Shine may ultimately register as a "fans only" milestone, but it proves that Joni Mitchell retains many of the storied calling cards of her best albums. The searing lyricism of 1971's Blue and the penchant for self-redefinition hailed by 1974's Court and Spark make cameos here, but sadly, lesser efforts' drawbacks abound. True, "Big Yellow Taxi" reprises the environmental dystopia Mitchell first poeticized on 1970's Ladies of the Canyon, but the occasion only prompts new pedantic effrontery ("This Place," "If I Had a Heart"). In this regard, Shine's especially cloying title track marks the worst offender. Blissfully, though, "Hana" boasts a driving rhythm section and blurting squirts of electric guitar and saxophone in support of a compelling character sketch, and "If"--based on Rudyard Kipling's poem of the same name--paints a lyrical message of affirmation in bold strokes. Mitchell's songwriting shines brightest at such singularly poignant moments where specificity of images meets the vagaries of the instrumental arrangements, and, in the end, these and other highlights ("Bad Dreams," "Night of the Iguana") definitively carry the torch. --Jason Kirk

Joni Mitchell is generally considered to be the single most important female singer-songwriter of the 20th Century. Her new CD features 10 great new songs that resonate on the level of some of her all-time classic work, with much of the material inspired by Joni's passion to save the environment. Her lyrics on the subject are truly inspiring.

Joni Mitchell Photos (by James O'Mara)

More from Joni Mitchell

Blue

Court and Spark

Hits

Ladies of the Canyon

Hejira

Clouds

Joni Mitchell is generally considered to be the single most important female singer-songwriter of the 20th Century. Her new CD features 10 great new songs that resonate on the level of some of her all-time classic work, with much of the material inspired by Joni's passion to save the environment. Her lyrics on the subject are truly inspiring.

Joni Mitchell has made me fall in love with her again. Like all work of genius, this deepens and shines with each listening. With humor, honesty, love for we flawed humans, passion for the earth and her creatures, she taps into heretofore unknown rhythms which give such pleasure to know. It is beautiful.

As an avid Joni Mitchell fan, I had been waiting with baited breath for this album to come out. In fact, the day before its release, I was up until midnight so I could buy this cd at the first moment I possibly could. So when I listened to this cd on the way to work, I was hoping it was sleep deprivation that prevented me from enjoying this album. Sadly, after many, many listenings, I have to say that this is the worst album Joni has ever produced.
With its jaundiced view on the world, and rehashing that same sax sound heard on so many previous albums, this is truly disappointing. In the past, even when she wrote about negative issues, there was a ray of hope, both lyrically and musically that came through. I cannot say that of her newest work.
The only really enjoyable song is Hana, which also happens to be a retelling of a classic movie. The other song about a movie(or play) is Night of the Iguana, which does not match the tone of the film, and just feels like a plot synopsis.

The one star rating was involuntary on my part; no stars is, unfortunately in this case, not an option. No one likes a jaunt down Memory Lane more than I, but when the memories become your reality it's time to call a halt to the proceedings. Joni Mitchell WAS a major influence upon the music scene, and Joni Mitchell WAS relevant, and Joni Mitchell WAS an attractive woman. But all of these ceased over thirty years ago. Everything positive in this woman's career is in the past. I don't know which is sadder--Ms. Mitchell's refusal to see reality and retire, or her diehard fans refusal to see her and her music for what they are: irrelevant and pathetically out of date.

Joni didn't disappoint with her new cd. The second I heard "Shine" on CBC Radio, I knew wanted to hear more of her newest, long-time awaited, release. Many of the songs have a very Buddhist feel to them: The teaching of equanimity in "If" and "Shine", and Compassionate action, in "Hana." Her love of the environment is evident throughout the album. Her smokey voice is not the old Joni's, but it is still wonderful, as is her jazz piano. All around composition, instrumentals, lyrics, and voice are amazing. I still get goosebumps when I listen to it.

If you're a Joni Mitchell fan, you will love this. It's a very nice/relaxing album. Joni Mitchell just keeps puttin' out the good stuff.