Joni Mitchell – Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm (1988)

⭐⭐

Rating: 2 out of 5.

By not naming the album after either of its tracks: “Dancin’ Clown” or “The Tea Leaf Prophecy”, there is some occasion to rejoice. Although entitling it “Number One” would have been downright disingenuous.

Another possible upside to the album: many of its synth melodies bizarrely resemble vestiges of late 1980s and early ‘90s horror films. Apart from these assets, Chalk Mark’s offerings are terrifyingly slim.

Returning to sing about society’s ills again, as well as some lighter numbers, two of the rants spin gold. “The Beat of Black Wings” and “The Reoccurring Dream” are original and probably refine what she was trying to do on Dog Eat Dog (1985). The cover of “A Bird That Whistles” is fantastic and Wayne Shorter’s saxophone mesmerising. An album in that vein would have been intriguing.

Unfortunately, on Chalk Mark’ less than a third of its tracks show some bastion of excellence. Synthesizer and excess backing wash out most of Mitchell’s vocals, and the album is outrageously bloated with rock star duets leaving little if any lasting impressions. Many songs fade out with Mitchell still singing signalling a new low. Even the F-bomb can’t save this, which marks not only chalk outlines, but the worst album of Mitchell’s career. The album’s cover photo no doubt depicts a look of thoughtfulness, but it almost, almost, looks like a look of shame.