#1. best Album cover... That is hard, because so many of her album covers (like her music compliments her lyrics) are representative of the music within. Blue, for instance, the picture is sort of fuzzy, dark blues, her eyes are shut, head pointed downward, all of that complements the album well. Then you have Hejira, The road behind Joni, the endless white lines extending back, the cigarette in her mouth as if she was just getting out of the car for a quick smoke and then back into the car and unto the road, the colors are grey, white, and black, the music is the same, consistent and simple, but at the same time lyrically complex like the Journey of which Joni took.
Turbulent Indigo, the Van Gogh-tribute, Joni with her ear off, as if she was saying she too had lost it, like Van Gogh, that she was cast out and own her own. The Idea of the ear being sliced off gives me a viceral feeling like the songs which permeate the album. It is biting and some of the songs ghostly, just like the colors of the painting on the cover...
Also, I would add Hissing of Summer Lawns to the Best album list and I totally agree with you. I love the cryptic message within and the colors chosen. Because of these qualities, it may be harder for some people outside of the list and/or Joni afficinados to see the concept. So, i would have to say that her best cover is Hejira.
#2. My personal favorite: Don Juan's Reckless Daughter, I love Joni as a man in blackface and the similar typeof artwork from Hejira.. i.e. the naked woman and mikey mouse balloons on Joni's dress.. the birds flying away, (reminds me of Paprika Plaines and SIlky Veils of Ardour) and ofcourse like Hissing of SUmmer Lawns the two strong background colors which set the characters on the cover off as if they were popping off of the cover, i love those HoJO colors! IT says alot about her explorations through music, like the album cover, the music makes swift changes but for me still stays glued together.
You know Dog eat Dog is a great cover too, if only the Album title wasn't Dog Eat Dog. Mind you, I only say this in the context of discussing of album artwork. Because the title is Dog Eat Dog, is just seems obvious what the album is saying. if say the album was called, "Incendiary Soul" or "Tax Free" it almost becomes a stronger image, the dogs seemingly ripping at each other and at Joni.
#3. The Best Album that Describes Joni as a person..?
I'd have to say, "Turbulent INdigo" for the late 80s to the present
Hejira would be representative for the period of "For the Roses" to "Minugs" and this is because Hejira is about taking a trip to get away from something uncomfortable or unwanted, right? During these 8 years, she left her past sytle behind and evolved with each album, as if each album was a different state/country/province in which she was travelling.
ANd for the early years, "Ladies of the Canyon" The simplicity of the colors and black marker geese best describes her music from Before Songs to a Seagull up to about blue, before she started adding new colors to the palate.
Blair F.
NP: Desolation Row, Bob Dylan
Which is her "best" album cover, and why? This may be better worded as "Which
is your favourite", as this will always be subjective....
Which cover best describes the musical and/or lyrical content of that album?
And which cover best describes Joni as a person?
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