Joni Mitchell: Hejira (Asylum)

This is Mitchell's most mature introspective work to date and a refreshing change from the detached topical stories on The Hissing of Summer Lawns (1975). Flight and travel are the central themes throughout the album. Mitchell is an artist constantly in the process of redefining herself through love and music. Her lyrics reveal the inner dialogue of a woman gradually discarding the concept of eternal love juxta posed with the struggle for self-fulfillment vs. her dependence on men. Musically, she has abandoned the piano to play electric guitar tastefully. The jazz/folk-like quality of the melodies are nearly spellbinding when accompanied by Jaco Pastorius on bass and Larry Carlton on lead guitar. Joni Mitchell is one of our great artists.