The Bottom Line
On her newest recording, Folk is the New Black, Ian does just that, and shows us once again that she's still got it.
Pros
- "Danger Danger"
- "The Great Divide"
- "Jackie Skates"
- "Folk is the New Black"
Cons
- A little on the long side
Description
- The 24th album from one of America's best songwriters.
- Ian covers just about every topic with eloquence and ease.
- Another collection of great songs.
Guide Review - Janis Ian - Folk is the New Black
Folk is the New Black could even stand up as an introductory CD for new folk fans who are just jumping on the bandwagon. There are songs about love and loss, and songs about family relations. There are touching, introspective, nostalgic songs, like "Shadows on the Wind;" and songs about complete nonsense ("Crocodile Song").Ian touches on the self-centered ("My Autobiography") and the politically satirical ("Danger Danger").
And then there are the songs that don't fit under any umbrella, but are just plain great songs ("The Great Divide" and "Jackie Skates"). These are the types of songs that maybe change your mind or just stop you short, and they're the songs Ian does best.
Ian's career started when she was still a child and, judging from Folk is the New Black, her craft has still not run out. Where rock and pop artists prove themselves by mastering each flash-in-the-pan trend, the proof of a great folk artist is the endurance and longevity of their talent, and this record shows Ian has exactly that.
Listen to Folk is the New Black
