Customer Reviews

Evolve

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been a fan of Ani for years, and this album is a definite landmark. It's jazzy, funky, latin, folky, fantastic. If you're gonna give it a try, I recommend listening to it a number of times to really fall into it. Like a lot of her albums, it takes repeat listening to appreciate the depth of the music, and this album especially can be very subtle in its texture. Listen to the sample tracks a coupla times (I just *love* Slide), but my three very favorite songs don't even have samples (Here For Now, Phase, and Serpentine). Go to Ani's website at righteousbabe.com to listen to more tracks.
If you've never listened to Ani before, I recommend this one for her mellower jazzier stuff, 'Dilate' for her [ticked]-off, righteous, rockin' girl power, and 'Little Plastic Castle' for fun upbeat tunes that are easier to appreciate on the first listen.

When buying the newest offering from the little folksinger, youll find yourself winding around her songs with parabolic strides. Starting by only seeing a couple of intriguing pieces, you will cautiously twist around the intricacies of Ms. Difrancos art, and then find you've discovered more gold in the pan with each successive listen. Hear it once and youll discover 'Slide' and 'Evolve'. Listen twice and 'Second Intermission' and 'Shrug' will have nestled comfortably into your subconscious. Listen three times and something pungent and overwhelming starts to happen. The previously inconsequential melodies (although classic Ani) seem to start the task of unburying themselves from the layers of elaboration in which they are wrapped. By your fifth or sixth time through you start to wonder whether or not this might be the most original album of recorded music youve heard in a decade. And by your second day, when you havent turned off the cd player for 32 hours straight, you are quite sure that genius is buried within the simple iridescent cover.

There is more in this one little album, in terms of poetry, lyricism, rhythm, melody, justice, passion, intellect, and groove  than you will find in any thousand albums randomly chosen in a store. While I admit I hail from the more fanatical end of the spectrum when it comes to Ani, there is no denying that this womans fingers are exceptionally skilled at their practice, that her left brain and right worked in a lyrical symbiosis when composing these 12 poems, that her songs have a palpable affect on your surroundings. It takes many fans a few years to really appreciate her music, and, likewise, it will probably take you a few full listens until it is clear how incredible this body of work really is.

Appreciating this album is difficult; there are no easy hooks here, no obviously loopable clips. Die-hard fans, poets, and appreciators of Jeff Buckley, Joni Mitchell and spoken word will love this album, but Im guessing that a lot of other people will have difficulty. Believe me when I say that, if you put in the effort (of listening, repeatedly, of paying close attention), there are few musical works this year that will be more worth it. The ratio of brilliant moments is excessive for any single album. How many other artists do you know who can use the word exoskull in a song like the title track, and sing lyrics like I walk in stride with people/much taller than me/and partly its my boots/but mostly its my chi with a breathy twang that has enough rhythm in it for Motown? Or how about the last minute of 'Oh My My' when youre sure youre listening to Patsy Kline? From the whispery jazz in the beginning of 'Shrug' to the flamenco inspired rapid fire of 'Here for Now' to the tight cooperative groove of' Slide', the sheer musicality of these creations will inspire anyone who has played an instrument, and will overwhelm those who know the level of work it takes to play them well. Simply put, an impressive contribution from the most righteous babe of them all.

This is my one desert island cd from here on out. Im telling you, genius.

This is my first Ani Difranco cd. At best I have a pedestrian knowledge of her music, so I have really no idea how this compares to any of her previous recordings. Now that that's taken care of, this is an AMAZING cd. The line she walks between jazz, rock and folk is so thin that you really can't label it. The folk/funk and rock/jazz combinations are so incredibly good that even non-Ani Difranco followers like myself have no choice but to take notice. She is the real deal. Incredible voice, incredible music, incredible songs. At this point I'm not ready to single out any particular tunes as choice cuts, and even if I were this cd is meant to be listened to as a whole (you simply cannot skip over any tracks, it's THAT good). Get this cd and hear what I'm talking about.

Obviously, I'm quite a huge Ani fan- but it is without bias that I say- THIS IS AN AMAZING ALBUM! If you are an avid Ani fan, than I'm sure you've seen as well as I, her subtle transition from folk to jazz, and Evolve melts both together and even adds in a touch of latin flavor. If you're a first time Ani fan, I would suggest going back and starting from the beginning (self-titled) to see it for yourself, but either way, it's definately worth your while. This album is fun, melodic, politically driven, inspired and just a dang good listen. Evolving is precisely what Ani is doing and we all get to benefit from it. P.S.- If you're not a jazz fan, this ain't for you.

It's difficult for avid Ani fans to objectively critique any new album, because face it: after a while, you just fall in love with her. And being head over heals for the Righteous Babe makes every new release seem like a personal letter to that fan, so on some level it's taken personally. I put that aside here and now.
I'm proud of this one. I love that I can put on all her albums and they span a myriad of genres, emotions, politics, outlooks and questions. I love that they all show growth in some form, and I'm overjoyed that this album continues this trend. Of course it won't be like her first album; she was 19 when she made it! She's 32 now, and she's growing and showing it well "Evolve" is slam-packed with some solid tunes: "Icarus" has reflections of a instrument-laden tune from the "Dilate" era, "Evolve" is guitar-driven and harkens back to a more stripped-down Ani sound, "Oh My My" is the first song Ani not only wrote but played on piano, All 10+ minutes of "Serpentine" keep her political views fresh in the minds of all the 'calmed down' critics, and "Welcome To:" is just a beautiful slower Ani tune that's bound to be a classic.
My beef with this? I'm not a huge horns fan, but I think she does well in enhancing the songs without allowing them to overshadow her lyrics and famous guitar-slamming abilities. She's maturing well, and her conscious dynamic musical spirit is just another characteristic of her that fans grow to love. I was not as impressed with Revelling/Reckoning--it seemed she was releasing every song she wrote w/o thought or serious revision--I enjoy this compilation much more.
You would do well to own this one--probably not a great first album, but a great addition to what will become, without you noticing, a vast repertoire of Mr. Difranco. Could possibly end up among the classic Ani's.

Ani Difranco is adrift in introspection in many of these songs, which are about breaking up with lovers, being emotionally isolated, powerless and empty. The world has grown ugly and does not seem to care. She is fed up with the American political scene, which Ani describes as self indulgent, narcissistic, exploitative and materialistic. Simply put, she is in a funk, trapped like a moth in the presence of a lightbulb (hence the symbolism of the cover art, which is referenced on the title track). Luckily, Ani can fight funk with funk. Funk music, that is. This is by far the jazziest album Ani has ever released, with a horn section blowing dissonant hooks over her characteristic acoustic guitar riffs and 7/8 timing. It's the music that saves this album in the end. Ani is "trying to evolve." She is trying to adapt, overcome and heal both herself and hopefully the world. But I could not give this album a full 5 stars because as much as it is packed with emotional punch, in the end its politics are as one sided and muddled as a WTO protest; more anger than agenda. And whereas Ani could once find solace in her interpersonal relationships, on this album at least, it seems that she would rather just be left alone.

Let's just say outright: lyrics are NOT the strong point of this album. Instead of giving us heartbreaking love ballads, or firey political lyrics with teeth, she has given us . . .what?
A good portion of the time, I have no idea what Ani is talking about. Since most of us, I believe, have come to see her principally as a singer-songwriter (whose greatest skills are singing, playing guitar, and writing killer lyrics) this lyrical failure could be seen as a failure in itself.

Anyone who expects a folk sound -- complex guitar fingerings, passionate but honest vocals, moving lyrics -- is barking up the wrong tree with this album. Ani has taken the proverbial road less traveled -- and perhaps half succeeded.

On its own, the album has a few captivating tracks. The artists who work with Ani are obviously very talented. Many of the tracks are interesting to listen to. However, several of them are rather tedious. For example, the 11 minute track Serpentine, intended as perhaps a jazz-style poem, becomes incredibly slow and rant-y. The truth is, if I wanted jazz, I would have bought jazz. I love jazz, but the songs are not extremely satisfying as such and instead reach towards two aims, satisfying neither.

Ani is a musician and a striking one who uses her evident essence to create something more... something that is art. Some may say she has lost her touch that somewhere her lines got crossed and she lost her special ani power, but I disagree her music never fails to come across as boldly as it is amazing. Personally, I've grown up listening to jazz and playing it so Ani's transition into that land was eagerly accepted by me, but let me explain how her impressive abilities of telling a story, singing her composed melodies, striking the guitar and arranging instruments still shine through. Yes Ani has taken a new light, but she's taking herself and her music to another level. Her lyrics still pack the punch where it counts and by expanding her musical range she's grown up. Ani could never stay the same as she always was it would make her boring if she continued to pump out solo folk songs, she has the kind of beauty that moves as she claims so candidly in the song evolve. This album goes beyond all expectations, ani radiates no matter what ground she's on, from the horn section to the up-beat clunky piano playing by ani herself you can't be disappointed with a musician who can create and evolve. Maybe her catchy fast-liners are scarce these days, but she produces jazz that is smooth and melodic- something many jazz musicians strive for but never attain. Perhaps this album isn't for everyone, but it soothes, confronts and questions in the best way possible- the well crafted ani difranco way.

So, I anxiously awaited the release of Evolve for a few weeks, ran to my nearest music superstore to purchase a copy on the Tuesday of the official release, unwrapped the plastic in a fire-driven frenzy, crashed on the floor of my bedroom and listened to the entire album in one sitting. I was utterly disappointed. After the decidedly brilliant but certainly unexpected jazz vibe of the first three tracks, i was deeply missing and longing for the bare, raw acoustic of Ani's earlier albums. However, on a roadtrip, i forced myself to give Evolve another shot and little by little, found myself enjoying each song. Different but good, i decided. To understand what I mean I have to compare this album to those of some other notable performers in other genres. Counting Crows third studio album, This Desert Life (i'm not even going to get into hard candy...) disappointed me because i longed for and was expecting the driving honesty of August and Everything After, or the melodic counterpart of Recovering the Satellites. And i truly had to put the album back on the shelf for a few weeks until i got over my anger at the Counting Crows for evolving as musicians and allowing their music to reflect that. Same with the newest REM. I think, artists need to change, they can't just put out the same album over and over again. Change is part of being a musician, as well as a part of the recording industry, and often, my dislike of a favorite artist's new album is just the immediate and involuntary reaction of discomfort at something new. So I am learning to love Evolve, because, although I miss the old acoustic Ani, it is a magnificent album and in no way does her any injustice.

Ani has outdone herself once again. I have the other positive reviewers to thank for convincing me to give this album a chance, because they are so right! This album is full of 'beauty that moves', like wind, like water, like light, like sound...it's all captured in there, and on first listen, it might sweep over you and make you dizzy, you might want to get out your umbrella but that would be a huge mistake. Like the masterpiece To the Teeth, this album is a journey which requires multiple listens, and whoever said this album has infinite subtleties is right on the mark. The textures are beautiful, intricate tapestries covered in earth tones punctuated by poignant poetry, and the most expressive vocal technique Ani has ever laid down on a record...never mind her groundbreaking guitar playing which sounds as if a rainforest is somehow coming through your speakers. "Evolve" and "Second Intermission" showcase this mature new sound the best, and make you want to sing along. She's found a way to make her music both accessible, catchy, yet all with the most subtlety and nuance you've ever heard from her. Kudos to her graceful band, who have obviously matured just as much as Ani has...there is a massive palette of timbres, highlights being the lush lush "Shrug" and the very eccentric "Phase". Bottom line: every track is a standout, a tightly organized experimentation, as unpredictable as the weather. Ani's cat-like purrs and moans will drive you up a wall and have you hanging on to each syllable. This album is an absolute masterpiece that coaxes you slyly from the knockout first track to the epic 3-track denouement, keeping you guessing the whole time. Pack up your expectations and pile 'em up in the hall, cuz Ani is in total control with this record, and she will take you on a wild safari adventure. Be prepared to get wet.