the muse has definitely left the building.

Kind of snarky. And for the record, this is an official release for a CD she has been selling at shows for a few years.

why snarky, if i may ask?

the trend of re-recording old songs is getting just a wee bit out of hand, wouldn't you say?

That's a different statement then saying an artist has lost their muse.

wellllllll, as far as i have learned in my lifetime a "muse' is someone or something that inspires one to use one's talents to the best of their ability and/or to inspire one to produce something new and different.

personally, and of course this is just the way i feel (which does not make me wrong or right, just different form others) a muse is someone who has, in the past, inspired someone to have written quite a few songs, books, poems (hopefully you get my gist) and that someone no longer seems to have the ability (or, and of course it also possible that they are just lazy) to write or produce the things as they have in the past.

so,,,,,,,,they take their art and just re-do it, however they may choose because it is theirs rather than do something new.

and................they do this because THEIR MUSE, whatever, whoever however that is, no longer provides that inspiration.

more and more and more musicians seem to be doing this of late.

hence, my comment, the muse is gone.

did i explain myself thoroughly enough?.

it was never meant to be 'snarky" or mean, or cruel or degrading, or demeaning in any way. it was meant to be exactly what i said.

FWIW

the clinical definition of 'muse".

a person or personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist.

synonyms: inspiration, creative influence, stimulus, stimulation; rareafflatus
"the poet's muse"

Accusing her of losing her muse because she is aware of what might sell (your initial reaction to my reply) just seems quite the assumption.

To add some positivity to this thread, I love those shoes and seeing that tracklist makes me think I really need to see Janis Ian some day. Between the Lines still has a deep impact on me.

how does "the muse has left the building" translate into what you said? you are reading way way way too much into a very simple statement concerning writing new songs.

i am very confused why one assume what you assumed.

My point, which wasn't well articulated as I was at work, was just to say that it's a stretch to accuse an artist of losing their muse just because they are putting out a release of previously written songs. The music industry has changed, and artists like Janis Ian probably won't make much money by recording and releasing an album of new material. But there is probably a market for a release like this. So if you have an issue with the "trend of re-recording old songs (that) is getting just a wee bit out of hand", that's one thing. But to say she is artistically spent ("the muse has left the building") because of this release is quite the stretch.

Dean,

Those are great points. Commercially spent does not necessarily equal artistically spent.

this true, but i do not like the trend myself, it is becoming all too familiar and somewhat easy to do. (sting, shawn colvin, janis ian a whole lot more)

of course, we must all realize that this is not 'wrong', nor is it 'right'......it is my personal feelings. which you may absolutely disagree with, and you know what, that's OK.

but please, don't chastise me if you don't agree.

This is a generalization, but I have found that with the exception of jazz, classical & some folk artists; most rockers & singer song writers do their best work when they are young, with raging hormones which produce strong emotions & strong songs.

Most "pop" songwriters have long written their best material before 30 (yes, there are a few exceptions).

I am an Ian fan. I suspect this will be good, but would mostly make me want to play the originals.

She has been selling several similar "rarities" sets on her website for years. I THINK I have a couple of them.

Totally agree, Geff.