Canon

Folk · 2007 · 19 tracks

Canon

A career-spanning double-disc retrospective tracing DiFranco's evolution from a solo acoustic firebrand to a sophisticated, jazz-inflected architect of independent folk.

September 11, 2007 · Righteous Babe Records

Canon is a masterclass in the evolution of an independent spirit. Across thirty-six tracks, the listener witnesses the transformation of Ani DiFranco from a raw, twenty-year-old punk-folk artist with nothing but a guitar and a grievance into a sophisticated composer leading a full band. The album is anchored by her signature percussive guitar style: a rhythmic, staccato attack that treats the acoustic guitar as both a melodic and a percussion instrument. It is a sound that feels both intimate and aggressive, perfectly mirroring the lyrical content that oscillates between vulnerable self-examination and sharp-tongued social critique.

Tracklist · 19 Tracks

04

Buildings and Bridges

4:02

09

Dilate

4:47

10

Distracted

1:09

11

Gravel

4:13

12

Untouchable Face

3:37

13

Joyful Girl

4:30

17

Napoleon

4:38

18

Shameless

4:11

19

Hello Birmingham

5:18

21

Grey

5:10

23

Marrow

5:18

24

Here for Now

3:06

25

Subdivision

3:45

26

Rain Check

4:00

30

Studying Stones

3:50

33

Millennium Theater

3:16

34

Your Next Bold Move

4:58

35

Both Hands

3:21

36

Overlap

5:20

Moments Worth Listening For

The transition from the raw, brittle solo acoustic version of Both Hands to the lush, horn-drenched textures of 747.

The moment the rapid-fire, percussive guitar slapping in Napoleon locks into a groove that feels more like a drum kit than a stringed instrument.

The breathy, intimate delivery of the re-recorded The Whole Night which trades youthful angst for a more seasoned, weary wisdom.

Where This Album Departs

How does Canon sound next to the rest of Ani DiFranco's catalogue?

Raspy+1.6σ

The vocals lean notably further into raspy than the rest of the catalogue.

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