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“Carnegie Hall – 4/6/02”

Live albums tend to be hit-or-miss because the artist is fully exposed without the backing of a studio to fix any mess-ups. Thankfully, this is not the case with Ani DiFranco and her latest CD, “Carnegie Hall – 4/6/02.” DiFranco brings her trademark sarcastic political commentary and an energy that isn’t found on even the most polished studio release to the album. Her easygoing dialogue with the audience is one of the best features on the disc – you can almost feel the heat of the spotlight. Especially moving is a “toast” featured on, “Out of Range,” where DiFranco gives no slack to the president, the media or the oil industry. Her passion comes across so intensely that her staccato rhythms attain a musical quality that is indescribable.

That’s not to say, however, that fans (as well as newcomers) can’t expect furiously strummed guitars. Indeed, they are in full display along with DiFranco’s trademark rapid-fire vocals, which are able to go from sultry-sweet to ragingly bitchy at any given moment. This is particularly evident on “Detroit Annie, Hitchhiking” in which she gets increasingly disgusted as she relates her story of being sexually violated while on a trip to the title city.

Overall, the album is a keeper for DiFranco fans, especially because they are more likely to appreciate some of the works-in-progress included on the disc. Even newcomers will find a solid hour’s worth of quality music.

-Staff Writer Fernando Ramos

-‘Carnegie Hall – 4/6/02’ is currently available in stores.