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alloy-digest           Monday, June 28 1999           Volume 04 : Number 181



                               Today's Subjects:
                               -----------------
  Re: Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell        [RThurF@aol.com]
  Alloy: Hello!         ["Stephen M. Tilson" <Stephen_Tilson@compuserve.com>]
  Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell  ["Stephen M. Tilson" <Ste]
  Re: Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell  [MacSuirtain <wearart]
  Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell  ["Stephen M. Tilson" <Ste]

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Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 08:03:54 EDT
From: RThurF@aol.com
Subject: Re: Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell

In a message dated 6/25/99 8:26:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
help.gonw.st@gtnet.gov.uk writes:

:: One question that springs to mind is WHY they got together in the first
 place.  They don't seem like an obvious pair for collaboration.  Was there
 some mutual admiration, did one of them approach the other, or was it
 coincidence that they were working in the same studio at the same time?
 This is something I often wonder about when I see guest artists on albums,
 as they often appear to be strange choices. ::

According to one of the articles I read, Mitchell had just acquired a 
Fairlight, Dolby wanted to work with her & made his interest known by getting 
a note to her backstage at a concert he attended in London, and her managers 
or producers (?) thought it would be a good arrangement. 

As for my feelings about Joni Mitchell's music - Melissa's nicely written 
descriptions got me thinking! - I agree about the bittersweet quality of 
certain pieces, and the sense of a weekend alone at a remote cabin with the 
Franklin stove :) Dave's stepmother has the one with all the blue paintings 
in it - is it called 'Blue'? - and I love to listen to that when we're 
visiting. I only heard Hejira for the first time about three years ago. Very 
oddly, the imagery in the song 'A Strange Boy' on that record reminds me of 
none other than Thomas (and no, not *every* song reminds me of Thomas!) even 
though it was written in 1976. Thomas' individualistic manner, fluidity, and 
unique path, and his habit of viewing things in an entirely different way 
than most people would ever consider, are echoed through the subject of this 
song IMO with almost portrait like intensity. And of course 'Jungle Line', 
really stands out as a powerful piece of hers as well. But it's strange. 
While some of her music affects me and touches me deeply, and I love it, some 
of it also seems to go straight past me with almost no effect whatsoever 
(maybe because I haven't 'been there' yet... or maybe because my personal 
brand of moping is different from hers :) Still other songs of hers I can't 
even make it all the way through because I find them, um, a little 
too...uh...boring...musically. (though I still enjoy reading the lyrics) No 
other musician has ever evoked such a variety of responses in me. I find her 
very puzzling.

I'm sick now - nasty head cold!! Everyone have a beautiful Sunday but 
remember to take a minute to feel REALLY SORRY for me before the day's out 
(just kidding! :)

Robin T

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 14:52:39 -0400
From: "Stephen M. Tilson" <Stephen_Tilson@compuserve.com>
Subject: Alloy: Hello!

Slarvi wrote in welcoming Stephen Harris:

 > Regardless of all this, welcome Stephen, from another Brit.
 >
 > <snipped>
 >
 > Slarvibarglhee

Slarvi!  Perhaps you should be more circum...spect about sharing details of
your anatomy with us.

/\/\iles&/\/\ary

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 14:52:45 -0400
From: "Stephen M. Tilson" <Stephen_Tilson@compuserve.com>
Subject: Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell

Melissa offers:

 > Joni's music, on the other hand, always had a very rough-hewn 
 > quality to it.

I don't wish to make you uncomfortable, but I must politely disagree 
with you.  I qualify the following with my love of both artist's work.

Ms. Mitchell's post-Blue work all has a very polished and 
immaculately produced aspect, much like Thomas' work.  And yet, in my 
musical mind, the two are immiscible, and I am not surprised that the 
collaboration was a bust.  It has been suggested that a more accurate 
way to represent the differences of these two artists is to say that 
Joni's music emanates from a more organic and emotional source, while 
Thomas' music is more cerebral in origin.  The end results, 
nevertheless, are quite alike, but the manners by which they 
individually arrive at their finished products are not compatible.

Ever so pedantically,
/\/\iles

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 16:22:21 -0400
From: MacSuirtain <wearart@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell

Stephen M. Tilson wrote:

> I don't wish to make you uncomfortable, but I must politely disagree
> with you.  I qualify the following with my love of both artist's work.
> 
> Ms. Mitchell's post-Blue work all has a very polished and
> immaculately produced aspect, much like Thomas' work.  

Ah, to be honest, I'm not really familiar with Joni Mitchell's newer
stuff. I just know the music I grew up with. I *love* the old stuff. Any
particular recommendations for one of the more recent efforts over any
others? I'd like to give it a listen...

Thanks,

Melisas

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 18:16:26 -0400
From: "Stephen M. Tilson" <Stephen_Tilson@compuserve.com>
Subject: Alloy: Dolby's collaboration with Joni Mitchell

Melissa so graciously inquires:

 > Ah, to be honest, I'm not really familiar with Joni Mitchell's
 > newer stuff. I just know the music I grew up with. I *love* the
 > old stuff. Any particular recommendations for one of the more
 > recent efforts over any others? I'd like to give it a listen...

It is my feeling that her very best work is contained within Hejira
(especially) and all that came before it.  There was a rather dull period
from Mingus through Dog Eat Dog <g>, but the next one, Chalk Mark in a
Rainstorm has some good bits.  After that I lose touch until the "recent
effort" of your stated desire, Turbulent Indigo, which is an outstanding
recording!  Definitely check this one out.

Her latest, which I cannot find nor remember the title of right now, was
not lackluster, but as Robin so aptly observed regarding the range of
response one might have to Mitchell's music, rated a "no response" from me:
ostensibly a dedicated fan.  To wit: This new album came out while I was
deep in my struggles with The Flat Earth and BDay2.  I went ahead and
bought it, but did not allow myself to listen to it until my BDay plate was
clear.  It was my carrot, if you will.  Well, TFeryE went spinning out into
the world and I sat down to enjoy my reward, but the carrot, while whole,
was somewhat wilted and lacking in essential sugars . . . ;-)

/\/\iles

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End of alloy-digest V4 #181
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