Joni Mitchell has long been outspoken about her views on the music industry, witnessing its evolution from the grassroots movement of the 1960s to the commercialized landscape of the 1980s. In a candid reflection while compiling her list of ‘artist choice’ records in 2005, Mitchell expressed her discontent with the way music had transformed, stating, ‘By the end of the 20th century, it seemed to me that the muse had gone out of music. All that was left was the ‘ic.’ Nothing sounded genuine or original. Truth and beauty were passé.’
Mitchell specifically pointed to the 1980 album ‘Gaucho’ by Steely Dan, which she felt was unfairly criticized compared to their previous work, ‘Aja.’ She argued that there was an arbitrary nature to the way rock journalism operated, suggesting that it often placed unrealistic expectations on artists. ‘There is something ignorant and arbitrary in rock journalism—editorial policy, maybe—like, ‘We were kind last time. Let’s kill ‘em this time!’’ she mused.
Despite the negative critiques, Mitchell highlighted the brilliance of ‘Third World Man,’ the closing track of ‘Gaucho,’ reinforcing her belief that the album deserved more recognition. Her unwavering stance on the quality of the music stands in stark contrast to the reception it received, illustrating her deep connection to the art and her skepticism towards the industry.