Red Letter Year
Red Letter Year is a studio album by singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco, released on September 30, 2008.
Says DiFranco about the album: “When I listen to my new record, I hear a very relaxed me, which I think has been absent in a lot of my recorded canon. Now I feel like I’m in a really good place. My partner Mike Napolitano co-produced this record – my guitar and voice have never sounded better, and that’s because of him. I’ve got this great band and crew. And my baby, she teaches me how to just be in my skin, to do less and be more.”[7]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Ani DiFranco.
| 1. |
"Red Letter Year" |
4:17 |
| 2. |
"Alla This" |
3:13 |
| 3. |
"Present/Infant" |
3:02 |
| 4. |
"Smiling Underneath" |
4:59 |
| 5. |
"Way Tight" |
3:50 |
| 6. |
"Emancipated Minor" |
4:30 |
| 7. |
"Good Luck" |
2:35 |
| 8. |
"The Atom" |
5:26 |
| 9. |
"Round a Pole" |
2:58 |
| 10. |
"Landing Gear" |
2:55 |
| 11. |
"Star Matter" |
2:48 |
| 12. |
"Red Letter Year Reprise" |
6:26 |
| 13. |
"Good Luck (alternative version)" (iTunes bonus track) |
2:31 |
Personnel
- Ani DiFranco – acoustic and electric guitars, tenor guitar, 12 string guitar, guitar synth, percussion, optigan, wurlitzer, synthesizers, ukuleles, vocals
- Todd Sickafoose – fender bass, piano, wurlitzer, pump organ, bowed basses, synthesizer
- Mike Dillon – marimba, tubular bells, vibraphone, percussion
- Allison Miller – drums, percussion
- Jenny Scheinman – violin on tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
- Megan Gould – violin on tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
- Jessica Troy – viola on tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
- Marika Hughes – cello on tracks 1, 2, 6, 7, 8
- C. C. Adcock – electric guitar on tracks 3, 4
- Richard Comeaux – pedal steel on tracks 3, 5, 10
- Animal Prufrock – piano on track 4, percussion on track 6
- Jeff Klein – vocals on track 6
- Rene Lopez – percussion on track 6
- Jon Hassell – trumpet on track 11
- The Rebirth Brass Band – on tracks 1 and 12
- Phil Frazier – tuba (band leader)
- Shorty Frazier – bass drum
- Derrick Tabb – snare drum
- Derrick Shezbie – trumpet
- Glen Andrews – trumpet
- Stafford Agee – trombone
- Corey Henry – trombone
- Vincent Broussard – saxophone
- Byron (Flee) Bernard – saxophone
Production credits
- Produced by Mike Napolitano and Ani D.
- Recorded and mixed by Mike Napolitano at The Dugout, New Orleans, Louisiana and at Dockside, Maurice, Louisiana
- Rebirth Brass Band recorded at Fudge, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Strings recorded at Studio G, Brooklyn, New York
- Additional engineers:
- Dockside – David Rashou, Corie Richie
- Fudge – Jack Miele
- Studio G – Tony Maimone
- Jon Hassell recorded by Jesse Voccia
- Rene Lopez recorded by Ken Rich
- Additional recording by Ani and Todd Sickafoose
Charts
Album
| Year |
Chart |
Position |
| 2008 |
The Billboard 200 |
55 |
| 2008 |
Top Independent Albums |
8 |
References
- ^ Red Letter Year at Allmusic
- ^ Marc Hirsh (September 30, 2008). "Ani's got a point, but what is it?". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/ae/music/cd_reviews/articles/2008/09/30/anis_got_a_point_but_what_is_it/. Retrieved Aug 4, 2011.
- ^ Jon Pareles (second item) (September 28, 2008). "Critics’ Choice: New CDs". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/arts/music/29choi.html?_r=1. Retrieved Aug 4, 2011.
- ^ Red Drozdowski (September 23, 2008). "Ani DiFranco - Red Letter Year". The Phoenix. http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/68671-ani-difranco-red-letter-year/. Retrieved Aug 4, 2011.
- ^ Quentin B. Huff (2 October 2008). "Intelligent Design". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/63806/ani-difranco-red-letter-year/. Retrieved Aug 4, 2011.
- ^ Sal Cinquemani (September 20, 2008). "Album Review: Red Letter Year". Slant. http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/ani-difranco-red-letter-year/1499. Retrieved Aug 4, 2011.
- ^ "Shock Records: "Ani DiFranco to Release New Album Red Letters". http://www.shock.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=914. Retrieved 08-15-2008.