Dilate [Explicit Lyrics]

Ani DiFranco | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 21, 1996)
• Original Release Date: May 21, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Righteous Babe
• ASIN: B0000058MS
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,465 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #26 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Singer Songwriters
  • #30 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk
  • #41 in Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > Urban Folk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Ani's best, but still beautiful., September 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Dilate (Audio CD)

I have to admit, when I first bought this album a few weeks ago, my reaction wasn't very positive. I was like, "What the hell happened? This isn't the Ani DiFranco I've grown to love!" And songs like "Outta Me, On To You" and "Shameless" still freak me out a bit.

But once I listened to it a second or third time, I really began to love it. Ani's voice is the best it's ever been on any of her records, the lyrics are brilliant as always....now I can't believe I once disliked it so much. My favorite tracks on it are Superhero (such a wonderful song), Napoleon (I get such a big smile on my face whenever I listen to this one), Done Wrong (gorgeous and sad), and Joyful Girl (whispery and pretty).

I love this album because on it Ani displays such quiet, heartfelt emotion that I've never heard on any of her other records. Not A Pretty Girl is still my favorite album of hers, but Dilate will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you, Ani.

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Give up the folk (tear the roots off the sucka!), December 7, 1999

By 

"lexo-2" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dilate (Audio CD)

Supposing that, like me, you don't normally want to listen to people with acoustic guitars whose fans (who can't spell "inspiring") regard them with awe - well, have a listen to this album, distinctly grittier than many of its kin. Apparently this is the album on which DiFranco got tired of being a folkie and upped the funk level by several degrees. The songs are cool: Napoleon, a blast of contempt at unspeakable rock-biz types, has a grungy swing and an unprintable chorus; Amazing Grace (yes, it's that old chestnut) is all overdubbed thumb pianos and whispering; Untouchable Face is a splendidly miserable love song (again with an unprintable chorus, which redeems the more ordinary sadness of the verses); the title track is a real killer, with a guitar sound big enough to fit a cathedral into it and positively bilious lyrics. Fine stuff. Never mind Laurie Anderson (recording with Lour Reed? What can she be thinking?), DiFranco is the singer-songwriter for people who don't normally listen to them.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brooding, Blunt and Personal, June 17, 2004

By 

bethtexas (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dilate (Audio CD)

Some people were annoyed, if I remember right, when Ani DiFranco made this album -- much more brooding and with a lot more backup band than her others.

To them, I said: "She already made like a gazillion albums in her other style! She recorded more songs already than most artists ever will. How long was she supposed to keep going before trying something new?" I figure she has to either reinvent herself or get bored, and I think she made the right choice

I think this album is a TRIUMPH. It's mopey, honest, and absolutely heartfelt. Her lyrics are just as smart as ever.

SUPERHERO is a fantastic song about how when we fall in love, we all become ridiculous cliches ... no matter how 'above it' we thought we were before.

ADAM AND EVE is a powerful, brooding feminist statement about men who "leave you in the morning".

OUT OF ME, ONTO YOU is more or less ... a curse on someone you hate.

I think DILATE is a gem, and every Ani fan should take it back out again and listen to it with fresh ears.