Joni Mitchell (Song To A Seagull) – JONI MITCHELL*****

I Had A King/Michael From Mountains/Night In The City/Margie/Nathan La Franeer/Sisotowbell Lane/The Dawntrader/The Pirate Of Penance/Song To A Seagull/Cactus Tree

Self titled debut album from acclaimed Canadian folk singer songwriter Joni Mitchell, often unofficially referred to as Song To A Seagull. The merits of the early Joni Mitchell albums only become apparent after repeated listening. (US:189)

"Presented with simple musical accompaniment, packed with lyrical complexity, and sung by the voice of an angel, this is a great album. The fact that she would go on to do even better albums does not diminish the impact of this astonishing debut."

"Singing perfectly matches the lyrics, slightly melancholic yet uplifting, it has a dreamy quality present on the whole album, making it grounded in reality but with definite aura of fantasy. And though almost every song here is a masterpiece by itself, they fit together perfectly. Repeated listens to the album proved to be extremely rewarding, as the actual hooks and riffs started to appear out of what seemed to be at first an endless stream of monotonous singing and guitarstrumming."

"Joni Mitchell's 1968 debut album Song To A Seagull is an elegant and timeless microcosm. The songs are captivating and complex, but use simple instrumentation. Her primary accompaniment is usually her own acoustic guitar, but she is occasionally joined by bass, piano or harmonica. She is also frequently heard providing her own backup singing by recording twice. The album draws the listener into a misty and often melancholic realm through her unique voice, whose range is fully demonstrated. Her lyrics are as descriptive as looking at a painting."

"This is a very pure, innocent record, and stood out in 1968 because it was one of the few intimate, acoustic records amid a sea of hard rock & roll and psychedelic experimentalism. While many people don't think so, this actually best represents early Joni Mitchell, and her style was already highly developed."

"Musically, Song To A Seagull is grand in its simplicity - the vast majority of the songs feature Joni's fascinating guitar work as the stark support for her piercing, soaring voice. While Joni's vocals are schooled and formal, they are nonetheless heartbreakingly beautiful."