Joni Mitchell could've been forgiven if she chose to artistically and emotionally retreat on For the Roses, her 1972 follow-up to Blue – and a record made during a period she later called "melancholy exile." The singer-songwriter does nothing of the sort. In a move that foreshadowed what she would continue to do throughout her career, Mitchell dares to imagine – and deliver – novel ways of conveying emotion, colour, thought, and wisdom via elegant combinations of music and lyrics. Viewed as a "transitional" work, For the Roses is a vocal tour de force anchored by the Canadian native's uncanny prowess with phrasing words, shaping images, and considering perspectives in manners that not only make us feel but allow us to to be part of her every move. Experience this gorgeous work – the third of six masterpieces Mitchell released in the 1970s.