University of Virginia Library

Joni Mitchell 'Clouds'
Both Sides In Illusions

By Fred Heblich
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Listening to Joni Mitchell is like
lying in the grass on a sunny day
and being gently bathed in a fluid
mixture of poetry and soft music.

In "Clouds" on the Reprise
label, Joni creates a dreamy atmosphere
as light and airy as the
clouds she sings about. Contained
in the album are some of her most
popular songs, "Tin Angel" and
"Both Sides Now," the song recorded
very successfully by her
friend Judy Collins, and the new
"chart-climber" by Judy Collins,
"Chelsea Morning."

Joni signs about confusions,
illusions, finding, and forgetting. To
her life is process of new experiences
happening continually with
no rhyme or reason. She is
uncertain, but not insecure.

Her songs are simple but rich,
and beautiful. She doesn't make
any great social comment, but
instead examines her life and
surroundings and concludes that
she "really doesn't know life at
all."

She signs about a changing life
and changing people. Nothing stays
the same, because every new
experience changes her perception
of how things are, and every day
produces a new feeling with every
morning. Some are happy and some
are sad, but both are treated with
the idea that a feeling is a learning
and a worthwhile experience which
leads neither to mania or depression,
but to a pleasant confusions
and the hope of looking ahead to a
new experience.

The first song, "Tin Angel," is
about finding someone to love. In
the next song, "Chelsea Morning,"
life is sunny, new, and exciting.
This idea leads into the next song,
"I Don't Know Where I Stand," in
which she is uncertain about her
new relationship. The story
continues through the rest of the
album, in which different phases of
her experiences are developed.

The album ends with "Both
Sides Now" saying that she has
looked at life and love and has no
concrete ideas, only illusions and
confusions which leave her changed
but happy.

Joni Mitchell is a 27-year old
commercial artist turned singer and
songwriter. She is from Canada and
is a close friend of Crosby, Stills,
and Nash; and in some songs Steve
Stills backs her fine guitar work
with his electric bass. This album,
like her first, is produced by
Graham Nash.

Joni has strong voice, commanding
an impressive range but not
overly feminine and high-pitched.
Her melodies are intricate and fluid,
backed by complex guitar work
featuring unusual chording.

Photo By Dulany Hall

Her words are rich and full of
color and create cloud like pictures
which float along and change with
each new breeze and idea. One
could say simply, as she does, that
she is in love with words and uses
them just as a painter uses brushes
and oils.

After listening to "Clouds" one
does not wonder why Joni Mitchell
has emerged as one of the most
influential persons on the contemporary
music scene. Among the
Blues and the "Heavy" music now
dominating the music world, Joni
Mitchell is a welcome face.

She possesses an artistry and
professionalism that few performers
can boast. Her songs are very
original and she has a sound that is
distinctively hers. The listener will
quickly notice the difference
between the way she sings her songs
and the way other artists such as
Tom Rush and Judy Collins have
recorded them.

One does not enjoy her album
by listening to one or two songs,
but by consuming the whole album.
The album must be taken as a
whole, and it relates a complete
idea.

"Clouds" is an album which
demands time and careful listening
in order to be appreciated. It will
make you happy and sad, but it will
give you a great deal to think about
and enjoy.