>whatever musical gift she once had for composition has long since dissipated.
Hmmm... I don't agree with this. While I accept that she isn't as consistent as she once was, Joan's melodies and chord progressions can still be brilliant and unusual - "Two Grey Rooms", "Harlem in Havana", "Sire of Sorrow" - these are just a few of the songs that match her famed 70s output. And lets not forget the controversial DED album, which, as those of us who listen to the music and not the production can testify, contains some of the best tunes of Joni's career... "The street was loud/from an angry crowd/ and I thought of you/I thought of you dreamer..." Amazing! ps Im a musician so I can tell a lazy/contrived/cliched chord progression or melody when I hear it! Owen
