Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Alternative Press
    60
    Though the music on Revelling/Reckoning ranges from brilliant to mediocre, DiFranco's bold, descriptive lyrics (as usual) redeem any shortcomings. [#155, p.75]
  2. Blender
    40
    Would have benefited from more stringent editing... [Jun/Jul 2001, p.108]
  3. 80
    Not every moment of Revelling/Reckoning is a winner. But the record is probably DiFranco's first where all the tags -- staunch D.I.Y.-er, feminist, bisexual folk-punk -- and the baggage of her brutally personal songwriting play second fiddle to the songs found within.
  4. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Pick from either the funky Revelling or the more downbeat Reckoning and you'll be rewarded with an intimate new mood or insight, expertly framed by the singer's acoustic-based every-style. [13 Apr 2001, p.76]
  5. Magnet
    90
    She once again raises the bar for her personal best... [#50, p.85]
  6. Her most skillful and soulful work thus far.
  7. Revelling/Reckoning is both an accomplished album complimented by a loose-jam of ensemble players and a bare sketchbook where DiFranco sits alone in her room, creating a private universe accessible to anyone with the will to listen.
  8. Revelling/Reckoning is a dense, daunting work -- and, quite possibly, her strongest one yet.
  9. Spin
    90
    This inspired, two-disc, 29-track set is one part musical grandstand like Prince's Sign O' the Times, one part marital saga like Bruce Springsteen's Tunnel of Love. [5/2001, p.139]
  10. Revelling/Reckoning represents DiFranco at her best and worst.
  11. While the acoustic simplicity of Reckoning seems thin at first, particularly beside Revelling's sensual, bombastic joy, the croons and ballads grow on you, if not for their melancholy navel-gazing, then for their languid, old-school folksiness.
  12. This is a double album where the best songwriting never meshes with the best horn writing, which is what gets her juices going these days.
  13. Supposedly split into two themes, it turns out that the music throughout is interchangeable; any track could have appeared on either CD.

Awards & Rankings

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Jan 25, 2012
    10
    Most definitely in my top 5 favorite albums by Ms. DiFranco. Not necessarily an album that you would loan to someone that you wanted to startMost definitely in my top 5 favorite albums by Ms. DiFranco. Not necessarily an album that you would loan to someone that you wanted to start liking Ani's music, but definitely an album full of emotional themes! Full Review »
  2. Nov 21, 2010
    10
    Incorporating a variety of musical styles and utilizing her talented ensemble of musicians, Ani rides one of her great musical peaks whileIncorporating a variety of musical styles and utilizing her talented ensemble of musicians, Ani rides one of her great musical peaks while retaining her crown as our best modern poet. This album was one of the best of the decade. Full Review »
  3. JohnM.
    Dec 30, 2001
    9
    Bombarding (occasionally annoying, "Subdivision" being the very low point) political assertments aside, this is Ani at her best. It is almost Bombarding (occasionally annoying, "Subdivision" being the very low point) political assertments aside, this is Ani at her best. It is almost impossible to categorize this work; it breaks through so many genres. A welcoming and intriguing listen for anyone who can get past the occassional political ranting sure to piss you off a little. Full Review »