Red Letter Year
by Ani DiFranco
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. The Boston Phoenix
    100
    This is DiFranco’s most sophisticated album, a musical convergence of her best qualities: warm singing, graceful writing, experimentation.
  2. AllMusic
    80
    It is among DiFranco's best records, and along with Sam Phillips' "Don't Do Anything," one of the only singer/songwriter albums to really push the envelope in new directions in 2008.
  3. Billboard
    80
    The 37-year-old singer/songwriter is a new mom in love with her daughter's dad, and the experience has saturated every element of her work, from the warmed-up sound of her voice and guitar, to the lessons learned at the end of her familiar narratives.
  5. PopMatters
    80
    Two years, then, feels like a long time to wait for an Ani DiFranco album. But when the results are as gorgeous as this, patience is a small price to pay.
  6. The New York Times
    80
    In this diary, the groove can be as meaningful as the words.
  7. Paste Magazine
    74
    Looser and funkier than 2006’s "Reprieve," Red Letter Year is a dazzling folk/punk/jazz hybrid.
  8. Slant Magazine
    60
    There's nothing close to shitty about Red Letter Year; it's DiFranco's third redemptive studio album in a row (starting with 2005's "Knuckle Down") and that's certainly something worth celebrating.
  9. Boston Globe
    40
    Much of the album sounds like she's simply going through the motions, occasionally picking imagery seemingly just because it rhymes.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 12 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 2 out of 12
  1. Ravenous
    Nov 21, 2010
    6
    A decent album from one of our most innovative modern musicians and poets. Her strongest work was from 1995-2001, however, and this albumA decent album from one of our most innovative modern musicians and poets. Her strongest work was from 1995-2001, however, and this album simply doesn't represent her music at its best. Still, no one on earth can match this woman lyrically, a fact that her fans continue to appreciate.… Full Review »
  2. TheoM.
    Oct 3, 2008
    9
    Love the new production, cleaner without losing that "raw, in your face" vibe she does so well.
  3. NathanielS.
    Oct 1, 2008
    10
    Great album! Ani always does something different with every new release! Never disappoints!
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