Ani DiFranco looks toward "Red Letter Year"

By Laura Leebove

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Ani DiFranco will release her 20th album since 1990 on September 30, a package that ranks as one of the folk singer's cheeriest, funkiest and most collaborative to date.

"Red Letter Year," due on her own Righteous Babe label, was strongly influenced by her daughter with partner/producer Mike Napolitano, most obviously in "Present/Infant" and "Landing Gear," both of which have been staples in her live shows throughout the past year.

"For someone who ain't even here yet, look how much the world loves you," she sings in the latter track.

Just in time for this year's presidential race -- DiFranco's political musings take center stage on several tunes. On "Alla This" she rejects praying to a male god, and on the title track she sings about a "man with a monkey for a face" representing the white race.

DiFranco is touring North America until the end of the month. She'll tour the U.S. again from mid-September through early October, before a six-date European tour at the end of that month.

Reuters/Billboard