Sometimes 5 stars are not enough to separate the really good from the once in a lifetime brilliance that albums such as "Between the Lines" offer. I never knew that sadness could be portrayed in such a beautiful way. Throughout the entire album Janis Ian bears her soul in such an honest and raw way, you feel as if you are reading through her own private diaries. Every track, and I mean every track, is an absolute gem. We all know "At Seventeen" but the others are all standout tracks also.
You wonder how much someone must suffer to be able to draw on such material. Words and sentiments apart, the musical arrangements and melody on the songs are outstanding. They literally send a shiver down your spine and take you back to a place where you don't go willingly, as it can be too painful.
This is an amazing piece of work that not surprisingly, she has never bettered. But then again, very few artists have yet to come up with anything that bears critical comparison to this genuine masterpiece!
