Artist: Ani DiFranco

Album: Red Letter Year

Release date: Sept. 30

First impression: After spending the '90s as a feisty agit-folkie, Ani DiFranco's music took on a decidedly dull, almost jazzy, sheen this decade. Her latest offering picks up the pace a bit with some contemporary production flourishes, but still continues down that more mature, mellow path -- for better or worse.