Customer Reviews

Fellow Workers

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I come to you not as a member of Ani's Army, but as an appreciative listener to Utah Phillips for maybe fifteen years. It was for that reason that I bought this CD--at a Utah show--and it is on that basis that I review it. For anyone who has seen Utah live ("and it comes to us highly recommended"), most of the usual cast of Labor characters can be found here: Stupid, Herb Edwards, Mother Jones, and of course Joe Hill. Indeed what is mostly captured on Fellow Workers is classic, colorful Wobbly Utah. On that basis alone, this CD is worth the time; collected here are many of the tales and simple songs that make up his off-kilter Union repertoire. THAT is what makes it a good listen, perhaps even a necessary listen, as Utah regales us with the stories of "those extraordinary lives that can never be lived again."

So what does Ani DiFranco bring? Aurally speaking, a band and production chops. Wisely she keeps that as a backdrop to Utah's words. Except for a few instrumental pieces, the band simply gives Utah a sort of funky, acoustic groove to rap over. This is the capturing of a live show (in New Orleans), and Ani has mostly downplayed studio trickery to keep the intimate, living room feel of the concert. But, of course, what Ani really brings is her Army. And the real purpose is to introduce Ani's followers to a man who is now an elder statesman of Direct Action. I already knew about Utah, and I already knew how to sing "Pie in the Sky." For me, and for fans of Utah, this album works because Utah is up front and in good form; it's an "Essential Recording" for Utah, if not necessarily Ani. For the Army...welcome to the history we were never taught. Take a seat and pay attention.

alot of people bought this album because it said ani difranco on the cover, and got all pissy when they found out it was mostly just her playing guitar, and not singing that much. does anyone realize the point of this album? HELLO! its about US and what soooooo many forgotten people did, so we could have some of the rights we have today. its also a reminder to keep the ideals and dreams of those people. our world is far from perfect, and back then it was even farther. but they beleived in making a change, no matter how hard it was going to be, because they saw injustice and decided to do some thing aboutit. go buy some utah and become a human being again. ive known about utah for a while, and he is a truly beautiful soul. i think he and ani are one of the best combonations that could have been! THE DEGREE TO WHICH YOU RESIST, IS THE DEGREE TO WHICH YOU ARE FREE.

I really love this collection. Sure, it doesn't have a slick, polished studio sound. It sounds like real people making real music and telling real stories in the front parlor. This is what real people sound like- before the technicians and marketing people suck out the soul and turn them into a mass product.

These are some great old union songs combined with a bit of labor history in between. Yet this isn't dead and sterile history, for nothing could be more timely in today's world. In fact, this is one reason why I'm glad that Utah's voice isn't more polished- it doesn't distract from the lyrics and the message. And the message is that it is the workers that actually make this society run, we have the actual power, and the bosses don't give you anything out of the goodness of their hearts! You have to fight for it! You have to organise to get it! That was true a hundred years ago and it is just as true today.

In a time when workers are constantly being brainwashed by the corporate and political powers-that-be into thinking that they are disposable "losers" and paracites, it is refreshing to be reminded that it is the bosses that are the real disposable paracites. They live off our labor- sing it out! They are nothing without us- or without the workers in the foriegn countries where they are shipping our jobs.

This isn't simple minded nostalgia. It is deep rooted truth. This is an intelligent piece of work (Utah's back up is the Mensabilly band- like the High IQ society.)

The liner notes are by Howard Zinn (The People's History of the United States.) It is quite an educational tract in it's own right.

Ani DiFranco is the name that will get copies of Fellow Workers into people's homes and into their stereos. But it's Utah Phillips, her grizzled partner on this album, who will keep the CD playing.

Fellow Workers isn't an album of alternative rock or folk pop by any stretch. Rather, it's a musical stage on which Phillips tells stories of the American workers' plight and their struggle for rights as the nation developed. And it's a bloody powerful tale he tells, shot through with hardship and death, corruption and plain dirty dealing, and the indomitable spirits of the American men and women who refused to bow down and take less than they deserved.

Some he tells in straight storyteller fashion, with DiFranco and Phillip's Mensabilly Band providing a musical backdrop. Others he sings, sometimes alone, sometimes with a harmonic accompaniment by DiFranco and others in the band. Believe me, when Phillips first opened his mouth for a sing-songy chant called "Stupid's Song," I was prepared to dislike this album immensely. But then he launched into the story of Mother Mary Harris Jones, the miners' friend, who at age 83 was labeled by President Theodore Roosevelt "the most dangerous woman in America" -- a fiesty champion of underground workers across the country, driving scabs from the coal pits with a broom and singlehandedly facing down a militia.

And I was hooked.

Although many Ani DiFranco fans may dismiss this album as "fraud" and "deception," it is, really, a return to her folky, politically-aware roots.

Much like her recent work with the songs of Dylan, Ochs, and Guthrie (Swing Set, Til We Outnumber 'Em), this album shows us a savvy, smart folksinger who knows where she came from and isn't afraid to explore that. There's a definite legacy here (social commentary and protest songs of Guthrie, Ochs, and Dylan; labor movement folk songs) in which Ani is placing herself, even though much of her fan base isn't always happy about it. A bold move, in my view.

Her choice of Utah Phillips is brilliant. His knowledge and passion about the subject of labor union history coupled with his biting sense of humor make this otherwise foreign subject quite enjoyable. And Ani's choice of songs and stories to include is great fun -- I'm still amazed at "The Most Dangerous Woman In America."

Finally, I can't get enough of the incidental music. It's almost always right on-target, adding to the story or song without detracting from it. The only exception might be "Bread and Roses" in which the vocals have been filtered so much that the lyrics aren't quite audible.

So keep it up, Ani. Keep telling the stories and letting kids know where the music they like so much came from. Maybe, at some point, they'll catch on.

i just got through reading all of these reviews on this album and i must say we have a lot of whining here, a waste of money,too much talking, not enough ani, blah blah blah. first of all, it is a 13 dollar c.d. get over it. go sell it to a music store that buys c.d's. i am sure they would give you at least 4-5 bucks for it, so your only out like 8 or 9 dollars. i am sure you have spent more at mcdonalds. or on a pair of nikes. now what i percieve this collaboration to be is ed-u-cation-al. do u know what that is? this c.d. is a well established musician helping another well established musician get a point across. realize the importance of labor unions and pay homage to the past labor heroes who gave us what we have now, labor laws, if it weren't for them we would be working as soon as we could walk. quit worrying about how many times you heard ani and concentrate on what the artists are trying to teach you. in order to understand you must first examine, so try to examine these two brilliant musicians so you may better understand them and their messages.

i havent gotten around to listening to this album as much as id like to as of yet. but, i love it already for what it is. so many people seem to be buying it because it has the two words "ani difranco" on the cover. although i love ani, i have a whole different form of respect for utah. my appreciation for him and what he does stands on a completely different level. i had the pleasure of seeing them together in concert in nyc back in april. ever since, ive had this little fantasy that maybe he could be my grandpa. there is no comparing their styles. although rooted in the same ideals and morals common in the folk legacy... unfortunately, in today's world, they cater to different audiences. it's so rare to see such different musicians from such different generations weave what they have in common. they did that in this album and it has become a true work of art. unfortunately, i've noticed several posters on this page were not able to appreciate the combination. it's foolish to purchase this album to hear ani... she put it out because she respects utah and wants his message to be heard. once ani fanatics realize that i think (hopefully) they'll be able to listen to the album again in a more openminded way.

~tori.

It amuses me to see so many people saying this is the `worst Ani this' and the `dullest Ani that'. If you heard the previous Utah/Ani CD, you should be going in with your eyes open anyway, and if this is the point you chose to jump onto the Difranco bandwagon, you picked a rather inappropriate starting point ("Not A Pretty Girl" and "Dilate" will tell you why Ani is so adored by her fans). What we have here is Utah Phillips, a reactionary folk singer, in full-on raconteur mode; as a story-teller, he succeeds because he doesn't just recount history like a book or a sermon, but he makes it personal to his own experience. He evokes notions not just of struggles and situations, but of individuals, characters, and personalities. Whether you share Utah's views with the same passionate fervour or you merely find it interesting for its' own sake, it's great to know that the other side of the story is being preserved in this way. Sure, a load of Ani wannabes will be completists and buy this anyway, then complain that they felt tricked into hearing this stuff; well, sometimes you have to be tricked. There's far too much ignorance and complacency out there as it is and personally, I'm glad that there are people like Ani who are exploiting their fortunate positions to make sure this stuff gets heard.

And as for the songs being awful... please, don't miss the point. Where there are actual songs, they're mostly traditional protest songs, a bit of social commentary, a document of past events. These songs weren't written with commercial acceptance and popularity in mind, they were written to say something they felt needed to be heard at the time; the people that wrote them were even persecuted for their efforts in less-enlightened times. The music for the most part is for backing purposes, it's there to provide a mood; it is not the focus of what's going on here. If it sounds jarring, as it does in places, question WHY it sounds jarring; is it trying to make the spoken (or occasionally sung) words sound different, sinister, maybe disconcerting even? Much of the subject matter is heartfelt, and if nothing else, what is said should make you think, even if you don't agree.

As part of any collection, it's a CD you may only want or need to listen to a handful of times, but you should take it in the spirit in which it was intended. Best to say that it is neither good or bad in the normally accepted sense, but more a valid listen or experience. In comparison to "The Past Didn't Go Anywhere", this one is much more focussed and direct as regards the subject matter. From a production stance, Ani & co. have chosen to take far more of a back seat this time, leading to a less cluttered and less contrived atmosphere to the proceedings. The only real shame with this sort of project is that so many will miss the point utterly. The other reviews here have only confirmed this theory so far.

Trust Ani not to go making the same album twice. This collab with Utah Phillips jumps off where "The Past" left us. But instead of the 'white rap' approach, she uses her current tight-but-loose band to back Utah through a string of half-songs and delightfully rambling stories about worker solidarity and socialism. Which is not a dirty word. This woman is a contemporary saint, and an example to all the hacks and company-slave losers of the music business. Utah's tales of Mother Jones and the Wobblies are gems: the history of the people you don't read about in books. To quote the meta-question that appears towards the end of the CD: "Why can't you young people be like this?" Beware all cheap imitations! Vive la Revolution!

An absolutely brilliant album with many vocal and instrumental styles represented, also a complete (almost) education in the history of the trade union movement in America. For anyone who needs to know why we need unions this album will answer that question, Utah with his stories and poems backed up brilliantly by a band led by Ani Difranco. One of the most sorely missed of the various albums I've lost.