She was mad at the world at the time of those interviews, sometimes with good reason. And very uncomfortable interviews they were… I’m glad she has since thawed and has so many music-loving friends as part of her support system. Generations of talented people join in on her jam sessions. She really has learned to enjoy music again.
Joni's guitar work is incredible. Whether or not due to the tunings, she is a very gifted guitarist. Hearing her double tracked guitar on Cold Blue Steel & Sweet Fire made me a believer for life. And that is just one exquisite example from that one incredible album.
I want the whole world to enjoy being together. That is what makes our time on this earth matter. I am glad that she seems to be so much more at peace. She deserves it.
Joni can't quite live up to Adèle because Joni hasn't yet had the privilege of recording a song for a James Bond movie. All jokes aside, her songwriting speaks for itself.
Between Charles Mingus and Hank Mobley in my collection (I don't separate jazz from rock, pop or folk, only classical music is separate). As for ordering the greats, she is up there, probably #1 among the singer-songwriters, slightly ahead of Bob and Laura. But I don't rate her as high as the greatest rock bands or the top jazz performers.
I love her but Mingus is the last album that I liked. In other words, everything before Wild Things Run Fast* is a must. Also, in her later career, Joni's voice has become smokier and somehow I can't get past that. * Chinese Cafe / Unchained Melody is great though ...
Up there - but I agree with the local critic who said that Stevie Nicks music is more real than the jazz mama ******** of Joni.
That’s because she’s old. There are people I see every day who are probably ten years younger who look older. Joni looked amazing, and defied her age, for decades. She’s been through a lot since the aneurysm, and was a chain-smoker for a very long time. Takes its toll, eventually.
That very same charge has been leveled at David Crosby. Whether it's for good reason or not is almost entirely based your preconceptions about Crosby. Brandi Carlisle comes off as honest in her love of Joni's music.
Well, apples and oranges regarding standard vs. alternate tunings. It's funny, 'cos people love to rag on Joni's "jazz explorations," but jazz guitarists generally stick to standard for almost everything. It's rock and folk players who get into the alt. tunings - Nick Drake, Stills, Jimmy Page, Crosby. Elliott Smith used a few different tunings. I think Joni might be at the top of the mountain for the sheer number of tunings she's written in. She's a great rhythm guitarist, and even before she got into the alt. tunings, the Early Joni portion of Archives Vol. 1 proves that she was excellent at accompanying herself in a traditional folk style.
I have no interest in ranking musicians or songwriters. I do have quite a few Joni albums because I like her music. But I also have none by other good songwriters due to the fact that I don't like their voice or musical styles.
True. I believe Brandi became a fan of Joni, thanks to her now-wife, right around the time of Joni's stroke. I can see Brandi's fan-girling as taking every opportunity to tell your idol what they mean to you before it's too late, after thinking initially that you would probably never have that chance.
It would be difficult to get to where Stevie and Joni are without some level of calculation. I'm not a mind reader, so I have no idea which of the two is "more real."
