Travelogue

by

Joni Mitchell

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Joni Mitchell's TRAVELOGUE is a stunning, superlative work.

Capitalizing on the success of her last album, BOTH SIDES NOW, Joni has had 22 of her own pieces arranged for full orchestra by Vince Mendoza. Joni admirers probably need no further urging, so I encourage people who may not be familiar with Ms. Mitchell but love both traditional orchestral / jazz arranging and/or poetry to pick this up.

If you *are* familiar with the original versions of these songs, it may be a little jarring to hear them arranged in such a manner at first. Once getting past that, there is no question this is an album of startling reinterpretation. Never before has the poetic nature of Joni Mitchell's lyrics been so powerful or crystalline clear. There is never a musical arrangement that overwhelms her crucial words. It all mixes together flawlessly.

Every track from start to finish is a winner. However, my personal favorites are "Hejira" (with a gorgeous string arrangement taking the place of Jaco Pastorius' brilliant bass work on the 1976 original), "Amelia," with dreamy, soaring strings and horn in place of Joni's guitar, the haunting "Love" and the perfect jazz of "You Dream Flat Tires" and "Be Cool."

The packaging for the album is quite elegant & beautiful. We're treated to a full color booklet featuring various paintings of Joni's accompanied by lyrical quotes from appropriate songs. The 'Enhanced CD" portion accessible in a CD-ROM (via Disc One only), contains even more. Joni's latest paintings are featured in a "gallery" to browse through.

Also on the CD-ROM, you can read the lyrics to each song (from either disc) on it's own page and hear that song concurrently. You can't listen to all 22 songs in continuity using this feature (you have to keep clicking back or ahead), but it is amazing that so much material is housed on one CD. There is also a separate black and white booklet for the lyrics alone.

As someone else stated, this is music that demands attention. Be in a quiet spot when you first listen; I guarantee you will be moved. Treat yourself to this incredible journey through Joni Mitchell's life and world....and if you haven't already, pick up BOTH SIDES NOW as well!

Someone once said that art that offends no-one isn't really art. This recording proves that. It is pleasing and disturbing at the same time.

I have all of Joni Mitchells's recordings. Since I prefer the Miles Davis-inspired albums, this one works for me, musically and artistically. What is unsettling is the over-the-top full orchestra arrangements and Joni's now-limited voice range. For reasons that elude me, as they age, many singers seem to want full orchestra back-up. I'm thinking of the late recordings of Billie Holliday, recent Shirley Horn recordings and Sinatra recordings where the orchestra overpowered his failing voice.

The unexpected sound of this recording makes it challenging and artistic. In that way she joins an elite group of interesting woman singers like Marianne Faithful and Pattie Smith, although Mitchell is far more the poet and musician. She is a real artist who challenges herself not to repeat herself. She isn't satisfied in making things pleasing. I am not sure,however, that the post-modern spin on her earlier songs does them or her justice. I get the feeling that the music arranger and coproducer controlled the sessions, which I am sure was not the case.

I miss the lonely guitar work and the voice that had maturity yet didn't seem to be straining. If you are wanting the Joni Mitchell sound of the past, you'll find this recording foreign.