Supported by multi-instrumentalist Todd Sickafoose but doing most of the heavy lifting herself, she fashions soothing neo-folk from a shadowy palette of gentle fingerpicking, ringing melodies, jazzy standup basses, twangy noirish guitar licks, atmospheric keyboards, light percussion, dusty textures and real-world sounds from traffic and trains to birds and rain.  Full text...

Putting out albums on her own terms for her own label, DiFranco continues to cater to the kind of music fans who have more on their mind than what the latest trend will be.  Full text...

One of her more cutting, biting and pointed records in years, exemplified on “Millenium Theater”.  Full text...

Ani is still Ani, that much is true, but she is a living human being, and she does grow—with Reprieve, that growth is as obvious and as fascinating to watch as it has ever been.  Full text...

The decisive element in making Reprieve the very nice album it is is without a doubt Todd Sickafoose, who also plays the electric Wurlitzer piano and the pump organ.  Full text...

It is still a strong effort from an artist whom we've come to expect nothing less.  Full text...

Musically, the album is more languid than earlier efforts without sacrificing the urgency of her patented guitar pluck-strum.  Full text...