Rating 4.0
Sadly not "Living in Clip" part TwoThis album will do much to increase the "Ani is the female Dylan" hype. Like his Bobness, Ani often tries to reinvent herself, tours relentlessly, inspires loyal dedication in her fans and now (as this release proves) can't choose a good live set of tracks to save herself.
I loved Ani's last live release (Living in Clip) which I picked up before I had the chance to see her live. I gave LIC four stars but then I had no point of comparison. When this release was announced I was looking forward to hearing some of the inspired versions of great songs that I had seen at live shows. Sadly the songs here do nothing to inspire the way "Clip" did and leave me fondly remembering concert highlights that for some reason were overlooked in favour of the dud tracks presented here. This is definitely Ani's version of "Dylan and the Dead" and is best overlooked in favour of the far superior concert releases avaliable on her official site.All Depends on Whether or Not You Love "Band Ani".At this point in time Ani has 5 live releases. Living In Clip, So Much Shouting, and the three Official Bootleg Series discs (10/9/03: Atlanta, Georgia. 10/25/03: Sacramento, California. 4/7/04: Portland, Oregon)... there is also one called "Women In (E)motion" of the 8/7/94 (or 7/8/94) performance, released by a German label. I'm not sure if that one is in print anymore though, so I'll consider it dead for the purposes of this review.
So Much Shouting is a set that some Ani fans will love, and some will not care for all that much. I never really fell in love with Ani's band sound during this era, the era with her biggest band yet. Ani, drummer, bassist, Julie on keyboards, and the couple horn players. I really wasn't against the band even after she added Julie, but the horn players are too much for me. It's not that I feel Ani's tunes cannot work with horns, it's just that I cannot stand the horn players she chose. Ani is a brilliant and unique guitarist, so it causes me light physical pain to be hearing her generic horn soloists when it could just as easily be Ani who is dominating the sound.
What it really comes down to for me is that so far Ani has never been in a band where anyone else in the band was even 25% as talented and emotionally powerful as is she, and as she added more people to her band, her role within the band became smaller. Thus, you're hearing less Ani vocals and guitar work, and more generic clutter by Julie and the horn players. We all know that Ani's vocal styles have changed alot over the years, and again, this era is my least favorite. During this, the full-band punchy-funk era she became less of a singer and more of a percussive-voiced talk-shouter. Her voice kinda became another ryhthm instrument in this already punchy band that was rather light on melody.
I know this all sounds harsh, but there are indeed some tracks here I like. Grey, Cradle and All... Welcome To is borderline great, Napoleon is nice enough, and Self Evident (Ani's poem about 9/11/01) is the most powerful performance on here. There are some other nice tracks as well.
Of the 5 live sets I mentioned, this is easily my least favorite, but that is just me. My preference is for Ani in trios or less (so far). Just for myself, this is a 2-star set, but I am also reviewing it based on how it fares in comparison with her other performances of this era, and in that way it is quite successful and representative. If you didn't like this band in concert, this set will not convert you. If you loved this band, you'll love this set.
I have to say this... her Official Bootleg Series discs are not available here... they are only at her concerts and her website (www.righteousbaberecords.com). I wholeheartedly recommend all 3 of those. The earliest 2 are solo, and the 3rd is Ani with Todd Sickafoose on upright bass. Those are 3 great discs. The sooner numbers 4, 5, and 6 come out, the happier I will be. =)
Thank You for everything Ani! This one isn't my thing, but you still have my love and gratitude for everything you have done and continue to do.
So Much EnjoymentDisc One:
Swan Dive - 10/10 This much needed live version of the song does not disappoint. Adds great depth to the originally very accoustic song.
Letter to a John - 9/10 Very good rendition of the song. A favorite of mine from Out of Range
Grey - 9/10 I glide past through this song on Revelling/Reckoning, but this rendition is amazing. You can feel the intimacy of the song in the performance. Stunning!
Cradle and All - 10/10 One of the best songs on the album. Good song from Not a Pretty Girl, but a highlight rendition on So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter
What All is Nice - 6/10 I skip past it
What How When Where - 8/10 Good song, not one of my favorites from Revelling/Reckoning but a good rendition nonetheless
To the Teeth - 10/10 So much better than the album version. It's nice to hear the crowd reaction add more relatability to the performance.
Revelling - 7/10 Good rendition
Napoleon - 9/10 not as good as the version on Living in Clip, but it'original and fun and that's all that matters
Shrug - 8/10 From Evolve, I actually like this version. The song sounds raw on this version
Welcome To: - 10/10 So much better than the album version (from Evolve). She sings it on a higher key and it sounds so much more melodic and so much more passionateGirls Singing Night:
Comes a Time - 5/10 Skip it. No point in having it on the album
Ain't That the Way - 8/10 I don't like this song, but this is a good rendition of it anyways. She sounds very good on it, but the lyrics are her worst ever.
Dilate - 9/10 So much better without the disruption you hear on Render. It sounds good with the full band as well.
Gratitude - 10/10 A highlight to hear an old Ani classic
Rock Paper Scissors - 6/10 Another boring song from Revelling/Reckoning
32 Flavors - 9/10 I actually prefer this version from Living in Clip because it's fuller and less boring. Some may disagree, but I mark it as a highlight on Girls Singing Night
Loom/Pulse - 9/10 I love this version. The tempo is sped up and it is very enjoyable
Not a Pretty Girl - 10/10 Perfect. Amazing. The best version I've heard live. She totally rearranges the song, and it benefits it greatly here.
Self Evident - 10/10 Here we go. One of the best poems I have ever heard. I was lucky to hear it live, but the band adds so much depth to the song. We hold these truths to be self evident: number 1 - George W. Bush is not president.
Reckoning - 7/10 It's ok. I like it better than Revelling
My IQ - 10/10 Awesome with the band. Awesome
Jukebox - 10/10 Her vocals are amazing and the arrangement is really good. A song you can have fun with while listening.
You Had Time - 9/10 A good way to end the album and I'm sure Ani fans will appreciate a classic song at the end. Ani Difranco is so much better live. You can hear the intimacy and passion in her when she is on stage. While this is not a ticket to a show, So Much Shouting/So Much Laughter is a good representation on Ani's making good music with her band. Not as good as the incredible album Living in Clip, but still amazing nonetheless. |
