Blue

Joni at her best. Her best album. Her best set of songs. Really really good The highest of 4s

Liked: All I Want, Little Green, Blue, California, This Flight Tonight, River, A Case of You

(V) such a beautiful record. Joni is an all time Legend.

Very good, enjoyable album 4/5

Great album

Joni is such a legend and this album is golden

This was really good, I’ve been wanting to get into Joni Mitchell for a while

Listening to river in February life hack

som classics in here she has such a unique voice

I see why it is a classic and DAMN am I feeling my feels right now!

Bara ett på alla sätt genuint album.

Världen behöver mer av det här, och mitt betyg reflekteras nog av den känslan, även om jag tycker soundet överlag också är ganska starkt!

Mysigt!

Det är såååååå nära en femma men jag personligen hade velat se lite mer breddande i soundet. Men utöver det är det jäkligt starkt.

I love pretty much all of Joni Mitchell's back catalogue, but out of her studio albums, I've got to admit this one doesn't quite make it into my top three. Maybe number five? Even so, it's a very good album that grabs you and makes you listen. And yet, at the same time, it's also one of those albums you can have on in the background when you're doing other stuff. I'm going to give this one four and a half stars.

beautiful

Maybe Joni Mitchell's magnum opus? I certainly have no complaints after listening. It's a very solidly written and well-constructed album that just sort of flies by if you're not careful. But listen carefully, as Joni draws on her various journeys and relationships (with mostly bitter ends) to create these simultaneously fun and calm, yet poetic compositions.

This is famous enough that at some point I must have bought the CD back, but I don’t recollect giving it a serious listening until now. Only song I will admit to knowing is River which has become a bit of a Christmas hit of late. Simple, personal, heartfelt and achingly pretty. It’s kind of timeless. Will listen again when I want to just sit back and need to nourish my soul for a while. 4

Gorgeous voice, great storytelling songwriter

All I Want - I want to shampoo ya. I wanna make you feel free. Substantive riffage. What a song. My Old Man - more poetic genius. Shocking. And that voice is amazing. Why I like this and not Kate Bush I cannot say. Little Green - I’m not crying you’re crying. Carey - sounds like they had a good time. Blue - a jazz exploration. They say hell is the hippest way to go but I’m not so sure. California - slide guitar and references to Europe are a wild and beautiful contrast This Flight Tonight - more riffage! River - breakup song with musical and lyrical layers A Case of You - baring one’s soul might set you free Richard- the travelling ends here, some go one way, some go another.

High 3 i think. Some very lovely tracks and a couple pleasantly surprisingly melodic lines

Nice easy listening. I enjoyed it, though it doesn't pair well with the video games I've been playing as I listen.

Beautiful voice

A classic. River is one of my favourites of hers.

3.5

Understands how to open an album. Woulda been a 5 but for The Last Time I Saw Richard.

Absolutely bloody beautiful. I’ve listened to this 4 times in 24 hours and I love it. Soooo soothing. The lyrics are very nice too. Relaxing and soothing to say the least. Lovely shower music.

Beautiful album

I really loved this when listening today. Much better than the last Joni Mitchell I heard

This is one of the rare ones on the list that I really think you should be forced to listen to. And you may be forced, because Joni Mitchell can be a lot. And really, if all your Joni-tolerance will allow is to listen to "All I Want," that'll do.

yes of course

Beautiful singing voice and clever lyrics. Definitely an album to revisit later

I don't love her voice. not sure why its never clicked for me

A classic

Fantastic vocal performance, guitar is lovely and only adds to her voice. Will have to relisten with a greater attention to the lyrics. Not usually my vibe but does its job very well

Her fourth album. Folk. I find the likes of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Janis Joplin and whole host of singer/ songwriters from the 60s and 70s so much more authentic and real than the female artists of today on the whole. This album feels like a raw, wide open window into her very soul.

Presenting 1001 albums sponsored by Joni Mitchell and The Band

Really solid album that I do not think is the third best of all time. River is one of the best songs ever though. California is Joni Mitchell at her absolute peak and I think she really perfects her more conventional sound here. I wish I had a river I could skate away on!

Such a great singer songwriter and her voice weis like glass. Joni Mitchell never lied.

Objectively a great album but I couldn't get into it.

I really enjoyed this. What can I say about Joni Mitchell that hasn't been said already. Hauntingly beautiful. Written from the soul for the soul.

Ótimo e muito gostosinho de ouvir!!!!!!!

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Blue is better than The Black Album

not sure if im a fan of folk…. top: all i want

She is absolutely killing it with the vocals oml. I like the folk vibes of this album and I really enjoyed the song California. Not something I would listen to a lot, but it is far from bad. Amazing song writing that slays.

#19/1001 🇨🇦🟦 Love this album. Its been a few years since i last heard it. Not an easy listen, its brutal in its simplicity and honesty. Heartbreaking lyrics, delivered with such fragility. Best tracks: Blue, River, A Case Of You.

It sounds like a grower. But the seed has only just been planted. Need to relisten but definitely solid.

What an opening with All I Want. I never really get the talk-sing thing. I don't usually enjoy it. Especially when she/anyone stuffs more syllables in than fit in the beat. Her guitar work is amazing.

Beautiful! I love this album, I even have a friend who is named after one of the songs!

Melankolikus chill. Egyszerűen gangszerezett modern folk

nog nooit gehoord van joni mitchell tbh. 't doet me wel een beetje denken aan kate bush ofzo. ''california ken ik!!!'' Weet niet meer waarvan.. vgm iemand op tiktok die het heel mooi zong ofzo haha. ik twijfel tussen 3 of 4 sterren. wel relaxed om naar te luisteren, opzich goed voor tijdens het leren ofzo dus.

She has an amazing voice. Great album but you really need to be in a mood to go back and listen again.

Simple, unadorned brilliance.

Joni’s got the juice. California is one of the best songs ever

It’s nice, I enjoy the lyricism but it’s not for me

I didn’t expect to be as touched by this album as I was. A delightful record

Carey - Amsterdam mentioned!!!! Nice listen like the voice, hreat stuff

Favourites: 1. Blue 2. River 3. Carey Least Favourite: The Last Time I Saw Richard

A voz dela me irritou um pouco. Álbum muito bem feito, as músicas se conectam, dá para sentir a tristeza dela em cada música. Acredito que seja uma grande referências para cantoras das novas gerações como a Olívia Rodrigo.

I liked but could do without the high pitch moments

A classic

Unas ganas de llorar, mira no me haga' acorda'

I REALLY liked this one 😱😱 (surprise surprise). 100% best album so far

3,5*

Fantastic writing and a great performance

Great vibes

3rd Joni Mitchell album on the list for me so far. She's a great writer. 4/5

Finally

9/10

I wish it was snowing when I listened to this. I’ll have to come back again later

Yeah, this is good! The simple production with her voice and those lyrics, is just wonderful. River is a beautiful song.

Highest quality folk. Little green… beautiful and melancholy. The album is lovely and the storytelling is masterful.

released 1971. an influential 1960s folk album, blue was Mitchell’s 4th album and known as a heartbreak album after reltionships with Graham Nash and James Taylor songs i already knew: river songs i liked: little green facts: she heavily inspired taylor swift. after a stroke in 2015, music therapy helped joni mitchell relearn to speak and occasionally perform again

Good one

I mean...River and Case of You almost make this 5 stars by themselves - add to that other songs like Carey and California and it almost seems a sure thing. But I get a little lost in all the wandering of the other songs. It's not that I don't enjoy them, they are just a little too ambling for me. So I land on a 4, but this is still an album to own and cherish.

Really enjoyed this. A surprise.

Second thoughts: I had to sit with this album for a few days to start to see its appeal. There is simultaneously a warmth and a melancholy to the soundscape of Blue. During many moments on the record, I have felt a welling in my chest due to the emotional weight of many of these songs. For now it’s a high 4/5, but I may increase with more time. (Original score: 3/5)

Usually not very into singer/songwriter albums, but this was very very enjoyable. I loved the poetic style of the lyrics, artistic and evocative without coming across as cliche or tired. I was touched by the relationship between love and grief reflected in the lyrics; this album does a lot with a little.

perfect for a melancholy christmas 4.5/5

8.5

Great voice with honest, introspective lyrics

Best Joni album by a country mile. Highlights: All I want, A Case of You, Blue

Joni’s music is so beautiful Fav songs: California, A Case of You, Carey

This MIGHT be my favourite Joni Mitchell album, marginally less vocal histrionics possibly even slightly less hippy (but don’t quote me on either of these things) but it does contain A Case of You which is a wonderful song. The whole album can be revisited with pleasure where some of her albums have wonderful songs and tiresome dirges combined. Not thisun. Today I am going to give it 4-stars on another day it might be 5.

This is by far one of the better albums I've heard through this. The raw emotion from Joni is breathtaking, her voice is phenomenal, and the instrumentals are perfect. Such a beautiful, raw album, and it makes me want to look more into Joni's discography. My Old Man, California, River, This Flight Tonight are my top songs from this album, but they're all phenomenal songs

A classic sad girl album

Well I can't say I'm usually into aggressively heterosexual albums, which this definitely is. So much of this album is fawning over guys that I instantly knew this was going to be an upward battle for me. I prephise the album with this because the fact that I like this album so much is really a testament to how good it is that it's completely out of my wheelhouse. My god, the singing on this. The way the songs blend conventions of music with a kind of stream-of-consciousness is incredible and I should have listened to this a long time ago. Especially because I do love so many singers influenced directly by Joni Mitchell (Weyes Blood being an obvious example)! It almost makes you forget Joni Mitchell did blackface and refused to apologize for it up until today because she said she was basically black despite being the most archetypal white Canadian Woman to ever walk the earth. ...But anyway the album itself is good. Funnily I heard River playing just two weeks ago, but I'm not one for christmas songs. Favorite songs are California, Carey and A Case of You.

So i immediately see why this album is so prolific. It’s a super calming and serene album that’s soothing and just makes you feel good. It has a great flow to it, like the album just goes by so quickly and it all feels perfectly connected to each other. I didn’t really connect with this album like I did with Hejira. But that’s not really saying anything cause that is my favorite Joni Mitchell album of all time. Seriously though this album is a total masterpiece.

Heard it before. First day of December and the generator decided to break my heart with River. Oh Joni, you write such gorgeous tunes 4/5

One of my mums favourite albums, so been meaning to listen properly for a while and it didn’t disappoint

Just a classic album. A brilliant introduction to a prolific visionary.

What a beautiful singer songwriter album. This is what I think all of the genre should be haha. Too bad I wasted it whilst supermarket shopping, it deserves better then that

A lyrical and melodic masterpiece. It's immediately apparent that every single note is perfectly curated and intentionally placed. Her use of vibrato, dynamics, and range is incredible. Her vocals are absolutely ethereal. I didn't relate very closely to a lot of the lyrics about heartbreak/longing, and a lot of it feels a little bit syrupy for my personal taste. What a blessing to have this glimpse into Joni's mind. I listened to this in December 2025 and "River" had me feeling all sorts of emotions. Beautiful song and beautiful record. 4.3/5

Her voice is so beautiful, but I feel like its so barebones that feels like I'm with Joni talking about life and the heartbreak of growing up.

Didn't clear Court and Spark, but more Joni is not a bad thing yet.

If you don't wanna knit me a sweater, then you ain't worth my time

after listening to this multiple times I decided to follow along with the Spotify lyrics up. I get it a lot more now. But as someone who finds it hard to make out lyrics she kind of mumbles a bit. Almost feels more like a jazz or poetry or improvisation delivery. Not great for my following along but the vibes are immaculate. That and I learned about the “Appalachian dulcimer” she used which causes that droning bluegrass sound which is cool.

Excellent album

I loved the mix of intruments! Her voice is beautiful and I'm amazed at how she can go from high to low. My favorites are: Little Green, California, This Flight Tonight, River, and A Case of You.

Melodic and strong singing

Serene and colorful are the first words that come to mind when describing this album. Joni Mitchell has a fluttery sweetness to her voice that although soft, still brings a lot of energy and personality to her songs. The tracks are folksy and poetic but they still manage to bring a little funk in the arrangements. There's a lot of playfulness in this album. The example that stood out to me most was the sudden vocal effect in This Flight Tonight. What may seem common now, was probably really exciting for 1971. Joni's writing is of course excellent here. You've got an album about some deeply personal relationships, but the audience relates to these feelings due to her masterful prose. She creates analogy after analogy and you get to fill in those blanks to create a narrative fit for you. It's an incredible way to tell your story while inviting your listeners to tell theirs. 4.5 Stars

More sweet singing and beautiful songwriting from Joni. That said, I don't think I like this album as much as the other Joni album I listened to through this project, Court and Spark. There's something missing for me from the earlier parts of the album, I think. The back half of the album is excellent though.

Joni Mitchell’s Blue is a beautifully intimate album whose raw lyricism and emotional nuance still feel strikingly fresh decades later. Though a few tracks may resonate more strongly than others, the overall artistry easily earns it a solid 4 out of 5.

4 stars Discovered this album when researching best break up albums. It’s a good one. Her style is unique and can be a little much for some, but the songwriting is good and the album flows well. It holds up and is more enjoyable than most of the folk by men on this list.

Listened to this one on a cold, rainy November morning. Dulcimer is killer. Mandolin-esque. California and A Case of You are standouts. Some of the other songs start to run together a bit when listening to the whole album all the way through.

Found myself really enjoying this as an album. I had only heard a few tracks off it before but takes as a whole it's very strong. Maybe hard to give a 5 to what is ultimately mostly just guitar and singing but it's very unique.

Joni Mitchell is a poet. She weaves stories over plaintive acoustic guitar and the pictures she paints with her words are so vivid! This is what I'd consider a 'coffee' album: something you listen to in the morning or in the space between waking and truly being awake and ready to do stuff. There really aren't many lyricists like Joni.

Gorgeous album. A classic for a reason, Joni’s voice is unique and her lyrics insightful and heartbreaking.

vocais lindos

Very hippie, very acquired taste. I like it but I don't have a field of daisies to chill on.

A strong four from me. Short, solid songs, and overall very enjoyable. I know this is a highly rated album but I just don’t see it as a five.

Ethereal kinda reminded me of yoko ono and bob dylan

Now listening again, she sort of has the same vocal style as Van Morrison, but a lot more smooth and pleasant to listen to in my opinion. Obviously the acoustic guitar stuff is legendary, and the parts are really great, emotive stuff, I feel like because she used open tunings, it totally expands the guitar's emotive and sonic reach, in the same way that Nick Drake (and to be pretentious Sonic Youth) did. There's also some incredible piano bits, like in Blue (the song), and the last time I saw Richard. I don't really like the California song, it just feels a lot more dated than some of the others. The songwriting is somewhat like other 'folk' musicians (like Van Morrison and Bob Dylan and Nick Drake) where they're telling some sort of poetic, almost mythical feeling story, that sort of feels as if it is part of another world totally. Yeah I guess the only downsides are some of the songs in the middle are a bit dated maybe vocally, but most of them are incredible. Favourite song: all but: California and this flight tonight. Overall around 8/10

First listen. 4 This seems like an album I'll have to listen to a few more times to really appreciate, but what's hit me on the first two listens is the emotion and intimacy of the album. Very sparse. Favorite Songs: Blue, California

I enjoyed it!

Favorite songs: Little Green, She sings "off-beat" a lot, a bit disorienting but this is my first foray into the genre so maybe that's the point lol. Beautiful voice

I can't argue that it's a great record Joni just doesn't move the needle for me

Laid back, easy listening. She tells a story in her songs

A great record

Heard this

Never listened to Joni before. What a voice. Loved this.

There's no one with a voice quite like this one, loved it, very soothing

It’s a classic and first listen made me sad and then secretly nd time I got it.

115/1001 :: Joni Mitchell - Blue Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 7 Listen before you die: Yes I’ve listened to this album before but not very much and I’m definitely no huge Joni Mitchell fan. In fact I recently learned that she’s talked shit on Dylan in the past and I find that annoying. That said, she’s got a dreamy voice and the song writing and her playing fits that voice so beautifully. Frankly, I need to give this album (and her catalog) more listens.

solid

Pretty good

Glad for an earlier Joni album to continue my education… LOVE her cadence so much. It’s like another instrument and just keeps it so surprising and varied. And then the lyrics ❤️ There is something so genius and unique that is hard to define. But Joni is Joni and is 🤌🏻 maybe ‘River’ demonstrates all these elements best, especially the fantastic use of the Christmas theme, with an individual touch. Cant wait to listen to the whole thing again, as soon as it’s finished.

Sunday morning chill vibes

Her voice sounds like a flute. I was really impressed with her lyricism- I couldn't help but be drawn into her music as it demanded my full attention.

What a voice! And her melodies are so perfect for her voice. Unconventional, hauntingly beautiful and mesmerizing. Expressive and exposed, her voice soars. Maybe the best singer-songwriter album I’ve heard on this list so far. Standouts: Little Green

It's good

I’m not huge on Joni Mitchell’s voice, but the strength of the songs is undeniable. Absolutely beautiful music and stellar songwriting. California and Blue were highlights.

4/5

but californiaaaaa california im coming hommeeeeee

I confess I like Joni Mitchell and Blue is one of my favourites.

Always a pleasure to hear this one

She has a great voice and an interesting way of singing. I couldn't go to a gig of hers though it would be excruciating.

Great voice iconic lyrics

Joni Mitchell walked so that Taylor Swift could fly.

Not my style, but its not bad.

Not much to say here. Not my personal favourite Joni album, I'd go backwards or forwards from here, but can see why it's her most-loved album and the gold standard for singer-songwriter confessional. 4.5

Agree about the need for active listening as I listened to it in the background at work and could see that was not the right setting for something such as this. I could appreciate all the aspects of it but will need to listen in a dark room with no distractions to fully appreciate this.

I find I have to tune in to Joni Mitchell as her cadence and delivery is so unique, almost part sung, part spoken word and isn’t something I can necessarily have on in the background as it demands some active listening. Sone wonderful melodies, songs that wax and wane keeping interest throughout the album and some beautiful lyrics.

7.5/10 favourite track - "Little Green" least favourite track - "This Flight Tonight"

California is the most famous song on the album. For a reason. A case of you is just gorgeous. Her voice encapsulates the lyrics just wonderfully. Blue, song with the same name as the album and it is one of the better songs.

An essential Joni Mitchell album. Some beautiful and poetic songs.

Mitchell is a lot like Dylan, very few have middle ground feelings, live or hate usually. Younger folks - unable to relate to the era - may not appreciate her soulful sound.

I know this is a great album but I was in a really good mood and this was not the vibe

Such a beautiful album - love Joni's voice. Great album I'll definitely return to. 4/5

loveeee 4/5

An absolute classic.

I wasn’t in love with the instrumentation, a lot of it was very plain. However, I loved her voice, and each song was so well written. I feel like this is the kind of album I’ll love more upon release each listen. My favorites were California, This Flight Tonight, River, and The Last Time I Saw Richard.

85

Good but not my favorite style

Really good, just doesn't quite hit the spot for me. I prefer the slightly faster, chaotic songs like "This Flight Tonight."

Very good album. Is re-listenable for sure. Has some great storytelling. Joni is great.

Ta bonito

Classic by an icon but a couple of misses along the way

Stuk voor stuk pareltjes. "Little Green" is zo gevoelig. Als je de betekenis erachter kent, breekt je hart.

Sad music played happy

Awesome album. A woman with a message and something to fight for

As beautiful and heartfelt as you expect from Joni. What an unmistakable voice. Like a fairy or a siren. Real poetry. I do have to be in the right mood though.

Pretty sure Alanis Morrisette references Joni Mitchell on the last song of Jagged Little Pill, then I get this the following day. Listened to this during a nice run on the beach, didn't know what to expect but enjoyed this!

Das zwölfte Album, das ich schon kannte. Für mich ist es eine ganz klare 3 1/2. Musikalisch toll, aber ihre Stimme ist mir manchmal zu viel. Ich runde trotzdem mal auf, weil die Idee von River einfach genial ist.

A really good album that I can see many people giving a 5, for me some songs are a bit flat but overall a good listening experience

There's a lot to love about this album. Joni's voice, though impressive and befitting a rainy summer cottage, isn't something I want to listen to regularly. 4.5 stars for personal vocal preferences.

Good

Embarrassed to say I'd never listened to this before today. It's beautiful and full of weird and interesting notes and chord changes. I've always loved River, but Little Green is a new fave. I also learned This Flight Tonight is a Joni song, not a rockin' Nazareth original - consider my mind blown! Anyway, I get it now; sorry it took me so long, eh. 4.5 rounded down because I don't know how often I'll be in the mood for this.

This was the second Joni Mitchell album on the list, and this one was better than the first album. Her singing sometimes is annoying to me, but she is a master of interesting lyrics. This album seems to be about her personal relationships.

Good stuff

I do love Joni, and there's a lot of good ones here.

Clear high voice and piano, very lovely. Melodies are somewhat disjointed, harmonies have clear jazz influence

blue

😵😵😵

She sounds nice

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1001 ALBUMS- # 76 A deeply personal emotionally introspective reveal of an artist at their most vulnerable. Leaning into poetic songwriting as an outlet for her soul, Mitchell delivers a landmark recording that is a hauntingly serene. There could be no more fitting title for this collection of confessional tracks, as Mitchell lays bare her emotional world — heartbreak, longing, freedom, vulnerability — with almost painful honesty. The album opened a gateway giving credence to what could be written about in popular music. The acoustic arrangements are spare in production with piano, dulcimer, acoustic guitar — letting her haunting voice and lyrics shine through. There’s a fragility in both the music and the performance that gives the album its emotional power. 🎧 Classic Track: A Case of You 🎧 Deep Cut Gem: River 🎧 Personal Favorite: Blue 🎧 Memorable Standout: Little Green When Joni Mitchell released Blue in 1971, she rewrote the rules of what music — particularly popular music — could say, sound like, and mean. The album, often hailed as one of the most personal and emotionally raw in music history, strips away artifice and ego in favor of unfiltered vulnerability. In doing so, Blue not only defined Mitchell’s career but redefined the boundaries of singer-songwriter expression. At a time when the music industry was brimming with psychedelic escapism and performative masculinity, Blue offered something startlingly intimate: a human voice, unadorned, singing truths it almost hurts to hear. 🖼️ Album Artwork: Profile of a BLUE heart More than a collection of songs, Blue is a psychological document. It is both diary and map — a record of a woman’s inner world and a guide for those brave enough to examine their own. Mitchell’s songwriting is not merely confessional; it is surgical. The genius of Blue lies in its duality: it is both personal and universal. Mitchell was drawing from her own experiences — her breakup with Graham Nash, her time traveling through Europe, the unresolved pain of giving up her daughter for adoption — but the themes resonate far beyond the biographical. Love and loss, freedom and fear, the ache of solitude and the longing for connection: these are human constants, rendered here with rare honesty. It is no wonder that listeners, generation after generation, have found themselves reflected in its lyrics, like ghosts in a mirror. Admittedly Mitchell’s unique vocal delivery of the high notes can be an acquired taste, however this is a minor distraction to her revealing lyrics and besides, she’s Canadian 😀🇨🇦❤️.

Clear as an alpine lake, and near as beautiful. Favourite songs: Little Green, Blue, The Last Time I Saw Richard

This was quite a chill album. I've never listened to Joni Mitchell, minus songs that may have been on the radio, but I dug it. Feels like it would be nice around a campfire. The songs with piano were my favorite. Favorite song: Blue

Beautiful album. Little Green and Blue are both amazing songs.

3.5

Que tipa magnética y misteriosa e

Her voice was beautiful it sounded like a mixture of Fleetwood mac blackcountry new road and bob Dylan I really enjoyed it

Pretty good folk album.

very beuatiful! overall liked. no standout songs but the album as a whole i enjoyed.

4.25. Beautiful singing and melodies.

Blue-tiful

I’m not a big folk/singer-somgwriter listener, but this is a vary nice album. It’s definitely very chill but she’s a great lyricist and it’s quite pleasant

I normally am not a fan of the high female register due to it usually sounding very thin and too breathy but Joni’s voice is an exception! Even though I’m not a huge folk music fan, this was a great listen.

A voice of its generation, tiny little album.

dosc monotonny wokalnie ale naprawde niesamowity pod względem muzycznym

This is great! Songwriting, great musicianship. Great singing. Great innovation. If I was hearing this in 1971 for the first time it would be five star slam dunk. In 2025 I can still very much appreciate it, but I honestly rather listen to one of the many many albums that were inspired by it.

- i thought the lyrics were beautiful - i really like her voice, but i think some parts are a little too high-pitched for my hearing (i have been cursed with sensitive ears 😓) - i love that i can feel what she’s going through. it feels like she’s in the room with me, telling me a story

I’m blue da ba dee da ba di

Good album, not the mood I needed today so I didn't enjoy it as much as I would have

Cute album. At first it seemed too boring but it grew on me

Relájate

I like Joni Mitchell, but there's always something that bothers me, just certain things that just don't work for me. I enjoyed this album mostly, and I found it clever at its worst parts, so still giving it 4

I think this album compared to Hejira feels more tender and warm, not that Hejira wasn't but where that one was exciting for how the sonic experiments sounded, this one is simply a nice, mellow folk album that hits the spot for a nice afternoon trying to relax. It's just the perfect vibe and how nice Joni's voice is throughout all of this album, it's just lovely.

नमस्ते

A pretty good album, I liked Carey and Little Green.

Classic! What more can you say really, lots of really solid tracks. “All I want”, “Carey”, “California”.

very beautiful song writing

Un autre album de Joni Mitchell, peu de temps après Court and Spark, que j’avais beaucoup aimé. Dans Court and Spark, il y avait de subtiles notes de jazz que j’avais bien aimé. Je sais que Blue a été écrit et enregistré avant cet intérêt envers le jazz, alors je ne sais pas si ce sera au autre succès pour moi. La première chanson est bonne. Je commence la deuxième. C’est plus folk que jazz, mais ça se passe bien pour l’instant. C’est comme presque quelque chose que je pourrais aimer, mais pas tout à fait. Genre, c’est proche... Quoique c’est peut-être juste moi qui boude son plaisir. Honnêtement, j’aime ça. C’est léger, la voix de Joni est belle et se laisse écouter, la musique est discrète et s’agence bien avec la chanteuse.

The lyrics of each song weave together and it's like listening to a book. The instrumentals on each tune added to my enjoyment. For the most part I loved the high energy...but the constant "high" note of Mitchell's voice was a bit much after a while. Still, album is worth listening to and enjoying.

Reallly good album

Una delicia de álbum. River, que rola! Genial :D

I liked her voice and I've liked songs from her previously, but I didn't like this album quite as much.

Great songs

Sie hatte ich irgendwie nicht mehr auf dem Schirm. Schöne Wiederentdeckung. Regina Spektor hat offensichtlich viel bei ihr gelernt.

Don't kniw if its one of the greatest albums ever recorded, but it is great. Mitchell's poetry and voice, with minimalistic musical backing is truly a beautiful listen. Sometimes the folky atmosphere makes it that songs blend together a little. That's the only thing that takes it down to 4/5

Very calming melodic orchestra of vocal instrumentals

170/1089 - I re-listened to this after listening to and really liking a lot of Joni Mitchell's jazzier albums (Court and Spark, Hissing of Summer Lawns, and Hejira). I liked it a lot more than when I initially reviewed this. I also still think there are some missed opportunities here and there especially on the piano only tracks. Her voice really is like an instrument and I bet it's super challenging to copy. All I Want is my favorite song on this, I really like the rhythms, the inner-lines in the guitar and the dulcimer-like tone of the guitar. Gonna listen to more of Joni Mitchell's music for sure.

Cool ahh álbum. Tras escuchar las primeras 3 canciones empecé a barajar las 5 estrellas. Si que es verdad que a partir de ahí bajó en hellyeahness. La primera canción es una de las mejores piezas que he escuchado recientemente. El resto del disco mola, pero flojean algunas canciones. Me gusta la incoherencia del álbum, ya que aparecen varios estilos, desde el punk hasta Gorillaz ahhh musica. Producción guay orgánico de los 90. Y poco más que decir. Un disco al que definitivamente volveré. 8.2/10 -> 4/5

Bueeeeno bueno este álbum me gustó bastante mas que el otro. Super chuli, los cambios de octavas así super random me encantaban y tiene una voz muy bonita. La escuche en el tren romantizando mi vida y sobre todo disfruté California, que la la conocía de antes y me encanta. En resumen album guay y cortito pero nose si se merece del todo las 4 estrellas, de todas formas se las doy porque hay que tener algo de alegría en esta vida

Her singing is so lovely, it really does enhance the album; otherwise it would've been just another generic folk album.

Lots to like here, and a lot i probably wouldn’t single out to listen to again on repeat. I enjoyed the production and the vocals, and the calm vibes were very welcome (although not all of the topics were peaceful and calm, the music remained fairly so). It sounds like music for a fancy dinner party or inner reflection.

I like most of this album. "My Old Man," "Little Green," and "Blue" are favorites of mine. The first 5 or so tracks are pretty enjoyable. "California" I think goes on a little too long. "River" has great themes and sentiments lyrically but the intro and the middle sounding like a re-syncopated jingle bells kind of annoyed me (I DO however like how she ends with it in a minor key). It's super sad tho but in a way that's super relatable. Sometimes I'm like "Man her lyrics are SO GOOD" and then there are moments that read as a little corny like the 'O Canada' section in "A Case of You". However it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the album as a whole. The mostly guitar-comprised tracks help the vocals and lyrics really shine. Plus when there are other instruments it gets very good. I can see myself listening to this again.

Beautiful voice, acoustic mood, groovy, love it so far.

This is my first time listening to Joni Mitchell, and wow, it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed that her vocals were the main focus of every song. Her voice and at times echoey sound reminded me of the Trinity Sessions album, which I also really loved. Joni's storytelling is incredible; every song has a purpose in the overall album narrative.

Just A Little Green 1001 Albums Generator 58 (06/23/2025) Blue is an album about love, but unlike many albums about love, it does not limit itself to purely being a breakup album or a romantic album. No, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell approaches love wholistically on her fourth studio album, Blue, taking the good with the bad. And this makes sense with her state at the time of writing it, having just ended a relationship with Graham Nash and having just started a relationship with James Taylor. Additional experiences in her life that inspired her writing on this album were her travels to the island of Crete and her secret child whom she had given up for adoption years previously. At this tumultuous time in her life, Joni Mitchell said "I felt like a cellophane wrapper on a pack of cigarettes. I felt like I had absolutely no secrets from the world". The result was the album often quoted as her magnum opus: 1971's Blue. From the opening guitar parts of All I Want, the sound of this album is quickly established. Acoustic instrumentation that manages to maintain energy (sometimes with the help of a light percussion) while Joni's unique voice and melody choices grace our ears. I think what makes her melodies so unique is her large leaps from the baritone to the falsetto. My Old Man showcases the other primary instrument in the sound palette of this album, the piano. She also wrote some great chromatic passing tones in its unique melody during the chorus. This Flight Tonight plays with some psychedelia that the rest of the album doesn't have and it works great. The part where the louder guitar and drums briefly come in is genius. River is one of the most popular songs on the album and features a melody that was largely borrowed from and inspired by Jingle Bells. Its lyrics explore Mitchell's sadness with a recent relationship ending, in reality probably the relationship with songwriter Graham Nash. A Case Of You features Mitchell's new man James Taylor playing a very percussive acoustic guitar part. Joni sings lyrics describing a deep, infectious love that she is feeling. It is one of the most romantic songs on the album. Her vocal runs in the second chorus are just incredible. With such a basic sonic palette, it is honestly incredible that Blue manages to stay interesting. The title track, Blue, is beautiful, but as it is surrounded by very similar but superior songs, it does not stick with me. I also find the closing tack, The Last Time I Saw Richard, to not be memorable either. Besides these two songs, this is pretty much a perfect folk album. Joni Mitchell is an artist that I have been missing out on. Blue is a great place for me to start with her, as it is a vulnerable look into the soul of an artist, in an honest way that is so rare to see. Some songs do not enthrall me as much, but her incredible voice keeps me coming back for more. 4/5. Favs: My Old Man River A Case Of You Least Fav: Blue

Good

This feels like the ultimate expression of folk music. Or perhaps a dividing line. There's a real BC/AD quality to this work. For her and the genre writ large. No notes. But I like Hejira better.

8.2

What a voice. Even though the whole album is similar sounding it seldom gets boring or feels repititve

Joni Mitchell var en kunskapslucka hos mig och jag måste säga att jag inte var helt golvad efter den första genomlyssningen. Hennes stil och säregna röst är nog dock acquired taste för ju mer jag lyssnade ju bättre tyckte jag att det blev. Kan förstå varför Joni och denna skiva är så uppburna. Efter fyra lyssningar landar den på en fyra för mig, men den fick mig sugen på att lyssna mer på henne.

Reading the news and it sure looks bad. They won’t give peace a chance. It was just a dream some of us had. 3.6

Although this isn't the sort of music I listen to regularly, it was truly easy to listen to and JM's stories put to music were pleasant to hear. I wouldn't listen again by choice, but also wouldn't be irritated if someone slapped this album on.

I like the sound of the Appalachian dulcimer so favoured those songs. California is the highlight. The unusual song structures, lack of rhyme/stream of consciousness and vocal can be off putting at times. It's a very good album but I don't really see why this is so often mentioned as one of the greatest ever among critics. 3.5/5. Raising to 4.

A little Joni can go a long way but this one is solid.

I can tell these are objectively really good songs, and would possibly rate five stars, but Joni Mitchell’s vocal style has always set my teeth on edge as if I were on the verge of becoming seasick, so I’d never choose to listen to her. Giving it a 4 so I’ll come back to give it another chance.

Incredible songwriting and flawless performance.

Loved nearly every track here except the one about riding an airplane that one was kinda lame

4.5/5 Not my usual jam but the levels of talent, creativity, and grace makes this album special and very worthy of being on this list

Pretty good

I like the album cover

Solid listen. Good vocal work and instrumentals. Falls a bit into the samey side though.

Joni se merece estar entre los 1001 albums. Todavía mejorará

One of the greats, sure. But also quite annoying? Music criticism has to move on from the kind of received wisdom that makes this album always be in the stratosphere of best of lists. (before I paint myself with the misogyny brush - the Beatles, Steely flippin Dan, Stones etc also often fit this mould) Reviewing albums outside of their context could be an empty endeavour. Let's ask Christgau. Call me a contrarian etc. I get frustrated that the zeitgeist doesn't shift. Pop music is still relatively new I guess. Maybe I'm wrong to be frustrated due to that very fact. We're STILL having Joni retrospective live celebrations in the twennytwennies. Lately the internet only seems to reward positive opinions and received wisdom. AI is making that worse. Somehow this album's endless back-pats crystallises these issues for me.This book/app/whatever only further encourages this critical laziness. Dear diary, this nonsense probably needs a sober edit. Anyway... River: 12/10 Miles - Kind of Blue. Also contemporarily overrated (but deserved all of its roses - at the time). Just getting that out now, see ya at that review. Miles 12/10 bloke though (musically). Weezer - the blue album. Yeah, decent.

Wonderful

I enjoyed this so much better than I thought I would. Great vocals, beautiful melodies, and wonderful acoustic guitar. I can see why Joni is iconic.

A lovely album. Happy to return to it any time. Doesn't have a huge amount of range, but what it does it basically does as well as it's ever been done.

This kind of female-fronted classic folk is a genre I dip into every now and then. Mitchell, Collins... I think it reminds me of riding in the car with my grandparents as a kid. "River" is the only song off Blue that I recognized (it's pushed its way into the Christmas music canon) but the others grew on me over a few plays.

Have loved this album for a very long time! My friend Izze showed it to me and I’ve loved it ever since. Fantastic and unique songwriting with beautiful lyrics. I love u Joni… Fav Track: My Old Man

:) Me gustó

Another Joni Mitchell entry in this collection, but at least it's what seems to be regarded as her finest. I'm still not a big Joni Mitchell fan, and most of the tracks don't really do much for me (and the place-name-dropping lyrics in "Carey" and "California" kind of rub me the wrong way), but I'm glad I've finally listened to this album. I enjoyed the remarkably dark and gritty lyrics on the title track, as well as the sound and style of "This flight tonight", and who can deny "River"? I'm also struck by how raw many of the songs are (and confidently sung), and by how much this album clearly influenced all of the later confessional (and often debut) albums by women singer/songwriters featured in this collection (k.d. lang, Suzanne Vega, Fiona Apple, Alanis Morissette, Liz Phair, etc.). That legacy alone warrants four stars.

Very good

Blue by Joni Mitchell is honestly one of the coziest albums ever made. The moment it starts, there’s this warmth that just wraps around you, and her voice… man, her voice is something else. It doesn’t just sound good, it touches your soul. Her writing is incredible so vivid, so emotional, so personal. She paints pictures of heartbreak, love, longing, and vulnerability in a way that very few artists can. You can feel the honesty bleeding through every lyric, and that’s what makes it timeless. There isn’t a single bad track on this album. Every song carries its own weight, its own story, and it flows beautifully as a complete piece of art. The instrumentation is simple but perfect. the guitar, the piano, the dulcimer they just hit in all the right ways, leaving space for her voice to shine. Listening to Blue feels like being hugged. It’s comforting, emotional, and intimate in a way that albums rarely are. It’s one of those records you can always come back to, no matter what you’re going through, and it’ll meet you right where you are. Truly one of the most beautiful, soul-touching albums ever made.

Phenomenal album. Very appropriate for the rainy week that started.

Great album, but does the book need 4 Joni Mitchell albums? I don't think so. Eventually, after Morrissey, Elvis Costello and Neil Young and some other records one or two have to move over for something they forgot to include or something newer. This album has some of her best songs, but also some filler. Favorite song: Carrey.

There is no doubt that Joni Mitchell has a great voice. But the songs are fine. It could just be that this kind of folk music isn't my thing. I'll round up from 3.5 to 4. But I'd say good, not 100 best albums of all time or anything like it is often rated.

Very few do it like Joni. Top tier songwriting. I’m always shocked at how relatable yet personal her lyrics are. Also, maybe the most accurate album title of all time. I’m not particularly a Joni stan but she’s got bars. 9/10 Favorite Song: California Favorite Song

I actually really appreciated this (hi Marco!). Simple and clean. Beautiful voice. Mindblowing that this is from '71.

I know she is a singer-songwriter/folky a bit. I have much respect for her. Not my style though

Really nice folk/country sound. Not particularly my style but there is undoubtedly substance in this. Som really nice tunes and lyrics.

Never really liked her vibe, but I can't say this isn't good music.

Her voice is beautiful, she does cool things with it too. Joni has a lot to say lol these songs are jam-packed, it's like listening to someone read their journal. I liked it but I found it a little boring as the songs blended together. It's nice as background music though.

I've been aware of this album as one that people really love but I've never actually listened to it before. Dug it

Really beautiful melancholic album, was an experience to just be in this realm for this short time. Rating: 4.5

That voice and those lyrics - beautiful!

Brought back memories with her sweet voice.

Great album. I enjoy her upbeat stuff the most. Blue itself was pretty bad, but fun!

Classic

Piercing. I think a few more listens would make me bump it up. I’m not absolutely enamored but I can recognize it’s beauty

Gotta love Joni, such a voice

te amo joni mitchell

Beautiful voice - the strength, the quiver, the range Uplifting instrumentation Unusual rhythms, and harmonic shifts - whilst staying within accessibility; can see the inspiration.

Perhaps my favorite Joni Mitchell album out them all.

I think it'd be a really good listen if I was sad, will keep it in mind for that.

Tended to like the guitar songs more than the piano songs (which I found a little too depressing). Most: Carey or California Least: The Last Time I Saw Richard

Enjoyable study music, I like that the album is short and sweet as I feel like if it was any longer I wouldn’t enjoy it as much.

Surprised at this one; the range of emotion conveyed was quite enjoyable.

I just don’t love her music

More my speed than the other albums

Great vocals and guitar, thoroughly enjoyed. Very relaxing. California and Little Green where stand outs

No proper standouts but a good album I enjoyed it very nice vocals and a good vibe :)

Really enjoyed the vibes on this album. It was folksy but in a way that felt very serene. I thought the singing and production were top notch. Her voice is pretty unique, especially on a track like A Case Of You, and I think it works across this album. I think I prefer this album to the last Joni album we had. That one was a 3, so I'll give this one a 4.

I owe this one a closer relisten, but very much enjoyed it playing in the background as I went about my day this morning. Beautifully sparse arrangements of (often) just piano and vocals. Her vocals are beautiful and what came through of the writing was very nice. On first distracted listen this falls low 4, but I could see it growing on me with more listens.

Another great album by Joni. This one was much more toned down and folky than her other 2. The singing and song writing just seem like they were pretty elite on this album. Must say I think personally I prefer trippy acid Joni, but this was still very good

I have enjoyed the Joni Mitchell albums we've had so I'm excited for this. Feel like she has such a unique voice and uses it as an instrument a lot of the time. I've also learned she leans heavy into the blackface since we've listened to the last album which is crazy to me. That was extremely beautiful. Not enough to warrant a 5 out of me but damn if I didn't enjoy it. I think I liked the experimental nature of the last album more but this felt cohesive af.

7/10

Blue is brutally honest in a way that still feels uncomfortable today — like you accidentally opened someone’s most personal notebook and couldn’t stop reading. Joni Mitchell strips everything down to voice, guitar, piano, and pure emotion, turning heartbreak, longing, and self-reflection into something painfully beautiful. There’s no hiding behind big production or metaphorical distance; every lyric feels direct and exposed. It’s quiet, intimate, and emotionally heavy — not loud like the bands you love, but it hits with the same kind of intensity that lingers long after it ends.

Real talented lady with a great sense of vocal control and heartfelt songwriting. Just a lovely album.

Sad, folksy, Reedy and rhythmic. I was familiar with embarrassingly few of these songs, but enjoyed them thoroughly. Perfect for a sad rainy day. A few ideas get repeated but not to the detriment of the album.

Very good vocals, great study music or for frollicking

I love the album. It gives me the taste of what paved the way of the likes of Florence and the Machine and other related current artists.

schono trurig aber au sehr nice. fasch alli lieder gliked. wöri weder lose au so eifach vereinzelt lieder aber im summer eher vermiede

joni has such a beautiful voice and is extremely talented. beautiful singer songwriter project

Blue is one of those albums that always tun up on the greatest amlbum lists but i never really got it until last summer when I spent a lot of time listening to a lot of eother Joni Mitchell albums, Hejira, turbulent Indigo,court and spark, hissing of summer lawns before coming back to blue. Now I get it. Now I see the intricately polished gem for what it is

I wouldn't have thought that I would enjoy a record such as this one, but this was amazing. Great vocal melodies and harmonic choices! And damn she can sing!!!

My only complaint is that sometimes I don’t care for her vocals.

I hate her voice but her lyrics are are pure poetry.

This album cover feels like I’ve seen it a million times. If I’ve heard one note off of this I’d be fairly surprised. An album that is ubiquitous in the “best albums” sphere and no surprise that it turns up on our daily listen pile. I am excited for what this could be, but it’s a guarded enthusiasm. I have been crushed before. In the wise words of Beyblade; LET IT RIP. This is quite good. The vocal range and folk sensibilities make for an excellent combination. A lot of variation here and an incredibly interesting song structure. Great start. I did have to laugh when she was rattling off some lame “shampoo” rhyme, I read her bio saying “a folk singer with a poet’s spirit.” I love the way boomers refer to their significant others. The old lady/man. I tend to enjoy “the old ball and chain.” Speaking of prison, this song is happening. Nah it’s not that bad. There is such an odd quality to her vocal inflections. It gets a little too operatic for me here but it is far too interesting to ignore. Little Green, Blue, what’s next? Purple? Yellow? She could go anywhere with this thing. Oh no. It’s an astrology jam. AND a rebel moving to California song? Nooo. This was fine. There will be icicles and birthday clothes for sure. I bless the winds that come from Africa. I am also regularly thrown out of the mermaid cafe because I change the “f” in the sign to a “g.” Hey. When I call them freaks they also throw me out. I am banned from the mermaid cafe. What are we doing? Oh yeah. Joni came through here. Really fun song with lyrics that jump off the page/screen. Blue was darker. Dare I say, it was blue. Not my favourite moment on the album. I want more folk, Joni. Less wrists slashed in a bathtub. That particular sentiment needs to be accompanied by tremolo picking and blast beats. Wow. I tried to type wow and it just said “we” and I couldn’t fix it for a little while. It appears that this song has given me a stroke. The vocals here are beautiful, the prose is effortless, and the song whisks the listener into a state of bliss. At least this listener. Look at me forgiving trendy location fetishization. This MUST be a good song. Yeah, I mean another excellent one. I have difficulty writing about good albums. Shows my lack of writing prowess. Fortunately, no lack of writing prowess here. Jingle all the way. It’s literally every note of jingle bells except the last one. Oh. It is a Christmas song. What a musical sleuth I am. Other carols appear throughout as well, which is actually such a cool idea. I feel like I’ve heard a cover of this or heard it somewhere. Either way, I’m hearing her version for the first time anew. That vocal line in the chorus is heart wrenching. So good. CANADA MENTIONED 🇨🇦🍁🦫. Ugh. I hate regurgitating memes, but in these trying times of having the world’s shittiest neighbour (it’s always been that way), I feel I must show solidarity with my countrymen. The drinking a case of your love interest is a little laboured, but hey, I’m still loving this album. And honestly, this song is perfect. The metaphor IS a little dumb, but it’s delivered in a way that I believe it comes form the heart. It reflects a genuine feeling. Man. Richard sounds like a real downer. What a cool song. I thought it sounded a little too same-y off the bat, but wow. Makes me think of the DI song “Richard Hung Himself.” Wonder if it’s the same guy. What a journey. I was laughing early on about the poetic sensibilities, but Joni Mitchell really does have that unique poetic slant on the English language . Not everything has to be bogged down with unintelligible Shakespearean scripture to make an impact and generate a thought. I found myself increasingly engaged by the lyrics as they were delivered by an ethereal voice over competent instrumentation. This album deserves to be in the company that people place it in. I think this album should’ve been called “Fully Blue” as it was clearly a response to Miles Davis’ “Kind of Blue.” It’s jokes like that, that keep my reviews unread by the general public, and it’s albums like this, that will keep me coming back for more. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: All I Want, Carey, California, River, A Case of You

Very relaxing, peaceful and happy, good vibes album

So pretty

Joni Mitchell is an icon. Her voice, her song writing. This album is both timeless and dated. The first few songs definitely reflect the language and attitude of their time. River and A Case of You are timeless however. As a side note, River and This Flight Tonight might as well be anthems for the Avoidant communicator

Really really enjoyed that

This is a solid album with great song writing. I've definitely listened to it before multiple times. I'm not sure why but I just really wasn't vibing with it though today. I think it's probably a 5 star album but I like it at a 4 star level. It's weird that River is using the Jingle Bells melody haha.

Good, but not My bag

I’ve never sat down and listened to an entire Joni Mitchell album, and this was a great experience. Very beautiful both lyrically and musically.

Amazing voice!