To the Teeth

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

To the Teeth
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 16, 1999
GenreFolk rock
Indie rock
Length71:44
LabelRighteous Babe
ProducerAni DiFranco
Ani DiFranco chronology
Fellow Workers
(1999)
To the Teeth
(1999)
Revelling / Reckoning
(2001)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Alternative Press[2]
The A.V. Club(mixed)[3]
Chicago Tribune(average)[4]
Los Angeles Times[9]
musicOMH(positive)[5]
Q[2]
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)[6]
Rolling Stone[7]
Slant[8]
Spin(7/10)[2]

To the Teeth is singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco's 10th studio album (excluding EPs, live albums and her collaborations with Utah Phillips), released in November 1999.

To the Teeth has a more political and self-questioning edge than many of her earlier works. It is also considerably more experimental, with "Freakshow", "Swing", "Carry You Around" and "The Arrivals Gate" branching out into genres such as blues, jazz and funk. She was also supported by Prince on the track "Providence".

It opens with the title track, an indictment of America's gun culture, and a response to the Columbine High School massacre. It also contains "Soft Shoulder", about two lovers missing their opportunity, and "Hello Birmingham", a sad, angry response to both the shooting murder of abortion doctor Barnett Slepian and the bombing of a Birmingham, Alabama, abortion clinic.

To the Teeth reached No. 76 on the Billboard Music Chart Top 200, and No. 9 on their Top Internet Albums chart.

Track listing[edit]

All songs by Ani DiFranco.

  1. "To the Teeth" – 7:42
  2. "Soft Shoulder" – 6:04
  3. "Wish I May" – 4:53
  4. "Freakshow" – 5:42
  5. "Going Once" – 5:33
  6. "Hello Birmingham" – 5:23
  7. "Back Back Back" – 4:46
  8. "Swing" – 6:10
  9. "Carry You Around" – 3:24
  10. "Cloud Blood" – 4:51
  11. "The Arrivals Gate" – 4:35
  12. "Providence" – 7:18
  13. "I Know This Bar" – 5:31

Personnel[edit]

Production[edit]

  • Ani DiFranco – producer, mixing
  • Goat Boy – engineer, photography
  • Ethan Allen – assistant engineer
  • Greg Calbi – mastering
  • Design – Cheryl Neary
  • Patty Wallace – photography

Charts[edit]

Album

Year Chart Position
1999 The Billboard 200 76
1999 Top Internet Albums 9

References[edit]