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that’s sane.” She proceeds to diagnose our mutual malady; “There’s foxes in the hen house and bad news every day, and right there on Pennsylvania avenue, the sheet-less KKK,” and acknowledges that compromise; “…I know you got your adrenaline just to be a gentleman, and I know I got to fight my amygdala just to keep hearin’ ya” is the first step toward consensus. In terms of irresistibility, the fun and flirty melody, coupled with the seductive arrangement and trenchant lyrics, adds “Do Or Die” to a pantheon of classic Ani tracks like “32 Flavors,” “Little Plastic Castle” and “Paradigm.”

A couple of instrumentals dot the record. “Station Identification” feels like a musical sorbet that sort of cleanses the listener’s palette between the album’s main courses. “Confluence” quietly unfolds, echoing the Jazzy Exotica of the title track of The Beach Boys’ “Pet Sounds.”

Other interesting tracks include the dissonant see-saw of “Chloroform” and the bare-bones “Metropolis.” The album closes with the domestic denouement of “Crocus.” Descending guitar notes wrap around rubbery bass lines, plucky strings and clanky percussion. Here, Ani’s vocals are stripped-down and unadorned, her mien appreciative. Somehow her relationship weathered all the sturm und drang; “Looks like we made it through something wild, I can hardly let myself believe it inside/Yesterday I even heard you laugh, took it like a bird bath, it has been a long, long, long, long time since I felt like that.” Lyrics liken the romantic rapprochement to the earth’s renewal; “When the longest, coldest winter finally lets go, and the first purple crocus pokes it’s head up through the snow, all the world can go to hell, if I’m right with you than all is well.” It’s a reassuring finish to a stellar album.

Produced by the Little Folksinger herself, she handled all the vocals and guitar, and was joined by longtime bandmates Todd Sickafoose on bass, keys, effects and vibraphone and Terence Higgins on drums, percussion triangle and crazy stick. Other players include Phil Cook on drums and shakers, Brevan Hampden on congas, bongos, triangle, shakers and percussion, Matt Douglas on saxophone, bass clarinet and flute, Brad Cook on bass and Roosevelt Collier on pedal steel. Plus a string section comprised of Jannie Wei and Wyatt True on violin, Kimberly Uware on Viola and Eric Alterman on cello. Revolutionary Love lands somewhere between Joni Mitchell’s Blue and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On (coincidently, both hit their 50th anniversary milestone this year). Like each of those records, Ani manages to chronicle bad times and good trouble, mixing deep introspection and righteous calls to action. It’s the first great album of 2021.

BY FIRE CHIEF SAM DIGIOVANNA ARE YOU MY TYPE?

to donate.

It may be 2021, but we are still in a pandemic and blood supplies are still low. To celebrate National Blood Donor Month, the American Red Cross is partnering with the NFL to help promote donations -- entering donors for a chance to win a trip to the 2022 Super Bowl.

Blood donation appointments can be made by downloading the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or to receive more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.

Do not let mosquitoes get your blood first. To give blood you need neither extra strength nor extra food, and you will save a life. If you are a blood donor, you are a hero to someone, somewhere, who received your gracious gift of life.

“You are somebody’s type, please donate!”