I had already heard and played a number of times the pieces from the Nonesuch site and those that another lister (I think?) posted. This album needs to be heard at least two or three times to come together. First impressions can be misleading. I've gone back and forth between thinking, "Yuck!" and "Holy crap, this thing is sublime!"
My initial reaction to some of the songs was, fer Chrissakes, willya lay off the cigarettes? You sound like you've got emphysema! But of course, all that has now been said. Let's not talk about smoking now. I haven't heard the whole disc yet. Those songs I have heard are all songs I already heard from the downloads. The CD versions are, of course, better than the downloaded ones (I did burn a CDR of the ones I was able to copy from that tripod site and they weren't bad at all.) Here's a few impressions from my point-a-view. Flat Tires - well, hey, this is the song as it should have been done. I didn't care much for it on WTRF, but this one is great. Kind of like Peggy Lee, after she lost the little-girl sound, but before she became so laid-back as to be semi-comatose. This one swings, baby. Love that funk organ. Give me more! Slouching toward Bethlehem - lots of forward motion and dynamic sound in this. Stunningly arranged, this one. Lots of "beasty" noises from the orchestra, like elephant trumpetings and lions-and-tigers-and-bears (oh my!) growling and roaring. Sounds like the rough beast is moving relentlessly toward you, and past you and then on away from you. Think Juggernaut. Think big-budget bible movies, or Liz Taylor as Cleopatra. Crowd scenes, animals, all that stuff. Think the circus is coming to town as interpreted by Stephen King. (Mwa-ha-ha - the circus of eeeevil!) Be glad it didn't stop to eat you on its way through town to bigger things. The Last Time I Saw Richard - feels like Joni is speaking right in your ear. Wow - how LOW can you GO? Otis and Marlena - timeless and timely. (Small digression here - I always thought Otis would look like Abner Kravitz from the "Bewitched" TV show for some reason; and Marlena would be a tall blonde leggy woman with a big hat and dark glasses, maybe an ex-beauty-queen or wannabe. Kind of like Joni but more princess-y - one of those women who just *has* to have the latest everything.) Back to the CD track though - does the original DJRD version have that clarinet or oboe or high sax tweedling "by the dawn's early light" at the end of it too? Must give it a listen. Cherokee Louise - well, I think Joni captures a little-girl quality in the opening few lines; almost like she has become her younger self once again and remembers it like it just happened. One of the questions I would ask Joni if ever I met her would be, "So, why WERE the cops after Louise? Is it because she stabbed or attacked her foster father? (Jeez, I hope so!) or is it just because she ran away?" Has Joni ever said? This question has plague me ever since I heard the song. I'd also like to know what ever became of Louise; like is she OK?" More later. Maybe. Maybe not. TTFN. ===== Catherine Toronto ______________________________________________________________________ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
