Major artists (aka not-one-hit-wonders) seem to have two ways of approaching the album thing. One is to record a mammoth of a debut album and then have a "sophomore slump." The other is to have "opening night jitters" the first time around and THEN hit the nail the second time out. 'Clouds' is a great example of the latter. With her debut a somewhat removed experience, Joni strides forward on this release and though the album has a few lesser moments, its overall strengths are wonders to witness. Th..
I've often said that The Beatles were the geniuses of rock, but it was more of a collective genius with George Martin included. They fed off of each other's individual muse. Joni Mitchell, however, is a genius that stands on her own. Her music and lyrics meld into a seamless, living, breathing whole - taking on a magical essence that's greater than the sum of its parts. And those parts are some of the most brilliantly advanced and artful musings you will find in popular music.
I'll go out on a limb and say that Joni Mitchell is probably the greatest female musical personality of the last three decades. She's also an artist that still commands great respect in her career at a time when other female artists who quote Mitchell as an influence are the ones ruling the charts. Mitchell's latest appearance on ROSIE O'DONNELL should revive interest in her career at the very least. Those new fans looking for a place to start may wanna try out her second album CLOUDS. Her self-titled d..
