The Hissing Of Summer Lawns - Joni Mitchell

I can only imagine this depiction of suburban underbelly in the 70's, and its collective stereotypes are right on the mark... 'Victims of typewriters', 'Skinny black models with raven curls'. All the characters are graphic, and this would come as no revelation for any who are familiar with the quality of Joni Mitchell's music. The detail however on The Hissing of Summer Lawns, is more so immaculate than what might have been expected of the archetypal introspective songwriter. The band-orientated music fused with Joni's convicting vocals painted 'what's wrong with this picture?' type pieces. The nuclear family is under doubt, as is the idea/ideal of art. The ...  Read the complete review

If the test of genius is the test of time, then Joni Mitchell can certainly be called genius. If her earlier albums weren't already proof of this, then her eighth album, "The Hissing of Summer Lawns" seals the deal completely. This came on the heels of her most commercially successful album "Court & Spark" (and after the release of her first live recording "Miles of Aisles"), and although it didn't do quite as well as C&S, I'm beginning to think that "Hissing" might be the more fascinating of the two. There are no big hits on this album, although the opening track "In France they Kiss on Main ...  Read the complete review

To lots of people, Joni Mitchell is a folk singer best remembered for the single ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ (later sampled on Janet Jackson’s ‘Got Til It’s Gone’). Alas, this pigeon-holing means that many never get to hear the full Joni repertoire and appreciate the sheer musical and lyrical accomplishment she achieved as she changed style later in her career. ‘The Hissing of Summer Lawns’ (1975) was Joni’s eighth album and the first one that I heard. I was immediately hooked. It couldn’t be more removed from her initial sparse, folky tunes, and is an incredibly experimental, brave and beautiful fusion of ...  Read the complete review