Hey AZEEM, I'm sorry that T'LOG is a "disaster" for you. And I'm not trying to change your mind. I mean, I'm not fond of DED or CMIARS -- though I wouldn't call either a disaster. I think of them as Joni explorations that -- for me -- were less successful than other explorations.
I think you have to be careful , though, in how you phrase your criticism. Some of us really love the arrangements (count me in) and love Joni's passionate (if not always perfect) performances of these songs. So when you write, in reference to the new HEJIRA, "desecrated by the arrangements and rendered pitiful by the weakness of the singing," you're asking for trouble, pal! ;-) It's funny, I don't love every minute of T'LOG, but I think that this HEJIRA is perfection. I find the orchestration sweeping and succulent and full of feeling; and Joni's singing is riding the wave. But here I go, trying to change your mind. It ain't gonna happen, is it? And that's OK. Alot of folks don't like the T'LOG WOODSTOCK, but I do. A lot of folks love COME IN FROM THE COLD, but I don't. What am I trying to say?! Oh yeah: let's agree to disagree sometimes.
