Search - Melissa Ferrick :: Skinnier Faster Live at the Bpc

Refreshing

norabmc | Philadelphia, PA | 10/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Every woman with a guitar and a fierce spirit need not be compared to Ani DiFranco.Does Melissa Ferrick sound like early Ani? Yes.So, sue her. The world doesn't and should not revolve around Ani DiFranco. Should we never have another male, poetic, prolific singer songwriter because we had Bob Dylan? Absolutely not. Would there have been Ani DiFranco without Joni Mitchell or Patti Smith? Sure, Ferrick echoes the early days of Ani, and I like that about her. She talks about subjects Ani talked about...politics and love. Since when does Ani DiFranco own the trademarks on those subjects? I also do not fault Melissa Ferrick for being aware of Ani, for realizing that there is a new crowd of people who want to hear powerful songs from a powerful woman. I've heard Melissa work Ani songs into her show, in snippets and bits -- she does not hide from the comparisons, nor should she. Melissa tours, and tours, and tours, playing bars and clubs and colleges and festivals and getting better at it by the day. She has taken songs from her over-produced major label cds and turned them into rip-roarin' anthems live. Melissa Ferrick is in the clubs, talking to fans, playing colleges, and bringing another powerful, talented voice to the barren lands of female rockers. God Forbid we have someone playing live music for fans who might sound a little bit like Ani DiFranco. I'll support independent artists like Melissa, and her take-no-prisoners approach to music and business forever, and Ani DiFranco, and her ability to reinvent her styles and try new things, critics-be-damned. I feel no need to pin them against each other, or to say that any woman with a guitar, emotive, powerful lyrics, and a fiery spirit is inconsequential because Ani has already graced us.Like Living in Clip? Then buy Skinnier-Faster-Live. Then go see Melissa in concert--you absolutely, positively, will not be disappointed. Highlight songs include "The Stranger," "North Carolina," "Willing to Wait," and "Everything I Need.""

Album - 5 stars, packaging 4 stars

norabmc | 05/05/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was disappointed when I first opened it -- 25 bucks for a cardboard flip case double-cd? That's the worst part of it, though.THE REST ROCKS. The guitar is powerful and she's true to the fantastic songs she is known for while changing them just enough for the nice "you're-there-live" concert-feel of the set.And regardless, "Drive" will still make you sweat, ahem."

MUST HAVE!

J. Suthard | 10/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This cd ROCKS!!! It's Melissa Ferrick at her best. If you are a hardcore fan, or someone wanting to expand their music repretorie, this cd is for you. Melissa is best live and this cd gives you a chance to experience a live show over and over."