Joni Mitchell - Taming the Tiger: Classic or Dud?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Still getting over a childish fear of folk and singer-songwriters, I've never really looked into her stuff very much. I heard my sister's Blue a couple times but it never made a very strong impression. But this I loved right from the beginning - big puffy blobs of chorused guitar synth, trailing bits of feedback, keyboard pastels, Wayne Shorter blowing pretty little sax doodles over things. It's great. The only song I don't really like is "Lead Balloon", which seems to try too hard to 'rock'. Do her other recent albums sound like this?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 5 April 2004 03:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I always meant to hear this. Brian Blade plays on it.

― Jordan (Jordan), Monday, 5 April 2004 03:47 (twenty-one years ago)

all of the post-taming albums have orchestral backings for croon material or her back catalogue. good but hardly world shattering.

taming is the only one with that particular guitar sound - she uses a digital guitar synth or somesuch to get around her penchant for myriad weird tunings. i actively dislike this sound prefering instead her crystal clear chords on an acoustic.

however, i do like the couple of albums before taming - night ride home and turbulent indigo - which have a similar feel to taming. all of these showcase her later, smoke raddled deeper voice.

you should probably also try the mid period things - the hissing of summer lawns and hejira - which may appeal in a similar vein.

― phil turnbull (philT), Monday, 5 April 2004 20:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I was going to say exactly the same thing: def. seek Turbulent Indigo and Night Ride Home, both of which are mellow and gorgeous, but with a little more bite and far better songs.

Tiger turned me off right away, aside from a few songs, namely 'Harlem in Havana' and 'No Apologies'. Most of the album seemed washed out and interminably dull, with a terribly bland ending. Last fall, though, I gave it another chance and quite enjoyed the soft-focus and gauzey feel. Still not one of her best, but an alright album.

And really, Joni doesn't sound like the 'singer-songwriter' stereotype after 1972 or so, it's just that she's never been as successful and is subsequently pigeonholed with Blue, Big Yellow Taxi and Both Sides Now. her mid 70's albums are incredibly adventrous, and def. worth seeking.

― derrick (derrick), Wednesday, 7 April 2004 05:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Do TI and NRH use electric guitar effects and/or synths also? Jazz sidemen?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Thursday, 8 April 2004 04:48 (twenty-one years ago)

Wayne Shorter's all over TI, and on NRH to an extent. Both have synths on them, but to better effect, I feel. There's a lot more acoustic guitar on both.

I'd say try TI first, as it's probably closer to what you're after. search 'Yvette in English', 'The Magdalene Laundries', and 'Sunny Sunday', maybe.

― derrick (derrick), Thursday, 8 April 2004 05:07 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.