[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << I'm surprised that such a sweeping group that "gets" Joni, compared to the general public, would in the end obsess over her earlier work. I refuse to believe the finest of her music ended with Hejira. --And to think we wonder why the general public thinks she died after her folk-rock days???? I, myself have often stated that Hejira is the finest work by Joni.>>> <<<Passion Play, The Sire of Sorrow are as fine a piece of poetry as any earlier work.>>> <<< Her adventurous nature to test the limits of harmony on the neck of her guitar with open tunings? The Wolf that Lives in Lindsey, Turbulent Indigo, Harlem in Havana. >>. <<< Listen to Speachless and tell me she's lost her touch at the piano!>>> John. (Putting up my dukes for Joni.)>>> Actually John I think you are right on in all your comments. I would like to add some complimentary commentary. With some musicians or artists I think there is definitely a tapering of quality material. Especially those trapped in the world of the "hit". But for artists who are masters like Joni Mitchell it is never the case of a song being better than another in the general sense. I believe that you need to look at the entire body of Jonis work as though shes the astronaut sent out into the universe and shes reporting back to us what she is seeing. Shes seeing different things as she goes along and the sum total of her life experience is providing changing lenses of experience by which she is judgeing what she is seeing and sending back to us "reports" about life and the world we live in. In the case of most artists we only get this one limited view but in the case of a writier like Joni who can do real expressive and poetic interpretations of life we get more than that. Are Van Goughs later paintings "better" than his later ones. They are different thats for sure but "better"?? I dont think the words apply. Any more than the earlier works of any master. they are simply that masters current view and all their views are worth alot. As such the Top-10 list on JMDL is basically the former thing you described. Everyone has a favorite and thats that so they share that with us. It isnt a finite rating method that has any gravity. I did enjoy your comments and their insightfullness.
