Joni Mitchell - Shine
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Free Music Notes for Shine
Free Music Review: Shining example of enduring talent
Hit: 5 Stars
Joni Mitchell has enjoyed a career that spans all genres; she has dipped her toe in the lakes of folk rock, pop, jazz and world music, to name but a few of her musical adventures. Many fans would like to preserve her in the mold of " Blue" or " Court and Spark", which ever of these discs spoke to them in the most profound way. "Shine" proves what Ms. Mitchell herself has contended all along. She must be allowed to follow her muse. Given that freedom, she can produce some wonderous results.
Above all, Ms. Mitchell is a story teller of the first order, capable of poetically synthesizing complex events/emotions into musical form. " One Week Last Summer", the opening track, displays a gift for expressing inspiration without words. Revisit " Court and Spark" and see if this ability was not present in "Down to You". Mitch takes this and stretches it to accomodate her renewed interest in the musical arts. She has once again found her voice.
The concept ( all Mitchell recordings are concept driven) involves the insanity of war, both humanity against one another and the war we have waged with our planet. The remake of " Big Yellow Taxi" shows how relevant that song should have been upon its release thirty seven years ago. Joni saw it, yet few others did. With an accordian and slightly revamped lyrics she tries again to ring the alarm....albeit in a playful manner.
Maintaining a good heart is one of the secrets of life. Without claiming too much space it can be said that "Shine" encourages us to keep the faith, do our part, and mind the heart, regulating the cynicism inherent in living through modern times. The musicality is first rate, with Mitch playing the piano as well, or better, than we've ever heard. Highly recommended for Joniphiles and new fans alike.
Free Music Review: The Year of Joni
Hit: 5 Stars
This is turning out to be Joni Mitchell's year. First we got a fascinating (if hit-or-miss) tribute to Joni Mitchell featuring the likes of Annie Lennox, James Taylor, Prince and k. d. lang. Now, comes a double delight in Herbie Hancock's RIVER: THE JONI LETTERS and this wonderful new work by the woman herself. I strongly recommend picking up both Hancock and Mitchell discs at the same time. They work almost as a pair. Tina Turner's rendition of "Edith and the Kingpin" is particularly illuminating, as it is not only a fine performance by all concerned, but we have not heard the jazz side of Tina Turner much, if ever. Hancock also covers two other artists who have been important to Mitchell, and while there are other guest vocalists, some of the tunes are moving instrumental versions of her songs. Joni also guests on a startling remake of "The Tealeaf Prophecy" done in a purely jazz setting. If Hancock's JONI LETTERS expresses the improvisational side of Joni, SHINE finds her in a relaxed atmosphere of pop, jazz and folk stylings, fleshed out with lush orchestrations and varied rhythms. In a lesser artist's hands, some of this new material might come off as preachy, but as always, Joni says it all in the service of the music, and gorgeous music it is... and while venting and lamenting, there is a surprising note of hope in many of these songs. It's not all darkness; Joni points out more than once the distant light at the end of the tunnel, which manifests itself in the notion that human beings have it within their power to change the world for the better. Welcome back Joni: may you never leave us!Free Music Review: One of her best albums in 15 years
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm writing this review after a long, tiring day and am not fishing for helpful votes.
I believe this album is one of the few "comeback" recordings by a major artist that has succeeded, not only because of the intensity of the lyrics which focus on the complexities of love and the amage wrought by those who abuse politics for selfish ends. In this sense, she is the same, lyrical, committed artist she was in the 1960's and '70's.
Whie I will one day listen to this album more carefully, I have run it on a virtual loop for a day, and can make the following claims: The cigarette rasp has faded from the voice. In its place is a full, earnest, very listenable smoky alto voice that carries the show nicey. The backup band is absolutely superb, as is the sound engineering. The package is well-designed and lyrics, as usual are included.
I am not a fanatic about musicians, but I know what I like. This is a mellow, compassionate, listenable album producedin a meticulous way.
The only dud is Mitchell's new cover of BIG YELLOW TAXI. One wonders why it is here and what this particular cover does to the song's equity. Nothing beats BLUE in the long run.
Starbucks has become very selectie about its productions, but they have succeeded once again. It is comforting to know that an artst I loved while I was in college is back in action, producing and performing on albums that have lasting value. If you already love Joni Mitchell, buy this without reservation. If not, test the cuts and decide for yourselves.
I just loved it.
Free Music Review: Joni's Triumphunt return of Shining Beauty
Hit: 5 Stars
This legendary artist returns, after thumbing her nose at the corporate music world ten years ago,with her head out of the sand,and on top of her game!Giving us a lyrical view of what most of us avoid seeing every day on our ipod's, black berry's, TV news, newspapers etc. Because most of us are too busy with our ipods,black berrys cellphones, emails to even pay attention. Mitchell's lyrics are not to bring us down, but to make us aware.And to point out to the cellphone zombies, and everyone else in this world with there heads IN the sand, the reality of the condition that our world is in.She does it like no one else can.Musically Mitchell is in top form."Shine" has the remanencene of the periods of "Blue" and "For the Roses".Her music has gone even further in a direction of creative artistry, continuing to snubb the commercialism so many of us wanted her to continue after a masterpiece like "Court and Spark". She has found another place to let the artist be in control of there artistry rather than the corporate world doing so.The music flows along on this Cd from song to song like a beautiful stream.Her vocals are in top form,and are where most mature singers of this day would be. Let's face it, Joni's vocals are that of a seasoned jazz singer!It's not 1970 any longer. Even though she does cover her own "Big Yellow Taxi (2007)", which fits in perfectly on this fine set. The Cd packaging is beautiful, and in this fans opinion, "Shine" out shines itself. Thank you for coming back Joni! Five stars!
Free Music Review: Lucky Paw
Hit: 5 Stars
"Shine" is utterly delightful. If you are expecting "Ladies of the Canyon 2," Joni has forever been changed by the jazz sound that started to strongly permeate her music on "The Hissing of Summer Lawns." "One Week Last Summer" is like a symphonic jazz overture with melody flavored by memory and playfulness. "This Place" follows with a strong melody and a classic Mitchell lyric, "When I get to heaven, if it is not like this, I'll just hop a cloud & I'm coming right back down here." "If I Had a Heart" is a political treatise that Mitchell hangs on melodic riffs, "Too much rage & desire; It makes you feel so feeble now; It's so out of hand -- big bombs & barbed wire." "Strong & Wrong" also mines similar territory, "Is that what God is for? Just a Rabbit's foot? Just a lucky paw for shock & awe?" My favorite track on the CD is "Hana" with its strong percussion & Mitchell's backing vocals like an electrified chorus. Like the Tennessee Williams play, "Night of the Iguana" could well be a jazz suite set in Mexico, "Can you hear the castanets? The widow is dancing down on the beach." The title track is the longest at seven plus minutes and echoes Mitchell's theme of measuring our wartime actions with against our highest religious understanding. Mitchell uses the Rudyard Kipling poem of the same name as inspiration for the final "If." "Shine" is a meaty, melodic, excellent jazz hybrid that only Joni Mitchell could write. Bravo!