JONI MITCHELL VS JANIS IAN

Joni Mitchell, tho Between the Lines is super classic.

knee-jerk joni voters are required to listen to "Between the Lines" before voting.

haha xpost

"At Seventeen" is just too sad to bear

things that break my heart when i listen to them "Blue" vs. "Between the Lines"?

oh shit.

So hard to compare really. It used to be Blue without question, but maybe I'm too used to it and Between the Lines can still shock me sometimes

my #1 janis ian will forever be "in the winter"

also the jarring cello at the end of watercolors followed by the quick woodwind is just perfect

hmmmm, as much as i love joni, she never had an album as perfect and crazy and over the top front to back as "between the lines". also, (hi mordy, fellow klezmer lover!) the end of between the lines (the song) must have been a weird ride for the 70's disco-folky gentiles. so awesome!

I just turned my Between the Lines back on. It does so many things so well -- definitely evokes a particular place and moment, and is written perfectly ("In the Winter" just came on) -- "And for a dime I can talk to God... are you there? / And in the winter extra blankets for the cold."

lol we're the only people here. My wife says that Ian is super theatrical and very musical theater'esque. I don't totally agree, but I hear what she's saying. The lyrics are very narrative, the instrumentals call a lot of attention to themselves -- they soar and sweep and elevate these lyrical moments of banality ("in the winter extra blankets for the cold") into something super huge and moving and gorgeous.

Yeah, Ian is super torchy, "Bright Lights and Promises" (listening now) kinda half-assed Tom Waitsy tbh, but it works I think. fantastic singer, and when she goes dark, it seems painfully genuine. maybe i'm getting suckered, but the gut punch works.

this will be my toughest poll vote, which is why i gave myself a week.

ah fuck, second time through, "Watercolors" kills me every time. amazing song, brave perfect ending.

btw, production/recording on this album is across the board O_O.

oh and by O_O, i mean that on headphones i can hear every glottal stop, every lick lip. for a 70's studio recording this is weirdly amazing, and shockingly honest

The producer/engineer of Between the Lines, Brooks Arthur, is a brilliant engineer. The album won a Grammy for engineering. It holds up really really well. As to Tom Waits, I think "Lines" came before he was doing very much... I'm glad this poll is getting so much thought!

Just so we're straight, are we talking about

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KUc7JfpLL._SL500_.jpg

or

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kq7alop4TO1qzbqvao1_400.jpg

?

Rockin this shit atm.

And they'll try to stop your singing
In the middle of your song
For they do not want you free
And they do not make you strong

Maybe we should do a Between the Lines poll. Thinking at the moment I'd have to vote "In the Winter."

FOR ONCE LET'S GET IT RIGHT

justin, otm about the klezmer riff at the end of the title track btw.

joni will win this, but she really shouldn't (and i fucking love her, but my week w/between the lines HOLY FUCK).

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Correct.

i was prepared for this, but thats way too wide a spread.

I'm surprised Ian got 6 tbh. When I saw that I thought, "Good for her!"

i was trying to figure out a way of saying "i suspect lots of the joni voters have either not heard any ian/only heard "at seventeen" without sounding like a jerk, but there isn't a way. i dont mean it like that tho - if youd hit me with this poll before i spent a ton of time w/between the lines i would have totally voted joni w/o hesitation, but now? feeling janis more.

I had no idea Janis Ian was an SF author too.

https://www.janisian.com/reading/sciencefiction.php

i'm surprised there not more love for Janis. this song is perfect 70s soft, dreamy pop

the other side of the sun
https://youtube/XK0ptIAYWC4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK0ptIAYWC4

also, if you have kids, you can change her song "stars" to cars and you kids will love it

cars they come and go
they go fast they slow
like the last of the sun
all in a blaze
all you see is glory