Clouds is a stark stunner, a great leap forward for Joni Mitchell.

Vocals here are more forthright and assured than on her debut and exhibit a remarkable level of subtle expressiveness.

Guitar alone is used in accompaniment, and the variety of playing approaches and sounds gotten here is most impressive.

"The Fiddle and the Drum," a protest song that imaginatively compares the Vietnam-era warmongering U.S.

government to a bitter friend, dispenses with instrumental accompaniment altogether.

The sketches presented of lovers by turns depressive ("Tin Angel"), roguish ("That Song About the Midway"), and faithless ("The Gallery") are vividly memorable.

Forthright lyrics about the unsureness of new love ("I Don't Know Where I Stand"), misuse of the occult ("Roses Blue"), and mental illness ("I Think I Understand") are very striking.

Mitchell's classic singer/songwriter standards "Chelsea Morning" and "Both Sides Now" respectively receive energetically vibrant and warmly thoughtful performances.

Imaginatively unusual and subtle harmonies abound here, never more so in her body of work than on the remarkable "Songs to Aging Children Come," which sets floridly impressionistic lyrics to a lovely tune that is supported by perhaps the most remarkably sophisticated chord sequence in all of pop music.

Mitchell's riveting self-portrait on the album's cover is a further asset.

This essential release is a must-listen.