Which Side Are You On?
by Ani DiFranco
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
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  1. Expert Witness (MSN Music)
    Jan 24, 2012
    91
    As fresh as Lisa Lee at the top of the key.
  2. Boston Globe
    Jan 18, 2012
    80
    Most of this spirited album strikes a natural balance between matters of the heart and causes close to DiFranco's heart.
  3. The Independent (UK)
    Jan 13, 2012
    80
    Ani DiFranco's first album in three years finds the self-proclaimed Righteous Babe in feisty, thoughtful form.
  5. musicOMH.com
    Jan 11, 2012
    80
    In the unlikely event you needed any more demonstration of the woman's talent, this is it.
  6. Consequence
    Jan 11, 2012
    80
    Despite the record's ups and down, it's hard to deny DiFranco's vision and passion for her craft.
  7. Rolling Stone
    Jan 17, 2012
    70
    Channeling multiple voices and styles, DiFranco rises to the cultural moment with a grin.
  8. AllMusic
    Jan 17, 2012
    70
    [Songs on her album] do little to tarnish her well-earned reputation as a D.I.Y. force of nature.
  9. Blurt Magazine
    Jan 17, 2012
    70
    The melodies aren't so easily embraced; loping, ephemeral and often sounding blithely disconnected, they defy any attempt at grasping an easy hook or chorus. What's more, the loose grooves sometimes run counter to the tunes' sense of profundity.
  10. Los Angeles Times
    Jan 17, 2012
    63
    Some of DiFranco's attempts to be baldly political hit their mark.
  11. Mojo
    Feb 27, 2012
    60
    Sweet and to the point. [Mar 2012, p.97]
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  12. NOW Magazine
    Feb 23, 2012
    60
    It works best when DiFranco points to contradictions within herself, and worst when her lyrics get preachy or black-and-white.
  13. The Telegraph (UK)
    Jan 17, 2012
    60
    Her worthier sentiments are balanced by maturing wit, self-awareness and the distinctive snap'n'slap of her funky guitar grooves.
  14. PopMatters
    Jan 17, 2012
    60
    Which Side Are You On? shows all of DiFranco's strengths and weaknesses and it displays her increasing maturity where she is finally at peace with herself, but hasn't lost her biting wit.
  15. Slant Magazine
    Jan 17, 2012
    60
    DiFranco's sincerity is never in question, but on Which Side Are You On?, the candor simply serves her better on her intimate, personal songs than on a set of political songs that are uncharacteristically dated.
  16. The Independent on Sunday (UK)
    Jan 17, 2012
    60
    A loose-limbed, spacious, American indie-folk-rock. Political, challenging, dissatisfied and, naturally, righteous.
  17. The A.V. Club
    Jan 17, 2012
    50
    The problem with DiFranco's current work is not the fading anger of her youth. Instead, it's her inability to sound engaged in the current events she sings about.
  18. Entertainment Weekly
    Jan 11, 2012
    50
    Here, she gets stuck in too many clunky Big Idea statements about equality and social politics.

User Reviews

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User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 4 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. righteousNATE
    Jan 25, 2012
    9
    The long awaited album from Ani DiFranco has been well worth the wait! Never has Ani's voice sounded more clear and beautiful. The only thingThe long awaited album from Ani DiFranco has been well worth the wait! Never has Ani's voice sounded more clear and beautiful. The only thing about her voice on one song (ex: If Yr Not), it lacks emotion. Other than that, the song is pretty rad. Unworry is the other problem song on the album - where she rushes through some of the lines of the song, and you wonder why weren't these parts slowed down a bit. She sounds a little cartoonish when she does that. Some of the most beautiful songs she has ever written are present here (exs: Hearse, Mariachi, & Albacore). Some of the lyrics can be seen as not as strong as some of past efforts, but I feel over time she has written some of the most beautiful lyrics, she should be pardoned to sly through some mediocre lyrics. Still the lyrics are stronger than anything you hear on the radio. I was going to write the standout tracks from the album, but I started to write over half of the album and I decided against it, so here are the tracks that I feel are ones you can miss off the album, but the others are pretty grand: Unworry and Amendment.… Full Review »
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