Joni Mitchell - Woman of Heart and Mind: A Life Story (2003) Review

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Joni Mitchell - Woman of Heart and Mind: A Life Story (2003) ReviewThis is a sensitive and beautifully made documentary that I recommend highly.
Joni is one of my favorite musicians. I have been listening to her on a regular basis for over 30 years. As a result, my expectations for this kind of film were high, and overall I was pleased with what I saw.
By far the most appealling part of this documentatary is the wonderful archival footage of a young Joni doing a number of her great early songs. This material simply shimmers with an almost other worldly glow. The retelling of the writing of her song Woodstock all but had me in tears, it was so moving and evocative.
The commentary by people who knew her well, such as David Crosby, Graham Nash, David Geffin, and others, is thoughtful and very enlightening. Recent footage from an interview with Joni herself is also very engaging.
Ultimately I would like to read a really long, really thorough biography that would explain all the complicated details that make up this extraordinary woman's life. There just wasn't enough room to dig into some of the most interesting transitions in her complicated life in this beautifully made, two hour long film. I still hunger for more information.
Joni is such an intelligent woman, and many of the decisions in her later life would make interesting material for a more in depth exploration. Her relationship to jazz, the development of breakthrough albums such as Hejira and Mingus, her personal thoughts on other musicians, etc. All of this would be interesting to read about in more depth.
But one needs to recoginize the limitations of the genre. You can only do so much in a documentary film. And certainly one understands why there was so much focus on her early career, given the almost transcendent power of the early archival footage. The early Joni was a being from another planet, or some parallel idealized universe, almost impossibly beautiful and talented. Given the nature of this early footage, it is easy to forget that she became more interesting as she grew older.
Overally, this is excellent work, a must see for any one who really loves Joni's work and wants to know more about her.
(If one gives every film that one really likes 5 stars, then how can you highlight those truly stellar films that all but change our lives. This is a great film, but I can only bring myself to give it 4 stars. It's very good, but it's not a Bergman or Fellini film.)Joni Mitchell - Woman of Heart and Mind: A Life Story (2003) OverviewDVD CHAPTERS Childhood/Beginnings All I Want * Urge for Going * Little Green * Both Sides Now Night in the City * I Had a KingGreenwich Village/Laurel Canyon (The 60's) Cactus * Circle Game * Chelsea Morning * Ladies of the Canyon Just Like Me * Positively 4th Street (Bob Dylan)First Record/Carnegie Hall/Woodstock Marcie * Conversation * Morning Morgantown * WoodstockRomance with Graham Nash/Creative Process My Old Man * The Agreement * California * Our House (Graham Nash) Get Together (Graham Nash)Blue/Retreat/Transformation Blue * A Case For You * For Free * River * For the Roses I'm a Radio * Raised on Robbery * Same SituationNew Musical Languages/Painting Amelia * Hejira * Coyote * Cotton Avenue * Chair in the Sky Dry Cleaner from Des Moines * Goodbye Pork Pie HatMarriage and Divorce/Social Commentary/Honors Wild Things Run Fast * Underneath the Streetlight * Come in From the Cold Dog Eat Dog * Sex Kills * Taming the TigerFull Circle Stay in Touch * Both Sides Now

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Patty Griffin: Live From the Artists Den (2007) Review

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Patty Griffin: Live From the Artists Den (2007) ReviewThis DVD seems to have a very clear mission -- to showcase both the exceptional talent and the endearing qualities of Patty Griffin. I think it succeeds well in this mission. It nicely blends many of the songs performed by Ms. Griffin during a special February 2007 concert at a converted synagogue in New York City with short excerpts of an interview of Ms. Griffin conducted before the concert. Each interview excerpt is timed so that its content fits nicely in the sequence of the songs performed. During the best of those excerpts, Ms. Griffin notes that she goes through a brief mourning period after she records a song adding that her songs "do have a life of their own. I mean they're mine for a little while and I know what they are to me, when I have them, initially, and then they go out into the world and it's completely . . . it's a personal experience for every listener so, um, they don't belong to me anymore, you know . . .". That sentence fades immediately into the blue-lighted stage for the first note of "When It Don't Come Easy", a powerful song, as many of hers are, that certainly has a special meaning to her, but is clearly open to many potential personal meanings for the listener.
A special moment occurs when Ms. Griffin, alone on the stage, starts strumming the opening for "No Bad News", while her band hastily rushes onto the stage to become a lively rhythm section grouped to one side of her as she sings and plays along. Another is the interplay between the electric guitar of the talented Doug Lancio and Ms. Griffin's vocals during the gospel sounds of "Love Throw a Line". And then there's an awesome cover of Sam Cook's "Get Yourself Another Fool", something you're not going to get from any of her albums.
The movie is short, perhaps too short, and, expectedly, is heavy on songs from her latest album "Children Running Through", but, unexpectedly and perhaps disappointingly, includes nothing from two of her brilliant albums (they are all brilliant), "Flaming Red" and "1000 Kisses". Fortunately, it does include two songs from her debut album, "Living with Ghosts", one of which opens the movie and provides a nice touch in the background at the beginning of the movie and for the credits at the end of the movie. There a few editing mishaps, although you have to be paying more attention than is necessary to see them. Also, the editing is on the aggressive side with a lot of camera switching, something I like, but which others might find annoying. The sound, lighting, and general atmosphere, however, are consistently superior.
If there are any shortcomings in the movie, they are more than overcome at the end with Ms. Griffin's performance of "Top of the World". That was enough for me to move from 4-stars (which I might otherwise have given it due to the editing on other songs) to 5-stars. For this song, the camera work (particularly at the very beginning of the song), the editing, and, certainly, the performance are "top of the world". If you've seen Ms. Griffin in concert or if you've been a long time fan of hers, I suppose you may find this DVD to be a bit disappointing, simply because it is too short. For everyone else, and I do mean everyone, I think it is well worth seeing. When you see it, you'll almost certainly understand not only why she has such highly-devoted fans, but also why those fans refer to her simply as "Patty".Patty Griffin: Live From the Artists Den (2007) Overview

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Foundling Review

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Foundling ReviewAs an avid fan, even I was getting a little tired of cheesy love songs with cheeky lyrics that have come since White Ladder. Foundling abandons all that, and comes at you with inward, intimate, and beautiful songs.
I don't understand other reviews and critics that compare this with previous albums, and say it's "nothing new". The closest album to this in Gray's portfolio is Lost Songs which was written nearly twenty years ago! This album doesn't have cheesy-pop songs like Stella the Artist or Be Mine from recent records. Some of the songs on Foundling, such as We Could Fall in Love Tonight or Old Father Time are in a different league; a lot more dynamic and thoughtful.
A lot of times musicians have a hard time staying personal an intimate as they get older. I think of early records of Coldplay, Radiohead, and the Counting Crows that have the passion and restlessness of youth. When you listen to later offerings they become an abstraction of themselves, almost a comical, heavily marketed version of what the passion in their early work. Think of Coldplay's Shiver vs. Fix You or the Counting Crows Mr. Jones vs. American Girls. . . It's very difficult to stay relevant after your first few records.
Gray, at 42 years old, somehow with Foundling found that youthful, restless, passionate voice again. The first time I heard this record I admit I was incredibly surprised at the lyrics and themes of the music; it blew me away. This is the kind of offering of a singer/songwriter bursting onto the scene.
This album is incredible, and comes recommended to anybody who enjoys deeply personal, moving music. This is the kind of album to play on a Fall day over a cup of tea while rain falls gently.Foundling Overview

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Time (The Revelator) Review

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Time (The Revelator) ReviewThis CD is a treat, a big step forward for Gillian Welch and her partner, David Rawlings, and easily their best work to date.
For those unfamiliar with Welch, she appeared five years ago with "Revival," a compelling recording that drew its inspiration from such early country acts as the Carter Family. Although a terrific singer and songwriter, Welch's close identification with a 70-year-old musical style threatened to mark her as a one-trick pony, an oldies act with little new to offer. Although this was a possibility, it was also quite unfair, as "Revival" was truly a strong and original work, despite the narrow stylistic borders. Welch's sophomore work, "Hell Among the Yearlings" (1998) demonstrated both greater ambitions and growth as a songwriter. Welch also made significant contributions to the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack album, one of the surprise hits of the first half of 2001.
"Time (The Revelator)" is a major leap forward. Welch and songwriting partner Rawlings (who backs her throughout on guitar and vocals) have produced their strongest batch of songs to date, some of which are far removed from the Carter Family-influenced style. "Revelator," the haunting opener, is a clear sign of their growth as writers and performers. Other highlights are "Elvis Presley Blues" and the 14-minute epic "I Dream A Highway," which is an astounding accomplishment. The only negative comment I have is that "I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll" is also included, in the same live version, on the recently released "Down From The Mountain" collection, an "O Brother, Where Art Thou" spinoff. Its a great song, though. Welch's beautiful vocals shine throughout, set within the understated but effective instrumental arrangements. This is intelligent and well-executed music that will appeal to fans of both country and folk.Time (The Revelator) OverviewLeading up to the nearly 15-minute I Dream a Highway on Gillian's 2001 album are nine songs full of soaring harmonies. This time, they dip into some blues and rock 'n' roll as you hear Revelator; Elvis Presley Blues; Red Clay Halo; My First Lover , and more!

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Feel Like I'm Fixin to Die Review

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Feel Like I'm Fixin to Die ReviewThe term "psychedelic" is even more elusive now than it was when it was first coined. If you ask someone what it means, you'll likely get a different answer from each person you ask. Does it mean throwing in funny sounds, fuzz and echo to make the music sound spacey? Hendrix and Pink Floyd did this, but they did much, much more. Country Joe and the Fish didn't do much of this, but some of their music still stands out in my mind as some of the very best of that era. One important characteristic of understanding this type of music is that in order to appreciate it, you have to really listen to it. Not as background or just for dancing. This was one of the big changes of the time. Instead of just dancing to music, you sat and listened to it, gathering the beauty, feelings and ideas inherent in the music itself. This album is a perfect example of this. You can't listen to it if you're in a hurry. Especially "Colors For Susan", which is a brilliant, subtle instrumental that paints pictures while you lay back and listen. I'm amazed that someone had the patience to write such a piece. It seems to go on forever, but, when it ends, I'm always disappointed, and want it to go just a little longer. My favorites exhibit a quality that I call, "shimmering beauty". The most outstanding example of this is "Thought Dream". The combination of Joe's smooth, soaring vocals, the melodic guitar figures and the solo organ lines just grab hold and go to the base of my spine and start the shivers right up my back.
The album cover is one of many of that time which pay tribute to the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper cover. The record is also an attempt to, as Sgt. Pepper did, create an album as a whole piece, from beginning to end, rather than just a collection of songs. In my opinion, it was successful. Since I got the CD version, I've listened to it dozens of times, and it still goes straight to my heart, and this is about 33 years later. Country Joe and the Fish, I thank you!Feel Like I'm Fixin to Die Overview

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Song Up in Her Head Review

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Song Up in Her Head ReviewI found out about this album by being on the Sugar Hill Records mailing list and bought it three days ago. The songs have been "up in my head" ever since. This is a post-newgrass album, with acoustic instruments paying tribute to but never being constrained by bluegrass and folk/roots tradition. The album is as musically complex and precise as Nickel Creek was, which makes it a really smart record to listen to and stands in tribute to Jarosz' skills as a songwriter.
But what has the album stuck in my head and on repeat on my mp3 player is her beautiful singing voice. Such amazing control of her pitch, with almost no trace of vibrato, and somehow she makes it seem effortless. It's a deep, rich alto that reminds me at various moments of Fiona Apple, Melissa Swingle (Trailer Bride, The Moaners) and Karen Peris (Innocence Mission).
Her personal backstory -- being barely out of high school -- is fun and inspiring, but if someone played this album for you without telling you, you'd never know. Though her lyrics have the optimism and centeredness of youth, her voice sounds layered with 10 years of adulthood.
Come to Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, Ms. Jarosz, and I'll be in the front row. This is great work, and I look forward to your next albums.Song Up in Her Head OverviewSeventeen-year-old Texas native Sarah Jarosz emerged on the scene about five years ago as someone to watch.Jamming onstage with bluegrass icons David Grisman and Ricky Skaggs, she played her mandolin with a sure touch and real joy.It looked and sounded comfortable in her then twelve-year-old hands.She started writing songs on the guitar and took up the banjo.While her instrumentaltalents are formidable, let's make one thing clear: Sarahis a singer.Her voice is velvety smooth, agile, andpowerful, occasionally reminiscent of such disparate artists as Natalie Maines and Patty Griffin.

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Folk Hits of the 60s Review

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Folk Hits of the 60s ReviewOnly five of these songs were recorded outside the time frame of 1960-1965, and only "Both Sides Now" was written after that time. During this time period, folk music usually fell within one of two groups. There was the political/protest music camp. And then there was the folk/pop group. Nearly all of these songs fall in the latter category. In fact, all but Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" and Joan Baez's rendition of the Phil Ochs-penned "There But for Fortune" landed in the Top 40 of the pop charts.
While several of these artists have the pedigree as protest singers (Joan Baez, The Weavers, Woody Guthrie), the focus here is clearly on listener-friendly songs. But even with the compiler's intent to put the focus on folk-lite, it seems a bit of a stretch to include Gale Garnett's "We'll Sing in the Sunshine," and The Wonder Who's version of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice" is almost unlistenable. [Note: The Wonder Who is Franki Valli and the Four Seasons, who took this song to No. 12 in 1965!]
With that said, if you like your folk music sanitized and the rough edges smoothed over, this is a very listenable and enjoyable album. The only glaring omission from this collection is the absence of anything by Peter, Paul and Mary. [It would have made more sense to use THEIR hit version of "Don't Think Twice"!] All things considered, this is a delightful album from start to finish. RECOMMENDEDFolk Hits of the 60s Overview

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