Today we begin Joni Mitchell. Beginning her solo career in 1968 when she signed to Reprise Records, she went on to become one of the most celebrated female musicians of the 20th century. Her 1971 album Blue was ranked as the 30th greatest album of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, the highest placement of an album by a solo female musician. AllMusic said that she "may stand as the most important and influential female recording artist of the late 20th century." She is praised highly for her poetic lyrics as well as her guitar playing, for which she was ranked among the 100 greatest guitarists of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, again the highest ranking female. Let's get into her!
Today we have Joni Mitchell's first studio album Song to a Seagull (sometimes known as Joni Mitchell). Released in 1968, the album was not a major commercial success, but her tour for the album helped grow anticipation for her next studio album. The album was recorded almost entirely solo, with only Joni singing and on guitar. It was produced by David Crosby.
While Mitchell has shown herself already to be an inventive guitar player, her vocal melodies aren’t generally strong enough to be memorable or interesting to listen to. In addition, her lyrics are more poetic and thoughtful than nearly any musician I know but her voice rarely brings attention to them and her self-harmonization through overdubs muddle the one-dimensional songs. "I Had a King” and “Marcie” have fantastic, philosophical lyrics but, without strong melodies, neither will repay revisits. Only "Night in the City" and "Cactus Tree" offer gratifying and catchy melodies that allow for further listens, which will then subsequently reveal new insight into her well-crafted lyrics. Fortunately, if she's able to replicate this on a few more tracks, there's no telling her limits. C [Later: B-]
