Joni Mitchell – Clouds (Reprise 1969)

‘Clouds’ is the second album by this legendary artist, and without a doubt one of her very best. Her earliest albums are stripped down folky affairs with fantastic, crystal clear singing and (as always) highly intelligent lyrics often dealing with relationships. There is not one weak song on this album – an album that is very tender and melancholy sounding. Well, with one exception, and that is the well known ‘Chelsea Morning’. I have always liked the song, even though this cheerful and catchy number feels a little out of place on this album. Personal favourites include ‘Roses Blue’, ‘The Gallery’ and the incredibly haunting ‘Songs To Aging Children Come’. Fantastic melodies all over. On ‘The Fiddle And The Drum’ you can hear the young Joni Mitchell in all her vocal glory, and just that – no instrumentation there. It’s heartfelt and gives me goosebumps. Already in the early 70’s, Joni Mitchell would widen her musical palette a lot. These albums cannot be called folk or folk rock, so I won’t review them here. Several of her 70’s albums are, however, truly excellent. It’s not so much more to say about ‘Clouds’ really. But I think it should be the first album to check out, if you want to explore the discography of Joni Mitchell, and that is something you really should do!