I have been jamming Joni Mitchell's 1975 masterwork The Hissing of Summer Lawns for the last two weeks. The album is simply brilliant and oh so intelligently executed. The poetic lyrics, the cautionary tales about imprisonment in suburbia, the plight of women, spirituality, F U to the mainstream etc., all combine to make one of the most rewarding listening experiences I've ever encountered. I love how she seduces the listener with breezy up beat folk/pop of the opening track then delves into heavier themes that were hinted at on the opener. Prince was quoted as saying that this was one of the first albums he ever enjoyed from start to finish and I can definitely feel where he is coming from. Furthermore, the albums appreciation long after its initial release is a testament to Mitchell's geninus and proves that she was miles ahead of her peers. It also shows that critical reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, considering that Rolling Stone voted this the worst album of 1975. I'm still trying to figure out why some people consider this album so impenetrable. I know its free of repetitive hooks and the songs straddle various genres, but somehow the album still feels accessible.

Xavier23 said:
i dont blame them

I finally appreciated this album last month after listening to Hejira, Court & Spark, and Blue. I really think that with this album, she proved that she didn't want to be a pop star with the release of her 1974 critically acclaimed record, Court & Spark. I mean, she does some of her best poetic works with this record and the arrangements were fresh. I really don't know why critics had a major problem with this because as DorothyParkerWasCool just said, it still had a mainstream, pop-jazz sound to it in some parts, but it's also cryptic in a way, everytime I hear it. My favorite tracks on here are In France They Kiss On Main Street, The Jungle Line (the moog synthesizer rhythms and those Burundi drums make the song specially mindblowing!!!), Don't Interrupt The Sorrow, Boho Dance, Hissing Of Summer Lawns (the best track of the record), Shadows and Light, and Edith and the Kingpin.
[Edited 8/16/05 19:19pm]

It's fantastic for sure. But my fave of hers is Hejira which I consider to be her last truly great album. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter is very good, tho'.

Cloudbuster said:

"Summer Lawns" is cool, but gets a bit dragging in places

"Hejira" is good from start to finish!

I really like this album, but for me personally, I like Blue and Court and Spark the best. It is growing on me though, and I absolutely love "In France People Kiss on Main Street". I like Joni best when it's just her and a guitar though.

minneapolisgenius said:

I like Court & Spark the best. I like her full band stuff--Free Man in Paris, Raised on Robbery, etc--and there's lots of that on there. Plus I think she'd fully matured at that point, where Blue was still maybe just a tad naive (not that naive is bad).

But guitar & voice is the classic Joni sound (like Dylan, who I also prefer with a band). Have you heard Hejira? It's a step back into the acoustic world.

andyman91 said:

Yeah, I have heard Hejira, but I borrowed it from a friend and don't have it with me at the moment. I do like it though, I just haven't heard it enough to really post an opinion about it yet. In fact, this thread inspired me to put on Blue, Hissing, and Court on now all in a row.

I guess I just like Blue the most because it's what really inspired me to learn guitar. (not that I can even play for shit anyway )

minneapolisgenius said:

These avatars! Of course I assumed you were an amazing guitar player.

Blue is an amazing collection of songs. I guess it's her voice as much as anything that I prefer on Court.

Hejira is more subtle, the songs longer. Good road trip music.

For the Roses is pretty good, too. A transition between Blue & Court & Spark. Not quite as good as either, but with elements of both, and some great songs.

She's fun to play along with. Obvious since she's played with some of the great guitar players--Robben Ford, Jaco.
[Edited 8/18/05 15:57pm]

I've been into Joni for quite awhile now, but this album just sorta went under my radar. I guess I just focused on her oldest stuff. But I'm really loving it. Could easily turn into a favorite.

GangstaFam said:

Keep at it, man. It's a great piece of work.

I have been jamming Joni Mitchell's 1975 masterwork The Hissing of Summer Lawns for the last two weeks. The album is simply brilliant and oh so intelligently executed. The poetic lyrics, the cautionary tales about imprisonment in suburbia, the plight of women, spirituality, F U to the mainstream etc., all combine to make one of the most rewarding listening experiences I've ever encountered. I love how she seduces the listener with breezy up beat folk/pop of the opening track then delves into heavier themes that were hinted at on the opener. Prince was quoted as saying that this was one of the first albums he ever enjoyed from start to finish and I can definitely feel where he is coming from. Furthermore, the albums appreciation long after its initial release is a testament to Mitchell's geninus and proves that she was miles ahead of her peers. It also shows that critical reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, considering that Rolling Stone voted this the worst album of 1975. I'm still trying to figure out why some people consider this album so impenetrable. I know its free of repetitive hooks and the songs straddle various genres, but somehow the album still feels accessible.