2006 Folk Music Year in Review

By Kim Ruehl, About.com Guide

For the legions of devoted Janis Ian fans out there, 2006 was the year Janis returned to her folk roots. With the release in January of her album Folk is the New Black, Ian revisited the folkiness that got her famous with songs like "At Seventeen" and "Society's Child."

FITNB focused not only on folk music as an art form, but also on Janis' firm political and social stances. With songs like "The Great Divide," she reaffirmed her solidity as a topical songwriter and reinvigorated the adoration so many folk fans from the 60s had for her work.