why the newest release from Ani DiFranco is just that, a musical opinion and maybe even a little bit of a musical over-share. Keep in mind, though, this is a woman who has put out at least one album every year since 1990, so it is not a shock that she shares even the most personal details of her private life with a crowd of 2,800 people.
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The album is a recording of a concert DiFranco performed in 2002 at Carnegie Hall, and it starts as any typical concert recording does. She addresses her audience, cracks a few jokes then throws herself right into the musical, but political, commentary mode that is like a time machine back to the days following Sept. 11, 2001.
Seven months after the attacks, her performance is an evolution. It begins with lighter songs that, despite having slight critical undertones of American society and the U.S. government, are mellow, and the acoustic melodies seem relatively harmless.
The song "Subdivision" is where she starts to test waters. The opening lyrics get right to the point, addressing issues of racism, political apathy, even America's dependence on soda pop. You know someone is really disturbed by the state of the nation when the artist proclaims, "So we're led by denial like lambs to the slaughter serving empires of style and carbonated sugar water." In the song she criticizes the development of the American heartland from a place of tradition and integrity to what it is today: "a four-lane that leads to the mall."
That, however, is nothing compared to the epic "Self Evident," where she reaches her critical climax. Some may be concerned she is going over the top and exceeding the limit of political and societal disapproval. If you are looking for a musical outlet from the stress of daily life, this album may not be the one for you.
If you are on the opposite side of the spectrum, however, you may like her poetic presentation. The lyrics are complex and at times it feels like she is literally throwing her opinion in at you. This is what makes the album good.
DiFranco doesn't hold anything back and presents her music and her poetry in true folk tradition, honestly and humbly. She is the common woman.
Carnegie Hall 4.6.02
Ani DiFranco
Grade: B+
