After the mixed blessings of the prior separate CDs "Hits" and "Misses" one might wonder what this latest compilation will achieve. The answer (with some personal doubts) is a great one stop compilation of Joni's best cuts as chosen by the lady herself and remixed with great clarity (especially in the instrument separation). Combined together with a neat package of her paintings (better than the usual good and bad mix), notes by Cameron Crowe and full lyrics and track details this is the best starting point if you are new to the music and for longtime fans I would venture a better memory than her recent boxed set of Geffen recordings.

The order of the tracks is great in showing what an adventursome musical journey she has made, covering all her best known recordings though the choice of specific tracks will inevitably see indivdual longtime fans disappointed (how they could ignore anything from "Turbulent Indigo" plus use the recent orchestral version of "Both Sides Now" in preference to the original would be my doubts).

Best of all it shows the range of consistent and varied songwriting Joni achieved and will hopefully be a very simple answer to refute the "ice lady" image she has unfairly been tainted with over the years.

Dreamland is an overview of one of the finest bodies of work in popular music. It is not necessarily, in my opinion as a long-time Joni Mitchell fan, the best of the best, but it does offer a pleasing and, especially for the casual fan, more than adequate sampling of Mitchell's indescribably eclectic musical adventure. The most essential hits (Help Me, Free Man in Paris and Big Yellow Taxi) are here, along with two songs originally from Mitchell's magnificent masterwork Hejira (Furry Sings the Blues and Amelia, the latter being a beautiful and lushly arranged reinterpretation from the Travelogue album). The majority of the tracks here are upbeat, sing-along tunes, just the sort one would expect on a best-of collection. While some long-time fans are whining about the release of another compilation, they should note Dreamland is not produced for them as much as for the broader public, for people who don't already own every last Joni Mitchell album (yet). This Rhino collection is about exposing more people to Joni Mitchell's music, and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.

As a newcomer to the Joni fanbase, I picked up this CD when I heard her on Love Actually this past year, and fell in love with her and music. This CD is a great sampling of the different sounds of Joni.

The packaging of this compilation (like most of Joni's recent albums and compilations)is quite gorgeous, and it gives me great pleasure to see her wonderful lyrics coupled with her beautiful paintings like this.

With the exception of "Dancin' Clown" (which would have been a fun song without Billy Idol, who I also like, but he ruins this song) the tracks selected are fantastic.

I'm in the group of fans that loves every era of Joni's career equally, so it doesn't bother me in the slightest that Joni picked songs from the 80's, or orchestral versions over original recordings. It's all good as far as I'm concerned. There is really only one Joni song (out of everything she's ever done) that I don't like, and it's Dancin' Clown. I do wish she'd picked something else in it's stead.

I'm very happy that she has decided to put out these compilations, presenting the songs in a new light, grouping them together thematically, with artwork and photographs. Rather than complain that she's not doing anything new, I'm going to keep buying them. It saves from having to put all my Joni cd's into a jukebox for a party. ;-)

Of course, nothing new on this one, but it's always so good to hear Joni!

This one specially, as the hits selected are the originals, instead of those buzzy-violin of the previous one, with grand orchestra and all.

You may not complain of having a real talentuous singer-composer publishing something in this desert land we're living now. It will probably bring fresh ideas to young people who never had a chance to listen to anything but madonna and rap.

Maybe Joni's new house will inspire her more delighted music to our ears.