Blue

7.5/10. Beautiful voice but I prefer instrumental-forward music. California is the best song on the album.

Fantastic singing, but the songs didn't immediately grab me.

holy fuck easily the worst album i’ve listened to yet

Deze stijl van zingen (de ziek hoge zanglijntjes die alle kanten op schieten) vind ik irritant. 9 van de 10 fijne momentjes op dit album worden vroeg of laat verpest doordat ze gaat zingen. De meeste muziek is best aangenaam namelijk (neem bijvoorbeeld de eerste en de laatste track), alleen is vrijwel elke keer de magie voorbij zodra ze begint te zingen. Op 'Little Green' is ze wat meer ingetogen en dat is voor mij het beste nummer van het album. Qua muziek doet dit nummer (en een aantal andere nummers ook) me denken aan Nick Drake en dat is geen belediging. Het is ook heel goed dat het album maar 36 minuten is, want hoe langer hoe meer die stem er in begint te hakken namelijk.

I finally understand all the hype for this album. It's really good! I believe I only have one Joni Mitchell album left on this generator, so that's cool. I'm assuming this one will be my favourite though. The instrumentation is very pretty and remains interesting despite usually being rather calm, which I always appreciate in an album. Her impressive voice also gets a chance to shine here. I wasn't absolutely crazy about it, so I can't push myself to give it a 5, but it's a very high 4. My favourite song was California.

3/5

This isn't my usual taste in music, but it has to be considered a classic of its genre. You can feel some of the influence here, particularly with regard to Bob Dylan. Fav track: River Least fav track: This Flight Tonight

Yeah, I support women's suffrage.

Tyckte tyvärr det här var rätt tråkigt. Vissa låtar gillar jag dock

Hon har en rätt jävla jobbig röst, men kan inte gå lägre än en 3:a.

Gorgeous album. Kind of a lot to take in at once. Not sure it's something I'd want to listen to all the way through often. 8/10.

Amazing voice, amazing guitar player, A Case of You is so good

16th Feb. Last day in Janine and Lloyds house. Sun is rising onto the mountains. Feel excited about Rome, looking forward to it.

Nice album but I didn't connect with it, not sure what it is, the simple paired back music, the off kilter way she sings but it's not for me and there wasn't a song that I wish to listen to again. It it me? No it's the kids who are wrong!

Like looking at Joni from the other side of a one-way bathroom mirror. Powerfully raw to the point of beauty, yet enough remains among the sparse accompaniment to properly cover her shame. Not as fun as her more jazz-inspired works later down the line, but definitely her best. A crying shame that it’s not on Spotify.

I can see why people like this album but for me its a one and done.

I can't respect her anymore since she hopped on the Spotify censorship bandwagon with Neil Young. It baffles me, it truly does. Today liberals dominate all forms of media. Skepticism and dissenting opinions are not tolerated in mainstream discourse. In 2021, if you questioned the vaccine you were met with social outcry, bans from the internet, and you could even be doxxed or fired from your job. Today, it's obvious that the vaccine actually does hurt some people, and that it doesn't even prevent COVID in many cases. Joe Rogan is literally the most chill, moderate, open-minded celebrity out there; he has had people from all walks of life and with all sorts of political views on his show. The fact that the entire internet tried to have him silenced is really telling of how stupidly insane the modern world is. I still hold many liberal beliefs, but it's terrifying how authoritarian and vengeful leftists are in these times. Anyways, I'm not rating this album based on her as a person. It's a very pleasant and soothing album. She has great vocal control. Although I didn't find the album extremely interesting a lot of the time; I wish there were more dynamics in her music, more variation.

L got me into her. She seems to be a beautiful person and (I think) this is one of her more popular albums. There is a reason for that.

I really love this album. Joni Mitchell is a great songwriter and has a beautiful voice. There are no skips on this album and nearly every song is a standout to me. 5/5. Standout Tracks: All I Want, Little Green, Carey, Blue, California, This Flight Tonight, River, A Case of You, The Last Time I Saw Richard

of it's time

Not on Spotify (Joe Rogan still sucks). All the songs sound kind of the same, which is no bad thing when they are so good. Her voice is gorgeous, floating between fragile and powerful as she sees fit. A wonderful album, well worthy of inclusion in this list.

beautiful voice, it's so soothing.. it's like your mother accompanying you in your life. Or you listening to her while she's living.. Did not listen too much to the lyrics but.. what a voice

Niet op spotify..

Jingle bells, Jingle bells... ah no, it's River!

God knows she's great but her voice is so hard...

Mother is mothering

4.5

Kolme tähteä hankala käsittäää

This album is not bad, just not my cup of tea. Joni Mitchell's voice is too grating for my taste, and the album itself doesn't feel all that outstanding. If you're into depressing ballads by high-pitched women you'll enjoy this.

Good

太好听了，上一次听到这么好听的专辑还是door 的la woman

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

I can feel the melancholy. I usually don't like singer songwriter styles... this is too good though.

Very pretty album. I enjoyed it but didn't love it, however. I'd definitely listen again, as it was so pretty. 3.75/5

I didn’t like this album the first time or two that I listened to it. I thought that Joni sounded too shrill for my liking. But I grew to love the honesty in her voice and the little twirls in her songwriting and guitar playing. She has better vocal performances elsewhere, but this may be her best collection of songs. A

This is, in my opinion, the greatest album of all time. I've loved it for six years now.

If the elves from Lord of the Rings sang folk, Joni Mitchell's voice with feature. It's a lovely album - the vocal acrobatics alone are a must listen at least once in one's life, and here, unlike other Mitchell albums, the songs are quite solid. 'Blue' and 'California' naturally stand out, while 'River' is possible the most interesting Christmas carol (and meta-tribute) of recent times - painting a picture of a snow covered mid-western American winter in the vein of a proto-Springsteen. It's an interesting, and good, album.

Perfect

Nicht so mein Fall

This is surely groundbreaking, and very lovely. But I do think the kind of run-on strings of wandering lyrics, that kind of improvisational jazz style of singing, gets tangled up in itself at times. It's not an accident that all the real hits had the foundation of a solid chorus.

I have learnt in the past 560 albums that Joni Mitchell was much better and more interesting than I thought, but that I still wouldn't listen to her music by choice.

Honestly this is a really lovely album, I liked this quite a lot.

favorite tracks - all i want, california, this flight tonight, a case of you, last time i saw richard least favorite tracks - n/a

Listening on headphones made me appreciate this album even more. The acoustic instruments are panned in really specific ways that allow the listener to experience each instrument individually. Though I don't love Joni Mitchell's voice I can appreciate it for it's uniqueness.

Classic. She doesn’t just live in the pocket, she designed the pocket.

Quelqu'un s'est fait #manifested par ici

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

Joni's voice is one of the beautiful sounds in this world. Her gift for melody, her ability to effortlessly blend pop with jazz and elevate the singer/songwriter genre to high poetry is why she is still being spoken with with such reference today. Blue is a shining moment in her discography.

Love this record.

Honestly, this album could just be “Carey” and I would rate it 5/5. But every single song on this album adds on to the last. A true pinnacle of emotion in recording. Her voice on this album is like raw sadness and love. Easily one of the best albums of all time.

HOT TAKE TIME, wherein we rank the takes based on how firm the hill of the take is I'm willing to die on: * Tapestry is better than Blue: I see the argument, mainly because I personally prefer Tapestry over Blue. Tapestry is a divorce album, and it has the feeling of being wronged by that one guy Carole King is moving on from. Blue is about a number of different lovers, most famously Graham Nash and James Taylor among others, and is more sparse and feels more personal. It also has the most underrated Christmas Song ever written (River). Tapestry has great session musicians, including Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar, while Blue is all Joni. Sure, she has occasional exes like James Taylor strum guitar on a few tracks, but this is mainly Joni on piano and guitar, and her underrated vocals. VERDICT OF TAKE: Tapestry has the hits, which could be why I opt for it over Blue. Both albums remain influential, but you can't begrudge anyone who prefers Blue. * Blue is overrated: Rolling Stone famously named this the THIRD greatest album of all time in their 2020 poll. Seems high. But this is the sort of thing that happens when you have the likes of Phoebe Bridgers ranking her all-time favorite albums. VERDICT OF TAKE: I doubt Blue remains at number 3 whenever Rolling Stone updates their poll again. It probably belongs around number 30, which is where it was in their 2012 poll. * Blue isn't even Joni Mitchell's best album: In my book, that honor belongs to Hejira, which is a classic set of 9 bangers. No one falls over themselves to praise Hejira like they should. It's probably due to the fact that Hejira has Coyote, and Blue has River. VERDICT OF TAKE: This is the hill I'm dying on. And unfortunately, I only awarded Hejira with a 4 when I should have branded it a 5. Blue is a classic album, but I'm a Hejira Stan. This 5 is for Hejira as much as it is for Blue.

solid 4/5 . good joni stuff - bit sad but its called blue so whatd you expect

Can get a bit whiney after 2 or 3 tracks. A bit twee too 50 years later.

Average

Just not for me I'm afraid

Tem a música que o Renato Russo gravou, The Last Time I Saw Richard. Mas o álbum achei bem chato, a mulher parece um gato miando o tempo todo, não é meu estilo de som.

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

1. Hated it. Hardly musical. Hard to listen to.

boring and over rated

I have to admit, I'm surprised another folk-rock album is getting five stars on here. Joni Mitchell has a great voice, and I'd happily listen to this whole album again later!

70s Taylor Swift lol

I don't need to listen to this one because I have quite recently (and many times before that). One of my favourite albums of all time, it is perfect. Some of the best songwriting and musicianship ever recorded.

Was not available on Spotify

Still stands the test of time.

Not a fan

Carey, Blue, This Flight Tonight are lovely. A bit too samey for most of the album and the melody's are so topsy-turvy that it loses me in some sections where she treats her vocal like a sax playing over the top of some bebop or something

Peak Joni.

I feel somewhat ashamed that I didn't really care for this. It's not that I think it's bad, it's just not something I could get into. This project has made me realize that I don't care for minimalistic music that focuses heavily on vocals. I need a backing band. With a heavy dose of guilt, I can only give this a 2 since I was glad when it was over.

Joni Mitchell builds and breaks a relationship right in front of you in the span of 40 minutes while doing some amazing singing and guitar playing 8.5/10

Great example of less is more. Nice sparsely arranged songs full of rich storytelling. There is a visceral quality to the music that speaks to a universal experience in all of us.

I get where joni is coming from but pulling all of her music from spotify really sucks. Not only is it a pain in the ass to listen to it but, like the last album of her's, the music itself isn't even worth seeking out. It's just boring hippie folk music and I was gonna give it a 2 but now I'm almost thinking about giving it a one because of the situation now.

I know it's a super highly regarded album, but unfortunately I could not get into it :(

I really like Joni Mitchell, I really like her voice and her song writing so it’s no surprise that I liked this album.

Loved

S'écoute bien, mais je suis incertain d'être en amour avec ses fluctuations de voix constantes

Little Green has to be one of the most beautiful, melancholy, and gently hopeful songs I’ve ever heard.

Hate her voice

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

2.5. I can do without Joni Mitchell in my life.

I really love Joni Mitchell. She always has this sense of wonder with her vocal. Like we’re listening to her deepest thoughts over subtle guitar. Wonderfully put together.

Not on Spotify so YouTube had to suffice. Ads and all. Didn’t enjoy it. Found her singing style quiet irritating. Others may love it.

Rubbish whinging

Bearing in mind my antipathy towards singer-songwriters, I didn’t mind this as much as I expected. It was pleasant and unobtrusive as I did my afternoon work shift. However, nothing really jumped out at me (except for one bit where Mitchell or the producer messed with the sound to make it appear that it was coming through a megaphone or similar). By the end it was all a bit 'same-old, same-old’ for me, though. The only songs I remember was a bit of River as it had a Christmas jingle lobbed in there, and the one about going to Spain up a dirt road for a bit and then going back to California.

This sounds like an album recorded by a school music teacher during her lunch break. A little harsh maybe, but I couldn't be doing with her warblings today. I wanted something a little more uplifting, and probably without all the endless storytelling as well. I lost interest three tracks in. And yeah - that voice. It doesn't half grate.

I’ve listened to one Joni Mitchell album before and really enjoyed it. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned a few times that I’ve recently discovered a love for 70’s folk music so I have high hopes! Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Little Green, California Joni continues to be a delight to my ears. She demonstrates not needing a symphony of music to write a great song, with the majority of tracks being simply vocals, piano and/or guitar, and very minimal percussion. Each track on this was great - at no point did I grow bored or want to skip to the next track. I’ve made a mental note to add River to any Christmas playlists I may make in the future as I hadn’t heard it before today and it was lovely. I’m sure you can tell from everything already written, but I’d recommend this album. It’s great.

Some songs were good the rest all sounds the same.

Interesting album. I'd never listened to much of Joni Mitchell before.

Not a massive fan of this one

This is the first Joni Mitchell album I ever heard in full. My partner introduced me to her and I might've made some fun of the voice in the beginning. (Hey, just like I'd do almost 10 years later but with Joanna Newsom.) But that move has always just been a cover-up — a kind of vestigial macho pose that's nearly inexplicable upon even a surface reflection. "You're a mean old Daddy but I like you..." And, California will make me cry on the right day. Despite Hejira being a thing, this is my forever Joni album now.

First Joni Mitchell album I've heard. I get the hype, but it isn't something I'd often go back to. But I've got to give credit where credit is due...

5 stars - excellent

Een krijsende kat klinkt nog beter

This is immeasurably better than The Hissing of Summer Lawns. Her vocal excesses fit the songs and just give you that extra dose of emotion. That long note in River is so wistful. Wow!

She is an amazing writer and singer.

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.

pongan este álbum de nuevo en spotify o me lastimo !!!

Nope. God knows I've tried long and hard over the years. (Largely due to a Mr H. Hancock. If he recommended trying a dog's fart on loop, I'll do it no questions asked.) I guess this is one of those "it is *definitely* me, not you" affairs.

Best Song: Blue. Feels the most poetic and artful on an album full of poetic, artsy songs. Worst Song: California. Lots of that upper register stuff here... Overall: I like that Joni Mitchell makes the music she does, but I'm not sure that I like the music. The songwriting and lyrics are thoughtful, but the vocals (particularly the upper register) just sounds grating to me. I feel like would rather read a book of Mitchell's poetry than listen to the performed versions.

Una mierda total.

Not available on Spotify

A stunning, almost ethereal masterpiece. Mitchell bares every piece of her soul on Blue and it's lost none of its power 50 years after release.

All time favourite

Joni Mitchell does Joni Mitchell

Largely good and definitely deserves to be on here but some of her WAILING really clangs on the ears.

2/5. Not for me

Only giving it a “1” since I can’t give it a “0”

Quelle belle voix! Les montées un peu aiguës sont très présentes, lorsque toutes les chansons s'enchaînent. Ce serait quelque chose que je dégusterais plutôt pièce à pièce. L'émotion m'atteint vraiment.

luv her voice

I like this. It's really good.

10/05/2022 Perfect album. Fills my heart with both warmth and sadness. Impossible to pick a favorite track because they are all incredible. My Old Man is probably my favorite though, simply for the “we don’t need a piece of paper..” bit. I can’t wait to listen to this album for the rest of my life. — Very chill day yesterday. We didn’t have any formal studio time, so I went to a consignment store, got some clothes, and then grabbed a late lunch at croissant brioche, which I think is gonna be my new hangout spot :)

Ovo je isto savršen album

Razumijem ju zašto je maknula albume sa spotifaja, jebiga majko Joni, skinuo sam sa torrenta diskografiju i preko winampa si puštam. 9/10.

listened to before it's a great album

Listened to this several times

Great vocals, not really my vibe

Better than expected considering the company she kept. Had to track it down on YouTube since she, understandably, pulled her albums from Spotify.

Nice folk stuff, really liked some of the guitar work

Not on Spotify

És un disc per ser escoltat. L’àlbum menys jazzístic de Mitchell és a la vegada el més innocent, esperançat, bonic, optimista. Com sempre amb ella, falten les melodies i la música és massa depenent de les lletres, però els senzills arranjaments de piano i guitarra aquí sonen fantàstics

A bit too raw and confessional. One much prefers Summer Lawns, which is of more interest musically and less painfully vulnerable.

Very good album. I've heard it several times before and always enjoy revisiting this album.

Gorgeous voice. Singer songwriter

nice album not sure if its my tempo

I feel like I'm supposed to like Joni Mitchell, but I just don't. I guess that means I need to continue my emotional education.

I hate that style of vocals. I never understood its appeal. Not my bag.

Quite liked this. Beautiful and haunting. I didn't listen as much to the lyrics but her voice is next-level. Strong 4 star.

I enjoyed a few cuts but was never a big Joni Mitchell fan.

Love love love Joni! I already know a few of the songs on this album and many other albums but I’m happy to find others that I really enjoy.

Good

Decent. 3/5

Nice

Wasnt a big fan, I can appreciate the lyrics and stories behind the songs but just couldn’t relate. Too bare bones when it came to the instrumentals and couldn’t get into it.

ja staat niet op spotify en die laatste twee nummers die ik van dees album heb gehoord, bevestigen mijn vermoedens ofzo wel wat? Geeuw als het volgende ook saai is gaan ik het wel bena opgeven ofzo

I soft and sombre masterpiece. This album is the musical equivalent of a reassuring hug

I don't like it. Songs are good enough to ignore the awful vocals and the musicianship is decent but that's about it.

Taken off Spotify. Sorry Joni

Talk about the album of the decade Album opener (All I Want) 10/10 and River 10/10 There are no words to actually describe what Joni Mitchell put into this but let me just say there's before listening to Blue and after listening to Blue

Me gustó "Carey".

I genuinely believe this is a perfect record. Joni Mitchell writes lyrics just as hard-hitting 50 years later and accompanies them with lush instrumentation comparable to Paul Simon. The melodies are catchy without ever being trivial. THAT moment in 'This Flight Tonight' when the music switches to what she is listening to in her headphones while on a plane... Come on! And the title track. Wow. That track is SO DAMN BEAUTIFUL. Closing out on 'River', 'Case of You' and 'The Last Time I Saw Richard' is also just completely unheard of.

For someone who starting smoking at the ripe old age of 9, Mitchell sounds stunning. The complexity in her vocal schemes, the innovative sudden changes in keys and the sheer mastery of the songwriting is beyond most recording artists of the early 70’s. Her relationship with James Taylor becomes apparent on a couple of tracks; and we’re all the more lucky for that. Taylor’s playing suits Mitchell’s voice perfectly. Mitchell is one of the most important songwriters of the 60’s and 70’s. And there’s really very little to debate right there.

Mid x2

Joni songs to my soul

Pretty okay

There's a cool, hopping jazz quality to this that I didn't expect. Joni's voice is immediately recognizable, but still pulls unexpected pivots and trills. Really enjoyed this, and it'll probably grow with time as well.

I can see why it was such a popular album, but it’s not for me. Her lilting style grates on me.

Very good album. But why this album is not on Spotify? Strange. Didn't know Joni Mitchell before, so thats good.

A breeze blows across the porch into a window, passes through a sunny room full of plants and people, swirls through an active kitchen, and out through the back door. Whispering along that wind is Joni Mitchell.

beautiful!!

It was okay. I was hoping for more.

Not great ¡

It's like todays pop, too much emphasis on the voice, not enough music.

Beautiful voice…very emotional album.

It goes without saying that Joni Mitchell is an undisputed legend. I watched a video of a recent performance she did as an elderly woman who's had a stroke. She's in a wheelchair and she looks weak but her voice was still incredible. Deep and warbling but in a good way, different from this album where her voice is high and spritely. There's a few faves on here for me, River and a Case of You to course. Some of them I'm not so into. Here style of unpredictable chord changes sometimes doesn't please me but maybe that's part of her genius

A fantastic album. Her voice is so soothing and perfect but I like the way it's quite unpredictable and sometimes just goes where you think it won't, same for the guitar and piano at times, creates a very varied sound. Like getting in a warm bath, which is weird because I don't like baths.

It was not for me. I know this is a classic album, so no rating because I cannot rate it fairly.

Of course this album belongs on a list like this. Listening to Blue on Apple Music through AirPod Pro's with Noise Cancellation on was a moving experience. I felt like I was inside of the piano by the end of the album. 5/5.

I feel very comfortable when listening

This album achieves a lot with very little instrumentation. Great album, but a bit soft for my taste.

It was ok

god bless you Joni Mitchell for following your morals and pulling your stuff from spotify but I'm sorry I had to pirate your album. I hope you'll understand. It's no surprise that this album is on the list. Not only is Mitchell a folk music legend, but Blue perfectly captures what makes her sound so great: beautiful, tender, and captivating. Not only is Mitchell a musician, but also a poet and a storyteller. She knows the space that her music occupies and let's it breathe. Not too little, not too much. What more can be said about an album that has been loved so thoroughly already? I can only give my personal vouch, which means very little in the grand scheme of things. Blue is for everybody.

It was good but I didn’t think it was great. I don’t know if I would listen to it again.

Brilliant album from start to finish. Not a single skippable song. No one comes close to Joni's lyrics and the conviction with which she sings. A classic that deserves its spot.

Brilliant album!

This rules. I’m a woman now.

Good enough

This is the female singer-songwriter album. If you like that you’ll love this

Joni at her best, I love "The River", "A Case Of You" "The last Time I Saw Richard" and "This Flight Tonight" (Although I Do Prefer Dan McCafferty and Nazareths Version) A good choice of Joni Albums but My favourite Album of hers is definately Clouds.

I wanted to like this album as it's pretty celebrated and heralded throughout the music world, but her constant vocal ticks drove me a little crazy: it's low low low first verses then octave jump. Every. Song. It was so predictable. No doubt she has writing chops and some of the stories in the songs were neat and relatable, but her voice is just not my thing. Still a decent album, but I'll likely never spin it again. 3.5/5 but rounding down to 3.

Took herself off Spotify intentionally as some kind of "statement" - well guess what Joni, that's also the only time I don't listen to artists on this project. But it's ok, I know the garbage that passes for music and was going to give you a 1/5 anyway.

I think of this as a central album of my growing up. It was an album I'd hear in the middle of the night and find my mom alone, maybe sipping some Grand Marnier in the Baroque barley twist chair, more often in the dark with a little fire going in the fireplace. It is a critical piece of American music, and I was filled with joy to see Joni take the stage again last month. It is somewhat difficult to talk about the songs individually. I've spent so many hours listening to this over the years. Blue is a particularly challenging song. More than anything, it encapsulates all the hardest parts of my childhood with solace and revery. Complicated. Rich. Shattered. I'm not so emotional these days as I once was, but poignant 'River' still does it. It has all the feels about the things I hoped for, still hope for, but also all the losses and the things I had to say goodbye to. I made my baby cry. We all want to skate or run or fly away from the challenges and the difficulties. When I hear it today, I hear its flaws, but also I think this album is valid. It is full of excellent points and sentimental but truthful lyrics. If you cannot respect Blue as an album, your heart is not open. Joni still has it. ❤️.

Will listen again.

I mean it's ok but I'm not exactly crazy about it. Not a fan of her voice and too folky for my taste.

4/5 best - carey worst - this flight tonight

There is a deep mystery to this album. Everything in it is so personal--the lyrics, Joni Mitchell's idiosyncratic chord changes, her high-pitched voice, never grating, but still insanely eccentric in their own way to express the "blues", her insanely good guitar playing, displaying a sense of rhythm most players would kill for--and yet, for all those subtle flourishes, the record also spoke directly to the hearts of millions of souls in the ways only a straightforward pop album could, and it continues to do so these days. I'm not even sure this is my favorite Joni Mitchell LP--sometimes, I favor *Ladies of The Canyon* when it comes to her "Reprise" years, and after that, I have an even softer spot for the lush pop overtones of *Court And Spark", or for the jazzy digressions of *Hejira*. But *Blue* is definitely an essential album everyone should listen to at least once in their lives. It was *not* my entry point to Joni's universe, curiously enough. But it's been the one of so many fans of her that you just gotta consider it for the historical album it is. And please, don't get fooled by the melodically unobtrusive and lyrically naive "All I Want" that opens this record. Because once you pass this sort of back entrance to it, you're in for a treat, and this for each and every one of those tracks. A few examples here: the subject matter of *Little Green*--Joni's lament to the child she gave up for adoption--slaps HARD. "California" and "Carey" are just perfect pop songs about Bohemian lifestyles of the seventies, and yet they're anything but *easy* compositions. The plane trip of "This Flight Tonight" is as experimental as anything she later wrote, and yet it's also *fun* to listen to. As for "River" and "A Case Of You", they're the quintessential Christmas song and love ballad, respectively, and yet they're not following any old formula. Only Joni could have written those tunes. After all these years, it's still a true mystery how she could do this. As is the overall effect of this "slow burner" on me today. Indeed, the more you fall in love with this record, the more that blue haze on the cover thickens... One for the ages, in all senses of the word. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 856 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 79 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 36 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 30

me not really likey

Obra prima da Joni Mitchel! Melancólico e bonito! Melhores músicas: Blue, River e A Case of you

Joni has a lovely voice

Not on spotify so listening on YouTube. Hopefully it's decent quality compared to the actual record. The best way I can describe her voice is "pure," it's like what you envision a siren/angel to sound like. Super folky music though, which isn't my style. Especially the sudden shift to higher pitches in the middle of verses. Just doesn't really do it for me. I did enjoy the title track "Blue," the intro gave me chills. Definitely recognized "California" from multiple movies and shows. "River" was another song I enjoyed so maybe it was just the first half of the album that I didn't care much for. I can see why this album is so well-renowned, but I wouldn't necessarily put it in my own collection.

good

Great album from a great artist

One of the best albums of all time. Jingle bells remake, a case of you, all incredible.

be right back crying 4/5

I obviously recognized a large amount of the songs, She has a beautiful voice and there is no denying it. There is not much negative things I could say, however this style of music isn’t one that I would normally listen to so it’s hard for me to get into it.

Complex in a "how did she come up with the idea for these chord progressions?" way but still extremely accessible on literally every track. Incredible guitar playing, airy piano, her vocals are not only never too much for me and (as not someone who focuses much on vocals) at times it's simply arresting as to how perfect her voice is. I think the lyrics are probably pretty good too :P It's never good enough for me to just listen to one song on this album, even though literally every song is excellent. It works so well as an entire unit and it's only ~36 minutes long anyways.... which often means an immediate replay. In sum: this is pretty much perfect. 10/10 5 stars.

lovely

While her voice is beautiful and it’s a very relaxed album, it is just not my cup of tea.

I don’t really get it, but I understand why people love Joni Mitchell. She creates pretty music as evidenced with Blue, but I just don’t feel anything from it. I definitely don’t find it unlistenable or bad, but I don’t really want to listen to it again.

Any single one of these songs would get a new artist signed to a multi-record deal. How timeless and flawless.

I'm sorry mum, I'm sorry dad. Did you 'just have to be there?'. This is a turning point in music apparently. But it's not when you're listening to it 50+ years later and are not present at the time. I'm sure it's of 100% importance, but to someone younger it's just twangy Joni and her grating voice. Sorry again.

Wow. River was incredible, the whole last section of the album was excellent.

I get why people hate on Joni Mitchell but I still fucking love her music it’s interesting hearing her discography because it just sounds like a normal Bjork or I guess Bjork is just Joni Mitchell with an Icelandic accent, and a lot more experimental oddities I’m not making fun of either artist btw, huge fans of both anyway this album was obviously amazing - 10/10

Meh

A lot of emotion behind this album. Really good all around!

A great one.

Really great stripped down folk with powerful lyricism and vocals. I like this a lot more than her more heavily produced stuff.

pretty melancholic

Beautiful voice - definitely the lead instrument. Beautiful and interesting vignettes of life, love and emotions. The folky side of Joni before the pop of Canyons and avant garde folk jazz of Hissing and beyond.

Genre: Contemporary Folk 3/5 An album in which its reputation precedes itself, Joni Mitchell's Blue is what many consider to be her magnum opus, and what others consider to be one of the greatest albums ever made. Entirely self-written and self-produced, Blue is a mostly acoustic journey through Joni's life and times. While most do consider this to be a folk masterpiece, it unfortunately didn't hit my ears in the same way. I sort of see it as the Bob Dylan effect, where these sorts of melodies speak to a more rural, working class upbringing, while coming from a bit more of a privileged perspective, and that dissonance is too overwhelming for me. It renders it inauthentic. Joni Mitchell's voice is quite unique. Part-Joplin, part-Parton, she moans and groans with passion and emotion through most of the cuts here. The sparseness of the arrangements leave her voice as the main highlight, but unfortunately it sounds badly mixed to me, scraping the boundaries of what would almost be described as clipping. It's not a texturally bland album, moving from guitar to piano to bongos as the songs progress, but it's not all very exciting, and gives the album a snail's pace. Honestly, though, the most insulting thing throughout this process is seeing people say that this is the greatest album a woman has ever made. This is certainly not the greatest album a woman has ever made, not in this list and not even considering albums not in this list. No matter how high Rolling Stone rates this, this is a folk album with some pretty solid vocals that does pretty much nothing for me. I respect the grind, but Joni just isn't for me.

Big & tasty, like a jumbo lentil chile. Killer vocals and great songwriting

Worth finding outside of Spotify. The River is velvet

She's obviously very talented, not 100% my thing though

I think because of the spotify drama I had to listen to this on YouTube.. so far I like it! I wish I could play it on Spotify. Her voice is a little weird and I need to get used to it. I actually can't get through this album, nevermind.

My initial reaction to this album is "Wow". I know this may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the way Joni sang every word had me convinced. Plus, the musical arrangements were just absolutely lovely. I could sink into this album for hours on end.

I don’t care for Joni Mitchell.

Great 😃👍

I love the familiar songs.

Not bad, but not amazing.

Such a light touch for such serious stuff.

The last three tracks are amazing. Never listened to blue and was quietly impressed. A strong 4 this.

I have this album on vinyl.

So beautiful. The first listen the first 7 tracks just kind of sat in the background just nice and chill and then River came on and changed everything. Beautiful songs, beautifully delivered. Faves: River, A Case of You, This Flight Tonight

Nice voice, but not my style.

Joni Mitchell et YouTube ça commence à bien faire maintenant...

Cet album supposément parmi les meilleurs de tous les temps était absolument banal. J'ai passé un meilleur moment sur les 3h de Ella Fitzgerald. Le Rolling Stones Magazine devrait songer à fermer boutique c'est en tout cas le conseil que je leur donne.

Kon hem niet luisteren

7/10. Pretty good, a whole album of Joni Mitchell is a bit much for me though

I wasn't fully on board until the last song and then it all hit me like a ton of bricks. Made me immediately want to give it another listen. 9/10

Not for me.

Joni Mitchell usually doesn't work for me. I think that she is good, but I don't generally enjoy her albums that much. Blue is a notable exception. It's so beautiful and painful all the way through. Both her songwriting and her voice are on full display on this album. It's a very accessible entry point for her music 4/5

eh shes ok i guess

A few observations: What happened to autoharps? They were all over when I was a kid, especially for elementary school music teachers. I like them. An entire bonus point has been granted for the lyric, "Acid, booze, and ass." (Also, "I want to shampoo you" and "There'll be crocuses to bring to school tomorrow") I wasn't immediately in love with this album, but each listen reveals something marvelous.

What a pretty sounding album. Just lovely.

Poetic and soothing. Really beautiful. I am grateful.

I’ve heard a lot about this album, so was glad it appeared. It is lovely. Joni Mitchell’s distinctive delivery just calmed me down and made the day feel very good. What could be more perfect than that?

Wistful, melancholic, full of feeling. Great album

Taken off Spotify, 0/10

Big points for raw, stripped-back production and Joni's undeniable voice. Putting her so up in the mix with no production to conceal her flaws leaves her so vulnerable, but there are almost no flaws to find. Her poetry is pure, if coffee house by today's standards. All around it is a really beautiful album, but it all happens at the same tempo, and I cannot dance to it.

Nope

Great voice, but got bored after a while

<3 <3 <3 aldrei hlustað á þessa plötu alla í gegn áður, sem er ótrúlegt.

Not on Spotify

The lyrics is probably a poetic masterpiece but why would I care? It sounds boring as heck.

Pretty good! Not a huge Joni Mitchell fan, but nothing bad to say about the album

a very Joni Mitchell album. honestly dont know how to rate this — really liked some songs, thought others were boring. it didnt feel that cohesive, i guess, though that doesnt make much sense.

No thanks. Not into the voice, bored by the songs and the overall sound struck me as kind of flat and lifeless.

Not on Spotify - and yes, clearly very pretty, but she does get a bit wearing

Her voice is way too high for me to enjoy this. It's uncomfortable to listen to.

Can't find this album

Blue and Court and Spark are my two favorite Joni Mitchell albums. To me they're 2 sides of the same coin that is JM. Blue is of course the quieter, more sparse album, often just Jon's voice and a guitar or a piano. And what a vocal performance it is. Expressive, emotive and with a range few can match. So mature for such a young lady at the time. I also love when she does up the tempo, specifically on Carey and This Flight Tonight. Every song is an artistic expression. I really never tire of Blue. It should be a staple of every record collection 5 🌟

Blue me away. I'll keep this one brief (for me) as there's not much to be said that hasn't been covered a thousand times, but what a gem of an album and what a songwriting talent. These are delicate and searingly personal songs, "like tattoos" as Mitchell so eloquently puts it in the title track. Over its forty minute running time, "Blue" is wryly comic, frankly confessional and mostly achingly beautiful. Music rarely moves me to tears unless I selfishly relate it to my personal life, but three of the songs here have done that all on their own. Try not to be moved by "Little Green", about Mitchell giving up her adopted daughter, or the heartbreak and desolation filling up "River". Elsewhere, "My Old Man" and "The Last Time I Saw Richard" showcase her storytelling at the height of its powers, and "Blue" and "A Case of You" paint such dazzling imagery with a deft soprano vocal. Amongst all her other talents, Mitchell is a deft guitarist, and her frequent use of open tunings serves the album's distinctive sound really well. Alongside all the other moods on display here, she weaves in perfectly accessible slices of pop-folk. "Carey" and "California" retain the same elegant sense of lyricism and gorgeous, soaring vocal lines, but set them to carefree (even jaunty) guitar accompaniments. "This Flight Tonight" was even enough to attract the attention of hard rock band Nazareth who reworked it a couple of years later. All of this album is stellar, but the second half especially is just a perfect run of songs. If you're thinking of giving it between 2-3 stars (or even 4) listen to it again, read the lyrics and reconsider. If 1, then you're a lost cause, mate.

I love Joni and love this album, perfect blend of Folk and Pop.

Love this album. It’s a classic

I don't really like this at all, but there was a time when i did.

Joni's voice is perfection, always, but it is truly magnificent when she's singing this deeply personal and emotional material. This album is her magnum opus, a tour de force, the high watermark of her illustrious career. And she wrote and produced it all herself! Immaculate.

This is worth all the praise that it gets. Joni Mitchell is an actual songbird. I don't know how she does it.

i only listened to it once while walking around in the woods, it's alright. it's a bit to stripped back and simple for my taste, but i appreciate her voice and lyrics. Probably won't come back to it though.

Ugh. The album is only 35 minutes long, but towards the end it just needed to stop. I was not familiar with any of songs or the artist. It was folk music. I will not be listening to the album again.

Great voice

Didn't listen to too much of it but I get the vibe

I don’t always focus on lyrics but you have to with Joni Mitchell. They’re literary but still emotionally direct. And the music on this album is spare enough to highlight them, adding playful flourishes to accent her stories. I’ve listened to this album a bunch over the years but the little moments always surprise me. I love the seemingly improvised nature of her phrasing - when she chooses to sing high, when she lingers on a syllable, when she jams a long phrase into a short space. A beautifully constructed album all around. (“Carey” is a personal favorite of mine and Dreena’s. I’ll never get tired of imitating the way she sings “buy you a bottle of wine.”)

Wow what a highly influential album! I can’t help but hear Esperanza Spaulding and other awesome female artists taking a note from Joni with her complex jazzy melodies and insightful lyrics.

Pros: - very creative melodies. I can see why the taylor swifts / olivia rodrigos of the world exist when someone like her paved the way - very creative random parts too, like second track "my old man" at 1:33 the piano starts playing a scale that is in a different key; almost like something you would hear out of classical music's subgenre "new music". - instrumentation is superb. I'm a sucker for folk instrumentation in pop / singer songwriter contexts - title track is fantastic. - Really enjoying the album Cons: Misc: - I've never actively listened to her which sounds shameful but is also the purpose of this album project.

I only really know one Joni Mitchell song. I like it but never had the urge to dig further. This is some nive folk and I can see how it probably influenced a lot of other artists I like. The airy wavy vocals are impressive but at times a bit too much for me. I thought the start of River was a Jingle bells cover but then it was just a clever catch for a Christmas song. I like folk music and I'm a sucker for female vocalists but this was missing something or maybe had too much of something. Stand out track - Carey 3/5 middle of the road.

My sister got me listening to Joni Mitchell when I was 10 or 11. Always been a fan of her amazing voice and lyrics. This is a great record, to me it’s only superseded by Ladies if the Canyon.

Boy am I going to look foolish here but I'm sorry, this album gets on my nerves. Most others love this however I find it pretentious. No doubt she can sing but it just grates on me. I swear on the song Blue towards the end she sounds like Yoko. Prince loved this album and I've given it many tries but sorry Blue just leaves me cold

Ain't on Spotify RIP

Bom.

It’s a masterpiece! Engaging, emotive, charming… Joni is one of the best folk artists ever and Blue is a compelling example of it. I am hypnotized by her voice, guitar, storytelling, and sweet but unusual harmonies. Definitely, it deserves a 5

I can appreciated there's a lot of talent here, but I find all the little vocal flourishes she puts in a touch grating. Possibly it just caught me in an unreceptive mood... Fave track - "California", let's say...

What a songwriter. I should have reserved the 5 score for albums like this that are the best of the best. Best track: A Case of You

I respect Joni, and don't mind that I had to hunt this album down since it isn't on spotify. There was a recent song exploder that referenced Blue and I've been meaning to check it out. So I really want to love this album. But I don't. I know people love her voice but I just don't. I can appreciate the artistry and boldness and poetry and intimacy of these songs. They aren't formulaic, that's for sure. But maybe a little formula would have helped. There are moments of sublime beauty, both lyrically and sonically, but in the end the songs are like wisps of a cloud, pretty but I can't quite get a grasp on them.

Don't love it, but don't hate it. It's some pleasant, simple single-songwriter tunes, and Joni's vocals really do add a lot. 5/10

Not too bad

This is Mitchell's greatest album, and that's saying a lot, since she has a lot of great records in her catalog. A folk masterpiece comprised of 10 beautifully composed songs, with iconic lyrics about relationships, tackling topics like falling in love, feeling insecure, clashes of egos and everything you can think about when you are in love. The side two of the album has an almost perfect sequence of songs, starting with "California", then "This Flight Tonight", "River" and the amazing "A Case of You". One of the greatest albums of all time, indeed.

Our first album that was pulled from Spotify for Rogan reasons! It was easy to find a version that didn't result in her getting royalties from Spotify. I doubt she will need to hit the Food Bank anytime soon. Ahh, to be a jacuzzi socialist.  There are some good songs on this album. Carey is a  classic. Funny thing is I know This Flight Tonight because  some dinosaur band whose name I can't remember did a cover that was massively overplayed decades ago.  I appreciate that she can sing very well and hits some notes that few others can. Truth be told, I don't like the sound of anyone singing at that atmosphere. I'm not sure how many albums she has in the 1001 but I feel I should give one of her albums a rating above 3. Blue seems to be the logical choice given that Rolling Stone gave this 3rd best album of all time, 

I listened to this full album for the first time a year ago, anticipating we’d be getting it, and knowing it gets rated among the GOAT on many lists. I liked the album more this time. The way Joni jumps around from guitar to piano keeps things fresh, something hard to do for a folk-singer with minimal production and accompaniment. As a producer she does some nifty things, like The Goodbye Baby Goodbye part of This Flight Tonight, which almost sounds like a sample, and the way she toys with jingle bells in The River. The lyrics are very personal, her habit of referring to her boyfriend as her old man is funny, especially since most of the time the guy was in his early twenties. Her vocal range is amazing and compared to her folk singer/song-writing peers from the era she is certainly at the top.

I respect her for standing alongside Neil Young in protesting against Rogan, and since she’s a Canadian legend, I tried, I really tried. But I really can’t get past her voice and her annoying vibrato yodelling skatting singing style. Her voice just overshadows her reportedly wonderful lyrics and song writing. Sorry.

4/5

Sorry Joni, je zat wat schril hoog met vlagen. Niet in de stemming, ik had wel goede hoop..

Niet uitgebreid kunnen luisteren, maar erg mooi!

Helaas niet kunnen luisteren, maar ken het album goed genoeg om er een oordeel over te geven.

Skon hor!

Hier staan echt een paar hele mooie nummers op.

Saved Prior: None Off Rip: My Old Man, Carey, California, This Flight Tonight, The Last Time I Saw Richard Cutting Edge: None Overall Notes: I can see why so many people adore this, just not really my jam. Probably preferred Court And Spark, but would assume that is a minority take and would agree that this one is more crucial to musical history. Shoutout Joni Mitchell, I'm sorry that I like the Counting Crows version of Big Yellow Taxi better than yours.

I swear that I tried to like it because I know about her importance for the music, but I can't, unfortunately. Besides 1 or 2 songs that are nice, the album is nothing my cup of tea at all!

The voice always grates on me a bit! Tunes are pleasant but a bit boring! Three stars for the songwriting

My favourite Joni Mitchell album. Carrey is the hilight but there's lots of great songs. A mostly accoustic album allows Joni's voice to shine. 4.5 🌟

One of the rare albums where I really paid attention to the lyrics on the first listen. Granted, the musical accompaniment is sparse and kind of forces you to. Occasionally, Joni's falsetto got a little grating, but never enough to where I wanted to shut the record off. The lyrics are great, and some even really hit home for me. Favorite tracks: "River", "Blue", "California"

Didn't get a chance to listen because Joni pulled the album from Spotify due to the Joe Rogan misinformation of Covid scandal. But Joni is wonderful and she gets 5 stars. I know her music.

Cheerful, but not sure I remember much

Konnte es nicht zu Ende hören. Die hohe Stimme zerfetzt einem irgendwann das Hirn. Die Akustikgitarre ist ok, aber zu wenig.

Classic

This was a bit hole for me. Fits right in with all the Carly Simon and Carol King records my parents would play. Really liked it.

Good album, I like the songs a lot. A little surprised that my parents didn't play Joni for me much before now!

Lindo, como costumam ser os trabalhos de Mitchell.

I like her voice. Would re listen. Not my favorite but ... Solid!

Beautiful album! Never heard anything from Joni before, and I loved it. Arrangements are simple but delicate, lyrics are very emotional. I can see why it is considered a vital record to music history. Favorite tracks: * River (so good!) * All I Want * Blue

Genuinely lovely, and raw, album.

i just listened to this! 4?

Storytelling alone - great. Voice - not so great. The vibrato was just a little much sometimes and made it hard to follow the melody. The storytelling is something else though. River is the standout.

A few days before I got this one Joni Mitchell boycotted Spotify in protest over their anti-vax content, so I was intrigued. I really liked her voice, but none of the songs have stuck with me apart from the Christmas song.

Not listened to this album for 15 years but it still had me engrossed, or at least it would have if I didn't have to listen to it on YouTube after Joni took her stuff off Spotify in the Joe rogan row.

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.

Great voice, unique

I understand why many people like Jodi Mitchell, but that doesn’t mean I have yo be one of them. This album is just to folksy for me, the melodies jumping all over the shop, and I couldn’t help but mistake the opening passage of River for Jingle Bells. I want to like it, but I’d be forcing it.

Joni knows

Beautiful timbre and emotion, but not melodic in a way I can appreciate right now.

I've tried. Just can't get into Joni Mitchell.

wow. great voice, great song construction. she is definitely at the top.

I’m not a huge fan of female singers but Joni is something else. Wonderful album