> From: "Jim L'Hommedieu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "_JMDL" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: Joni's Most Underrated?
> Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2001 01:46:20 -0500
> Reply-to: "Jim L'Hommedieu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> I agree with Kakki (so what else is new?) that Joni's "Miles Of Aisles" is a
> good record. I think it's solid mainstream pop. The musicians are as good
> as anyone on albums of the day by JT, & Carole King. It's telling that MOA
> comes up short _in retrospect_. When comparing it to the level of S&L,
> HOSL, and Hejira, yeah, it's not there. Tom Scott comes up short in
> comparison to Wayne Shorter. Yeah. Absolutely. But in a way, so what?
> It's almost a no-brainer to agree with that statement. I also agree that
> Tom's contribution "worked" better in the studio than on the live album.
You know, this whole thing about what artists were better than
others, and which albums were better than others needs to be
dissected somewhat. As an artist, I believe you play with whom you
know and have contacts with at the time. As you grow with experience
you make more contacts, play with many other people and you try
different things. An artist may settle in with the "crowd" so to
speak, and cut an album. If it worked, you cut another, adding a
player or two, dropping one or two, or doing whatever is necessary to
get the feel you want. I think this is very "healthy" for a solo
artist and they have that freedom of not being stuck in a band.
That's why Joni's work appeals to me so much. Her songwriting has
been rock solid every time while playing with so many artists. My
favorite just happens to be Metheny, Pastorius, and Mays, but I like
everything. That's why when the next Joni Mitchell comes out I will
get it without listening to it first. It's just the next thing she
does.
Mike
