Binary, by Ani DiFranco

Binary

by Ani DiFranco

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Carsten Pieper My CD collection includes some "classic Ani" albums. When I detected her here on Bandcamp I wanted to reach out for her newer stuff and went for the latest album (released in 2017). I have to qoute Allmusic.com's Timothy Monger: "confident as ever, blending a myriad of musical styles from folk to jazz to experimental rock, usually delivered in her signature percussive style". And, as always, great songwriting, of course :-) Favorite track: Pacifist's Lament.

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1.	Binary 04:22	lyrics	buy track
where are my sisters? where are my brothers? where is my family who takes care of each other? in the blue glow of gizmos lurk despots in diapers and cyborgs with bullhorns and crackpots and snipers like robots so cold with such ease they dismiss you sooner fuck you than kiss you sooner kick you and dis you they got networks like insects with webs of deception they'll trap you, cocoon you like a department of corrections they come in all colors and sexes and creeds they got all kinda issues, they got all kinda needs little laboratory monkeys raised with no hugging just a wire cage mamma and lab coats mugging i feel your anger i feel your pain i feel the aching hole in your soul that can't be named consciousness is binary consciousness is spinning consciousness is a circuit when consciousness is winning consciousness is binary consciousness is spinning consciousness is a circuit when consciousness is winning you gotta complete the circuit alone there's just no knowing yeah energy is destructive unless it is flowing in the connection lies the spark in the connection lies the art you gotta be up in someone's countenance conversing with their heart you gotta complete the circuit not just with human beings with the sky above you with the earth beneath your feet when you complete the circuit with everything that lives borders get blurry and the rest is adjectives consciousness is binary consciousness is spinning where are my sisters? where are my brothers? where is my family who takes care of each other?
2.	Pacifist's Lament 05:55	lyrics	buy track
there’s many ways to say you’re sorry home from work, buy some flowers wash, dry, put the dishes away there’s a gentle way for a hand to touch a hand for a cup of tea to be delivered to a nightstand for a light to be left on to light someone’s way but there is nothing harder than to stop in the middle of a battle and say you’re sorry but we ask it of our children to just stop in the middle of a battle and say you’re sorry which one of us is ready to just stop? There’s many ways to see, my dearest don’t it seem hindsight is always the clearest when the fighters and the flighters have gone back to their primeval caves you can try to undo what conditioning created you can go to india and you can sit cross-legged you can walk to the ocean and drown yourself in the waves but there is nothing harder than to stop in the middle of a battle and say you’re sorry but we ask it of our children to just stop in the middle of a battle and say you’re sorry which one of us is ready to just stop? if i had a school i would teach gandhi and dr. king and aung san suu kyi i'd teach techniques of nonviolence as part of the core cuz any kid can add two and two if you show him a path to the truth monkey see monkey do that is the score and there is nothing harder than to stop in the middle of a battle and say you’re sorry but we ask it of our children to just stop in the middle of a battle and say you’re sorry which one of us is ready to just stop?
3.	Zizzing (feat. Justin Vernon) 05:56	lyrics	buy track
air flush with water skin slick with oil power poles zizzing in the fog like tesla coils sweeping patterns of glistening crystals what we call "music"in the air whiskey dripping down your temples mosquitoes in your hair and in the background a riverboat is sounding its goodbye our magic should be more powerful as the years go by where did i go so wrong with you? tell me where did i? laughter spilling on laughter muscle pulling on bone the sorcery of stilettos spilling on cobblestones all that precious cargo dunno where it comes from or where it goes just know everything else is on a mission to decompose and in the background a riverboat is sounding its goodbye our magic should be more powerful as the years go by where did i go so wrong with you? tell me where did i?
4.	Play God 04:53	lyrics	buy track
play god i was done at 16 showin up for class i was out there in the ring learnin how to kick some ass i was done at 16 usin my momma's key it was all on me yes it was all on me weren't no free rides weren't no IOUs i pulled my weight i paid my dues and i showed up to enlist on the first day of recruits how bout you? how bout you? i'm my brother's keeper every chance i can and i pay my taxes like any workin man and i feel i've earned my right to choose you don't get to play god, man i do you don't get to play god, man i do you get to run the world in your special way you get much more, much more than your say government, religion it's all just patriarchy i must insist you leave this one thing to me just leave this one thing to me just leave this one thing to me just leave this one thing cuz there’s just one thing that a man needs to be truly free this is the modern world and that one thing is money but there are two things that a woman needs control over her own body i pay the price on top of everything each month a bill each month a reckoning and each seed that dies i cry and i bleed so you can’t tell me no you can’t tell me i am a soldier it’s my blood that flows I’d give my life so that this tree can grow you don’t know creation like i know so you can’t tell me no you can’t tell me you can’t tell me no you can’t tell me you get to run the world in your special way you get much more much more than your say government, religion it’s all just patriarchy i must insist you leave this one thing to me just leave this one thing just leave this one thing to me just leave this one thing cuz i'm my brother's keeper every chance i can and i pay my taxes like any workin man and i feel I’ve earned my right to choose you don’t get to play god, man i do you don’t get to play god, man i do you don’t get to play god, man i do
5.	Alrighty 03:15	lyrics	buy track
alrighty, let's not be dumb the sun is almighty as they come yes, light is the god that you meant to see pouring in through your stained glass sayin worship me alrighty, for what it's s worth next time i watch a man give birth i'll try to picture the creator as a dude with a beard cuz right now i gotta say it's seeming kinda weird see how quickly shit gets absurd you invent angels and then you ignore birds you forget to actually listen to the messengers while you're writing and reciting your own goddamn words alrighty, i'll try to chill though i'm acutely aware that only ill can come of being cut off from all of consciousness save for that expressed by humans in their big hot mess alrighty... alrighty, let's not be dumb the sun is almighty as they come yes, light is the god that you meant to see pouring in through your stained glass sayin worship me
6.	Telepathic 03:12	lyrics	buy track
ll just be goin along lookin through my eyes through my eyes then i'll go inside of someone and i'll look through their eyes through their eyes they might be behind a counter they might be filled with disdain goin behind the eyes of people is a dangerous game it's a dangerous game goin behind the eyes of people is a dangerous game we live in a world full of longing we live in a world full of fear so many sheep in wolves' clothing hiding behind a wolves' sneer i wish i was not telepathic i wish i was lost in a dream i gotta stop paying attention just keep takin hits for the team i'll just be goin along lookin through my eyes through my eyes then i'll go inside of someone and i'll look through their eyes through their eyes they might be behind a counter they might be filled with disdain goin behind the eyes of people is a dangerous game it's a dangerous game goin behind the eyes of people is a dangerous game
7.	Even More 04:08	lyrics	buy track
long after the seal is broken i seen you stumble, i seen you chokin i think i love you even more after someone went and sat on my rose-colored glasses i think i love you even more ain't nothin changin bout my passion now that we both got tired asses i think i love you even more oh boy come here and bring me back to when we were slippin through the cracks i think i love you even more even more... cells sneak backwards, hell bent from the baby to the placenta i think i love you even more retroactive DNA what's attractive? who can say i think i love you even more stars align and then they fuse higher highs, bluer blues i think i love you even more oh boy come here and bring me back to when we were slippin through the cracks i think i love you even more even more... long after the seal is broken you seen me stumble, you seen me chokin think you could love me even more? after someone went and sat on your rose-colored glasses you think you could love me even more? can you hold on to your passion now that we both got tired asses you think you could love me even more? boy come here and bring me back to when we were slippin through the cracks i think i love you even more even more...
8.	Spider 03:53	lyrics	buy track
work of art field of play sleight of hand turn of phrase port of call dark of night fear of tight spaces fear of heights look out boy scout it's a spider it wiggles and giggles and jiggles inside her sleep tight flashlight by your pillow there's only one way for this to go ship of fools tale of woe change of heart day of show flight of stairs burden of proof murder of crows moment of truth look out boy scout it's a spider it wiggles and giggles and jiggles inside her sleep tight flashlight by your pillow there's only one way for this to go act of god right of way show of hands shades of grey twist of fate six of one tears of joy best of luck look out boy scout it’s a spider it wiggles and giggles and jiggles inside her sleep tight flashlight by your pillow there’s only one way for this to go
9.	Sasquatch 05:46	lyrics	buy track
hey sasquatch your footprint got nothin on mine i exhume you i consume you yes, i film you as you run by hey sasquatch your hairy don't scare me i dine on chicanery on depravery on slavery of all kinds hey sasquatch quit hiding yes, i know you're out there i'll bring you into my world you'll be under my care hey sasquatch i love you you can drink from my cup you big fool you know i rule you now come out with hands up you big fool you know i rule you now come out with hands up...
10.	Terrifying Sight 05:14	lyrics	buy track
even in your darkest hour you're luckier than anyone you know better not catch you complaining girl, you know, there's a lot of ways this could go last thing that this old world needs is more hot air more hot air to blow better make a grateful sound and back it up with a grateful soul young nor dumb am i seen a few people die seen a few people living in a way that's giving off light i look to my left i look to my right i have to admit it's a terrifying terrifying terrifying sight cuz even in your darkest hour you're luckier than anyone you know better not catch you complaining girl you know, there's a lot of ways this could go last thing that this old world needs is more hot air more hot air to blow better make a grateful sound and back it up with a grateful soul to the office of the governor to whom it may concern i am writing to request clemency for a prisoner who has earned it to me he is a butterfly and so must go outdoors and yes there's blood on his hands but so with mine and yours for every child of poverty who never stood a chance for each fool who said go with me and each fool who took his hand for each one with bad council and still they took the stand for every beat up woman and every beat down man have mercy mercy mercy me have mercy mercy mercy me have mercy mercy mercy me have mercy mercy mercy me cuz even in your darkest hour you're luckier than anyone you know better not catch you complaining girl you know, there's a lot of ways this could go last thing that this old world needs is more hot air more hot air to blow better make a grateful sound and back it up with a grateful soul young nor dumb am i seen a few people die seen a few people living in a way that's giving off light i look to my left i look to my right i have to admit it's a terrifying terrifying terrifying sight
11.	Deferred Gratification 03:05	lyrics	buy track
deferred gratification you are my new best friend i got kids and so do my friends it'll never be our world again but look how weary the chief it'll be a relief to someday hear her say get it yourself get it yourself frozen soldier mannequin in the back of the wax museum weekdays it's only 5 bucks to get in see him fighting a battle he'll never win and look how weary the chief it'll be a relief to someday hear him say get it yourself get it yourself deferred gratification you are my new best friend i vote in every election hope someday these kids are gonna help us win and look how weary the chief it'll be a relief to someday hear him say get it yourself get it yourself

about

“DiFranco stretches musical muscles to stay inspired on Binary. She continues to speak her mind with the pride, ferocity and integrity that has shaped an impressively rebellious career.” — American Songwriter

“…it could be the record that wakes you up to the world.” — NPR Music

Written prior to the 2016 election, the songs on Binary are prescient of the current political situation in America. Ani tackles the challenge and necessity of teaching non-violence with “Pacifist’s Lament” and the need for empathy in “Terrifying Sight.” “Play God,” a rallying cry for reproductive rights, is currently playing out in Congress. And on the title track, DiFranco reveals the larger meaning of the album. “This binary principle is echoed throughout our bodies, “ Ani notes. “With one ear, we “hear” but only with two ears can we perceive the full spectrum of depth and position. This idea that refuses now to let me go; that nothing can truly exist except in relationship with something else, is where this song and this album are coming from.”

The backbone of Binary’s sound is DiFranco’s long-time rhythm section of bassist Todd Sickafoose and drummer Terence Higgins, but on much of the album, the trio is augmented with some all-star guests. Virtuoso violinist Jenny Scheinman and keyboard wizard Ivan Neville both join in for more than half of the record. Other contributors include the legendary Maceo Parker, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon, and Gail Ann Dorsey, longtime bassist for David Bowie. New Orleans resident DiFranco takes special pride in the Crescent City funk spearheaded by natives Higgins and Neville on a number of the tunes. “Their souls are of this place,” she says. “The feel they bring is something they got in utero.” When it came time to mix Ani turned things over to Tchad Blake (The Black Keys, Pearl Jam), the result a bold sonic imprint elevating the songs to a new level in her canon.

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released June 9, 2017

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about

Ani DiFranco New Orleans, Louisiana

Grammy winner and feminist icon Ani DiFranco began her career as a proponent of the artist-run label, creating her own Righteous Babe Records in 1990. Since then she has released over twenty studio albums and supported a broad range of social causes including racial justice, reproductive rights, gender equality, environmental issues and prison reform. ... more

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