Lately, opening each Joni digest is like unwrapping gifts on Christmas morning -- all sorts of goodies are to be found!
People's passionate comments, for and against, are really adding to my enjoyment of T'LOG. Though some really don't like it (and I can understand where they're coming from), I think most of us would agree that it's an audacious work -- and, I would argue, not a "safe" work at all. What I love most about the list is how others articulate my thoughts. To wit: JENNY wrote: "I get such a kick out of the fact that T'LOG is generating such passionate, diverse, and often diametrically opposed opinions on the list. It may no be as perfect or sublime as many of us would have liked, but it sure packs a punch." KATE wrote: "I can understand that some just don't like the orchestral arrangements overall, but I just love the huge cinematic context of the songs this way." KAKKI wrote: "I don't know if this ia a good analogy -- but in T'LOG, I truly hear Joni's essence and the absolute beauty of the music through any cloud of vocal changes, orchestras, Wayne Shorter, whatever." ERIC wrote: "Let's just remember that all the original versions of these songs will always be available and not to expect Joni to sound like she did when she was 20something." FRED wrote: "I'll tell you what, it sure doesn't leave me indifferent, there's a lot to chew on." JAMIE wrote: "If you'd never heard of Joni, you woud think, 'Here's a woman with depth, clarity, range (of subject) and balls.'" STEVE wrote: "If she had done an album of re-records aiming to sound like the originals, then I would not be impressed." PAUL wrote: "The whole thing [JOB'S SAD SONG] is such an explosion of grief, heartbreak and anger -- and everything about the arrangement enhances the song." HARRY wrote: "I know I have said before that I think Joni's closest peer artistically is Stephen Sondheim and one of those reasons is that very duality of opinion that people have about their work." CATHERINE wrote: "I'm enjoying all the bantering about this album. It's amazing how many different views there are. I like that." I like that, too! Thanks to all. MICHAEL in Toronto
