Ani DiFranco Up Up Up Up Up Up Righteous Babe Records

How many ups is that? Luckily, Ani DiFranco's newest album is not quite as redundant as its title might suggest. Sweet melodies and sharp rhythms are paired with tortured musings, while unfocused ramblings accompany social commentary and sad stories. This righteous babe is also smart; she has a wonderful gift for poetry. Her lyrics are complex under a simple exterior. And she sings with an honesty that convinces one that the world must be as she describes it. The lyrics dance around the hidden meanings of her subtle truths in a collection that ranges from folk to hip hop to something altogether hard to name. Two prized tracks are "'Tis of Thee" and "Hat Shaped Hat." There are moments when her originality and creativity become startlingly evident, and her band accompanies her in fits of inspired jamming.

That's not to say that DiFranco explores completely new territory--some topics and musical themes are reminiscent of decades past. Some listeners may complain that every song, or every album at least, has the same sound. But for an artist that has released a new album at least once a year, every year since 1990, she still has a lot to say.