Ani Difranco

'So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter'



Righteous Babe Records



Grade: A+



Ani DiFranco has long been regarded by girls everywhere as the savior and the Goddess of feminism. As a true master of lyrics and poetry, she has entranced audiences and listeners everywhere with her brutally honest and starkly beautiful songs. Her newest double CD, "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter," is a selection of songs from her 2000-2002 tour, all recorded live. The album is split into two separate records, entitled "Stray Cats" and "Girls Singing Night," each with their own unique tracklists.

The first CD, "Stray Cats" begins abruptly with "Swan Dive," one of DiFranco's best songs. The song begins with amused banter about how much DiFranco hates the sound of the acoustic guitar as she muses, "I don't know why I play acoustic guitars. I hate that acoustic guitar sound." Her voice - understated time and time again by the press - swells and lilts, breaking with emotion as she practically cries, "And you can call me crazy if I fail / All the chance that I need is one-in-a-million / And you can call me brilliant if I succeed." Backed by an amazing six-piece band, this song takes on a whole new life, causing me to wish that I was actually at this concert instead of hearing it through the speakers of my stereo.

"Stray Cats" continues on this upbeat vein through spectacular renditions of "Letter to A John / Tamburitza Lingua," "Grey," and "Cradle & All." DiFranco then spirals into delicious desperation with "What All Is Nice" and "What How When Where." But the final medley of "To The Teeth," "Revelling," "Napoleon," "Shrug," and "Welcome To" is absolutely stunning. "To The Teeth" marks DiFranco's shift to introspective emotion, and her heartbreaking vocals are practically paralyzing.

In a post-Sept. 11 world, one cannot help the shiver that runs down one's spine when DiFranco ends her tirade against the hypocrisy of American society, singing: "And if I hear one more time / Of a fool's right to his tools of rage / I'm gonna take all my friends / And move to Canada / And we're going to die of old age." This sentiment is made all the more touching because this particular performance was taped in British Columbia, Canada, and the audience bursts into applause at the mention of their home.

The second CD, "Girls Singing Night," is more cohesive in that it gives the feel of sitting through a complete live set. It also boasts some of DiFranco's most popular songs: "32 Flavors," "My IQ," and especially "Not A Pretty Girl." It also boasts a brand-new track, written right after and about Sept. 11, titled "Self-Evident." It's a dreamy mix of metaphor, observation, and declaration that could only come from the mouth of a true New Yorker with real love for the city, and a need to realize the imperfections of her own country: "Cuz take away our playstations / And we are a third world nation / Under the thumb of some blue blood royal son / Who stole the oval office and that phony election." The CD escalates, driving through "My IQ" and "Jukebox," before ending quietly with "You Had Time."

Ani DiFranco's studio work is dynamic and inspiring, but her live shows are entrancing and life-changing. "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter" captures the euphoria and joy of the live experience, and leaves the listener stunned and triumphant. It is entrancing, bewitching, and worth every single cent.