Today we have Joni Mitchell's second studio album Clouds. Released in 1969, the album was generally well-received and considered an artist step forward. As with her debut, the album is mostly just Mitchell solo on guitar. Two of the songs, "Chelsea Morning" and "Both Sides Now" were already released by other artists, but this was the first versions of the songs with Mitchell singing them.
While this has about three pretty dull songs--I don't understand what the big fuss is about "The Fiddle and the Drum," which is neither lyrically or musically compelling--, Mitchell has made big leaps in songwriting since her debut. Yes, I know "Chelsea Morning" and "Both Sides Now" were written even before her debut, but I would have given this an album a C too if the rest of the music was just as boring as what's offered on Song to a Seagull--improving your songwriting isn't about turning out two more hits anyway. Mitchell's voice is more welcoming, her guitar strums are more assured, and her lyrics are easy to understand, yet the philosophy behind them are more thought-provoking than most lyrics you'll ever come across. "The Gallery" and "I Don't Know Where I Stand" are two of the more impressive songs and obviously so are "Chelsea Morning" and "Both Sides Now," the latter being one of the best lyrics of all time. B+ [Later: B. See Ladies of the Canyon review]
