Janis Ian

Janis Ian's second Columbia album is elegiac in mood, its 11 tunes composing a romantically
introspective self-portrait. Ian has forged an appealing melodic style based on the folk
simplicity of Don McLean and early Bob Dylan and added to it some of the sweetness of MOR
pop. Some of her tunes could be covered by Roberta Flack or even Frank Sinatra. Vocally,
Ian sounds more confident and relaxed than on her Columbia debut, Stars. Her si... More >

In this time of dearth, it's probably improvident to laugh at someone so talented--good melodies abound here, and I can't think of a rock singer who has made more unaffected and pleasurable use of her or his voice lessons. But this woman's humorlessness demands snickers. It was one thing for society's teenager to pity herself because she didn't have the integrity to stick with her black boyfriend. It's another thing for a grown-up to pity her teenaged self because she was always picked last in basketball. I mean, face it, Ms. Ian--you're short. (Grade: B-)