Travelogue Through Time

[Scott Price]

Joni's latest album, Travelogue, has had my attention for a few days and it will take several more for it to sink in. Like so many others here, I was blown away by the packaging and spent at least an hour studying the book and the CD visuals before delving into the music.

Upon opening the book, I saw the image of Icarus and knew that we were about to be taken on a journey up toward the sun. Also like Icarus, I knew that at some point we'd crash back to earth, and it didn't take long before the images of September 11 were bringing me back to the cold and still unbelievable events of that day. Joni depicts the television news camera images of the towers on fire, the faces in the smoke, and a president bearing the weight of the catastrophe wrought by people whose motives are unfathomable to most of us. A ghastly scenario was hinted at before in "Slouching Toward Bethlehem," which foresaw a "blood dimmed tide loosed upon the world," but who could have guessed it would be this horrendous? Her painting of the flag of the United States being raised by firefighters with the World Trade Center ruins in the background pays tribute to the victims as well as the survivors and chillingly illustrates the lyrics: "innocence is drowned in anarchy" while trying to comprehend the actions of those who are "full of passion without mercy."

The next several paintings seemingly accompany "Refuge of the Roads" which is my all-time favorite Joni composition. The cross-country trip which spawned the song and the album "Hejira" was just one of her life's journeys, but exemplifies how she observes and captures the things one can see as we go through life. Next up, to the lyrics from "Woodstock," and "The Circle Game," we see pictures of children playing in the idyllic setting and a portrait of Marlin, her grandson, who may be a couple of generations removed but will soon enough find the circles of time passing ever more quickly and will be dragging his feet to slow them down.

After reading some reviews and previews of the album I was most pleasantly surprised to find that this ravaged voice I had been hearing about was actually sounding more youthful and strong that it had on the last project (BSN). Joni has chopped off so many of the sustaining notes lately that it sometimes seems that she is short of breath, but on several of the "Travelogue" songs she belts it out and holds the notes and proves that reports of her vocal deterioration are greatly exaggerated. The sopranic innocence is gone but has been replaced by a highly-nuanced presentation that colors the sonic palette with an ease that could only come from an artist so supremely talented. The lack of Mitchell vocal overdubs (a trademark throughout her career) is not missed due to the dramatic flourishes of the orchestra and the featured players, especially Wayne Shorter, whose expressive riffs help create these musical masterpieces. With so many instruments in the orchestra and the arrangements which quickly move between moody quiet passages to huge crescendos there are abundant musical colors throughout.

The songs are all-so-familiar to those of us who have played the older albums for years. To re-work them all, with the new arrangements, was a courageous move that will no doubt draw fire from critics who are content with the old versions, but they give me a whole new appreciation for her craft and also speak volumes for her ability as a songwriter. Only songs with a deep and complex base, songs like "Judgement of the Moon and Stars," "Slouching Towards Bethlehem," and "The Sire of Sorrow" could be given this orchestral treatment and remain so cohesive and dramatic. Others, such as "The Dawntreader" and "The Last Time I Saw Richard," show true creative genius in their adaptations.

Joni, I've been travelling this road with you for 30 years. We've seen many of the same things, felt many of the same things, but you have the unique ability to convey that which you see and feel to us through your music and your art. "Travelogue" is a continuation as well as a review of the journey, richly annotated and inspiring. Life may indeed be a circle game; everything goes around and around, including your songs. But you show us that as the cycle continues, there is still room to consider, to adapt, to reinvent, and for that, I thank you.

Scott