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by kate gleason (Kitkat9497) / art mitchell (Art) - Oct 15, 2002
Ani Difranco - So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter Review #1 - Kate Gleason "And when I say you sucked my brain out, the English translation is that I am in love with you, and it is no fun." Pause. Reflect. Continue. Anyone who can write the aforementioned lyrics, and then go on to deliver them live in concert with a passion which could be classified as nothing short of supernatural, is, in my highly educated opinion (haha), someone worth listening to. Ani DiFranco's latest release, "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter" proves over and over to be an amazing double live CD, long-awaited by fans everywhere. The CD's title refers to the lyrics of "Cradle and All", in which DiFranco describes (in detail) her feelings the morning after. Few artists can convey such passion, such unadultured rawness as the mega-talented DiFranco. Her word choices never fail to make the listener think, as seen in songs such as "Swan Dive", "Grey" and "Not a Pretty Girl." Each song is like a mini autobiography, as the listener gets an intimate peek into DiFranco's thoughts as she contemplates diverse (and sometimes controversial) issues such as conformity ("My IQ") and social justice ("To The Teeth"). So many emotions are felt, and so many experiences are lived vicariously through the songs. It would be near impossible to listen to the CDs and not find a song applicable to one's own life. On any given day, I guarantee you will find a song that you will be able to relate to. In closing, "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter" is nothing short of a masterpiece. Well, okay, so maybe thats a tid bit of of an exageration, but the double live CD is quite exceptional. Definitely a good investment for the new, or relatively new, Ani listener. It contains a wide variety of songs from different phases of her career, and will give you an idea of what DiFranco is all about. Additionally, the die-hard Ani fan will appreciate the lovely 28-page photo booklet, two previouly unrecorded songs, and the poem "Self Evident", which, until now, had only been heard performed live. So do yourself a favor: skip to your nearest record store and buy "So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter." You can thank me later. I'm thinking chocolate. Review #2 - Art Mitchell After listening to this CD for the first time, and to Ani Difranco for the first time, I was shocked to say that I really enjoy her music. Now of course, it doesn’t necessarily help that I’m a sucker for girls that play guitar, but she not only does very well, she performs live her music and her lyrics. That is something great and amazing. The songs on this CD are from live performances, and not only does she get her crowd riled up with biting lyrics such as, “…her whole life is a long list of what ifs and she doesn't even know where to begin and the pageantry of suffering therein rivals television tv is, after all, the modern day roman coliseum human devastation as mass entertainment and now millions sit jeering collectively cheering the bloodthirsty hierarchy of the patriarchal arrangement”. She makes a lot of commentary on what it is to be a woman, what it is to be a mother, a girlfriend, and an American. Although, she is liberal in her views and very anti-establishment, she tells you in a very tuneful and melodious way. She maintains friendly banter that keeps the crowd “whoo-ing” after the songs had ended. Mind that most of the people in the audience are women, but when I listened to the CD, I enjoyed listening to her passion in the way she sings, in what she sings and just why she is singing. I can definitely say that she has a new fan of her jazzy, uptempo, music that makes me appreciate not only female singer-songwriters more, but I appreciate Ani Difranco’s music much more. |