The Indigo Girls are back with one of the most cathartic records of their career. Though not much has changed aesthetically, Emily Saliers and Amy Ray are still great songwriters, and this collection features thirteen more reasons why their mark on contemporary folk music is so unignorable.
An Evolved Sound
Since then, though, the Girls' songwriting styles have become considerably more singular and less synchronous. As a matter of fact, Amy Ray has released a few solo CDs where she has taken more of a liberty to explore her punk and rock side, while steering back toward folk music in her collaborations with musical partner Emily Saliers.
Bottom Line: It Works
Indigo Girls Amy Ray and Emily Saliers
(© Kim Ruehl, licensed to About.com)Despite Our Differences is no exception to what has become somewhat of a formulaic album make-up for the Girls. Still, as with their last album – 2004's All That We Let In – the formula works rather well.
Albeit somewhat predictable, the bottom line is that both Saliers and Ray write wonderful songs. They still have a hauntingly impressive grasp on their mad skills as polyphonic harmonizers. And, on Differences, they occasionally swap places within the formula, with Ray writing introspective love and longing poetics like "Three County Highway," and Saliers penning more extroverted, daring political numbers like the feminist fist-pumper, "Pendulum Swinger."
If you're not already sold on the Indigo Girls, you should know that Despite our Differences is nothing new. Nonetheless, what's always been great work from a talented couple of women, still is.
Highlights from Indigo Girls - Despite Our Differences
"Three County Highway"
"Money Made You Mean"
"Dirt and Dead Ends"
"Last Tears"
