Joni Mitchell

Features

The Innovators

By PopMatters Staff

Sometimes changing the course of modern music can be surprisingly easy. Though their names may not be laced in the stars right next to Sinatra and Dylan, these mavericks will always be remembered for breaking boundaries, stretching the definitions of genres, and rewriting what the very notion of a "pop song" is. [30 July 2008]

Part 4: Heaven 17 to N.W.A. (1981-1988)

By PopMatters Staff

Sarcasm, irony, tongue-in-cheek, parody. Thumb your nose at 'em. Flip 'em the finger. Plug in the amp and blast 'em. That oughta kick 'em outta their apathy and get their asses shakin'! And more thoughts on motivational music. [19 July 2007]

Reviews

Joni Mitchell: Shine

By Will Layman

An environmentally fired-up Joni returns to songwriting with a gloomy, beautiful set of chamber-pop. [28 September 2007]

Various Artists: A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

By Christian John Wikane

Björk, Elvis Costello, Sufjan Stevens, Prince and more pay tribute to Joni Mitchell. [27 April 2007]

Joni Mitchell: Songs of a Prairie Girl

By Will Layman

The third personal compilation of Joni's Songs to be released in the last year, this disc features songs about or inspired by her Canadian childhood. There's almost nothing new here, though Joni's old songs are enough to make you smile. But if you already own this stuff, don't bother. If you don't have it, this is not the ideal collection. So, like -- what's the point?" [29 April 2005]

Joni Mitchell: Travelogue

By Marshall Bowden

Joni Mitchell is unquestionably one of the finest popular songwriters of the last half-century, and takes her rightful place with Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and a handful of others as a highly incisive observer of her generation’s struggles and triumphs.

[23 January 2003]

Joni Mitchell: Both Sides Now

By Thomas Swiss

Alternately gorgeous and over-the-top, the album is unlikely to win Mitchell new fans among young listeners.

[1 January 1995]