The words “genius”, “original” and “unique” probably get thrown around a little more freely than they really ought to when it comes to enthusing about great musicians and their work. In reality, it’s rare for an artist - no matter how skilled - to possess an exceptional natural capacity (genius) for creating musical blueprints that go on to inspire others (original), and for their work to be truly unparalleled by anything that has come before or since (unique).
But they’re all essential terms if we’re even going to try and get to grips with the idiosyncratic brilliance of Joni Mitchell’s guitar craft.
