Song To A Seagull
by Joni Mitchell

From HoldenM 10/17/2023 03:47 | #299514

Cannot believe this is considered lesser or middling Joni Mitchell. An unbelievable debut. Some of the sharpest singer-songwriter craft I've ever heard.

From Jboy56 04/08/2022 06:20 | #283914

Solid debut album with a poetic touch all over. Beautifully sung and played.

From mdbaxter 11/10/2021 21:02 | #276129

Clear display of immense talent but the songs can only take the album so far I think. They're good but there isn't anything amazing other than maybe "Cactus Tree".

From Jameth 08/06/2019 00:37 | #240796

Joni works within a remarkably idyllic space, shaped, no doubt, by her immense talent and studious approach which allow her the latitude to explore such an incredible folk realm. This album is immensely beautiful.

@Mercury - I think your criticism of the vocals is fair for most artists, but Joni has such incredible control that I would consider “every once in a while” preferable to never.

Whenever I am in a listening rut, I end up going to Joni. Still have a long way before I finish her discography but this Blue and Hejira are wonderful. They just feel welcoming.

From Mercury 10/19/2017 20:36 | #199811

I feel like Joni Mitchell is a genius. Like, I recognize that now. Its like she envisions or, more accurately, hears music with more clarity than almost any human in pop music history. From the jump, with this solo debut of hers, its clear she is a legitimate A+ guitarist, a freakishly pristine and perfect pitch singer, and lyrically a poetic force of nature. Even on this, her first go at an album, she took all these insane talents and managed to put out a truly gorgeously shimmering debut album, which feels full and completely filled in despite it being by and large just her and a guitar. She manages to fill up the sound completely with complex chord structures and intensely beautiful, constantly shifting and soaring vocals.

Intimate songs like "The Dawntreader" and the character study "Marcie" almost sound too angellic. And the guitar playing is, again, incredibly dexterous and sounds easy almost because she was such a virtuoso - case in point the ease of her singing over the top of the complex guitar of" Sistowbell Lane". There are also some parts that are just over the top with their speedy 2 or 3 part vocal parts like in "The Pirate of Penance" is unlike anything singer-songwriters of the time.

The only knock I have against this record is that the vocal pyrotechnics do get a bit over the top. Just every once in awhile. Also its not like the whole flow of the album or the poetry here bites quite as hard as they do on "Blue". So, no, I'm not quite ready to say this is on the same level as that album. Still, its G-R-E-A-T.

This album should be recognized as one of the best debut albums of the 60s. I don't feel like that is the general consensus, and that saddens me.

Grade: 9.0/10

Joni Mitchell's debut album is a sweet and lovely record,and it's beauty and attractive vulnerability cannot be denied. Song to a seagull, is the start of one of the most amazing careers in popular music, and the start of a stunning run of albums. Michael from mountains, is absolutely lovely, probably my favourite song on the LP, and, night and the city, is another good cut, as is closing track, cactus tree. All in all, a nice start, but the best was yet to come.

From poppmusic 01/08/2015 05:41 | #131039

Beautiful, haunting, atmospheric, intelligent, sensual. A fabulous start to an outstanding career.

From ffudnebbuh 12/14/2009 00:37 | #7638

This album, along with "Blue" and "Hissing of Summer Lawns" are my three favorite Joni albums, the more I listen to this, the more I am impressed. It was considered too sophomoric by the critics at the time, I just don't agree. "Cactus Tree" is an amazing song and her performance of it (as opposed to the version on 'Miles of Aisles") perfectly fits the lyrics.