Confession time.
Back in the 90s, I had completely fallen in love with Ani DiFranco based on a single album, Out of Range. If I were to be completely honest, I actually fell in love with her over a single song, The Diner, and I did so while I was sipping over-roasted coffee in some bohemian-styled converted warehouse with the brick walls and exposed support timbers in the Lowertown neighborhood of downtown Saint Paul. I fell hard for her before the song was even over.
My conversation partner had gone off to take a piss, as you are prone to needing to while drinking far too many over-roasted cups of black coffee over an afternoon spent doing largely nothing in a very bohemian manner, chain-smoking cigarettes in a very artistic way in the artist quarter of a revived downtown area.
While he was away, the song was playing over the speakers and the first thing I could think was, holy mother of god’s teeth, what the HELL is this person doing with that guitar, nevermind, don’t tell me I don’t care — I love it.
And, in very unbohemian fashion, I walked up to the gal behind the bar (they weren’t known as baristas yet in Saint Paul), and asked who the heck was on the stereo. She smirked. “Ani DiFranco”, as she handed me the CD. I think I was catching flies with my mouth all slack-jawed in the manner it was slack-jawed. She was greatly amused at my lack of artistic decorum.
I asked for paper and a pen, scribbled down both artist and album. When my companion came back from the can, I made him finish off his coffee so I could pick up a copy. Zero regrets, and I spent the next month falling deeper in love with Ani DiFranco than what was probably healthy, with that album on high rotation at my own coffee shop, where were not bohemian at all, not even bourgeois (being located in a medical building), but we had the all-important titles of being “baristas” when no one else was using that title in the city because I had brought that back with me when I migrated back home from Seattle (where I had trained as a barista).
And while I liked her other albums that I picked up over time, Out of Range was the one I usually played and so I forgot most of the others, even though they are still in my library.
As I was listening to Ren, the other day, I was trying really hard to figure out just what seemed familiar about him. Early David Bowie, perhaps. But then, YouTube did it’s algorithm thing and informed me that Ani DiFranco had an recent release. Yes. He reminded me of Ani. Although, I am sad to say that my love for Ren remains more brotherly and sober than it was (is?) for Ani.
And, while I never quite got over my love affair with Ani (unrequited and reciprocated), I was reminded just why I love her music, even when I might not like the song. You see, like Ren, she isn’t afraid to take risks with her sound and her music. THAT is half of my adoration for her, the other half is that I generally like her music.
[Another poor woman who has my eternal, unwavering love is PJ Harvey, for many of the same reasons, but I’ve gushed enough for one afternoon. Here’s a towel, sorry about the mess.]
The newest album (Unprecedented Sh!t, 2024) has some interesting tunes on it, but I found myself leaning back to New Bible, for the messaging, but also that decision of hers to choose dissonant progressions/effects to sing to through the majority of the song. It takes guts to go against convention like that, and to do so without sounding like you are just doing it to be a rebel.
I think we should have a new bible
One that only has two words
I think we should have a new bible
That just says “Mother Earth”
It won’t be for everyone. I grant you. Hope you enjoy if it is something you can get into.
28 responses to “Towards the Within — New Bible”
Dear Gods, PJ Harvey gets me. Great post!
I adore PJ’s works, especially her I Inside the Old Year Dying. It sounds even better on vinyl.
I bet it does. I will be looking into it to see if anyone uploaded vinyl tracks.
Ani is from Buffalo. Really cool that you were really into her music.
That’s right! Yeah. I really liked what she was doing in the early years. It was cutting edge
I have to admit I wasn’t listening to her back then. But I had friends who were heads over heels about her music.
She was far from being part of the scene at the time, so I get it. I was going to say that I know that Buffalo is a large place, but we were all of the same age and that sometimes is a factor… I was curious if you’d ever bumped into her. Sounds like maybe not. 🙂
I don’t think I ever did. She opened her own concert venue here. It’s really cool. It’s called Babeville. Really great place to see a show. I think my favorite was seeing Sufjan Stevens here.
I am under the impression that over time Ani gave more back than she took.
If I ever get out your direction, I’ll have to check that place out.
I think you’d definitely enjoy it.
If you recommend it, then I consider it likely that I will.
I’ve saved ‘Out of Range’ on YouTube to play tomorrow, and will let you know what I think. Thanks for the recommendation! 😎
It’s a little edgy at times. Ani wasn’t known for being subtle. But she had a unique open tune acoustic guitar playing style on that album.
I’m good with edgy. Who needs boring-centric? 😂
Apparently one of the co-owners of the cafe. She borrowed my Ani discs overnight and promptly returned them to me. “This is awful, how can you like this? It’s like a mosquito buzzing in your ear!”
Hmm. Doesn’t sound like any music I’ve ever heard. Will have a listen later and let you know. 🙂
My first contact with Ani DiFranco was likewise in a coffeehouse and I was so mesmerized I went up and asked the barista who it was. She looked so grateful someone took much interest and she hipped me accordingly. I haven’t heard Ani’s last few, but I have six of her albums and nothing but the utmost respect for her. Bohemian goddess. Knuckle down!!
It all comes around to her apparent authenticity that has such appeal for me. Even the songs I don’t care for by her I can respect because she is trying to say or do something that is 100% her.
Interesting, and certainly different in the structure of the music and vocal. Not sure whether I get it or not, but I will delve a little deeper.
Her earlier music is more straightforward. She’s reached the stage in life where she doesn’t feel the need to explain or apologize. Us fifty-somethings and older get that way I think…
I will get around to exploring more, but I agree that age brings new perspectives regarding the need to explain oneself.
It might be one of those things like Bob Mould as I think about it more. It might be situational and developed when many musicians were trying to be edgier in distorted ways while Ani was just refusing to do things in any way but her own… I really appreciated it at the time.
I had a listen to ‘The Diner’ today. Certainly on the edge, and with a distinctive voice. I didn’t fall in love as you did, but it’s certainly out there. 🙂
It was the guitar that hooked me at first. I was in a place where I was really trying to find a different way of approaching rhythm and that hit all the right spots for me, combined with those jazz chords when most music of that genre largely avoided it.
I’ll listen to the rest of the album over the next few days. 😊
Part of my love for it probably evolves from already being weary of grunge at the time. As I’ve said to Chris previously, I think some of my taste in music is also environmentally and situationally influenced.
OMG I fell in love with Ani so hard in the 90s. My in was “Both Hands” I LOVE “The Diner” Randall of Out of Range. She may not be on my regular rotation as much these days, but my adoration for her (and PJ Harvey) only deepens w/ time : )
Same. I realize now that I’m missing out like I was with PJ Harvey and I very much need to remedy that. 💙