The Contraband

Issue date: 2/2/05 Section: Entertainment

Ani Difranco

The newest release by feminist folk-rock pioneer Ani Difranco doesn't quite smell of sell out, but comes pretty close. The political undertones of some of her previous releases are nowhere to be found in "Knuckle Down," leaving the music and lyrical poetry to stand on their own legs, which they accomplish ... and with grace.

The collection of guitar-riff driven poetry combines just enough of DiFranco's folk, jazz, lounge, funk and blues styles with a poppy sound to possibly open doors to many new fans, while not alienating her indie base. The album opens with the comfortably-funky title track and keeps a consistently comfortable sometimes bluesy, sometimes jazzy, sometimes lounge sound up to the spoken word track "Parameters" and
the darker "Callous" immediately following. The latter half of the album will likely prove the favorite among long-time Ani fans, but may be a bit too laborious for those drawn in by the album's catchier, more upbeat first half.

The album all-in-all maintains a not-too-mellow, not-too-experimental feel that is not-too-characteristically Ani, but is familiar enough to her style that long-time fans will not fail recognize the anti-sweetheart they've grown to love.

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