Joni Mitchell- Both Sides now

Both Sides Now

 

Although this is not a Country Rock Album, Its more of a Jazz album, but its sure to be one of my favorite CDs being played today, so here is a review:

Like many other Joni Mitchell fans I wondered for many years why she didn't record a mainstream jazz album. You only had to listen to her singing well-known vocalese classics like "Twisted" on the "Court and Spark" album, or "Centrepiece" on "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" to know that she had the timing, range, and style to tackle it. Now she has come out with the answer. And it is excellent. Forget small intimate jazz groups - she's spun off in yet another direction (what else from such a varied artiste) and given us full-blown orchestral arrangements of these songs, none of which is new for this album. All but two are standards, and the exceptions are old Mitchell favorites. (...) every song has been chosen and put in a specific order to sketch the profile of a love affair. This is made quite clear in the album notes themselves. From the eager start ("You're My Thrill") via infatuation ("Comes Love"), disaffection ("You've Changed"), regret ("Stormy Weather") through to longing for a new affair ("I Wish I Were In Love Again") this is an album where you feel every track has to earn its place. The final track "Both Sides Now", which is singled out by many others as the weakest element on the album, actually takes on a whole new life by being put in as almost the coda to the entire theme of the album. Love comes and goes, and comes again. And when you've seen it from both sides . . . I find it amazing that this song from such a young writer as she was then can hold its head up in such exalted company. Some albums are designed for dipping in to, but I think this is definitely one for listening to from start to finish in a single session. The transition of mood from song to song is just right and there are very few programmed albums where you can say this with your hand on your heart. I know it's the wrong thing to ask of Ms. Mitchell, but "more of the same, please" would suit me.