Not So Soft

Released in 1991 on her own Righteous Babe Records, Not So Soft is Ani DiFranco's second studio album and a foundational text for the 90s independent music movement. While her debut was a sparse introduction, this record solidifies her 'folk-punk' identity, characterized by a percussive guitar style that utilizes acrylic fingernails and electrical tape to create a heavy, rhythmic attack. The album was recorded with minimal accompaniment, primarily featuring DiFranco and her acoustic guitar, which highlights the sophisticated, syncopated interplay between her vocals and her playing. Lyrically, the album moves between intimate interpersonal sketches and broad systemic critiques, touching on themes of militarism, gender roles, and the commodification of art. Critically, it is viewed as the bridge between her busking roots and the more expansive arrangements of her mid-90s breakthrough, capturing her at her most raw and uncompromising.