DiFranco's Judgement On Lated Release Is No 'Educated Guess'

It borders on hometown heresy for Buffalo natives to speak ill of Ani DiFranco.

Having already partially revitalized the area with her locally based Righteous Babe record label - on which she has released 21 projects of her own as well as many other artists - DiFranco has been nothing but a shining light peaking through Buffalo's bleak reputation.

So it is with an aire of extreme hesitancy that any DiFranco project is looked at in a negative light. Her latest release, "Educated Guess," is a daring and bold strike at simplistic music, but comes off with some hitches.

As a poet, DiFranco should be lauded at almost every turn. Her decision to include some spoken word performances on "Educated Guess" should, however, be second-guessed. While the tracks are brilliantly penned poetry - status quo for DiFranco - they interrupt the flow of what is a stripped-down, bare-knuckle ride through jazzy folk music.

The songs themselves are wonderful. Recorded on vintage reel-to-reel equipment in both New Orleans and Buffalo, DiFranco also limited herself to eight studio tracks - or layers of instrumentals or vocals - on each song, while many artists today use upwards of 32.

Her lyrics are simultaneously heartfelt and independent, vulnerable yet strong, and on songs like "Origami" and "Company," - the standout track on the record - combine with her masterful guitar work to create textures that are not only sonically unique, but unquestionably "Ani."

DiFranco's style isn't for everyone, but even the harshest music critic would be remiss not to respect the musicianship DiFranco displays throughout "Educated Guess." Playing all instruments and completing all production short of mastering the record herself lends the album a very strong, centralized "I can do anything" feel.

Still, Ani, why the interruptive nature of the spoken word tracks? Why? The disc begins with a passage entitled "Platforms," a poem that fits as a perfect introduction. What follows are four bare bones, roots-based tracks that end with "Bliss Like This," a sensual and vocally intoxicating tale of self-analysis through the context of relationship.

Ending peaceful and fulfilled, "Bliss Like This" is forced into the next track, DiFranco's spoken "The True Story of What Was." Is it a perfectly written poem? Yes. Does its inclusion as a performed piece inhibit the album and annoyingly jar the flow of the record into an abyss of frustrated boredom? Yes. The same can be said for the interruptive nature of "Akimbo" and "Grand Canyon."

This isn't sour grapes or an attack on spoken word recordings. On their own, these poems are splendid and powerful. "Grand Canyon's" detailing of love for a country through those who have revolted to make it better is striking and poignant. Again, DiFranco's skills as a poet need not be questioned.

"Educated Guess" is a collection of beautiful music, thoughtful lyrics, soulful, stripped down performances and - unfortunately - unfitting poems. While on the surface this may seem like nitpicking, this collection is called an album for all its parts not just the songs.

This comes recommended for fans of Erykah Badu, Bob Dylan, and Lucinda Williams.