Editorial Review

Given these tumultuous times, one would expect Ani DiFranco to confront strife head-on, but on this, her 18th album, she tunnels beneath the headlines toward deeper emotional, psychic, and institutional conflicts and causes. She begins by channeling her inner Joni Mitchell, pouring out a quartet of jazzy confessions lightly dusted with electronica, musique concrete, and keyboard drone, but urged forward by Todd Sickafoose's warm acoustic bass. His throbbing, be-bop lines are this spare but somehow atmospheric album's musical soul. As DiFranco's voice bobs and weaves around those rhythms, the personal poetry makes the politics hit harder--and vice versa. She celebrates marginalia and makes peace with a world in flux. She conveys the heat of across-the-café infatuations and grows anxious over her subconscious desires. When she locks her sights on contemporary culture, she sends a scattershot spray against celebrity cults, network news, biotechnology, Yucca Mountain, stolen elections and, of course, patriarchy. But she's a gifted enough poet and musician to keep the album from collapsing into radical rhetoric and psychobabble. The spoken-word title track begins in Hiroshima and ends in a declaration that feminism is not about equality but about "reprieve"--an amnesty from fear and hate, in other words, and an affirmation of life. In the context of a death-driven culture, her decision to bear children, "to split herself in two," becomes the most "radical thing you can do." None of her manifestos, however, would ring true if it weren't for her imaginative, even playful singing and her ever-more accomplished acoustic guitar playing, sometimes classically graceful, sometimes purely urgent. Read more

Reviews (16)

Another masterpiece!
It seems Ani Difranco is getting better and better as she grows up. This particular record is mellow, deep, thought provoking and musically brilliant.
More of a Man Than Most Men Will Ever Be...
Invariably a looming epitome of political awareness and self-reliance, the very pregnant Ani Difranco is in rare form with her latest studio album "Reprieve." Quite a varied collection, and the first after what has been for her a long absence (the outstanding "Knuckle Down" came out in January 2005), Difranco sounds revitalized and acutely in touch with herself. In each lyric and guitar strum resides a sense of purpose and unquestionable passion.
Brilliant
Ani rocks.However, this CD is even better than the rest.The songs are woven together perfectly, with funky techno sound-effects hinting in the background, each song digitally mastered, gently flowing to the next.During one particular song, we even hear a dog barking, far way...This entire collection is amazing, both as a compilation of songs, as well as individually.I received the CD in the mail a few weeks ago, right when it came out, and I have literally been listening to it non-stop ever since.It's downloaded to my IPod, my ITunes, and on both my computers; I keep the actual CD in my car's stereo.And I can't seem to get enough of this music, even after listening to it, time and time again.And unlike CDs of other artists, I loved this CD immediately.It's simply brilliant.SHE is simply brilliant.I never knew she could get even better than her other music, than her other CDs.There is something unique about this one: it's literally a work of art.She has risen to new heights, folks.Amazing stuff... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Anti-Folk    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter    7. United States of America    8. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

Four decades and 29 albums into his career, Bruce Cockburn has stood for many things: flawless musicianship, activist actions, and lyrics that effortlessly flow from touching to caustic many times throughout a single CD. It is fitting, then, that Ani DiFranco makes an appearance on Read more

Reviews (29)

This stinks
I got a free copy of this CD and am shipping it to a friend tomorrow. No melodies, poor harmonies, no rhythm, this CD sucks.It is self important and lacks musical merit. Disturbingly discordant and shallow: two listens was all I could stomach.

Redundant excellence
Thanks Bruce for another point of light. The instrumentation on your new album is, as usual, incomparable. Your music and poems put us in a place we generally don't deserve. "Tell the universe what you've done".

awful
Different When It Comes To You is the single worst song I've ever heard. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Canada    3. Contemporary Folk    4. Pop    5. Progressive Folk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

A ghost, a band, a troubadour. Easily the strangest co-op project ever, and easily one of the finest and most evocative albums of the year. British socialist and folkie Billy Bragg was given unprecedented access to Woody Guthrie's unrecorded lyrics. Teaming up with alt-country band Wilco and quoting from more than 50 years of country, folk, and rock music, Billy and company bring Guthrie's politics, poetry, and morality to the end of the century and prove he's as necessary now as ever. Read more

Reviews (124)

Woody Guthrie Lyrics to Billy Bragg Tunes
You'll find yourself singing along after the first listen. California Stars and Ain't Nobody that Can Sing like me are new favorites for me.

Something to Bragg About, for Wilco ,too.
This is an example of the brilliance that results when two great talents join forces to write music and record the lyrics of American folk music icon, Woody Guthrie.Bragg and Tweedy collaborate seamlessly to set to music the words that Guthrie wrote over 50 years ago, and it still sounds fresh today.

Fantastic
This is a reply to those reviewers who think that Guthrie "really wasn't all that left-wing" or that Bragg is, by comparison, too "didactic" or "rabidly left-wing" (as some would have it).The fact is that Bragg can't imagine being as politically radical as Guthrie was, not because Bragg is a closet liberal, but because Guthrie was a part of a radical movement in the United States the likes of which is simply not to be found in the U.S. or Britain nowadays.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Folk-Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter    7. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

Biological determinists who find a poster boy in this 30-year-old singer/songwriter will miss just what's exceptional about the talent emerging on his second album. Certainly if your father were Richard Thompson, you'd have him play guitar on your record too. The son, however, has made an album as crafty in pop, lush in roots, and unguarded in emotion as any of his peers--and his sound, while clearly indebted to the acoustic foundations of British folk-rock, is his own fusion of L.A. singer/songwriter sweetness and Wallflowers-esque AOR rock. He's also finding his own way into songwriting, turning quotidian phrases into deadpan wit--"Being happy is easy if you're dumb," he sings on "That's Enough Out of You"--or letting everyday speech reveal a troubled honesty. "I can change my mind but not my blood," he admits on the title track, as strings and scuffling snare build tension. His arrangements leave ample space for his voice, a bell-bright instrument with a deceptive range, to open up his melodies. By layering harmonies from longtime pals Rufus and Martha Wainwright, as well as his mother, Linda Thompson, Teddy gives those melodies the shine, even ambition, of pop outreach--even if, as he sings on the opening track, he wants to "shine so bright it hurts." Read more

Reviews (22)

A Perfect Mix of his Father and Mother
Every year or so, I get a CD that takes me completely away - The Jayhawks' "Rainy Day Music," Subdudes' "Miracle Mule," and David Gray's "Life in Slow Motion" come immediately to mind. "Separate Ways" is the latest that I've memorized all the lyrics to. Teddy inherited his father Richard Thompson's melancholy Brit songwriting and his mother Linda Thpompson's soaring vocals. Buy this CD!

Hasn't won me over
Teddy seems like a nice guy, his friends and family have produced some of my favourite albums, and his voice is plenty good enough, though rather maudlin. Despite his connections which have made me receptive to it, this CD just isn't working for me. The songs and arrangements are pleasant, but never engaging or challenging enough. Whilst none of the songs offend, nor are there any standouts beyond the mildly toe-tapping Everybody Move It.
"A Title For My Review"
With the exception of Everybody Move It, I love every song on this album.Also I'd like to mention that his voice is as beautiful live as it is on cd. I personally think he is a better singer than either one of his parents. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Contemporary Folk    3. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    4. Folk-Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

Most artists who appeal to adult listeners tend to settle into a comfortable niche, but Lucinda Williams refuses to play it safe. Instead, her music stings like an open wound, as she continues to strip away the protective layers from her art's emotional core. Though Williams has long been prized for the naked honesty of her music, this collection is even rawer than its predecessors. From the down-and-dirty bar-band blues of "Atonement" to the Rolling Stones-style swagger of "Bleeding Fingers" to the tricky balance of debasement and transcendence in "Ventura," Williams leaves the nerve endings of her music exposed. With the band opting for first-take immediacy rather than polish, some of the most powerful material is also the neediest, as the singer addresses lovers who have disrespected her ("Righteously") or abandoned her ("Those Three Days," "Minneapolis"). Though her attempts at rap on "Sweet Side" and "American Dream" might cause diehard fans to wince, her willingness to take creative chances reaffirms her position at the vanguard of a rootsy progressivism that transcends musical category. Simply put, there's more Patti Smith in her than there is Patsy Cline. Read more

Reviews (136)

For me, the Rhythym Wasn't There
This is my least favorite of Lucinda Williams' albums. "Essence" and "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" and even her latest release (not even sure if it's been released, but I have heard some tracks - she's in love during this record, gossip news has it) share a common thread of story-telling, sexiness and evocation not found in World Without Tears, which is hard, rockin' and disjointed.
Lucinda's best yet
Lucinda just keeps getting more raw and better. She definitely is breaking new ground here, and I think it's her best work to date.

My vote for Album of the Century!
Just finished my third listening of this album, and it is fantastic. Lucinda's lyrics are more powerful and emotional than ever. Musically, she continues her push into new realms, and some songs can initially be uncomfortable - but really start to rock with additional listenings. For those looking for a rerun of Car Wheels or Essence - you won't find it here. But then Lucinda Williams fans aren't looking for comfortable, are they? "Those Three Days" and "Ventura" are absolute classics! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Alternative Country-Rock    3. Americana    4. Folk-Pop    5. Folk-Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Roots Rock    10. Singer/Songwriter    11. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (44)

One of my most treasured albums
I got this as a present from a friend.I still don't quite like Wilco, but I learned to like Bragg after this.His sarcasm & reticence combines nicely with Guthrie's lyrics.Great songs to shout along to in the car, especially Joe DiMaggio.Black Wind Blowing is sad but well suited to being played very loud.

Good, but disappointing...3 1/2 stars
My younger brother made a good point, I thought, when he told me this album should never have been made.Instead, he said, Woody Guthrie's daughter should have found two other artists--another singer, and another band, even--and had THEM do volume two.Hayden and The Flaming Lips.Soltero and Yo La Tengo.Daniel Johnston and Neutral Milk Hotel.Morrissey and The Postal Service.It could have still used Woody Guthrie's lyrics, but it would have been something fresh...not this...and that format could have gone on indefinitely for any number of albums.
What did you expect, it's a sequel!
Of course it's not as good as the first. They took the best material they had and used it on Volume 1. Well, mostly. Somehow they left behind "Remember the Mountain Bed," a wistful song with a fairy-tale quality; "Joe Dimaggio's Done It Again," a rollicking period piece; and "Feed Of Man," which I'm still a little puzzled by, but in a good way. I just noticed that the three songs I've mentioned are all sung by Jeff Tweedy. That may be a coincidence, but he does seem to take the reins of this project over from Billy Bragg. Bragg fans needn't worry, though; it's all about the lyrics, and the legacy of the greatest folksinger ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Folk-Rock    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter    7. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

Even after 15 years of releasing albums on her own Righteous Babe imprint, it's hard to know what to make of Ani DiFranco. Some see her as a folkie-punk-bisexual-feminist-radical-crap-kicker, while others reckon she's merely Alanis Morissette with better lyrics. On her 15th studio album the truth just might be somewhere in between. She does dysfunctional family portraits ("Studying Stones") and broken affairs ("Lag Time") just fine, but she also manages to leave room for rambling, autobiographical beat poetry ("Parameters"). And then there is the music. Matching acoustic guitars with earthy funk rhythms and soft moonlight moods with out-of-leftfield song arrangements, it reconfirms the one label everyone can agree upon: fiercely original. Read more

Reviews (41)

different, but i love it!
this one is pretty different in my opinion, but defenteley not bad.
New to Ani DiFranco
My friend saw Ani DiFranco at JazzFest in New Orleans and recommended the CD.I liked it so much I bought Not a Pretty Girl

A Very Good Album
A very good album with strong melodies and lyrics sung with a lot of heart. I hadn't bought any new Ani music for a long time. The last couple I had listened to did not seem to have the same intensity as her earlier material, but I decided to take a chance on this one and was thoroughly impressed. Unlike others that reviewed the album, I really enjoy "Seeing Eye Dog", it has a bluesy, gritty feel, but has Ani's signature sound throughout.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Contemporary Singer/Songwriter    3. Indie Rock    4. Pop    5. Rock    6. Rock/Pop    7. Singer/Songwriter    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (9)

The best of Billy Bragg is pretty good!
I love Billy Bragg's lefty politics, his rough, un-taught voice and his tremendous guitar playing, but most I just love his courage. He's a good, at times clever song writer - "Walk Away Renee" was a nice surprise, and you just should have him in your catalog.

A welcome mat for everyone
Now there's a way for people unfmailiar with Billy get an overview of his music from above. I've loved his lyrical abilities and evocative music that fuses both a folkie sensibility and a gritty modern edge for a long time. Very few other present day bands can do this well. Outgrabe is one of the most successful, and they've clearly been influenced by Billy, the grand old man of this genre. I wish Billy all the luck in the world, and I'm sure this CD will draw new fans into his musical space.

A POOR MAN's WOODY GUTHRIE.
Billy Bragg thinks he's a modern day Woody Guthrie, championing the poor working class. Unfortunately he is not.Not only is he a hypocrite by writing for the right wing press when it suits him, but i find his 'right on' attitude rather nauseating. This is a man that supports a certain Mr Blair and is proud to do so. Therefore i fine his music rather patronising to people that (unlike him) are really struggling. Mr Bragg wouldn't know real suffering if it crawled up and bit him. At least Steve Earle walks it like he talks it! Beware of songwriters who claim to be working class they invariably aren't! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Anti-Folk    4. British Folk    5. College Rock    6. Folk-Rock    7. Pop    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. Singer/Songwriter    11. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

The '80s folk revival yielded a diversely talented generation, some reared on the aesthetic and ideology of punk, some on their '60s singer-songwriter predecessors. They were looking for the directness of expression and connection with audience that stripped acoustic music promised. Michelle Shocked built an audience through her strident activist messages and raw, almost naked songs; she had the sincerity that the audience craved. Despite the militant cover--in which a cop is seen choking a protesting Shocked--the record is memorable for its reveries of childhood, its simple sense of hope, and Shocked's minimalist guitar and hoarse, youthful voice. Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (8)

Laudible Effort Salutes Bygone Oratorio
Definitely liked this CD from the first listen.
Great Reissue, Bravo Michelle !
In this reissue, she added a whole CD worth of bonus material. Great material too, and all for a reasonable price. I think I listen to Disc #2 as much or more than Disc #1. It came in a cool box with new liner notes. All handwritten it appears. I wonder if she did the writing herself?
Truly Original talent...God This Woman is Talented!
I ordered this on a whim based on other reviews. What a great purchase, and what an addition to my music library. I sat on my porch here and savored each song...having lived in Texas, having been to the Paradiso in Amsterdam, having lived in Atlanta and been to the old (sigh) Metroplex (God I'm old)...having...well, you get the idea...in other words, this CD touched me, which doesn't happen often. Thank you Michelle for such a wonderful production. Keep up the good work, I'm planning on buying more an more of your music...you are truly talented. HIGHLY recommended! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Anti-Folk    4. College Rock    5. Folk-Rock    6. Godmother of female singer-songwriters    7. Pop    8. Popular Music    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop    11. Singer/Songwriter    12. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

Ani DiFranco's fondness for cheeky self-effacement marks her fourth album, Read more

Reviews (77)

two and a half
We are all pretty familiar with the concept of over-acting. You know, like Al Pacino in Scarface. But is it possible to "over-sing." I think it is, and I'd argue Ani does it in every single song she's ever written. "eaaarggAh! OhheeeeOO!, UyayayayayEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Probably it does the trick if you're PMSing real bad, but as a dude I have a little trouble relating. For a while I thought she had bad lyrics. But then I tried just reading them straight up and realized hey they are totally decent, it's just the vocals that make them tough to stomach. Shakespeare would probably be bad if you said, "the-e-e-ea-a-a- quAAliteee-e-e-e-eEEEEEE of mer cy is not STRAYEEEYYAAAYYEEEAYYEEEAAAAAAnedahugooooh!...." That said, even though they aren't bad perse, they are sort of annoying. I don't like coffee houses, or people who frequent them. Which seems to be sort of the Ani universe. On the other hand, if you like to get an expresso before catching the subway downtown to catch the Innercity Radical Anarchocommunist Existential Collective's screening of their latest short film about transgender intellectual insurgents in the world of independent media publishing in Seattle, where you'll meet a group of girls wearing different colored socks and quirky glasses, and at least one radical photographer named Jeremy, with whom you plan to go backpacking this weekend on a scenic trail where you'll write obsessively about yourself in a journal, all the while missing the amazing plants and animals because you don't know anything about nature except that you hate corporations who want to destroy it, and you're too busy journalling about the flaky dudes you sleep with, plus your parents were hippies and you're exactly like them and not original at all, you'll probably totally dig the vibe here.
It's all good
That is not what i do....
A little out there just to be out there, but worth it
I don't know, maybe it's me but I get a little "activism-for-the-sake-of-activism" from this album...Or maybe "shock-value-for-the-sake-of-shock-value"...But that doesn't stop it from being good most of the time.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Alternative/Indie-Rock    4. Anti-Folk    5. Indie Rock    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. Singer/Songwriter    10. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

The mannered vocal style that has always been the most off-putting element of Ani DiFranco's music is still present on this two-disc live set, but for some reason it doesn't matter anymore. Maybe it's the way you can hear DiFranco using her breaths to accent a rhythm section that's downright merciless with its circling, pulsing, scary grooves. Or maybe it's the way, with an audience screaming, she pours heart and soul into "Unforgettable Face" and the story song "Gravel." Whatever, Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (133)

Uneven but still a good live work.
I think that this cd is over rated as a stunning live cd...its good but not that fantastic. She does do an amazing rendition of "Amazing Grace".

AS GOOD AS IT GETS
Nothing much to say more about this double, live album really: great voice, great guitar playing, a lot of passion (from the "urge to rock" to funny stories to "melodramatic" revelations to social cosciousnesses), wonderful band (the outstanding Sara Lee at the bass and Andy Stochansky at the drums), perfect production, beautiful booklet.
as intense and deep as u can get!
This is the real thing performed with joy and depth by a
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Anti-Folk    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Urban Folk   

Features

• Live

Reviews (3)

Remarkable for early versions of "Serpentine" and "Self Evident"
Ani DiFranco, famously independent within the music industry, continues to self-release all of her output on her own "Righteous Babe" label. Ani has released a couple of live albums over her 17 year career to date, including the definitive and all-encompassing 2002 release "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughing", which is basically a "greatest hits live" release.
Recommended for all.
Well, I was in FYE, with thier little scanny-headphone "preview your cd' things.
A Must-Have for any Avid Ani Fan...
I just recently received the entire lot of ani's 'official bootleg' series (yes, there are seven others that you gave purchase via her site), and I have to say that Carnegie Hall is, by far, one of the best.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Anti-Folk    3. Pop    4. Rock    5. Rock/Pop    6. Singer/Songwriter    7. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

As she's gone from the Young Woman Who Could to the Woman Who Has, Ani DiFranco has explored more than her share of musical styles, all the while remaining true to her core. Even during her most extreme departures, you could hear the sound of the early albums coming through. On Read more

Reviews (101)

Still the one to beat
Like some others who've posted here, I'm not necessarily an Ani-holic, but I have huge respect for her honesty and integrity, and the way she ran her career from a completely outsider approach into what is now a time-honored creative dynasty. She's not someone I listen to constantly, but I return to her regularly for a fix of the kind of blunt and exhilarating earnestness she represents.
A fun, thoughtful, serious, and eye-opening album!!!
Background info before writing this review will probly help Ani fans reading it. I'm not an Ani fan in the sense of agreeing with all her messages and supporting the things she does. I am a fan, however, who admires her outspoken honesty. She knows exactly what she feels, thinks, and believes and isn't one bit afraid to put it out there & in your face. That takes guts, more power to her. This world we live in (especially this country, USA) could greatly benefit from exercising her unapologetic frankness.
Different and Not to be missed
This was Ani DiFranco's first really synthesized, fancily-produced album.And it's a whole different world from the style she was known for before this. Listening to this is definitely like being introduced to a whole new artist. There are more electronics, more experimental song styles, and even her voice has changed a little -- it's a tad raspier.Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Anti-Folk    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Urban Folk   

Editorial Review

Following up two of her strongest records, Read more

Reviews (59)

Folk/Trip-Hop/Ambient crossover aspect works so well...
Ani, you outdid yourself on this one.Your heart beats in the languid grooves and has me on the verge of tears everytime this disc spins, down through the years.And that stands for something!
The irony of why I love this CD just makes it that much better...
I never heard any Ani DiFranco music before I met my ex-boyfriend, so I didn't really know much about her. He was really into folk music, so he gave me this disc to listen to. Well I fell in love with her music right away. It was bouncy and fun, and lyrically it was like nothing else I had ever heard before. I love her style and how she paints a perfect picture with her words, so I was hooked. Well the ironic part is I swear either all guys are the same, or she was singing about my ex 99% of the time. I have never related more to a song before I heard the title track 'Dilate'. It became an anthem for a while, and when I hear it now 3 years later I start laughing to myself because it still feels so amazingly spot on.... "you are so lame,you always disappoint me, it's kind of like our running joke, except it's really not funny, and I just want you to live up to the image of you I've created, I see you and I'm so unsatisfied, I see you and I dilate"... "When I say you sucked my brain out, the English translation is I am in love with you and it is no fun".... I don't know, it's like she was in my head, and just had a better way of expressing exactly how I felt. Most of the songs had something about them that rang true to me, not just on this album though, the live disc 'Living in Clip' had many of the same songs and then some others that also seemed to be narrating my life at the time.
Fighting Back
Ani is so AWESOME!!!!! She puts out her opinions in strong catchy music. Yeah theres profanity but that just makes it STRONGER!!!
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Anti-Folk    4. Indie Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. Urban Folk   

Reviews (3)

Breathtaking
'Captain Swing' showed a more confident, more experimental Michelle Shocked than might have been expected from the breezy official debut, 'Short Sharp Shocked'. However, that confidence all too often expressed itself as swagger. With 'Arkansas Traveler' it has matured to an easy assurance. In this fabulous collection of songs, Shocked seems to have a hundred years of American music at her fingertips, and to be able to combine any ingredients from that century to creat something that is both fresh and familiar. Not since The Band's 'Music From Big Pink' has such a stylistic gumbo been created with such zest and integrity. In her sleeve notes, the artist credits 'Minstrel Music' with being the inspiration - and in so doing does herself a disservice. The album is richer and more layered than the simple term implies, and carries influences from a far wider range of Americana.

"Hey farmer...you been livin' here all your life?Not yet!"
Back in the early '90's I became a fan of folk-rocker, Michelle Shocked after picking up a copy of the popular "Short, Sharp, Shocked". I loved that album as well as it's horn drenched successor "Captain Swing". But nothing prepared me for the release of her wonderful CD, "Arkanas Traveler". "Arkansas Traveler" is Michelle's homage to the 19th century musical form known as "Minstrel Music". Not many artists would have the guts to take on this music due to the racist manner (blackface makeup, derogatory humor) in which many of these songs were originaly presented over a century ago. But Michelle with both dignity and a really good sense of humor, tackled these classic songs of the American south, producing one of the best albums of her career. She gets plenty of help by being joined by a plethora of roots-music artists including the late Pops Staples, Taj Mahal, Gatemouth Brown, Doc Watson, Allison Krauss, Norman Blake, Hothouse Flowers, Uncle Tupelo ETC. With a group of journeymen such as these how could you go wrong? I love these tuneful classic songs, which can so easily get stuck in your brain. This happens everytime I hear her renditions of "Secret to a Long Life" or "Over the Waterfall". Sometimes I'll find myself singing these tunes for half the day, after hearing them. Other favorites include "Jump Jim Crow" (with it's Zippity Do-Dah ending), "Prodigal Daughter" & "Weaving Way". Finally there is the hilarious, spoken word routines of the song "Arkansas Traveler" ("Hey farmer... where does this road go to? Been livin' here all my life, it ain't gone no where yet!") I played these corny routines for my young nephews and it totally cracked them up into fits of laughter! For the longest time this CD was (criminally) out of print. It has now been re-released with crystal clear remastering and six bonus cuts featuring alternative takes and live renditions. I love this CD and highly recommend it!!

Michelle has Come AlongWay
In this repackage Michelle has included about seven bonus tracks notably Come Along Way.When I first heard this song live in hollywood Sept 2004 I thought it was a touching new song relevant to the hustle and bustle in my beloved adopted city Los Angeles.I joined her on her walk to recover her bike from the Repo Man and met the immigrant lady waiting for the bus, the boys gaily standing in windows naked, the bridge we seldom cross in La. You know which one. before she sees the repo man.Afterwords I felt as if I WALKED 500 Miles! I was surprised how good this 1990 release sounds today as if it was recorded and recovered intact from a time capsule.Michelle has one of the strongest clearest ballsiest voices in show business that you may have never heard.If you need to get up to speed with with a talent that rivals KD Lang, Carole King, Paula Cole, Etta James, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Joe Cocker, Bryan Adams, George Thorogood, Laura Nyro or Susan Cowsill to name a few. Stick out your thumb and Pickup the Arkansas Traveler, remember in her eyes we still have a long way to go and she will return the favor!
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Folk    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. College Rock    4. Folk-Rock    5. Pop    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Singer/Songwriter    9. United States of America    10. Urban Folk   

Reviews (58)

Epilogue
Joe Strummer's death continues to depress me, especially after playing "Streetcore." His music as usual is timeless and will be with us forever...

Streetcore
Streetcore is an album and a musical genre in the sense that it is an idea you think when you make music. According to Joe Strummer, "Streetcore is a distillation of all the most extreme psycadelic music, showing lenghty knowledge of reggae, dub, funk, blues, jazz, folk, hip hop." This album is amazing, and I guarantee that if you pop this into your CD player, sit down and listen to the entire album straight through, you will feel better. At the end of the last song, you will feel this certain aware calmness. You will feel at peace. For whom music is an anti drug, Streetcore is a clear moment, and for those whom music is an irresistable drug, Streetcore is a pillowcase full, an expression of rythm and color and every single emotion in one moment. Streetcore is a murmur from a departed friend. Fortunately, once put into a CD player, that murmur becomes more. Thank you, Joe, and thank you, Mescaleros, because you guys don't get nearly enough praise as you brilliant musicians deserve. Peace be with you.

Joe Strummer's last effort may have been hisbest
Joe Strummer's Streetcore is one of the best albums ever. After a few rather poor recordings during the 90's, Strummer came back with this rock-masterpiece. It sounds as good as any of his efforts with the Clash or the 101er's. The sound of the album hits some risky area near rock and reggae, yet it couldn't be classified as either. It is something magical only Strummer could possibly conjure.
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Subjects:  1. Dub    2. Garage Rock    3. Pop    4. Punk    5. Rock    6. Rock & Roll    7. Rock/Pop    8. Roots Reggae    9. Urban Folk