Ani Difranco

I'll second Dilate. I also like Knuckle Down (2005) and Living In Clip (a live album).

She does several versions of Amazing Grace which are worth a listen or two. One is on Dilate and another on Living In Clip. Both versions are nicely irreverent. Ani has always done her own thing, and has kept her music away from the influences of producers by having her own label (Righteous Babe).

Although I like much of what she has produced, I have to be in the mood for her music. Thinking about it, I'm more apt to listen to her when I'm pissed off about something.

John

don't have upupup but i do have

educated guess
revealing/reckoning (double album)
evolve
knuckle down

all of which are coming with me if i ever get
sent to a desert island

she also presents the discs very well, they all are packaged
in cardboard fold-out cases with booklets of her artwork
i think she has been up for and won grammys for packaging

My favorites are her live album "living in a clip" and "little plastic castle"

With a good system, the sound of living in a clip is scary-good.

my $.02

I heard her "live" at the Tennessee Theater in Knoxville. Fantastic show. However, the men's restroom was full of women. I had to go back outside to make sure I was in the right one. Once I confirmed I was in the right one, I figured I didn't mind if they didn't. They didn't. Highly recommended, especially "live".

nice to see miss defranco geting some mention on these pages.

i have maybe 8 or 9 of her albums. apart form up up up up which i rate highly, i think my favourite is revelling/reckoning.

all her albums really are are sonically impressive.

cheers

b