you have to sample from various albums as it is quite varied. some way folkier, some more rockin. very very british. her most recent is my least favorite.
What I found about modern female folk singer-songwriters is that their lyrics are often very personal and metaphoric (read: obscure); Hence I much prefer female singers of traditional material. This said, here are a bunch of commendable female folk singers who sings their own material:
Dar Williams -- among the less obscure and more relevant of female folk singers. Her first albumThe Honesty Room is still much treasured, while later albums (such as The End of Summer) have a fuller band sound and are also good.
Dee Carstensen -- Wonderful vocalist here. Musically more synthetic than most folk singers.
Janis Ian is still going strong after all these years.
Linda Thompson's album Fashionably Late is unfathomably gloomy and dark. Not really recommended if you're already of a melancholic disposition, but this is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Marissa Nadler's album "Songs III: Bird On The Water" is one of my favourite albums so far this year. Have a listen to a few songs on her myspace - www.myspace.com/songsoftheend.
Yes, Living in Clip is brilliant, as is the other double live album, So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter. My favourite Ani album is Evolve.
I have to say that some of the recommendations in this thread are awful, because while there are a lot of good artists mentioned, and OP might like them, I just don't see them as being anything like Ani. Kate Rusby is trad. folk, Regina Spektor is more like Tori Amos, Aimee Mann doesn't have the same attitude, Beth Orton is trip hop, Lucinda Williams (and some of the others) are really alt.country. I'm not knocking any of them, but they're just not like Ani.
If you want more stuff like Ani, you've just got to buy more Ani.
I just got in Laura Love - Fourteen Days. All I can say is that she defiantly hit the spot! She's the type of artist I was looking for. Laura Love is still along the same genre as Ani Difranco, but she's not a rip off of Ani Difranco. Laura Love is her own Artist. There's this odd jazzy Celtic feel to the album. Gives it a refreshing edge. I'll be purchasing another one of her albums in the near future.
Right now I'm listening to Regina Spektor's latest album (from her website) looks like I'll be buying that too!
How about Patty Larkin "Strangers World" and "Running Angels". Jonatha Brooke & The Story's "Plumb" and her solo "10 cent wings". On the softer side, Mary Black's "No Frontiers" and "Without the Fanfare" and Mindy Smith's "One Moment More" to name a few. Mary Black's "No Frontiers" is a must have for anyone that enjoys female vocals.
Wow....no love for Natalie Merchant or Kate Bush? Tiger Lilly and Never for Ever are great sounding albums. Also check out Diane Schurr if you want a jazz flavor...Amazing range
Let me second Kate Bush (The Whole Story is a good "greatest hits" comp). Also, Laura Veirs, one of my favorite finds of the last 3 years. Start with her album Year of Meteors.
Kate Bush is obviously brilliant, but are we just naming singers without Y chromosomes now? I can't see much connection with Ani other than that in both cases I love their music.
I just heard this woman, Mieka Pauley, on a rebroadcast of Mountain Stage last week. I don't have a full recording yet, but the three songs she played made me want to buy something and try her out.
Also, I'll add a second vote for Mary Gauthier. Saw her at Mountain Stage as well, opening for (among others) Suzanne Vega; bought her CD and have been enjoying it quite a bit lately.
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