Educated Guess

Few indie artists (or "mainstream" artists, for that matter) can rival the body of work of radical folkster Ani DiFranco. Without the backing of a major label (or seeking it), DiFranco has gone her own way at every fork in the road and proven herself to be an inspiring creative force. With her provocative views, sardonic wit, and poetic acumen, she's an anti-establishment jugular biter with a sweet smile. About as solo as an album can be — DiFranco wrote, played, sang, and produced everything — Educated Guess is a tribute to her talent and industry. But DiFranco is a rare — and authentic — stylist who has set the bar very high for herself. The canny wordsmithing and busy guitar work are here; she is as proficient at execution as ever. DiFranco is the consummate musical experimentalist, and while that can be a hit-and-miss game, it's also the key to greener pastures, new ideas, and fresh musical territory. And that's the primary virtue of Educated Guess: a different kind of DiFranco album that, not for the first time, finds the artist on her way to somewhere else.