Ani DiFranco
So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter / Righteous Babe

This latest release from the Buffalo, N.Y., eccentric acoustic rocker is a live two disc set. Like all of Ani DiFranco's previous Righteous Babes Records recordings, So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter displays Ani's signature songwriting skills that drop her into an unparalleled artistic world. Disc One opens with Ani flaunting her humorously poetic, improvisational vocal arrangements accompanied by sporadic guitar strumming. Her voice replicates the operatic yodeling of a Tori Amos with a kick of triple-shot espresso. The music itself is something like a female-fronted Dave Mathews Band, consisting of that in-your-face acoustic progressive rock feel. Throughout this lengthy performance, great musicianship accompanies Ani's wild antics full of attitude and uncertain optimism. Evergreen, Colo., native and beat master Darren Hahn lays down the perfect grooves and musical embellishments within the unpredictable song structures. You don't have to be a bandana-wearing, Lilith Fair junkie to appreciate Ani's lyrical and musical message. This album is intended for the listener who appreciates a non-commercial rock sound full of more flavors than a Baskin-Robbins ice cream store.

-RGH

This new two-disc release is a perfect retrospective from 10 years of songwriting converted into a blistering live performance from these Brazilian speed metal gods. Whether the listener is into the heavy metal scene or not, he or she can at least respect the fundamental approach of the songwriting skills Sepultura exhibits in their music. Disc One begins with a Brazilian chant, then kicks right into the ear-deafening "Roots Bloody Roots." Throughout this London performance, one can hear the everlasting power and precision of this band's instrumentation. It's always impressive to hear such demanding music performed so well in a live situation-Sepultura does it with Under a Pale Grey Sky. A few tunes, such as "Breed Apart" and "Kaiowas" include heavy, complex rhythms accompanied by unique, tribal-style percussion sequences. The opening track on Disc Two, "We Who Are Not As Others," is the defining, progressive metal track that unleashes what Sepultura is all about. You can crank this album all the way to an eviction notice.

-RGH

Whether you're alone or on a dance floor packed with sweaty zombies, 10 Years fits the occasion. With an ambient backbone built on sounds, time-space and an incredibly produced evolutionary style, Bonco de Gaia (a.k.a., Toby Marks, with "Gaia" meaning "goddess of the earth") instilled the flavor of this music-something like time getting worked and stretched back into its original stillness. It's a balanced production yet lasts over two and a half hours. Recording in the UK, "Mr. Marks" took 10 years to get all the material together and finally get it out to the public. A little bit of everything pours over the brim: surrealism, reality, talent, imagination and a 10-year logistical finale. Though a great collection of prose, scores, melodies, riffs and patience, this is a library of sounds that can take you on a ride to any mood you choose. The first time I heard it I went to sleep. It's that relaxing. Something like whales mating in an atmospheric disco.

-JS