Customer Reviews

Dreamland

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After the mixed blessings of the prior separate CDs "Hits" and "Misses" one might wonder what this latest compilation will achieve. The answer (with some personal doubts) is a great one stop compilation of Joni's best cuts as chosen by the lady herself and remixed with great clarity (especially in the instrument separation). Combined together with a neat package of her paintings (better than the usual good and bad mix), notes by Cameron Crowe and full lyrics and track details this is the best starting point if you are new to the music and for longtime fans I would venture a better memory than her recent boxed set of Geffen recordings.

The order of the tracks is great in showing what an adventursome musical journey she has made, covering all her best known recordings though the choice of specific tracks will inevitably see indivdual longtime fans disappointed (how they could ignore anything from "Turbulent Indigo" plus use the recent orchestral version of "Both Sides Now" in preference to the original would be my doubts).

Best of all it shows the range of consistent and varied songwriting Joni achieved and will hopefully be a very simple answer to refute the "ice lady" image she has unfairly been tainted with over the years.

This 2004 retrospective plays like a wonderful audio tapestry! It is the 2nd of two retrospectives released in 2004, the first being the political euphoria of "The Beginning Of Survival." But "Dreamland" features many of her more popular work (Free Man In Paris, Big Yellow Taxi, Both Sides Now, Etc.) as well as a few underrated gems (Nothing Can Be Done, Dancin' Clown, The Jungle Line, Etc.) And of course it includes extreamly beautiful packaging. Joni's intricate & lovely paintings are displayed as seen on most of her albums. It's an overall beautiful listen & great addition to any diehard fan's collection. Highly recommended.

Dreamland is an overview of one of the finest bodies of work in popular music. It is not necessarily, in my opinion as a long-time Joni Mitchell fan, the best of the best, but it does offer a pleasing and, especially for the casual fan, more than adequate sampling of Mitchell's indescribably eclectic musical adventure. The most essential hits (Help Me, Free Man in Paris and Big Yellow Taxi) are here, along with two songs originally from Mitchell's magnificent masterwork Hejira (Furry Sings the Blues and Amelia, the latter being a beautiful and lushly arranged reinterpretation from the Travelogue album). The majority of the tracks here are upbeat, sing-along tunes, just the sort one would expect on a best-of collection. While some long-time fans are whining about the release of another compilation, they should note Dreamland is not produced for them as much as for the broader public, for people who don't already own every last Joni Mitchell album (yet). This Rhino collection is about exposing more people to Joni Mitchell's music, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.

Get with the real world.....this is a fantastic reminder of
what is sorely missing in music these days. This collection
spans so many memories, what a treasure chest of some
of the greatest music that came from such simple beginnings and evolved into one of the greatest musical
geniuses male or female but she's done this her way and
has lived the ups and downs of the music world. Its nice
to get to revisit an old friend and these choice nuggets
although I could piece them all together with my Mitchell
collection, its nice to see Joni's name on the hot sellers
list again and getting what she deserves. With so many
so so artists selling millions of records with one song
Joni gave us millions of memories, so many songs, year after year and never really exploded except for Court and Spark? she did it her way and
paved the way for so many, she deserves the respect of
all the greats from the past.. If you have all the songs and
it bothers you do see Joni Mitchell reintroducing herself
to a whole new generation of music lovers, don't buy it
but if you seek out some of the freshest, interesting, melodic
music you can buy, this is as good a place as any to
experience Joni Mitchell. Give her a break. Joni Mitchell
doesn't have to prove anything to anyone, these chestnuts
speak for themselves!

Of course, nothing new on this one, but it's always so good to hear Joni!
This one specially, as the hits selected are the originals, instead of those buzzy-violin of the previous one, with grand orchestra and all.

You may not complain of having a real talentuous singer-composer publishing something in this desert land we're living now. It will probably bring fresh ideas to young people who never had a chance to listen to anything but madonna and rap.

Maybe Joni's new house will inspire her more delighted music to our ears.

As a newcomer to the Joni fanbase, I picked up this CD when I heard her on Love Actually this past year, and fell in love with her and music. This CD is a great sampling of the different sounds of Joni.

If you get interested by this middle-later best of, can I suggest some things you're missing? Even though she picked them, artists are notoriously poor judges of their work. "Peridot and periwinkle blue medallions, gilded galleons spilled across the ocean floor..." Her lyricism was in full flower from the very first album's Song to a Seagull. Her slower ballads, perhaps better known by their covers, but still good versions of Urge for Going (Tom Rush) and That Song about the Midway (Bonnie Raitt). You'll never know these stories if you stop at this CD. She caved on "California" (she has refused requests to play it in concert), perhaps because others like it. How long did she linger over Chelsea Morning, Sunny Sunday, Shades of Scarlett Conquering, Woman of Heart and Mind, Coyote and the Gillian Owen anthem in Practical Magic, A Case of You? Sometimes I wonder if she gets embarrassed over some of her up mood, wistful work. It's out there. Ladies of the Canyon, For the Roses, and oh please, Blue? Blue is a best of all in itself. If nothing else, make that your next one.

If you like this one, stay interested. She has a song for every mood. A brilliant mind, understanding her own life and the times around her like so few, she has a lot to say about anyone's personal journey. So many other thoughtful singer-songwriters owe her, come close, and even contribute a little. Carrie Newcomer, Lynn Miles, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Jewell even guys like fellow Canadian Bruce Cockburn.

Length:: 1:26 Mins

The packaging of this compilation (like most of Joni's recent albums and compilations)is quite gorgeous, and it gives me great pleasure to see her wonderful lyrics coupled with her beautiful paintings like this.

With the exception of "Dancin' Clown" (which would have been a fun song without Billy Idol, who I also like, but he ruins this song) the tracks selected are fantastic.

I'm in the group of fans that loves every era of Joni's career equally, so it doesn't bother me in the slightest that Joni picked songs from the 80's, or orchestral versions over original recordings. It's all good as far as I'm concerned. There is really only one Joni song (out of everything she's ever done) that I don't like, and it's Dancin' Clown. I do wish she'd picked something else in it's stead.

I'm very happy that she has decided to put out these compilations, presenting the songs in a new light, grouping them together thematically, with artwork and photographs. Rather than complain that she's not doing anything new, I'm going to keep buying them. It saves from having to put all my Joni cd's into a jukebox for a party. ;-)

If you were wondering why so many musicians and critics (and fans) think so highly of Joni Mitchell's work, or if you've heard a few songs and would like to hear a broader sampling, Dreamland is the answer. It offers the heyday pop hits (Free Man in Paris, Help Me) some early folky touchstones, (Big Yellow Taxi, Circle Game), a selection from the fantastic jazz-rock masterpiece Hejira (Furry Sings the Blues), a delightful 80s comedy-drama with Billy Idol and Tom Petty in guest roles (Dancin' Clown) and much more, including some late career orchestral reinventions of earlier songs (Amelia, Both Sides Now). Dreamland is a delicious taste of the diverse and delightful Joni Mitchell catalog.