At first, I too got a little depressed by the state of JM's voice. The image of Loretta Switt keeps popping up (not a bad image, but disconcerting). But repeated listening bears fruit. So much of her music was mature beyond its years, years ago and the weathered voice now only adds meaning and irony to many of these songs.
I love her Travelogue verision of Hejira. It is so cinematic to me. The staggered beginning brings me rich visions of a road in flat midwest and the approach of a fast moving car on the horizon. As the car approaches, I am swept into the car with JM singing. The tophat cymbol playing, while criticized earlier, sounds like the rhythm of the road. Perfect in my mind. Then there is the Moan. Right after she sings "between the foreceps and the stone" JM gives us a little Moan -- oooohhhhh. Where did that Moan come from!? It sounds so spontaneous and real. I want more! If only for the Moan, I will buy this album. Ron
