[jbrownsjr]

Originally Posted by cliffdweller

I don't agree with this statement at all. I think Joni sounds like she's smoked 100 packs too many, and it shows in her singing. However, I happen to be an early years Joni Mitchell fan with the cutoff being about Hejira---her last great album, with the exception of Night Ride Home in the early 90's, that too is a great album. Joni had AMAZING range on Blue, and I like to think of that album as the truest testament to her vocal ability. On Blue her voice is absolutely pristene but at the same time she exudes a certain vulnerability in the risky, downright experimental approach to the vocals on many of the songs. She couldn't do that now if she wanted to, and she doesn't want to because she's closed that chapter of her life and moved on in a different musical direction.

Stevie's voice is in no way as shot as Joni's in my opinion. Sure she can't hit the high notes like she used to, but all in all I think her voice has held up rather well considering all the abuse she's inflicted upon it with substances and constant strain throughout her early years with F.M.

I agree they are shot equally in different ways. Joni does sound raspy. She has for years. Some of it is style, but I can't argue with the 100 packs of cigs for both.