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Amazon.co.uk Review
There are four excellent beat poems here--the brief and hardhitting "Platforms" and "Akimbo" and the more exploratory "Grand Canyon" and "The True Story of What Was". But the real stand-outs are "Bodily" and the closing "Bubble", with their deep, rootsy riffs and brilliant vocal performances, DiFranco managing to flit through octaves without losing emotional force. There's also the affecting "You Each Time", where she comes over like an ethereally jazzy version of that other great maverick, Victoria Williams.
Throughout, her lyrics are well-wrought, the dissection of a past relationship on "Origami" proving that her avowed feminism is not of the bigoted variety. Indeed, her perceptive and pointed descriptions often recall the work of Paul Simon. Educated Guess will be a real treat for all longstanding DiFranco fans, and for anyone seeking the very best American acoustic music. This is an idiosyncratic and very necessary voice. --Dominic Wills
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Customer Reviews
I am currently on my second listen (in a row) and I'm still getting used to all the new songs but, so far, all good. A few spoken numbers including "grand canyon" (her political song for the album) which starts "i love my country / by which i mean / i am indebted joyfully / to all the people throughout its history / who have fought the government to make it right" and goes on to describe feminism as the "coolest f-word ever."
The booklet contains not only all the lyrics but also three poems and some fantastic artwork by ani, all simple black and white drawings that go with the laid-bare sound of the album.
Another beautiful work, definitely recommended.
I like rock Ani. I like Jazz Ani. I like angry Ani. I like cute Ani. And hey, even when she's on a bandwagon that went right on passed by because life got in the way, i still like where her head is at. But... Oh my is she in need of an editor on this work.
It's acoustic Jazz Ani at her rambling worst. Words spill out, the guitar plinks (technical term, literally means "turn that crap off!") 'Tunes' meander with no purpose. Is this chill out? Is it supposed to be deep? Sounds like lack of focus to me. Or middle age tempering the fire that once raged?
The FeminAniNazi's will rail, of course, but this CD has none of the spirit of her early output, none of the focus of her Rock stuff. None of the heart achingly beautiful introspection of her turn of the century works. And none of the slinky cool of her Jazzy work, man.
For die hards only, then. But do remember that one Ani is still better that a thousand Alanis's. This one is just worth slightly less, 871 Alanis's perhaps :o)
Addendum: Since reviewing this disc Ani has released a further two albums, Knuckle Down and Reprieve. Both, i am pleased to say, are a 5 star return to form.
Over the past few years, we've seen her folk-punk mellow out into a more jazzy, relaxed sound; this continues here into what could be described as a quiet, introspective meloncholy. As personal as ever, Ani reflects on failed relationships - specifically her recent marriage - as well as the nature of patriotism and the love of her country despite the hatred of its leader.
Beautiful but jarring, this isn't going to convert anyone to the DiFranco stable - for the rest of us, however, it's a wonderful addition to an overflowing collection.
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