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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Blue

Joni Mitchell

1971

Buy At Rough Trade
Blue
Album Summary

Blue is the fourth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, released on June 22, 1971, by Reprise Records. Written and produced entirely by Mitchell, it was recorded in 1971 at A&M Studios in Hollywood, California. Created just after her breakup with Graham Nash and during an intense relationship with James Taylor, Blue explores various facets of relationships from infatuation on "A Case of You" to insecurity on "This Flight Tonight". The songs feature simple accompaniments on piano, guitar and Appalachian dulcimer. The album peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart, number 9 on the Canadian RPM Albums Chart and number 15 on the Billboard 200. Today, Blue is generally regarded by music critics as one of the greatest albums of all time; the cohesion of Mitchell's songwriting, compositions and voice are frequent areas of praise. In January 2000, The New York Times chose Blue as one of the 25 albums that represented "turning points and pinnacles in 20th-century popular music". In 2020, Blue was rated the third greatest album of all time in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", the highest entry by a female artist. It was also voted number 24 in the third edition of Colin Larkin's All Time Top 1000 Albums (2000). In July 2017, Blue was chosen by NPR as the greatest album of all time made by a woman.

Wikipedia

Rating

3.48

Votes

16292

Genres

  • Folk
  • Rock
  • Singer Songwriter

Reviews

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Dec 13 2022
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1

What have I done to deserve two Joni Mitchell albums in three days? Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

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Feb 23 2021
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5

I feel so voyeuristic listening to this album. I feel like I'm looking at her through a one-way mirror, the lyrics a very personal reflection of her situation and the instrumentation perfectly complementing it. A masterpiece of emotion. And her voice, my god.

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Dec 14 2020
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5

i know some songs from this album but omg didn't know the whole album is THIS good!

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Feb 02 2021
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1

Joni Mitchel doesn't try to rhyme or form song structure. Her music is like shitty skat poetry

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Feb 09 2021
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5

Very beautiful and heartfelt. She has a very distinct voice and guitar playing style that I think I'll be obsessed with for the rest of my life. This Aussie gives an album they've never listened to before five rounds of backyard cricket with your mates out of five.

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Dec 01 2021
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5

This is like being asked to review the Sistine Chapel. Where to begin. It took me some years to get in the rhythm of Joni Mitchell's music. Thankfully I stuck in there because her music is an indescribable gift. Blue in particular is an album I come back to frequently. Listening to Blue is like reading someone else's diary. It feels very personal, so intimate, so much so that you feel a little like you shouldn't have that kind of access to another person's thoughts. Mitchell’s lyrics are pure poetry. Her turns of phrase are stunning. "I could drink a case of you and still be on my feet" is a line that I think about a lot. It’s simple, but incredibly elegant, evoking all our own feelings and memories of being exuberantly, drunkenly lost in a love, regardless of the cost. The songs are a journey between those exuberant feelings to less pleasant feelings like melancholy, loneliness, disillusionment, loss. She revels in those emotions and displays them for us like jewels. Let's also not sleep on the quality of the music itself. The arrangements are simple, delicately rendered, but incredibly moving. Mitchell's piano and guitar work is a thing of beauty. Her accompanying musicians (James Taylor, Stephen Stills and Pete Kleinow) add great depth and texture to the work. Kleinow’s pedal steel guitar on “California” and especially “This Flight Tonight” is a delight. Mitchell’s vocal is so unique, it’s an instrument in itself. It’s angelically pretty, but she’s not afraid to bend her voice as it suits her, into some unexpected places. A lot of artists get compared to Joni Mitchell, but there’s really no one like her. I could say much more, but it would somehow never be enough. I could drink a case of this and still be on my feet. Fave Songs: A Case of You, River, California, This Flight Tonight, All I Want, Blue

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Jan 24 2021
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5

masterpiece honest to god carey and a case of you are some of my favourite songs ever

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Apr 25 2021
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1

I try and like this album every few years. It's still a 1 even with the creeping familiarity.

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Jan 25 2021
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5

Amazing collection of songs. I loved this album. Joni’s lyrics straight from her soul, her remarkable singing voice and unique guitar playing make me very excited to listen to more Joni!

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Jan 03 2023
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2

Boring and menopause-core. Maybe I could relate if I was a chick but im not so im off that vibe

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Oct 12 2023
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1

Not on Spotify which doesn't help. Sadly this album does nothing for me, obviously it's a classic that's loved so it must be me but for whatever reason I find it like listening to paint dry - not unpleasant but nothing of interest to me

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Feb 25 2021
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5

Without question one of the all time great albums. Brilliant in 1971 and just as brilliant and timeless now. Joni is a brilliant writer and musician - perhaps my favorite artist, if I had to choose.

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Apr 03 2023
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4

Bony Joni and I used to clean toilets together for £4 a day. She used to lick them clean, the dirty little scrubber. She wrote this record about me. She repulses me, but I can't help but love the horrible bitch.

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Nov 16 2023
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2

He voice alternates between beautiful and absolutely terribly annoying. She shoots up too high very often. 5.8/10

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Dec 18 2021
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5

Blue by Joni Mitchell (1971) One must set aside the admittedly fascinating backdrop to this album and assess it on its own merits. Having done that, one must conclude that this is simply one of the greatest albums of all time. Top ten. Easily. Best thing to ever come from a Canadian recording artist. It puts the ‘class’ in ‘classic’. Why did Blue chart better in the UK than in the USA in 1971? Because in 1971 the British still had better taste and sense than we Americans. How things change. Delightfully poetic lyrics, unsurpassed vocal performance, masterful acoustic guitar/piano arrangement and execution, superbly crafted and unexpected melodies all characterize this superlative record. It all comes from the mind and heart of one person—Joni Mitchell. And if one needs to add instrumental color (“Carey”), one might as well get it from James Taylor and Stephen Stills. The poetics harness the rhythms with authority and without awkwardness. And the album is sprinkled with hugely entertaining metaphors and word pictures. The warm chord behind the lyric “warm chord” (second verse of “My Old Man”) exemplifies the perfection of synthesis between poetry and music. Likewise, pay careful attention to the music behind these powerfully poetic lines: “I could drink a case of you and still be on my feet” “I want to get up and jive . . . wreck my stockings in some jukebox dive” “I want to shampoo you” “But when he's gone/Me and them lonesome blues collide/The bed's too big/The frying pan's too wide” “Just a little green/Like the nights when the Northern lights perform” Listen to this record after waking from a bad dream. It will cure you. And Joni Mitchell’s skill on acoustic guitar is so sublime that it discourages amateurs and shames professionals. The delicacy and precision of her finger picking is flawless. And her piano attack and sustain are extraordinarily sensitive. Why don’t people hum these tunes? Because they’re beautifully unhummable. Nobody can do these melodies. Joni Mitchell composes music for precisely her voice alone. She never attempts to exceed her considerable range (even on the exquisitely delicate ending of “California”). She has one of the most recognizable voices in the history of recorded music. Her tone and pitch are endearingly winsome and precise. And she appreciates the importance of the initial consonant for both rhythm and diction. Listening in anticipation during the approach to one of her impossible intervals is like watching Simone Biles sprint toward the vaulting horse. You know what’s coming, yet you’re still dazzled. Why is the song “California” not the official anthem of the Golden State? Because nobody but Joni Mitchell can sing it. Her song “River”, with its regret, longing, introspection, the “Jingle Bells” theme in both the intro and outro, and the deft croak on the final sung note, is simply brilliant. Graham Nash must have shed more than one tear (for reasons we set aside in the first paragraph, but I digress). “River” is a song that should replace Mariah Carey’s nauseatingly ubiquitous “All I Want For Christmas Is You” as the secular pop Xmas carol du jour. But it won’t. We’re so unworthy. What do Barbra Streisand, Céline Dion, Diana Ross, Janis Ian, Roberta Flack, Cyndi Lauper, Loreena McKennitt, and Kenny Rankin all have in common? They all wish they could sing as well as Joni Mitchell. I needed this one. 5/5

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Nov 19 2021
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5

As soon as I pressed play on this album, a man materialized in my room. I immediately understood him to be my husband whom I loved very much. He promptly left me and broke my heart. Just the way Joni intended. 10/10

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Jan 26 2022
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2

Going in, not super thrilled as I haven't been a huge fan of Joni Mitchell. I don't recognize any songs on the tracklist so let's see if this one changes my mind. Ok yeah, still not a fan. I did learn a quick formula for Joni Mitchell though. Is she playing a guitar? It's going to be a bit more upbeat and half-decent. Is she playing a piano? Prepare to be bummed out.

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Jul 13 2021
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5

Wow. I knew this would be good but it completely exceeded my expectations. One of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. It honestly moved me to tears

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May 18 2021
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5

I wish I had words to convey how much I love and admire this artist and her extraordinary creations. Everything: songwriting, her poetry of lyrics, musicality, composition, performance (studio and live), originality, expression, timelessness,...I could go on and on. I hope anyone who loves music gets the chance to explore her catalog. Just incredible. (5 stars seems waaaay to low for this one.)

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Jan 13 2021
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3

I don't like this genre of music, generally. That being said, I didn't hate this, and I can see why it made the list. There were a few times where she started a melodic progression that sounded like it was really going to resonate with me, but every time she went in a direction that I didn't find so compelling. My personal enjoyment: 1.5/5 Did it belong on this list: 4/5

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Mar 26 2024
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2

Didn’t really know any Joni Mitchell songs other than “Big Yellow Taxi” and couldn’t say I was a fan…..after listening to this album can’t say that has changed

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Nov 13 2024
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5

Another five star album i am not in a hurry to listen to again.

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Dec 13 2021
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5

An absolute masterpiece of writing and production. To imagine one person producing this in any amount of time is incredible. Gorgeous songs all the way through, perfectly rendered in a minimal and yet impactful way.

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Jul 27 2021
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5

There aren’t enough superlatives to give this wonderful album. Joni Mitchell, the original confessional singer songwriter, possesses an exquisite voice and beautiful playing style. This is an album to get lost in and absorbed by. Influential and staggering, Blue is not just one of the greatest albums of the 20th century, it is one of the century’s greatest works of art.

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Jan 15 2021
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5

Thought one track sounded like Jingle Bells, then realised that it was a track with a Christmas theme! All very Joni Mitchell. What's not to like? Very pleasant and easy listening. Loved it.

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Jan 18 2021
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5

Little green is a beautiful song. I feel like I need to curl up with a hot beverage and the lyrics of this album

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May 18 2021
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5

Just a perfectly written and beautiful sounding expression of a melancholy universal.

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Jan 23 2021
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4

I really liked this, great melodies and I liked how her voice does weird key changes.

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Sep 14 2024
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3

The Good: though at first I was not enjoying this album at all, by the third spin it has started to grow on me a lot more. The Bad: if Joni is to be considered one of the best female performers out there, then how many other ones belong to the ranking of "the best"? The Ugly: that darn falsetto... I am struggling on what score to give this album, seeing as it is starting to grow on me... maybe if I had started listening to Joni Mitchell earlier in my life I would give this album a 4 1/2*, for now a solid 3*

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Mar 16 2024
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2

Not a single interesting chord progression. Listen to the first song on the album because they are all effectively the same.

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Feb 25 2021
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2

I... just don’t get the whole Joni Mitchell thing. Some of her songs are great (River, A Case of You), but her voice on songs like My Old Man makes me want to scream.

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Sep 05 2024
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5

Blue, eh? Not sure I've heard this one before... But seriously, I feel envious of anyone who is hearing this for the first time; what a treat! I find it hard to find anything meaningful to say about this album that hasn't already been said a million times. If you were to pick a Top Ten Albums of All Time list, this would have to be on it. I note that the My Favourite Album podcast has effectively banned people from picking Blue, having already done five episodes on it. It is hard to over-praise the songwriting here. The album is full of absolute classics, and this is a masterclass of confessional songwriting. The melodies are light and full of movement, and harmonic twists that seem so natural and yet surprise me every time I hear them (My Old Man is a particularly good example). The playing is airy and open and always tasteful. The lyrics are poetic and surprising, but often simple and straightforward, and always honest. I love this quote from Joni herself: "The Blue album, there's hardly a dishonest note in the vocals. At that period of my life, I had no personal defenses. I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world and I couldn't pretend in my life to be strong. Or to be happy. But the advantage of it in the music was that there were no defenses there either." Pitchfork described this as "possibly the most gutting break-up album ever made", but a lot of it is light and playful, with moments of joy. I think makes this the most _human_ break-up album ever made. I've been listening to this album on-and-off for my whole adult life, and it always feels fresh and surprising and warm and human and real and complex and simple and heavy and just... everything. There is an argument to be made that this is the best album of popular music ever made. Often imitated, never equaled. Eleventy billion and out of 5

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Mar 22 2024
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5

I haven't got time to write everything I would say about this one, but to me it's peak Joni. Everything seems to have come to gether to make a perfect album. Happy, sad, reflective, and derisive songs sit shoulder to shoulder quite comfortably. 'A Case of You' and 'The Last Time I saw Richard' probably deserve health warnings for their ability to put a lump in your throat. Also her use of various stringed instruments and piano definitely sets her apart from the typical 6-string strumming of some of the more popular folk-influenced acts of the time. Heartbreak and disillusion never soounded more perfect and original.

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Dec 20 2023
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5

Oh brother, didn't take much more than two weeks to get to our next instant five-star album for me. Joni Mitchell, where do I begin? We've had a few albums from her on this list already, and they're albums that I hadn't heard prior but think are great. This one, though, I know very well. There was a period a few years back where I was getting really into classic songwriters, Bob Dylan in particular. And I was fairly sure that Dylan was the GOAT, maybe the best American songwriter. But I kept seeing Joni Mitchell's name, and when I eventually listened to Blue, I was floored. Not only is her songwriting arguably on par with Dylan (maybe more focused on building a mood than telling a story, but damn if she doesn't cut to the core in the same way), but her voice is amazing and so singular. It's so funny that discussion of Bob Dylan seems to always include the caveat "yeah, his voice isn't great..." meanwhile with Joni no caveat necessary! She's got this unique, country lilt (I would've guessed Appalachian as her vibe, but she's Canadian), and it can turn on you from comforting to piercing in the blink of an eye. This album is stripped down to essentials only - Joni's words and voice, and a selection of acoustic instruments (guitar, dulcimer, piano). Who cares what the rest of the rock world was doing at the time, Joni captivated them all. Easy to see why so many rock legends were obsessed with her, she was just dialed into a utopian, unobtainable frequency. I adore this album, there are plenty of brilliant songs. Her writing is riddled with gems that may not trip you instantly, but they stick around ("You said love is touching souls, surely you touched mine 'cause part of you pours out of me in these lines from time to time. You're in my blood like holy wine, and you taste so bitter and so sweet. I could drink a case of you darling, and still I'd be on my feet."). Seriously, pick any song on this album, pull it up on youtube, and see how far you don't have to scroll to find someone claiming it's the greatest song ever written. There's just no criticism I can make about this, even the songs that didn't jump out and grab me the first few times I heard this have become comforting. One of the very best. Favorite tracks: I really do like them all, but the biggest for me are Carey, California, Case of You, Little Green, All I Want. Album art: A picture of Joni's face, and guess what? It's blue. Incredibly simple cover art, but what more do you need for an album this powerful? This one's iconic at this point, no question. No frills, no pretense, no nothing. 5/5

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Jul 27 2021
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5

This was the first Joni I ever heard, introduced to me by an aging hippie whose musical tastes have shaped my own over the years. It has lived at the top of my list ever since. Joni’s singing voice is unique and not necessarily for everyone, but there is no denying the power and influence of her songwriting voice. I don’t think you will find a female recording artist who doesn’t list Joni as an inspiration in some way. One of the original singer/songwriters, her unique folk tunings and feminine perspectives make this album a cornerstone of folk/pop history. I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite song from Blue, though some resonate more for me than others: All I Want, A Case of You & Carey hit the hardest for me. The bittersweet, almost anti-holiday River evokes a deep & melancholy longing that haunts me. And the title track is a perfect expression of the sadness of a painful loss. This is a no-brained 5 for me.

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Jun 18 2021
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5

Having never really heard much of Joni Mitchell's work up to this point in my life, I found 'Blue' to be quite a revelation. Sparse and delicate, this is real heart on your sleeve stuff and it's also very beautiful, painfully so.

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Jan 28 2025
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4

Længe siden jeg har hørt den, tror måske jeg er gammel nok nu til at jeg skal til at have en Joni Mitchell Fase. Giver mig helt lyst til at købe en JM plade til min kone i julegave i stedet for det halstørklæde hun altid plejer at få.

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Dec 07 2022
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4

I enjoyed this quite a bit, although I do find the "longer" songs near the end started to drag the feeling of the album a bit, even if they were still telling compelling enough stories. I would understand why some would not like the song structure in Mitchell's vocals, often going for whatever, whenever, but I actually really enjoy it, with the falsettos often being placed in a way that make them satisfying rather than annoying. Just a solid album, but not perfect.

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Oct 18 2022
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4

Respect to Joni Mitchell. Removed all her music from spotify to protest Joe Rogan and his purposeful spread of misinformation on masks and vaccines. I did have to listen to this on youtube, but it still is captivating. Favorite tracks are All I Want, California, and This Flight Tonight.

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Jan 10 2025
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3

This is the 2nd album I’m rating and honestly I first heard about this album from Apple Music’s Top 100 Albums list. I’ve heard a lot of good things about her and now it is time to listen to her for the first time. All I Want - Not Adding to my Playlist. Her singing is annoying. The instrumentals are nice though. My Old Man - Not Adding to my Playlist. The way she sings is amazing and terrible at the same time. Instrumentals are still pretty good though. Little Green - Not Adding to my Playlist. I’m sorry Joni Mitchell but I can’t get over this singing. Carey - Adding to my Playlist. This is much better. If the rest of the album goes on like this it’s a good album. Blue - Adding to my Playlist. Titular track is pretty good. California - Adding to my Playlist. I can see why this and Carey were the two singles from this album. This Flight Tonight - Not Adding to my Playlist. Her singing is pretty annoying in this song. I really like the instrumental by the way. That part around 1:55 is really nice. River - Not Adding to my Playlist. This isn’t that good. A Case of You - Adding to my Playlist. This is as good as Blue. The Last Time I Saw Richard - Adding to my Playlist. If she sung like this for the entire album it would’ve been much better. All in all I liked 5/10 songs. This album was pretty disappointing, I was expecting this to be much better than what it ended up being. About as disappointing as the first album I rated, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

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Mar 28 2024
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3

Nr. 153/1001 All I Want 4/5 My Old Man 2/5 Little Green 3/5 Carey 3/5 Blue 3/5 California 3/5 This Flight Tonight 2/5 River 3/5 A Case Of You 2/5 The Last Time I Saw Richard 2/5 Average: 2,7 I don't like her high-pitched voice. And she uses that a lot.

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Mar 17 2023
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3

Not the biggest fan of female singers and this album is quite slow. It's okay as background music, maybe as music over a sombre photo slide. Depressing af. Okay it gets less depressing as it goes on - almost country esque

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Dec 09 2024
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2

I thought ok Joni Mitchell, cool! Not cool. Total opposite of cool actually.

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Nov 14 2024
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2

I'm not sure I'm describing this correctly. I like her voice, but then it goes up an octave and I find it cloying and grating. There parts of this I like but when it gets to a part I don't like, I really don't like it. In songs where she stays in a lower register, I like it more, but she never stays there for long. I feel bad for this one but I just can't do it.

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Oct 05 2024
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2

A very overrated album. I like some of Joni's work, and yes, this is an intimate album, but that doesn't make the music inherently good. As another reviewer said, this album shows too much of the side of Joni where she's not worrying about song structure or whether the lyrics fit the music. Sometimes the rhythm and flow feel disjointed, like she’s prioritizing raw emotion over cohesion. Joni often forces syllables into rhythms that feel unnatural and forced. Tracks like "This Flight Tonight" or "California" are examples where the flow seems uneven, as if the lyrics and melody are at odds with one another, creating a jarring experience instead of something organically emotive. Sure, Joni's great, and her lyrics are undeniably deep and personal, but the unconventional phrasing and odd choices in melody can come off as awkward rather than artful. For me, Blue lacks the atmospheric cohesion and the finely tuned arrangements of The Hissing of Summer Lawns or the flowing narratives of Hejira. Those albums show Joni’s artistry at its most balanced—complex yet accessible, innovative without sacrificing listenability. On Blue, the oddities are more of a distraction than a triumph.

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Jul 29 2024
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2

Too much Joni Mitchell. One album was plenty. 2 is too many.

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Jul 09 2024
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2

I SHOULD love this I try to love this I don't love this repeat, repeat, repeat..... I know that one day, I'll listen to this album at exactly the right time, in the right place, in the right weather, and through the right speakers and I will LOVE it Today's not that day.

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Jul 06 2024
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2

Just kind of monotonous and boring. Not offensive, just not exciting.

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Feb 28 2024
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2

Another in the list of "I can kinda see why it's significant without really doing anything for me personally Clive" (plus Nazareth did it better)

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Dec 02 2024
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1

This has no place here. It's a recording of a dying woman who, while on her deathbed, is impersonating two dead turtles copulating.

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Jun 27 2024
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1

Not my type of music. Chasing high notes randomly for no reason

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Apr 12 2024
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1

Turned off at track 6. I am the same age now that Ms. Mitchell was when she recorded this project, and I couldn't feel like I relate less to another human being than I do to her and this album listening to it in this present moment. A bunch of free verse, strummy bullshit with lyrics that sound like they were written by a teenager with their head in the clouds; more aptly a woman with little discretion and even less shame living in a free love fantasy world. Absolute dogshit.

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Jan 04 2024
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1

She just can't hit those high notes

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Dec 28 2023
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1

It sounded like a buncha cats in heat, or a couple of puppies being ran over. I can’t decide which.

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Nov 11 2022
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1

I'm sure it sucks but she's against Spotify for political reasons. RIP

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Oct 20 2022
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1

Een krijsende kat klinkt nog beter

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Feb 11 2025
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5

A really nice album. Very simple and calming to listen to.

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Feb 04 2025
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5

Some albums aren’t just great, they go way beyond this as if they are woven into the fabric of time and music itself. Blue is one of those albums. Joni Mitchell strips everything down to its bare essentials—just her voice, her words, and a handful of acoustic instruments—and somehow creates something that feels bigger than any full-band production ever could. The songwriting is devastatingly intimate, packed with raw emotion and poetic brilliance. Whether she’s longing for escape on California, reminiscing over lost love in A Case of You, or unraveling pure heartbreak on River, every song hits like a personal confession. There’s no filter, no pretense—just unvarnished honesty that cuts deeper with every listen. Joni’s voice is a marvel, shifting effortlessly from warm and comforting to sharp and piercing in an instant. While people love to joke about Bob Dylan’s voice needing a disclaimer, no such warning is needed here. Her delivery isn’t just technically impressive—it’s so deeply personal that it feels impossible to separate her from the music. Her unique tunings and delicate, precise guitar work only add to the magic, making every song feel like it could only ever belong to her. The melodies twist and turn in ways that defy easy imitation, creating songs that feel both familiar and impossible to replicate. Plenty of artists have tried to capture what Joni does here, but none quite succeed. They all wish they could sing like Joni Mitchell can and make an album like this. But they never really can...

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Feb 01 2025
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5

I've considered nitpicking about her somewhat strained and annoying high registers, but scratch that. Gave it another listen this morning and it just makes me feel things. Exceptional songwriting, particularly River and A Case Of You.

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Jan 31 2025
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5

This is Joni at her finest. A must-listen, although I like Song to a Seagull more. But, you cannot go wrong here. She is amazing. Top songs: All I Want Carey This Flight Tonight A Case of You River 5/5 = Absolute perfection.

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Jan 30 2025
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5

Just beautiful. Joni Mitchell is so good a captuiring certain emotions and turning them into songs that are just lyrically speaking some of the best out there. Aside from that the minimalist soundscape of the record allows the focus to be on the vocals and the lyrics, which I am a big fan of. Blue as a project also just makes sense, thematically and in terms of sound the album has an excellent flow, with an perfect mix of more energetic songs(Carey) and a good dose of sadness, the title is blue afterall, which once again that idea and the pain is captured so well (river is just a tearjerker) on this record and overall the record is quite seemless. Favorite track: River(very HM to My Old Man). Overall score 9.3/10

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Jan 28 2025
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5

4.5/5 Joni Mitchell's raw, brilliant vocals convey her exceptional songwriting amazingly in this short, emotional journey. The light instrumentation supporting her is fantastic and the consistent quality makes this album great. All I Want 5/5 My Old Man 5/5 Little Green 5/5 (FAV) Carey 4.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Blue 4.5/5 California 5/5 This Flight 4.5/5 River 4.5/5 A Case of You 4.5/5 The Last Time I Saw Richard 4.5/5

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Jan 28 2025
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5

Joni pls 😭 miss once 😭 man kan simpelthen ikke sætte A Case of You på et album og forvene mindre end 5/5

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Jan 24 2025
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5

This is awesome. I’ve never listened to this album before but I think I’ll listen to it over and over in the future.

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Jan 24 2025
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5

she's brilliant. River is of course an all time great song

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Jan 23 2025
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5

I like Court and Spark a bit better than this one, but it’s still masterful.

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Jan 15 2025
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5

I first listened to this album as a teen when I played my parents’ vinyl copy, which sparked a (mild) argument about who bought it - my mum or my dad. I can see why they both wanted to claim credit, because it’s a masterpiece.

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Jan 15 2025
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5

What can I say? Didn't know this existed on Tuesday. It feels like I've never been without it on Wednesday after three listens. 5 - all day, every day for the rest of my days

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Jan 13 2025
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5

Perfect. Joni Mitchell's writing is deeply affective, vulnerable and conflicted - it paints a vivid picture, spanning the mundane and the poigniant. It's Joni's voice which really brings the imagery to life. Unconventional at times, but undeniably beautiful and skilfully wielded. The instrumentation is very simple, which lets her voice shine through. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan of this concoction. Favourites are mostly the wistful and melancholy - Little Green, A Case of You, and Blue is simply devastating.

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Jan 13 2025
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5

I think I checked this CD out from the downtown library when I was in high school (yes, the Columbus Public library had an amazing music and movie selection for rental) mainly because I thought the album cover looked cool. I was only vaguely familiar with Joni Mitchell, but I couldn't stop listening to it. Carey is a highlight for me, along with California and A Case of You. The whole album is perfection.

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Jan 10 2025
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5

Ach Joni one of my all time favourites. Searingly open and honest. Love this entire album.

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Jan 10 2025
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5

First listening - really enjoyed this album and know it will grow on me as time goes on. Joni’s vocals have their own pacing lending her an identity that is fun but feeling. High falsetto with operatic performance. Songs like little green and blue convey her emotional intelligence when dealing with topics like familial love or romance. But then California and A case of you express her admiration for beauty even in its excess. It’s just classic folk so I can’t say no. Four listens in one day. After reading wiki and finding out it’s the ultimate break up album I still find it reductive. It’s definitely filled with emotions, regrets, desperation for solitude and isolation while admiring all the crazy intoxicating feelings that flow through someone. Maybe Joni wrote all this just to get all the shit of her chest and say this is how I feel so take part. Removed though, it will be done amazingly with all my best intentions.

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Jan 06 2025
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5

Thought I'd already done this one, but I guess I just listen to it. What a record. Just keeps on hitting. I'm lucky to have discovered a love for it during midlife, so I haven't yet played it to death. Although I have played it twice today. I've never really got into any other Joni record, I like jazz but not really Joni-jazz, but this is the real deal. Why does River not end up on Xmas music playlists? So Christmassy. Anyway, it's on mine now. Best songs: Case of You, River, All I Want, Carey, California

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Jan 06 2025
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5

one of my top 10 albums of all time

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Dec 31 2024
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5

I'm glad there's only one Joni. I'm glad she followed the pure inspirations of her heart.

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Dec 31 2024
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5

Probably not my number 1 Joni but still great

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Dec 30 2024
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5

This has always been an album I knew I should listen to, but never did, because it’s not my usual style. Still not something I’m gonna listen to all the time, but man, if this isn’t great songwriting, I don’t know what is.

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Dec 24 2024
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5

Perfect. Sun kissed melodies and an angelic voice. The instrumentation is understated and serves only the song and is all the more for it. You can feel the sand in the grooves of a long lost summer. Every time I listen I find something new to love. Every song rejostles for my favourite... Classic 5*

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Dec 21 2024
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5

Nearly a flawless album. The vocal talent is obviously amazing, but the showy parts are also perfectly exucuted. This one’s staying in my downloads. Favorite Song: This Flight Tonight Least Favorite Song: A Case of You

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Dec 16 2024
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5

One of my all time favourite albums and so good to listen to at this time of year, when I already have River in heavy rotation. Funny how little of the rest of her catalogue I enjoy really. Her voice grates and it’s only on this record that I really enjoy it

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Dec 13 2024
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5

Joni is a legend, and blue is just flat out beautiful.

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Dec 10 2024
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5

this for me is one of the most beautiful albums of all time ... joni's voice and lyrics invoke such incredible images in my mind ... and Case of You is one of the most devastating songs ever written i reckon ...

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Dec 05 2024
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5

Love it. It's calming and well-written.

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Nov 19 2024
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5

I was just so captivated by the whole thing from front to back, it’s such a raw and vulnerable album. Favorite track: California

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Nov 14 2024
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5

My second Joni Mitchell album in a week and this is one I was already familiar with. Out of her albums I've heard, this is easily my favourite - just unbelievablely good lyrics start to finish. Easy 5* for me. Fav tracks: A Case of You, River, Carey

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Nov 12 2024
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5

It has been some time since I gave 5 stars. Joni deserves it for this masterpiece. It's Joni at her best. It is sad and happy and emotional and just very good.

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