Blue

I now understand women

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.)

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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*

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

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.

Twelve stars. I fucking love Joni and this is pretty unquestionably her best album (For the Roses is up there too but think Blue has gotta be #1). All I Want, Little Green, Carey, California, River, a Case of You, all on one album!?!? Fuck me. So good. Her melodies never go where you expect them to. So inventive. Her voice isn't for everyone ('reedy' is a fair word for it) and some songs on here border on indulgently sad (she's straight up wallowing for 3 minutes on Blue), but man she is for me. Tragically my dear wife hates Joni more than any other artist (Mitski is her only rival). Every time she hears her voice, she yells 'WHO IS THAT WHINY BITCH!?' so I rarely get to listen to her. At the end of the day I love my wife more than I love Joni so I don't put Joni on around the house, so I really relished the excuse to invite her into my headphones today. Welcome back baby.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

It’s a little odd to have heard Joni Mitchell’s mid-70’s output before this album, which is arguably considered to be her best. Court and Spark, The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Hejira feel like polar opposites to this record. They’re full of varied, layered instrumentation and, as a result, Blue’s sparse instrumentation is arresting to me, at least initially. It’s quite a personal album, not only because of the subject matter, but because of the minimal instrumentation and crisp production. Blue often feels as though you’re sitting in the same living room where Joni is performing these songs. Capturing that type of intimacy is an impressive feat of production, in my opinion. I think that I prefer the widescreen, vivid production on Court and Spark to Blue’s minimalism, but it feels like that might only be a difference of time and place. Blue suits a different, more specific type of mood for me than Court and Spark does. Either way, the base of either record is the same: Joni Mitchell’s singular vocal and songwriting talents. I’ve been consistently impressed by her records throughout this project. Blue is no exception.

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.

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.

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.

I just finished the series, "this is us". The wife in the show was obsessed with Joni. Me... not so much.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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)

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

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

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.

She just can't hit those high notes

It's just so, so dull.

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

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

Een krijsende kat klinkt nog beter

Lo aspettavo da tantooooo, per me Blue è un capolavoro assoluto, dalla mood alla strumentazione al canto, tutto si unisce per creare forse il mio album preferito di sempre. Adoro questa Joni giovane dalla voce squillante e vivace con già tutta la profondità dei suoi testi, è così accattivante e incalzante, insomma spacca. Serata Joni Mitchell in discoteca quando?

Excellent

Beautiful voice. While I like her next album better, I can see why this is a top 100 album.

Rarely has an artist been so bravely and completely herself the way Joni Mitchell is on this record and throughout her life really. She can do so much with sparse instrumentation, her voice and her writing. Just before our love got lost you said "I am as constant as a northern star" And I said "Constantly in the darkness Where's that at? If you want me I'll be in the bar." I love the vivid picture and feeling she creates with her words and I love this album. But what do I know? I’m just a romantic, so I’m cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark café.

Joni Mitchell’s Blue has had an immense impact on the music that I gravitate towards and seek out currently. It is the first folk album that clicked with me and has opened me up to other singer/songwriters of her time and of today. Some of my favorite albums and artists in recent years can directly be linked to my love of this album and the way it opened me up to a sound I previously found boring. While I can’t really put a finger on why it works for me, Mitchell’s approach to playing guitar and piano is entrancing to me. It’s all simple and often the only thing accompanying her voice. And I think this minimal approach really keeps the focus on the her vocal performance. Joni Mitchell certainly has a voice and songwriting approach rivaled by few and is likely why I was immediately able to take to this album. It has stayed in my rotation ever since, but I always love an excuse to relisten as she quickly became one of my all time favorite artists. If I were to make a list of my favorite songs of all time, she would probably have the 3rd most songs on the list with literally every song here probably making my short list. And if it were a ranked list, A Case of You is easily right near the tippy top. Every song has a message that, even if I don’t always relate to, I can at least completely understand and empathize with Mitchell. She makes me simultaneously feel sad and blue (lol) but still encourages me believe that everything will work out and be okay. It’s my happy and sad album of choice.

I listened to this on the way home from work. I went to Walmart to get melatonin and tried to get a car wash. This album is perfect for night skies

есть свое отличительное звучание, это и цепляет

Classic

Classic. I love how simple and bold this record is. Joni's voice is pure magic. Her playful vocal melodies and guitar playing hit every range you could feel. I tend to gravitate to blues and longing songs, and this definitely has that. However, I think what sets Joni apart is her overwhelmingly hopeful and optimistic songwriting and playing. She sings, plays, and writes with a level of optimism and wonder that I think most songwriters can tap in to. I can listen to every song on this record and be content. Though, I would be remiss to not mention "California" , "River" , and "A Case of You" as some of the greatest acoustic songs of the century. Pure gold.

Classic singer-songwriter record. Lyrics are insightful and interesting, melodies are enjoyable. California and A Case of You are particular standouts.

Incredible

My favorite Joni.

Great singer songwriter album. Very vulnerable and expressive.

Wish I could give 6 stars

classic

Open any dictionary and look up the definition of the word masterpiece. It will say, "see Joni Mitchell's 'Blue'". 5

Joni takes me away to a better place when listening to her beautiful and creative music. Blue is easily one of the best albums created.

Great voice. Loved it.

So nice I listened teuce

Really pleasant listen and very evocative of that counterculture movement. Just good folky pop music, idk what to even call it. It's obvious why its so revered.

A beautiful, tender, serene (even in its melancholy), intimate folk album that tells tales and paints landscapes of relationships old and new. She’s really got a unique approach to the whole thing, it sounds familiar but also unusual. Her rapidly pitch shifting vocal lines flow naturally despite some odd, intriguing rhythms. Musically accompanied by sparse, but often still busy, acoustic arrangements that serve as a perfect complement. There’s still plenty of variability in the tone, mood, and feel of the songs, as well as lyrical and emotional depth, to keep the whole album interesting.

My first real experience with Blue. I've always dabbled in Joni and was more drawn to Court and Spark, I think because of the bigger and jazzier arrangements. Digging into this was pretty cool. I was not aware of the Graham Nash/Joni/James Taylor love triangle. **I read Old Man was about Nash, so I take it to mean her man or bf** I think you really need to emerse yourself in this music to enjoy it. A little painful/sad at moments. Other times I felt a little disconnected (to a famous woman traveling Europe with boy problems). Nevertheless - incredibly vulnerable. Goes without saying she is one of one and that comes across in her arrangements, harmonies and singing voice. Gererally I think I'll always lean towards the bigger varied arrangements on Court and Spark, but when I want to get real emo I'll throw on Blue. My 2 y/o was into it too.

Theres a lot to be said about Blue. Its one of the rare entries on this list that I have no problem listening to non stop throughout the day. 36 minutes of genius. Great musicians playing with her —- Three unanswered questions: This Flight Tonight - maybe my favorite track on the album. At the 1:55 mark, Joni says “They're playing "Goodbye, baby, baby, goodbye. Ooh ooh, love is blind” and the track sounds like its being piped through a shitty speaker and back into a mic. What is the song that she’s referring to? Also, what is this effect? Is it supposed to represent the song or the sound quality of airplane entertainment of that day 😂 My Old Man - love the tune, but the lyrics are twisted in some lady form of oedipus rex. Is the ambiguity here intentional? Or did Old Man mean something entirely different then 🤨 How many times can someone say “California” on an album before it gets old? Its crazy high on Blue

Of all the albums we've heard so far, this is the one I've listened to the most, and one I know I will come back to often. This little comment box and these five stars can't capture the beauty - it's perfect.

What can I say about this album that hasn’t already been said? A true masterpiece.

Remarkably personal collection charting almost all imaginable aspects of relationships principally hers but has universal resonance. Songwriting, her voice and the spare accompaniment come together to produce something timeless. I regret not having listened to this more.

Beyond words.

I was born in 1971, but like marmite and Bob Dylan you either get it or you don't. I get Dylan but not Joni 😞

Gorgeous.

This could not have come at a better time. It's been a rough week and a melancholy album is just what I need. I love her voice and the instrumentals are great too. Need to listen to more of this artist.

Amazing voice, got goosebumps many times while listening, I really liked the simplicity of often just having piano or guitar in each song. Overall the album just seems very cohesive and authentic.

_Whiplash_

Uma combinação de produção minimalista e arranjos delicados capaz de capturar a essência da experiência humana com honestidade lírica e sofisticação musical. O auge da sua beleza está na introspecção poética para refletir sua vulnerabilidade emocional e habilidade em capturar a complexidade das relações humanas.

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

no notes/perfect

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...

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.

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.

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