1. Well, it opens marvelously with "Be Cool" - a really fabulous version of it. As I said in an earlier post, all of the songs from Wild Things Run Fast, with the exception of Chinese Cafe, are given their ideal setting on Travelogue. It's as if this is what they were originally written for, maybe what Joni had in mind for them all along. Mendoza does great work on this track and Joni's voice is in good form.
2. Just Like This Train is a mediocre affair. The band does well at capturing some of the subtleties of the original but for the most part it loses its sense of fun and quirkiness. I always loved Just Like This Train for its very odd-ball phrasing, but it's lost here in this ultra-serious landscape. 3. Sex Kills is fantastic! She really gets it down on this one. I was very surprised by that, actually. In contrast to what I just wrote above, this song was ultra-serious to begin with and here it's got a more ironic feel to it. It ends wonderfully with that big crash of horns and Joni's extended finale: "Sex Kiiiiiiiiiiiiils!" 4. Refuge of the Roads is one of my favourites from Hejira. The harp work is excellent on this version. Here again, the orchestra added depth to the imagery and brought a more reflective mood to the song, just as it did on Amelia. 5. Hejira - well, nothing can beat the original. It's my favourite JM composition and holds enormous significance to me. But it's nice to have an alternate version by the artist herself, so I'll take it on that account. It's a lovely version at that. 6. Chinese Cafe/Unchained Melody - The only track from Wild Things Run Fast that doesn't quite work in this context. Thematically, it works marvelously, as a reflection on memories and the passing of time. Ideal for a "travelogue" of songs. But musically, it just doesn't fit the orchestra, or rather, the orchestra just doesn't fit the song. 7. Cherokee Louise. A great song to begin with and a much more grown up version here on Travelogue. The frantic phrasing of the original, like children skipping over bridges and train tracks, is subdued to a very slow and fluid re-telling. The orchestra here does tend to bury the subtleties a bit. 8. The Dawntreader. This version is superb! It evokes a wisdom and depth that the original didn't. Joni's lowered voice is purrrrfect for this rendition. It's lilting and soft and she doesn't over-do it, vocally. 9. The Last Time I Saw Richard. The original is one of the most wordy songs of her career, certainly one of the most conversational. Lots of "I said," "He said" phrasing. That just doesn't work with an orchestra. I did get a chuckle out of Joni's barmaid: 'Drink up now, it's gettin' on time to close!' much like her Miles of Isles performance. Totally fishnet stockins! But, basically, it's too conversational for a languid, orchestral backdrop. 10. Borderline is fantastic. It gains an added air of severity and Mendoza catches a nice little melody in the song and plays it up well. It's quite a sad song on this record, less reflective and more conclusive. 11. The Circle Game. This one almost moved me to tears too. It's a good song to end on, sort of noting that the seasons will continue to go round and round and round, regardless of age, that there may be more travelogues to come. The inclusion of this song indicates to me that this is not the end for Joni. There is something of a promise of more to come. I think Wayne over did it a bit here, too much spiralling sax. So, I like disc 2 better than the first. I give this disc an A. I haven't looked at the bonus gallery yet, but will do right after I send this off. This is a wonderful collection of songs. I wish more people saw it for what it is - a retrospective with enormous scope worthy of big sound and lots of attention. It demands patience, no question. But it's worth it. So worth it. -Andrew Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now
