Ani DiFranco

Reprieve is the most intimate album that Ani DiFranco's ever delivered. It's also the most quiet, with a jazzy, late-night feel, enhanced by the impressive acoustic bass work of Todd Sickafoose and DiFranco's understated acoustic picking. Standouts include "Subconscious," a bouncy folk tune that explores the ambivalent feelings that are left at the end of a tumultuous relationship; "78% H2O," a gentle requiem for a love that died because of unrealistic expectations; and "Unrequited," a smoky blues tune that features some of the most heartbreaking vocals DiFranco has ever delivered. On the downside, DiFranco still crams every thought that pops into her head into every line of every song, a tendency that distracts from some of the most pleasing melodies she's ever composed. And the political targets she chooses are all easy marks — Halliburton, Bush, global warming. A bit of humor or some of the insight she brings to her personal songs would make her political jabs cut a lot deeper.