MITCHELL JONI - Both Sides Now
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CD Details
Artist: MITCHELL JONIBrand: MITCHELL,JONI
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
CD Release Date: 2000-03-21
Music Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Product features:
- MITCHELL JONI BOTH SIDES NOW
- You're My Thrill
- At Last
- Comes Love
- You've Changed
- Answer Me, My Love
- A Case Of You
- Don't Go To Strangers
- Sometimes I'm Happy
- Don't Worry 'Bout Me
- Stormy Weather
- I Wish I Were In Love Again
- Both Sides Now
Music reviews of Both Sides Now
Music Review: A Different Perspective, Now
Rating: 5 Stars
In 2000, Joni Mitchell released "Both Sides Now," an album of jazz standards backed by a 70-piece orchestra. This was her first album release since 1998's "Taming The Tiger" and was received very well by both fans and critics alike. In fact, it was perhaps her most warmly-received album in decades with the exception of 1994's Grammy-winning "Turbulent Indigo." Twelve songs take centre stage here, ten of which are jazz standards dating back as far as 1933. The other two are Joni Mitchell originals that fit in perfectly here. That's the genius of these songs, and indeed, Joni's music; that she could include two of her own original compositions here and they don't seem out of place.
Joni's smoking habit had given her voice a lovely, velvety texture over the years which comes through brilliantly on this album. Some argue that smoking destroyed the innocence she once possessed in her earlier years. I suppose it's all a matter of opinion. When I first heard these songs I was really taken aback. The orchestra is incredibly lush, sometimes a bit jarring and takes a bit of getting used to. Once I knew this songs though I could really enjoy them and I now rank this as one of Joni's winner albums.
"You're My Thrill" opens the album. The orchestra is in full swing and opens up full screen before Joni's even sung a single note. It's like full Technicolor. This is the first I heard from the album and I'll always remember how shocked I was to begin with, but it's not my favourite. "At Last" is one of my favourites. I love how it opens, very gently like a new day breaking. Joni may have been 57 when she recorded this, but she sings it with such youthful abundance that makes her sound like a love-struck teenager. However, the subject matter, about how she's finally found love after all this time, assures us that she's a wise and mature woman. Beautiful, really beautiful. "Comes Love" is a more jazzy number. It sounds like something you'd hear on Broadway or in the West End, or from Chicago. Joni is singing about how when love comes along, nothing can be done to stop it. I love songs like this, where references are made to other things through the song, but they all lead back to the main topic; "Comes a nightmare, you can always stay awake. Comes depression, you could get another break. Comes love, nothing can be done!"
"You've Changed" is a sad song, Joni singing about how her man has changed into something else. He doesn't love her anymore, and although it's a tad hyperbolic, we feel for her. These are show tunes and they are intent on getting a reaction, and they're successful when they work. "Answer Me, My Love" is another one of my favourites. Joni definitely has much love for the originals, you can sense it in the way she interprets them herself. This song fits perfectly after the last one. In that, she was singing about how her man has changed, but in this one, she's lost the love, and is holding onto the hope that it could be found again. I'm not sure why, but I love the line, "But if you still think about me, please listen to my prayer." Something about how she sings it. "A Case Of You" comes next, the first of two Joni originals remastered here. Of course it's not as good as the original, but it's very well executed.
"Don't Go To Strangers" has one of the most beautiful, breathtaking intros of all the songs here. This is a song about always knowing where you can return if all else fails. It's a good song, but not really very memorable. "Sometimes I'm Happy" works where some other fail in that it swings with a beautiful piano solo. The songs doesn't drag one bit, it glides along and doesn't feel like dangerous easy listening territory. "Don't Worry 'Bout Me" sees Mitchell forgetting the past and looking to the future, a different side to the facade of earlier tracks that tended to mope and drag with heartache. There is a tint of sadness in this, but it's kept to a minimum and counteracted by the 'change is good' attitude. "Stormy Weather" is one of the more atmospheric numbers. Where a lot of these songs are vivid and like sonic paintings, this one goes further and takes me right into the scene. It's another great song and the orchestra doesn't burst out in irritating solos like it does on some of the other songs. "I Wish I Were In Love Again" is another brilliant song with very clever lyrics; "When love congeals, it soon reveals, the faint aroma of performing seals." The sad tone of the song is undercut by a jolly and uptempo pace. "Both Sides Now," the title track, closes the album. The second of two Joni originals, this one works much better because in its original state it is much more a jazz standard than A Case Of You could ever be.
OVERALL GRADE: 9/10
This album re-ignited interest in Joni's music and also paved the way for 2002's "Travelogue," where Joni covered 20-odd songs from her back catalogue in this orchestral style. The result was mixed; some people loved it whilst others saw it as a big mess. I have yet to own that album but I shall soon form my own opinion on it. For now, this will do. I highly recommend this album, but I'd get her earlier material first.
Description of Both Sides Now
MITCHELL JONI BOTH SIDES NOWFolk CDs
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