Along the Road to Bethlehem

Advantages: superb singer songwriter
Disadvantages: takes a little patience to listen too

...a deep rich texture to the track, along with the addition of Bill Dillon’s pedal steel guitar playing underlining lines in the song such as “we love the open road”. The percussion touches by Alex Acuña and Larry Klein finish off the sound of the song, as the vocals and music begin to fade the sound of the cicadas get louder for a second or two and then they too start to disappear. As the following track “Passion Play (when all the slaves are free)” starts Larry Klein’s bass is heard to announce along with Joni’s picking out the main theme of the track on her acoustic guitar, as well as sing the main vocal Ms Mitchell has supplied her own backing vocals. Bill Dillon’s guitar fills just behind the sound of the acoustic guitar punches out lines “in Exxon Blue” to great effect. The use... Read review

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Advantages: The poetry of the lyrics, the beauty of the voice
Disadvantages: Music could be a little too bland for some

...If Kurt Cobain was labelled spokesman for his generation, Joni Mitchell was just as surely lumbered with that role for hers. Younger listeners, who could almost be Joni's grandkids, may find that hard to believe. So, how to describe the status of one of the truly legendary figures of popular music? Well, spokesman for a generation is a bit misleading. That tag was foisted on her when she wrote the song 'Woodstock'. But the irony was, she wasn't even there: the song came out of the fact that she got stuck in the traffic jam leading to the festival. It's truer to say that she, along with a few others such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon, created the singer-songwriter genre. Some would call her the greatest example. She's certainly made her mark: you can trace a direct line from Joni Mitchell to newer singer-songwriters she's influenced - from... Read review

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Advantages: Great christmas music
Disadvantages: Some tracks arent as good as others - ruin CD in some ways

...Tracks include: Fanfare - Joy to the World/Ding Dong Merrily on High The First Nowell It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Gabriel's Message (Old Basque Noel) Once IN Royal David's City Medley - Have yourself a merry little Christmas/Winter Wonderland/Let it Snow/White Christmas/Jingle Bells The Virgin Mary had baby boy Sweet Little Jesus Child When a child is born Still, still, still This is the truth sent from above Sessex Carol O Little town of Bethlehem Joy to the World O Come all ye faithful Hark! the Herald angels sing This CD includes most of the best known Christmas carols and some Christmas songs. Sung by Winchester Cathedral choir, Huddersfield Choral Society, Exeter Cathedral choir and congregation, as well as others. It sounds like a normal epsiode of Songs of Praise would - with hymns (or carols in this case) being sung, led... Read review

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