Kate, I agree that many of the reviewers don't seem to have heard what I'm in the process of hearing. After reading so much about the deterioration of her voice, I was expecting (dreading) some kind of embarrassing rasp. That is not the case at all. I don't know what they're talking about. In fact, I feel her vocals are very effective indeed. And very musical (one critic remarked that she was 'narrating' the songs rather than singing them). Like any good artist, she knows how to make the absolute most of whatever limitations she may be faced with; allowing imagination, intelligence, talent, feeling and artistry to more than make up for any deficiency in technique. No, she doesn't have the range she once had (and frankly some of her early soprano moments get on my nerves), and the long, languorous vocal lines are now clipped, but she sure as hell can sell a song.
I'm also pleasantly surprised by the arrangements, orchestrations and production. It seems the orchestra is used for punctuation, rather than the background wash of BSN, which I did not care for. It puts the rhythm and percussion back, which seems so much a part of Joni's musical style. Also, the vocals are more in front. I can hear every word -- which is so much the point. In fact, that's why Sire of Sorrow is such a revelation to me here. For some reason, the lyrics are hard for me to hear on TI. But now, in this new version, every word is clear, and I find it very moving. The emotional content overall is very powerful. Clearly, these songs culled from so many years of songwriting have a lot more going for them than 'picture postcard charms.' They are much more than pop cultural snapshots from the 60s, 70s, etc. I can't wait to hear the rest. But I'm going to listen to disc 1 through 2 or 3 times first. Bruce
