Ani Difranco : " Unprecedented Shit"

22 albums deep in her career I think the last album I spent time with was "Red Letter Year". Lyrical back in the day she was ahead of her time, these days she's the status quo. This album is stripped down, for an artist known to get the job down with an acoustic guitar. This is odder considering she produced most of her own albums up to this point and has tapped producer BJ Burton who has worked with Charli XCX and Lights.  This might be the reason there are more electronic elements in the first two songs, then things continue to get even more bare on "More of Less Fine" which sounds like she is trying too hard and knows what she is supposed to sound like, I suppose since the sentiments she is voicing is nothing new for it sounds like she is punching a clock. Perhaps pacing is everything for her these days as "Baby Roe' works. Perhaps her voice does not have the same vigor as it once did, but this song is pretty much what long-time fans might want from her after the years. 

The more electronic elements work well on the ominous tone of the title track and compensate for what range she might not be playing within 2024. In some ways, it's always about where she put her voice. Some of the power is going, but she does still have a soulful sweet spot here. Lyrically it was once the rallying cry for lesbians or girls who at least wanted to be lesbians in college, but now continues peddling feminism as expected, and there are some political musings along with that on songs like "New Bible". I am surprised she is not picking sides against Israel.  She does seem to be against phones and social media. One thing that is not Burton's strength as a producer is dialing in a decent guitar sound as every song sounds like the tinny plucking of a ukelele. 

She sounds older than 53 on "Boots of a Soldier", perhaps it is because she is touring less, not working her vocal chords out as much. The chord phrasing holds more jazz and blues musings to highlight the fact she has always been an underrated guitarist. "You Forgot to Speak" is more atmospheric than expected, but feels more like something she would have done at the peak of her career. "the Thing at Hand" which she dismisses the notion of identity that kids these days are so invested in. Showing there are more than two perspectives on the topic. The closing track is less focused, and the music under her voice does feel like her hometown of New Orleans, but also is not have enough of a backbone. I  have high expectations for her, and while it does make me curious about the albums I skipped by her that lead to this point, I would not say it's as strong as "Dilate" or "Plastic Little Castle" I will give it a 9. 

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