Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 24, 2026

To the Teeth

To the Teeth is singer-songwriter Ani DiFranco's 10th studio album, released in November 1999.

Last revised
Jul 24, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
445 w
Citations
13
Source
To the Teeth
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 16, 1999 (1999-11-16)
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
AllMusicStarStarStar1
Alternative PressStarStarStarStar2
The A.V. Club(mixed)3
Chicago Tribune(average)4
Los Angeles TimesStarStarHalf star9
MusicOMH(positive)5
QStarStarStar2
Robert Christgau(1-star Honorable Mention)6
Rolling StoneStarStarStar7
SlantStarStarStar8
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

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

Production

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

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
position
UK Independent Albums (OCC)10 33
US Billboard 20011 76
References

References