Rise

Format

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  7559606242CD  £6.00

Label

Asylum

Joni Mitchell

For the Roses

60s 70s back in stock between the stark confessional singersongwriter format ofblue and the artful streamlined jazzpop of court and spark joni mitchell released this excellent transitional albumlocated firmly between these stylistic poles for the roseslooks to mitchell's folky beginnings with wistful pianodriven ballads like banquet and the acoustic guitar lilt of the title track at the same time cuts like cold blue steeland straight fire push toward the unconventional melodies and rhythmsheavily influenced by jazzthat she would explore more fully on albums like hejira electricity and let the wind carry me blend singersongwriter styles with jazzy flourishes as on the saxophone accompaniment and swooping wordless vocals on the latter while the record's hit single turn me on i'm a radio is breezy harmonicadriven pop but while the styles diverge mitchell's lyrics are sharp as ever exploring human relationships with a storyteller's eye for detail and a poet's feel for phrasing and image the sense of painful incisive honesty that comes across on blue is here as well contributing to this exceptional often overlooked gem in mitchell's discography