GrooveOut Women to Be Reckoned With Stevie Nicks and Ani DiFranco find common ground in new releases by Chris Sill

Stevie and Ani. One dresses in exotic chiffons and velvets, the other wears a nose ring and tank top. One writes songs so shrouded in mystery, only she knows the meaning. The other’s lyrics often are so direct you’re ready to follow her into battle. Could there be a sharper contrast between two of modern music’s most original rockers? Maybe not, but with both women releasing new CDs this spring, they share more in common than just rhyming first names.

In her first studio release since 1994, Fleetwood Mac front woman Stevie Nicks makes a welcome solo return with Trouble in Shangri-La. No signs of trouble exist here as Nicks is in fine vocal form throughout the 13-song set, five of which were produced by gal-pal Sheryl Crow. Other guests lending a hand include Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, and the Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines.

Even with such a strong supporting cast, Shangri-La is ultimately all Stevie. From the 1972-penned "Sorcerer" to radio-ready ballad "Everyday," Nicks reclaims and redefines her role as the high priestess of rock with a new sense of confidence. Yes, all the mystery is still there–something unequivocally missing from today’s pop stars–but also present is a wiser understanding of herself and her universe. On "That Made Me Stronger" she realizes that only she can find her true self again when a friend refuses to help her with songwriting. "Well you know me better than I know myself. Can you write this for me? He says no, you write your songs yourself. That made me stronger. It made me hold on to me." Good advice is hard to find, but lucky for Nicks (and us) she takes it and runs with it.

Newfound maturity is also apparent on Ani DiFranco’s latest release Revelling Reckoning. Gone are the old issues of sexual labeling. DiFranco has since married (a man) and moved on, something her lesbian following has had to deal with.

Her music has moved on too. Always one to experiment, DiFranco’s endeavors prove worthwhile on rousing solo performances that make up about half of the double CD. This is especially true on Revelling, the first CD, where DiFranco shows off her love affair with the guitar. Revelling also finds her tinkering with jazzy influences as legendary horn player Maceo Parker and trumpeter Jon Hassel make guest appearances.

Reckoning, CD two, exposes the more intimate side of DiFranco. She paves a smooth road into her heart and mind by slowing down the musical tempo and turning up the lyrical content. Fans of DiFranco’s signature call-to-arms prose won’t be disappointed; she’s still as outspoken as ever. She calls the Reagan-Bush era a "plague" on the opening song "Your Next Bold Move." But the difference now is her search for atonement in herself and society. Reckoning becomes a move into maturity for DiFranco.

Here lies the common ground between Nicks and DiFranco. Maturity. There’s nothing more important to an artist’s career than growth, but to flourish as an artist requires a certain maturity. How one reaches that maturity is to each her or his own, and how one expresses it ultimately becomes their legacy. Despite their contrasting images, both Nicks and DiFranco have discovered a new level of confidence and maturity in their artistry. They’re a little older, a little wiser–and we are a little better off for it.