Joe S. (mailman1) from GREENVILLE, OH Reviewed on 8/7/2009...
I got this cd because I already had her HITS cd. These songs ara a lot harder to listen to due to being somewhat obscure tracks and strange lyrics. Musically the cd is very good with a definitive jazz feel to it but as Joni got older her voice and her songwriting changed from the early 1970's that I enjoyed much better
1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD Reviews
Misses Hits the Mark
Barron Laycock | 06/21/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A companion to the more popular Hits collection, Misses more thoroughly demonstrates Mitchell's depth, versatility and, yes, genius. This collection surveys, mainly, Joni's post-1980 work (highlights: Sex Kills, Magdalene Laundries, Passion Play), which has been largely overlooked by radio and her early-career fans. Another stand-out is Impossible Dreamer, a dreamy and pretty (yet powerful) cut from Dog Eat Dog. Joni's body of work is deserving of a larger, deeper anthology, but Hits and Misses will do for now. If you're unfamiliar with Joni's work and you wonder why countless musicians and fiercely dedicated fans worship La Mitch, pick up this set and find out."
A intriguing compliation than Hits
Barron Laycock | 01/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Hits was simply that: A collection of Joni's greatest hits. This compliation includes cuts from her Jazz experiments of the Seventies (including Wolf in Lindsey from her Mingus album, named after Jazz bassist Charles Mingus who she worked with before his death), her forays into electronic music in the '80s(e.g. Impossible Dreamer, and Chalk Mark In a Rainstorm), and her return to her folk roots in the '90s (e.g. Sex Kills). It's one of the most interesting compilations I've listened to in a long time."
More than just a curio
Barron Laycock | 11/29/1998
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A companion to the Hits collection, Misses gives you 14 songs picked by Joni herself, that she felt missed out on some of the popularity and acclaim she thought they deserved. I picked it up purely out of curiosity. I didn't need Hits, I already had most of those on the original CDs (Court and Spark, Blue, etc.). Misses makes for a nice sampler, leaning a little more heavily on the post-70s Joni. Great music, imagery, and some biting social commentary (it wouldn't be Joni without it!)If you are new to Joni Mitchell, or just want the popular stuff, you might want to pass this one up. But if you have more than a causual interest in her music, it's worth getting.Some of the best are Beat of Black Wings, The Magdeline Laundries, Sex Kills, The Reoccurring Dream.Joni lobbied against putting this one in a jewel case. It says so right in the liner notes."
A nice mix
Barron Laycock | 08/25/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Being a huge Joni fan, I already owned "Hits" along with nine other of her albums ranging from the popular ("Blue," "Court and Spark," "Ladies of the Canyon") to her lesser known works ("Song to a Seagull," "Dog Eat Dog," "Night Ride Home"). I decided to buy "Misses" even though I already owned half of the songs from my other albums. It was pretty much what I'd imagined...some of the songs were great, others were real "misses" indeed. "A Case of You," for example, is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. I think it is one of Joni's very best songs. Some of the other songs are a little goofy--I hesitate to say that they are "bad," although many other people not so committed to Joni may not be so kind. "The Beat of Black Wings," for example, is a little strange. I was impressed, though, with "The Wolf that Lives in Lindsey"--a very haunting song. I also really loved "For the Roses" and now want to own that album. If you are a die-hard Joni fan, you should get this one. If you're looking for her more mainstream music, however, go with "Hits"--it really does a nice job of capturing all of her "popular" music. "Misses," on the other hand, is like Joni's dark, evil twin."