Album Review: Binary by Ani Difranco

Explicit Language

At 47 one would assume that Ani Difranco is well past her most important work. Binary is her 19th studio album spanning 27 years. The wonder of Difranco is that she still seems just as passionate and energetic today as she did on her earlier work. Her voice seems just as strong and her guitar playing just as edgy as ever.

Lyrically and musically this album feels like a collection of 11 poems put to music, more than 11 songs. She's touching on the many things Difranco touches on and so it feels familiar and comfortable. If you have never listened to her, go back and listen to her earlier work from the 90's, but if you are a long time fan you'll be happy to know she is still working at a high level.

I would like to say I particularly liked the song "Zizzing." It's poetry so I'm guessing it can have any number of meanings, but no matter it is beautiful and I would put it up there with the brilliant songs she has written in her 40's about relationships.

If I had a chance to write a book about a modern musician, I would pick Ani Difranco to write about. I find her very interesting. She's always had her own label, long before that was the smart thing to do. In fact I wonder sometimes how much credit she should get for others moving into that model. She's a very interesting lyricist and one of the best female guitarist in rock and roll history, and one of the best guitarist to come out of the 90's.

She figured out how to have a career as a musician without being played on the radio, when that is how everyone made their money in music, and now she's trying to figure out how to have a career today when everything has changed. A fascinating artist.

Following the Rhapsody rating method I give this 2 out of 5 stars for Not Bad.