Ani DiFranco
Educated Guess
Another year, another Ani DiFranco release. Following the funkier, savvier “Evolve,” “Educated Guess”–DiFranco’s 14th disc, not including live albums–comes as too little, too soon. The fact that DiFranco wrote, played and produced everything on the album is another indication that even an inimitable, independent artist such as herself could use some outside input. They may be buddies, but pretension aside, Ani ain’t Prince. On the other hand, any artist that still espouses the restless experimentation of an enthusiastic neophyte this deep into her career can’t be a bad thing. Even when she stumbles, there’s still a thrilling sense that DiFranco may be stumbling toward something great.
Take away: Ani alone
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Joe Knowles ([email protected])