City Newspaper Archives - 5/2007
Various Artists "A Tribute to Joni Mitchell"
Nonesuch
Published by Dale Evans on May 08, 2007
Mitchell never liked being called the "female Bob Dylan" (would they ever call Dylan the "male Joni Mitchell"?). But like Dylan, Mitchell is known for her very personal and poetic lyrics. Even if you're not a Mitchell fan you know "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot." And with the completion of the tribute project, begun in the late '90s, Mitchell admirers have paved a lovely 12 tracks. Although K.D. Lang's take on "Help Me" is so much like the original that I wondered where I'd heard her sing it before, James Taylor's lamenting on "River" makes it seem like he could have written the song himself. Sufjan Stevens' "Free Man in Paris" is only barely reminiscent of Mitchell's version, but brings it uptown with grace and spice. With a roster of notable enthusiasts including Elvis Costello, Prince, Bjork, and Annie Lennox, the tribute to Mitchell is worth adding to your collection, and a remarkable homage to Mitchell's influence and artistry.
