Indigo Girls - Despite Our Differences

The Indigo Girls, now marking their 20th anniversary, were in a bit of slump before turning to producer Mitchell Froom, who serves them well on this energized effort--their 10th studio album and first for a new label. Recorded at Froom's home studio in Santa Monica, California, the album finds Ray, Saliers & Co. trying a few new things--recording with everybody in the same room, for example, and stepping further out of their acoustic framework for an enhanced sonic landscape, e.g., the Beatlesque "Little Perennials." They also invited impressive newbie Brandi Carlisle to harmonize on "Last Tears," one of the disc's most memorable tracks, and called on Pink (the IGs appeared on I'm Not Dead) for "Rock and Roll Heaven's Gate." All this contributes to a fresher sound and attitude, but the songwriting (Amy's rock leanings, Emily's moody balladry) is up a notch, too, with the social activism ("Pendulum Swinger") better expressed and more sophisticated than their usual banner-waving. What hasn't changed is the way the duo's vocal lines entwine like tangled lovers--at their best, it's hard to tell where one leaves off and the other begins, their corduroy-and-denim harmonies becoming a sort of third tone. That's a neat trick for voices as diverse and distinctive as these, still commanding as they enter their third decade. --Alanna Nash Amazon.com

Not their best

I love the Indigo Girls, but I have to say that I found this album pretty much unlistenable. And I really wanted it to be good. It's not the music (which is pretty standard Indigo Girls sound, fine by me, but nothing that you haven't heard before); it's the lyrics, which mostly remind me of the sort of thing that you'd write in high school. At best. Compare this to an album like Rites of Passage... well, basically, there IS no comparison. February 25, 2008

The Girls RULE!

OMG, what can I say? The Indigo Girls rock my world. This is a fabulous CD! February 15, 2008

Fabulous

I have been a fan since their first album. This is another beautiful progression in musical growth with the roots they have become famous for. I really love Pendulum Swinger; Pink's background vocals are great.

If you have loved any of their previous work, buy this. If you haven't liked their previous work, buy this! February 4, 2008

My least favorite Indigo Girls album...

...and I own all of their stuff. Actually, their Rarities album might be my least favorite, but this would be my least favorite out of all their studio albums. They just seem to have lost something compared to previous albums. I'm not a prude or anything, but there's a couple of songs with some F-bombs that keeps me from playing this when the kids are around, so I can't get into this one as much as the other Indigo Girls albums.
February 3, 2008

Indigo Girls Do It Right!

I really love the Indigo Girls. This CD is fun, introspective, political, personal, and powerful. I enjoyed it the first time through. I actually saw/heard them in concert before I heard the album. The first time I heard Lay My Head Down, it brought tears to my eyes. There I was, surrounded by friends and LOTS of fans on a lovely early summer night...

I recommend this album to anyone, it is a great one if you haven't ever heard them before. Amy and Emily have really matured in their style and their writing. And, they totally rock out on Rock and Roll Heaven's Gate. In concert Brandi Carlile sang Pink's part. Whoa! September 23, 2007

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