Jerry
Bob Shemkovitz wrote:
I was glad to find the recent posts from Andrew, Kate & Kerry in this morning's digests - it's nice to be reminded that there are others out there who find this album so meaningful.
Song to a Seagull is a thing of rare beauty. Joni is absolutely ethereal throughout.
There is such a timeless quality to these songs - in spite of all the references to 20th century artifacts like drip dry and light bills and meter maids and neon nights, I always have the sense that these songs could have been written a thousand years ago. They're like a voice from days gone by, echoing through the years and finding us in the here and now, giving voice to the eternal needs and desires and turmoils of the human condition.
I know what you mean about goosebumps, Kate, I often have that response to this album. The emotional and psychic content of these songs strike so deep a chord. The beauty of The Dawntreader, the despair of Marcie, the idylls of Michael from Mountains, the aching and longing of the title song, every emotion from the joyful to the bittersweet, it's all so heartfelt and intense, and Joni conveys it all so well.
And just on a purely aesthetic level, the poetry of her lyrics is so far beyond anything I've ever heard from a "pop" artist, even by Dylan, Lennon, Chrissie, or Neil, it just puts Joni in a category all her own. This album is one of those precious gifts to be grateful for. And I agree with you, Andrew - listening to it on a beautiful spring day is a highly recommended!
About 60 hours to go for Heart & Mind, and I'm jonesing with the rest of you...
Bob in CT
Fold your fleet wings, I have brought some dreams to share A dream that you love someone A dream that the wars are done A dream that you tell no one but they grey sea - They'll say that you're crazy!
