It turns out that Ani DiFranco’s ganja-induced “J” is not just about ending the drug war and legalizing marijuana, but it’s also about the oil spill. Who knew?

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Ani DiFranco could be one of the most prolific artists in the music world today, however, even as she is on her seventeenth full-length album right now, she has not covered many songs. She is an original and has an influx of songs that can fill up many albums. But, when something is as pertinent as this song, Ani takes the chance, but with her own twist. DiFranco took this old labour union folk song penned in activism by coal miner’s wife Florence Reece and built on it, changed the lyrics to make them timely for this era and gave it a great rock edge. Even if the tracks starts with a banjo interlude (provided by the legendary Pete Seeger), it manages to get to a loud angle once it kicks in.  A great tune to have around during an election year. So, “¿Which Side Are You On?”

Ani DiFranco

Asked ¿Which Side Are You On?

Just legendary.

For some reason this was just uploaded unto the web just in time for Ani’s new album. Here you see Ani’s talents with words put into form. Lovely.

This could be one of the best days of 2011! Ani DiFranco’s seventeenth (Yes, 17th!) studio album has been released to the public and made its way online. This marks the longest hiatus Ani DiFranco has taken in her prolific career. This one is called ¿Which Side Are You On?. We are already on the 3rd track and loving every bit. Of course we spend a lot of time on YouTube scavenging live sets, so we know some of the songs. But, we could already tell she is concentrating on the melodic side of this more on this one. Click here to visit an unaffiliated website to investigate the leak. As Ani DiFranco would say: “Unauthorized reproduction, while sometimes necessary, is never as good as the real thing.”

“Just let me go, we have to be able to criticize what we love, to say what we have to say ’cause if you’re not trying to make something better, then as far as I can tell, you are just in the way.”

- Ani DiFranco

“As a creative person, in all the different things that I’ve done or ways that I’ve found to express myself, I’ve consistently come up against resistance in certain areas. I think that the world is not comfortable with female sexuality. It’s always coming from a male point of view, and a woman is being objectified by a man — and even women are comfortable with that. But when a woman does it, ironically, women are uncomfortable with it. I think a lot of that has to do with conditioning.”

- Madonna

We grew up listening to this music and it still rings true to us. Music is great, but it’s greater when you have something to say. Ani DiFranco always has something to say. This is a great kinetic typography adaptation of the spoken word track from the monumental album Puddle Dive that was the voice of a generation. Listen without prejudice.

This is one of the loveliest spoken word tracks from Ani DiFranco’s career, from the epic Little Plastic Castle, one of the albums that shaped our musical tastes and our personal life. This is just pure history in our books and everyone that hasn’t familiarized themselves with this, should.

Ani DiFranco, we wish one day we can meet you and just thank you for everything including this song.

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• Letters to Strangers: Dear Ani (flowingwriter.wordpress.com)

“My persuasion can build a nation” – Beyonce

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The new album is about to drop anytime soon. Good track!

Other than a reverb not working on track #9, allegedly, all is done and good on Ani DiFranco‘s 17th full-length album. There is word that it will see the light of day this June, but with Ani DiFranco’s hectic touring schedule, everything could change. There are many new tracks floating around of Ani’s that still need a home in form of an album. They are: “Zoo,” “Promiscuity, “J,” “Life Boat,”Splinter,” “Hearse,” “Albacore Tuna,” “Amendment,” “See,” “Gloaming,” “If You’re Not,” “Wow,” “Smart,” “Mariachi,” “A New Bible” and “Unworry.” Not to forget the cover of “Which Side Are You On?” and the cool but timely “November 4th.” Let’s hope all get on the release. All songs titles are tentative and just our rendering from the tracks we’ve heard.

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We are not too proud to beg for a new Ani DiFranco album. Don’t make us, Righteous Babe!

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Watch this space!

- Jane Rule

We love this one from Margaret Cho‘s comedy album not only because it brings the chuckles, but also because Ani DiFranco is on it!

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We heard that, allegedly, through the grapevine, Ani DiFranco (aka The Greatest Artist On Earth) has an album coming out this summer! Please, let ma wake up to June. Although, right now Rio De Janeiro feels like July. Yes, I am Northern Hemisphere-centric.

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This is some powerful stuff, at all costs.

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This is when music becomes magic and we can’t explain it.