The learning begins.
Folk is such a vague term now that it scarcely means anything. In an age where everything with an acoustic guitar and lyrics that are half way intelligent is deemed as the genre, it is nice to have someone who truly embodies what the nature of folk is all about. In many ways, folk is something that the Americans do better than the British. Whereas our folk is all tales of busty girls marrying the rich man rather than the lovelorn farmhand, American folk has always gone hand in hand with blues and sets about setting the world to rights. In Britain we have the ballad whereas America has the protest song.
What makes Ani DiFranco so interesting is that she not only embodies what folk music is all about (well crafted songs, angry, storied lyrics, accomplished musicianship) but it sets itself just far away enough from the typical to make it interesting. For those unfamiliar with her work then imagine Tori Amos but less self obsessed and with a guitar rather than a piano and you're more or less there. Where she lacks in Ms Amos' vocal range and dynamic, she makes up for in spades with vehemently politicized lyrics from a range of topics from economic hardship, race and, especially, gender.
Part of the appeal in Ani DiFranco is that she tackles feminism not from an elitist, girls-only standpoint, but from a carefully deliberated one. Men shouldn't be put off by this and will not be beaten around the head with bras if attending her concerts; they should embrace this as a learning curve into someone's thoughts on what is important and worth fighting for. Feminist or not, there is something to admire about the way that she broaches the subject.
Of course, none of this would not be much good if the quality of her songs was poor, but luckily she has the nounce to write beautiful melodies and, moreover, guitar dynamics that serve not to prove how good a guitarist she is, but to emphasise whatever issues or themes the lyrics of her songs has. A golden rule of folk music it may be, but its one that is all too often forgot. Her voice, pure and powerful, delivers the point aptly and when she swears its not for shock or controversy, it's because the song needs it.
'Canon', a whacking two-disc best of collection spanning her seventeen year career, comes with a recommendation not only for those that have heard Ani DiFranco's name and want to give her a try, but also to anyone who would like to find out what is beyond Bob Dylan, Steve Earle or Gil Scott Heron. While the intensity of the lyrics played down to the slow tempo of the songs is not going to be for everyone, there is enough quality here to please even the most stubborn refusers of acoustic music and it deserves to be heard.