Blue

joni mitchell gets it. she created a beautiful, poetic album in blue. i don't even typically go for folk music, but there's something about joni putting all her cards down. her lyrics are honest and snatch at your heart. the emotions in "a case of you" are plain as day, and it almost distracts you of how brilliant the metaphor is. her voice is lovely, albeit in an imperfect way. the emotions are present in her voice, so sometimes her voice isn't as pure as other singers'. but that's part of the allure of joni mitchell. gosh, this album truly was a delight.

Joni Mitchell is already a perfect example of someone who sings directly to your soul while giving you a big window into hers, but this album is arguably her magnum opus, and those soul-gazing qualities are amplified here. A lot of people complain about Joni's lack of poetic structure, but who cares? Those structures are meant to help people form a decent poem, but they're rather limiting and not needed when you are essentially channeling pure artistic and poetic expression in the way that Joni does. Her words and singing seem to come intuitively on this album, rather than prescriptively. It's hard to explain what exactly makes this album a cut above her others, but its true, and I think many people would agree. Honestly, having "River" and "A Case of You" back to back on this album is enough to be heart-wrenching. The latter, in my opinion, is the finest song that Joni ever wrote and a gorgeous listen that I never grow tired of. I also really dig Joni's playing of the dulcimer on this album. It persists here and there throughout the album and offers a unique sound to the album. A lot of dulcimer music almost sounds medieval or "renaissance" in nature, but Joni manages to find a way to integrate what gets construed as "old world folk" with this 1970s folk. Overall, this is just a gift of an album.

A beautifully sophisticated album that is way ahead of its time.

A very good album with great writing. Joni is a great singer-songwriter. "Blue" still holds up today after 53 years. The only song I've heard from her before listening to this was "Parking Lot". Another one off the list. 4 stars from me.

Absolute classic but you have to be okay with Joni Tuning and for the songs to go in unexpected directions! Her voice is wonderful - I have no idea how she hits those high notes and I love her guitar playing. Not my favorite album of hers but very quintessentially Joni.

All I Want California A Case of You

I find her voice grating, but the songwriting is beautiful. I prefer others singing these songs. I give it a 4 for adding these songs to the canon of popular music.

Joni Mitchell is a whimsical, playful, elf like folk legend, and this album pretty much puts that on full display. The bear bone instrumentals do a great job of backing her melodies, while still providing a very intimate feeling and a wonderfully 70s folk flavor. Mitchell’s singing style is a lot of head voice soprano, with fast, conversational runs and esoteric lyrics. In a way, her signature style is her greatest strength, but a tough challenge for the enjoyment of this album. Many of these songs are a little too poetic to really settle into a memorable groove or a poignant statement. Beautiful, singing, amazing instrumentals, but the lyrics are a bit jumbled and distract from the final product of the album. Stand out tracks “All I Want”, “Carey”, “California”, and “River”.

Nice. I had heard it before.

Astounded by this. I’ve never really listened to Joni Mitchell before, and the instant this started I was so taken by her voice and the melodies and the words. What a wonderful surprise this was!

Precious! 😍 (By the way, it's the first album that Spotify won't let me listen to. It's the first one I've listened to on YouTube)

This album was great! The best way to appreciate it would be by listening on a good sound system or over speakers. The music is so intricate and complex. I had no idea This Flight Tonight by Nazareth was a cover of a Joni Mitchell song. It's a beauty! Favourite songs: This Flight Tonight, Carey, California, River, A Case of You, All I Want Least favourite songs: My Old Man 4/5

Joni's style is very uniquely her own. Besides having a distinctive voice, the structures, the phrasing, and the vocal melodies are all her style that she created. Engaging storytelling too

Beautiful album brimming with emotion.

Kinda wish I'd had this as my first Joni album, the others had jaded me a bit before going in. This one is much more pleasant, but I'm still not huge on the whole "let's literally tell a story in a song" idea - it just makes it hard to imagine relistening to it.

Heard of Joni, but never really truly listened. Great voice with arrangement that at first sounds off, but works to tell the story. Really enjoyed this album.

Brilliant. I never tire of this music.

Had to look this one up on YouTube. Besides the multiple advertisements in the middle of the album I liked this one a lot. Too bad it's not on spotify :(

Listened to this years ago but didn’t love it then. I appreciated it much more now.

Joni's singing is amazing and this is a pleasant listen, but I mainly connected with the piano tracks. The title track is beautiful and haunting, River and the closer are very good too. I'll need to revisit this. Annoyingly not on Spotify.

Great album. Great lyrics, vocals, melodies Standout songs: A Case of You California Blue

Graham Nash of CSNY tells a beautiful story about how he met Joni Mitchell, and how he wrote Our House about their short relationship. He says, "heartbreaking, but at least I have a heart to break". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z3xTdZqzb0 So apart from that, and Both Sides Now, I don't know her that well, and I was interested to listen to this. The writing is sublime: radiant, sweet and melancholic. Quite often very revealing - I don't think people write like this any more. Generally hits the sweet spot for me for folk rock/classic rock. Unfortunately I did tire of her voice, struggled a bit by the end. Agree with Jack, Blue and California stood out the most. Shame this isn't on Spotify - I'd definitely give this a re-listen.

Heard this album a few times before. She's great. I think the highlights are blue, California and River. But it's all of a high standard. Unfortunately not on Spotify! Probably not really quite my thing but really enjoyed it none the less

Good 4/5

I liked it. Shame it's not on Spotify. Would love to revisit.

fuck... I think I like folk music her vocals are very vibrant and hold a lot of emotion the stripped nature of the instrumental is really nice. kinda like a lullaby for the south

Se me hizo muy bueno! Muy fuerte pero agradable e interesante

great old stuff

Full of emotion

Beautiful, emotional, soft. Really enjoyed this album, though I do sometimes find the high notes overbearingly sweet. Fav tracks: this flight tonight and river.

I'm so glad I discovered this, absolutely gutted that it's not on Spotify. I love how simple and stripped back the instruments are, it leaves so much room to really appreciate Joni's angelic voice on every song. Even with such simple music, it still feels like there is so much going on, especially on the latter half of the album where more instruments outside of a piano or an acoustic guitar are introduced. As much as I did love her voice, and as much as you get to hear it on this album, it does almost feel a bit monotonous at times, I think a bit more showing off her vocal range could have improved this album a lot, but as it is it's still amazing, only a very minor complaint.

I rather enjoyed this album. I had listened to the River song but the other ones were mostly new to me though I think I could hear the influence she had vocally on Sarah McLaughlin and Tori Amos.

Pretty darn good!

Joni Mitchell er musik for kvinder i overgangsalderen der flæber over deres tabte ungdom i 70erne. Og så er det åbenbart også for mig 😅 Simple melodier på primært klaver og akustisk guitar, men med en nærhed og nerve i vokalen

Lovely record. The direction in the production matches perfectly with joni's lyrics, creating this mesmerizing sea of atmosphere. Though I do wear of the deliveries vocally at times as the showiness distracts from the mood.

Nice vocals and steel string guitars.

This was really great. We had another Joni Mitchell album which I remember characterizing as 'ramble-y' both musically and esp lyrically. This one was very focused, great lyrics and some great guitar work by both her and her Laurel Canyon guests James Taylor and Stephen Stills. This Flight Tonight might now be my favourite Joni Mitchell track! Also Carey is such a jam! Lots of great classic songs from her here. I love the old school production on this too. No autotune happening here haha she’s all over the place with the vocals but it’s so interesting/exciting as a result of not sounding perfect. And 100% no ‘grid’ - I’d be surprised if there were even a click track

It’s a classic. A case of you is an absolute heart crusher. Her voice is at its peak. Wonderful album through and through

First time listening to Joni Mitchell. Wow, she has an amazing voice and vocal range. This is a beautiful album and I’m really glad to have listened to it. Blue, the title track, was a stand out for me. Case of You was another stand out. I’m giving it a 4 because I don’t see myself listening to this being in my rotation.

4.5/5 great vocals, super interesting songwriting and concepts Overall really great album, not quite amazing.

Joni Mitchell was never an artist that I got particularly excited about, but if singer/songwriters are your jam, she's one of the best. Blue highlights her poetic lyricism. She's a wonderful storyteller and paints a combination of visual and emotional imagery with her words. Her voice was in its prime when she recorded this album, and it floats beautifully on the clouds of guitar and piano music. Overall, a very pleasant listen, just not my genre of choice.

This is no Hejira, or Court and Spark, but there’s nothing like a Joni Mitchell record in the morning to lubricate the eyes.

Beautiful lovely album with some playful songs and some really beautiful ones. Incredible writing, which is astonishingly honest at times.

Couldn't tell you why I liked this album, it just all fits together beautifully.

Better than expected, considering it's Joni Mitchell. Some of these songs transport a sweet, exquisite melancholy that makes me longing for autumn. I guess that is something. 3.5/5

Wonderfully weird and soulful. I don't love every track but the standouts sure stand out. River surprised me. Loved the playful quote of Jingle Bells to make a sad love song.

Got a lot more from this than I thought I would. I could listen to Joni's voice all day.

Glorius

Beautiful voice Beautiful melodies. Great songwriting. Very nice album. Close to a 5

Regina Spektor vibes, 30 years before. And I love RS.

Whow. Mit ihrer sehr eigenen Art bewundernswert.

Listened to this while setting up some shots for a short film. definitely a big help. Absolutely lovely

Good. Her best album. Extra half star for good length.

Extremely solid album, with River being the glaring star for me. Great storytelling by Mitchell.

Rating 7/10 I liked this alot more than I expected I would, even if it does seem like Joni is just scatting and saying whatever popped into her head at that moment sometimes Fave songs: Little Green, California

Favorite Tracks: A Case of You River California

Old favorites but don't always find her voice pleasing

Some of those vocal runs set my teeth on edge. And the jangly rhythms sometimes grate on my nerves. But despite all that, the music is still incredible.

I applaud her for her vocals and lyric-writing abilities. Her songs come from the soul, they’re heartfelt and personal and you can really feel that in her voice as well.

Highlights: All I Want, Carey, Blue, California, A Case of You, This Flight Tonight, River, The Last Time I Saw Richard. The lyrics are deep, Couldn't quite dig Little Green, sounds like a cliched devotional to a hippy child. I didn't mind the length of the songs. If the composition and/or lyrics are right, any song over 4 minutes can be exceptional. Joni's vocal range is impressive (some quavering notes, but I forgive this. There is a wide range to cover with complex arrangements). I am swooning at the storytelling and world building lyrics. It is so close to being perfect. Overall: 8.5/10

Obviously some classics on here: Blue, River, and A Case of You always brings me back to Vassar. Great song writing. And of course I have to support as a Cali boy.

Never been a big Joni Mitchell fan but this is a very good record. The lyrics and acoustic guitar playing stand out but I do find some of the vocals grating, so it loses a star.

And here it is! The Joni Mitchell album above all others, lauded as one of the greatest albums of all time. And I can see why. Joni was singing about evergreen topics in such a way that goes in one ear and out the other. I say that as both a compliment and a criticism. As I listened to it, I found myself getting lost in the melodies and her beautiful voice and often forgot what I was hearing as it left. Almost like a songbird landing on my sill and chirping for a little bit before flying off. It's 36 minutes, and many of the songs run into that singer songwriter dilemma of sounding the same. And when its just you and a piano and some guitar, that can happen. Again, I don't say that to be critical, this feels like that sort of album that would play in a log cabin as the snow is melting and spring is poking its head out. My struggle is that I've never been a huge singer/songwriter fan. But if I was asked what one of my favorite albums was of singer/songwriters, I'd probably say this one. There's even a Christmas song (River)!

Actually really enjoyed this. 'River' is a great Christmas song!

pretty good, better than I thought.

Rollicking, warbling, bluegrass-tinged folk

Excellent songwriting (though some of the chord progressions in "My Old Man" feel a little odd). "A Case Of You" is a wonderful song.

Strong writing strong voice. Doing some research into what she had going on in life makes many of these songs even more impactful

I didn’t get to listen to this actual album the way i wanted to as it’s not on spotify so i listened in bits and pieces but she’s got an amazing voice and i think i’ve now become a fan. i was familiar with some of her songs but never put 2 and 2 together….

great songwriter!

Shrill Carole King.

I’m glad I finally got a chance to listen to this entirely. Above average composition and album structure. She’s a true legend albeit maybe an acquired taste vocally. I’m down with it.

“oh, i hate you some, i hate you some, i love you some; oh, i love you when i forget about me”

This was a surprise. What an iconic album. It's not exactly my cup of tea, but man does it deliver on all fronts if you're looking for some 70's singer-songwriter goodness. I'd easily recommend this to any fan of the genre if they hadn't listened before. Joni Mitchell comes off as incredibly sincere here, and even though there is some groovy slang mixed in, the album remains timeless. Highlight: River Lowlight: This Flight Tonight Surprise Hit: California

Heel integere plaat, prachtig gezongen

Love Joni.

I listened to this while on the airplane headed from Charlotte to Eglin Air Base. I think it could have used more harmony, but I enjoyed it either way. Pretty good for hippie music

Lovely vocals. The background instruments are just enough to keep it interesting without distracting from the singing which is clearly meant to be the focal point.

This is the first Joni Mitchell project that I have ever heard, and I think its a wonderful jumping-off place. Joni's vocals are astonishingly beautiful, and I wish I had heard this sooner. Thoughts: Amazing Favorite Song: California

This was a great album. I prefer this style of music and Joni has a beautiful voice and signing style. Definitely a great new find thanks to this project. 4 out of 5.

This album tells me I should listen to more Joni Mitchell. Great from start to finish!

I wish My Old Man and Little Green weren't on the same album as River and A Case of You, because the former songs are a case of lyrics really taking me out of a song and vibe.

I am realizing that Spotify doesn't have any of her songs available... I have fond 90s memories of her songs...

"My Old Man" -- the place where it slips into a 7th scale is weird to me Overall, a very pretty and appealing record. I heard things in it that made me think that much later artists I like a lot, like the Mountain Goats, were listening to this and learning from it,

Chill album, not totally my vibe but I thought it was nice.

Beautiful album 4

A great album. Beautiful voice.

Great album, but one cannot listen to it via streaming. Not sure if I have the vinyl handy to listen to.

What a voice.

Nice

Not sure what the story is but this one wasn't available on Spotify. This isn't my usual style but I enjoyed it quite a lot. The instrumentation is simple but there's some good musical complexity, and so much feeling.

I'm torn with Joni Mitchell because she is a great artist, writes some amazing tunes with beautiful poetical (and witty) lyrics and does possess a very unique and distinctive voice. But the voice is the issue for me, I find the tone a bit too shrill for my liking. None-the-less, this is a great, timeless record that I can appreciate, if not entirely enjoy.

I'm glad that I invested a little effort in tracking this down, good album.

Joni Mitchell has an extremely pleasant voice. This is super stripped back but honestly still was pretty enjoyable. Just a girl and her guitar

Not an album you have to listen to all of the words of. It’s prose accompanied by music. Quiet and ambient music that doesn’t need to be the center of attention. Just put it on on a rainy day. I’m sure it’ll accompany a cup of coffee on a quiet morning perfectly. In a world of sonically overloaded music, this is incredibly refreshing (even if it’s more than 60 years old). If Prince thought it was perfect then there must be something special here.

Desværre ikke på Spotify. Dejlig akkustisk album.

Quite good! Good to learn what was possible in 1971.

really good guitar playing that's allowed to shine through. I've known for a long time that I would especially like Blue but my parents didn't have this one and I never got around to it. If I had heard this as a teenager I bet it would be a solid 5 and a record I always think of. Hearing it later it's not as striking as it would have been, and the California hippie stuff is more grating than it would have been. Something that is still very very good when you think you've heard it all before

Super cool guitar stuff, and she sure finds weird and nice melodies over it. Liked this one a lot, didn’t know I was a Joni fan.

Joni Mitchell has such an iconic and incredible voice. The control she has over her voice is masterful with those key changes. This record creates a great sense of atmosphere which is emotional and heartfelt. It has fantastic songwriting and melodies. Personally it's missing some extra magic from some folk albums I prefer though.

-Pretty enjoyable and easy to listen album -losing points bc not on spotify -It was a good experience listening to what people call the "magnum opus" of Joni Mitchell's work but I probably won't be revisiting this album any time soon.

Beautiful. I dont see myself coming back to it but it's undeniably a great piece of music. points off for not being on spotify (cringe tax)

Nice tunes

Dit is gewoon steengoede muziek. Alleen ik vind haar stem niet altijd even fijn, dus vandaar maar 4 sterren en geen 5. Verder gewoon heel mooi.

I'd heard this was supposed to be an amazing album but on first listen I just didn't get it. There were weird syncopations, unexpected falsetto, and some songs weren't sung so much as liltingly spoken. I did some research to see why this was considered a great album. Digging into her history have some background to some of the songs and those lyrics were just so poignant. She creates scenes and feelings so well and with so few words. This album almost felt like you were reading a diary it's so personal. I'm not entirely sure I like her style but it's growing on me. Fav songs: Little Green, Carey, River, Case of You

It's a beautiful album. Quintessential Joni Mitchell - melodic and heartfelt- you can hear her soul in her music. It is the pinnacle of that late 60s/early 70s singer/songwriter folk. It's wonderfully produced, clean, and all around a highly recommended album

A nice album, like the voice.

Joni Mitchell is an incredible talent but this kind of music just doesn't usually do it for me. River is incredible of course but otherwise I'm mostly unable to appreciate the songs. I think that's more an indictment of myself than Joni though. 4.5 stars

what a voice

Great voice and calming music.

Not available on Spotify but I like Joni

Was good, very nice storylines

Not on Spotify. Found it on YouTube. Really incredible. This album clearly informed a lot of my favorite artists, and it was like a hidden objects game to find all the vocal cadencies that I recognize. These tracks are very unpredictable and full of interesting details both in lyrics and instrumentals. She’s amazing. I knew I’d love her, and I do. My mother in law loves her too and I can’t wait to talk to her later tonight at dinner about how good this was.

Loved it! More than I thought I would.

Familiar with several tracks, probably never sat down to listen to the entire album, generally a Joni Mitchell fan. She's got such a great voice, and selects such emotive songs...

Beautiful voice. Excellent story teller. Great guitarist. Truly a talent.

Few filler tracks but “Blue” and “Taste of You” are classics

Nothing to say about Joni, she is wonderful, always. Sad that this isn't on Spotify.

this was a very pleasant listen. i didn't know any of the songs going into it but after two plays all the way through, i have some newfound respect for joni mitchell and would definitely listen to this again. favorites: my old man, carey, river, a case of you, the last time i saw richard

Nice tunes sounds so young

Beautiful album, just not my kind.

like a soft blanket, tinges of melancholy, great album

All I think of is Love Actually and all I do is cry

All time classic, for sure. Happy to give it a re-listen. Never been a huge fan, but I can always appreciate her impact. It fits nicely in any library.

Maybe a touch too lovelorn for me today, but beautiful nonetheless. I knew a Case of You and one other, but it's all really good. Sometimes people say, 'Imagine how great Dylan would have been if he could sing'. To which the answer is we already had it and not enough people appreciate her!

Quite relaxing not bad 3.5

Actually really good, shame not on Spotify

This is one of those albums where I think that only a minute has passed, but in reality, I'm actually four songs deep. Not even when I heard the hints of my hated nemesis "Jingle Bells" did I stir from my hypnotic trance.

Fat 4 in songwriting and melody. Damn tho Joni is not based at all.

(Not on spotify so I listened to covers of the songs) Not my usual taste, really good regardless California is my favourite

Really really beautiful album - heartfelt and honest. Thank you Joni!!

Joni Mitchell is a legend. She is a great lyricist. However, her vocals are a bit limited and can be quite tiresome. Hence I can't rate this album with 5 stars even though I kinda would like to because thematically this woman really delivers.

need active relisten on headphones, 1st track is mindblowing

Extremely distinctive voice. Great singer / song writer verses.

"He's my sunshine in the morning. He's my fireworks at the end of the day." "Songs are like tattoos." "Sometimes I think love is just mythical." "I wish I had a river I could skate away on." "All romantics meet the same fate someday. Cynical and drunk and boring someone in some dark café." "Only a phase, these dark café days." --- Favourite tracks: River/The Last Time I Saw Richard Summary: Astounding that Joni Mitchell had so much life experience at age 27 in order to write this record, and that it was written in 1971. I was unfamiliar with pretty much all the tracks on this album with the exception of 'River' though I don't recall where I heard it. Easy to see after a single listen how this album went on to impact the work of many other artists past and present. Effortlessly conveys what Joni must have been feeling at the time to the listener, to the point where it sometimes feels intrusive. I think this will stay with me.

Liked most of the songs, and recognised some because mum likes her

After the first track i wasn’t sure I would like this. But it captured my imagination and heart as it went on. Very nice piece of work

The breakup album Taylor Swift desperately wants to write, but doesn't have the emotional maturity to do so. River is devastatingly heartbreaking.

A beautiful album, sung from the heart. It's not one that I'd revisit often myself, but I can see why it's a favorite for so many people.

Good easy listening album. Great for its day.

Amazing voice. I feel like I wish the instruments were louder but her voice does seem to be the entire focus with everything else in the background.

What can be said? Joni is amazing. Her voice is one of the greatest ever, for me.

Simple, but good simple. Just a really good album that makes you appreciate how good Joni Mitchell is.

Not on Spotify, but I found it on YouTube.

EDIT DU FUTUR: J’AI DONNÉ UN 3 À BLUE??? DA HELL

This is what this project is all about. I would never in my life choose to listen to Joni Mitchell. In fact, apart from “Big Yellow Taxi”, I don’t know if I’ve ever listened to her. But here I am, thinking this won’t be the last time I choose to throw on Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”. This album is so beautiful. Some of the most wonderful silky vocals I’ve ever heard. I really love it Standout tracks: “River” and “This Flight Tonight”

LP

4.0

This is the final Joni Mitchell album on this list and this is definitely the best one. Even more than Court and Spark which I got about a month ago. Still a damn shame she has taken everything off Spotify since I'd like to listen to these in release order to get a better picture. This is the first chronologically of the albums on this list and my favourite. 4.5/5

Superb album, it's just that the vocals are (at times) not completely my thing.

Joni's winning formula remains register shifts in the voice with instruments taking up the lower end, but on Blue everything is quite a bit more skeletal, willing to fade into noise if you let it. I wanted to hang on every word and was beyond pleased by the return of old favorites.

I think this is the first singer-songwriter type of album I’ve had so far which had me pretty interested as there are a few current day singers that I listen to regularly. I have to say although this album isn’t musically groundbreaking or necessarily ‘different’ so it stands out, you can’t argue how beautiful it is. Joni Mitchell’s vocals throughout are a dream to hear and when she goes for them high notes she really hits them high notes, a prime example is on the song ‘River’ which is a gorgeous piano tune about Joni’s self awareness in a recent break up with a lover around Christmas time and how she wants to “skate away” on a river. Another stand out to me is the song ‘California’ as Joni tells of her homesickness as she’s away in Europe. Although it initially could be perceived as a sad song it’s more about Mitchell’s appreciation for what she may have there, that even though she is away right now she has good thoughts of being back and that keeps her hopeful. Seems strange at first considering Joni is from Canada originally but I imagine the song is more about her freedom within the state and the ability for her to be a musician. The final stand out track is ‘A Case of You’ which is another sweet love song about a man from her home country Canada, a song that has become synonymous in pop culture now as being used a handful of times within movies. Overall I thought this album was good, it’s nice and sweet with some heartache attached to it. I hate to say it but the only thing letting this down for me is the instrumentals, I know it doesn’t really make any sense considering this is a singer-songwriter album so it’s more focused on the vocal performances, however, it would’ve been nice to have a little bit more variety within the songs, I would’ve also loved it if Joni hit those high notes more often cause they’re a real gem. Lastly I’d just like to point out that this is not on Spotify along with the majority of Joni Mitchell’s work which, after a bit of digging, looks like to be because of a decision made by her which is a bit of a shame cause I would’ve liked to revisit some songs a bit more easily than loading up YouTube every time.

lindas composições e letras. por mais que eu não seja o maior fã do falsete constante eu aprecio que ela tem uma voz maravilhosa. lembra bastante neil young com uma voz melhor. quando ela toca piano alem de ser simples mas lindo, (não sei se é ela mesmo) da um sentimento de tristeza mas com uma certa vontade de explorar e é motivador de alguma forma.

I don't know if I'm loving this because I had to google it to find and listen to it, or because I would be loving it regardless. Either way, this is amazing!

Beautiful album

Nao eh o meu genero mas ate que gostei. Tive que ouvir no youtube tho

Been listening to this one for years and I really like it. “River” is my favorite sad Christmas song that isn’t really a Christmas song. But I like “Carey” a lot too and it’s not nearly as sad or Christmas-y. Just a good sounding record. You know she has a disease where you imagine there are things crawling underneath your skin or something like that? Sounds awful. Poor Joni.

Not on spot

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Still stands the test of time.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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...

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.

listened to before it's a great album

Gorgeous voice. Singer songwriter

nice album not sure if its my tempo

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

Nice

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

Joni songs to my soul

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.

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

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

I feel very comfortable when listening

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

Good enough

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 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.

4/5 best - carey worst - this flight tonight

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.

Great album from a great artist

be right back crying 4/5

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

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

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

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.

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

Worth finding outside of Spotify. The River is velvet

I love the familiar songs.

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

I have this album on vinyl.

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

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

Wistful, melancholic, full of feeling. Great album

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.

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.

Love this album. It’s a classic

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

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.

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, 

4/5

Hier staan echt een paar hele mooie nummers op.

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"

Classic

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

i just listened to this! 4?

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.

Joni knows

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

Ærlig sangskrivning, smuk vokal, simpel guitar, rimelig godt

What a beautiful voice

Lovely album.

I love Joni Mitchell. This is supposed to be her best record and one of the best pop records of all time. I can't dispute that. And for that reason I'm giving it 4 stars. Why not 5? Because I think she made better records that are also deserving of "best record of all time" consideration. Those include "Court and Spark" which is the follow-up to this record, and "Hissing of Summer Lawns" which is right in the middle of her very interesting 70s jazz/folk output.

Good chill music. Lyrics are excellent. Not my normal listening music but she's an absolute master songwriter.

Есть довольно милые песни. В целом, альбом хорош.

Pretty good, but very much of its time.

I like her lyrics and melodies, but sometimes the lack of structure leaves me a little unsatisfied. It's not necessarily a bad thing. I might like some of her other songs better.

Poggers

Beautiful voice and tone.

So happy to hear my favorite christmas song

Not really my preferred style of music but I can't deny it's a great record. Really beautiful. Should be 5 stars in all honesty but for me personally I wouldn't count it among my all time favorites so I'm going to only give it 4 to adjust for personal tastes.

A nice and easy album to listen to. No one song stood out, but she has a great voice! Will want to check out other stuff by her

Joni has excellent vocal tone, range, and control. Strong band called accompaniment. Sounds fitting from the generation. Wouldn’t be soon sought out again, but a strong album in its own right.

I enjoyed this greatly. Simple arrangements and an evocative voice. Subject matter was a bit mehhhh but I can see why this was ground breaking in the early 70s. Still sounds fresh today

I like joni Mitchell and I want everyone to know that. This was a nice easy listen.

I thought this was a great album with lots of good songs and lots of descriptive lyrics. One I would come back to.

So intimate it almost makes me uncomfortable at times. Such rich details throughout. Singing style and lyrics and even structures are so unique. Not following any formulas. Even though it's considered her masterpiece, it's not my personal favorite album of hers. Somehow this is too pure and clean for me.

She's got a beautiful voice.

It's a classic for sure. A very historically important and influential album. But I'm not sure how much I actually like it. It's great but I feel like my opinion is a little scewed by the reverence of it.

Loved the piano and guitar on this, and Joni can really hit those high notes effortlessly. Probably won't come back to this one as it's not my thing, but it's pretty good.

Absolutely gorgeous

Really good album Fav songs from album: A Case in Blue My Old Man All I Want Little Green 4.0/5

Sophisticated music, gorgeous recordings, but very few melodies to sing along to.

Track 1: Really catchy vibe. Song I could listen to easily. Track 2: Soft. Piano and high vocals. Lyrics Worth listening too. End of Song had a great vocal riff. Track 3: Even softer than 2. Incredibly sad. But brilliant. Track 4: up beat Track 5: softer Track 6: California Track 8: River. The one Sarah McLachlan covered that mom always listened to.

Raw, complex melodies

Señora se desnuda emocionalmente detrás de un micro y nos cuenta sus inseguridades al relacionarse con otros

all I want - crystal clear vocals, pick a note though. got a like. "I want to shampoo you"... 7/10 my old man - flighty notes really fit. 8/10 little green - evocative, open 7/10 carey - energy & vibes but no real hook? - 7/10 blue - title song, this gotta be good. that piano, wow. 8.5/10 california - some jazzy chords. 'he gave me back my smile but kept my camera to sell'! 6/10 this flight tonight - love the rich guitars, funny headphone effect. 7/10 river - ... I prefer the ellie goulding version. piano harshly recorded 6/10 a case of you - prefer the kd lang version. where's the depth? 5/10 the last time I saw richard - strong lyrics, emotive. ## overall no clear songalong bits, stumbly & emotive pacing. evasive rythms. not quite enough to be best album ever. 8/10

This was a new album for me. I am familiar with several songs from Mitchell, but "River" might be the only track on this album that I've heard before. This album felt like it had an overall theme, without being monotonous. Mitchell's voice is great. I'd listen to this album again. (4.5 stars)

listening to this album on a road trip was an out-of-body experience, a great album a bit too short though, but a great album nonetheless.

You know what 6+2+2 equals? Exactly. Blue has always been one of my favorite albums, both as a kid and an (almost) adult. I think it had a huge influence on my songwriting style, not that I’ll ever measure up to Joni Mitchell. Here’s my LONG and detailed opinion (?) on the songs: 1) All I Want This is the perfect reminder that yes, even people on the verge of turning 30 don’t got everything figured out. My favorite part of the song is her realizing that ‘comfortable’ could mean something so high and complex as bringing out the best out of what the history agreed was evil, and as simple as shampooing the love of your life. 2) My Old Man Melodically, it’s not one of my favorites, but I love the metaphor; which goes like “yes, he’s many things to many different people, and that’s how humans are perceived by each other, but it’s not about how many things he could be, it’s how about MUCH he is to me.” I love it, I think it taught me so much about love at a young age. 3) Little Green My favorite part of my childhood, satirically obviously, is crying over the iconic “there’ll be icicles, and birthday clothes, and sometimes there’ll be sorrow” lyric Cause my 9 year old self definitely didn’t witness any of the first two parts of that line. It made me realize as a child, that I’m not cut to be a child. 4) Carey Nothing has ever struck me deep as “you know it sure is hard to leave here, but it’s really not my home” Sure the song was lighthearted, but this line has weighed the heaviest on my heart ever since I was nine, and it still does, ten years later. 5) Blue It’s the closure lost in All I Want, and the rightfully placed disdain lost in Little Green. 6) California Cali was a place of sadness in Little Green, but here it’s the sunshine needed. Maybe it’s a metaphor for how heartache is as cruel as the stormy weather, but it is as easily torn apart. Or maybe it’s a metaphor for how heartache in a familiar place is much lighter on one’s soul than heartache in a foreign spot. 7) This Flight Tonight No 8) River No one ever told a tale of anguish in a euphoric setting the way Joni did. That’s all I could say about River. 9) A Case of You This is a hindsight look into a lost cause, but paid no regrets. I love the instrumental, and always admired the descriptive and vivid imagery the lyrics always delivered. 10) The Last Time I Saw Richard The irony of this song is that, it crushed my faith in love as a child, and here I am, listening to it with the boy that renewed the hope this song destroyed. Could it be laughing at my naivety? Could I be hit with the regret in hindsight in a few years? Perhaps, but for now I’d like to think that the last laugh is mine.

Вполне ламповый альбом. Я бы назвал музыкой, под которую стоит гладить кота. Даже осознаю, что кто-то может именовать дохуя культовой классикой. Однако прям охуенности не выкупил, никуды не залип. Тем не мене, пару раз прогнал по кайфу вполне.

Great, but not my favourite Joni album.

Excellent!

Not sure what's happened here, last time I listened to this it bored me. Today though it clicked, don't know why. Just did.

Actually very good to listen through. Had already “liked” some of the songs on this album. Always a good sign.

I find it kind of interesting that this is defined as Pop. Probably just a testament to how much the idea of pop has changed over the years. Or maybe I just have a poor understanding of what pop is. Favorite track so far is Carey. Really raw album and I love it. It somehow manages to be both sad and happy at the same time? It feels very intimate and like I'm just hanging out in someones living room with them while I listen.

Never heard a song dedicated to me before. Joni has described my life aside from marrying a figure skater and buying a dishwasher. Well done Joni, she gets an extra point.

Beautiful music

Very special and relaxed. I would love to listen to this after midnight.

Folk pop del bueno

Lovely stuff but prefer the orchestral versions in 2000s albums

good allthough it drags a little

Realmente no conocía nada de Joni Mitchell, el álbum está medio paradójico, por un lado puedo decir que se me hizo excelente y por otro que no me encanta ninguna de sus canciones de manera individual (quizá con excepción de A Case of You). El disco se siente como un producto completo en su conjunto y todo se siente en su escritura y música con el carácter exacto que quiere dar de un rompimiento amoroso. El título simple pero exacto, triste y azul, no sabía la calidad de escritora que tiene y, aunque se siente como un disco perfecto para poner de fondo en un día lluvioso el pensar sobe él como solo música de fondo no el haría justicia. Es un disco que merece ser escuchado, con calma para embeberse en la melancolía y lo bello de su tristeza. No tendrá la mejor voz del mundo pero como artista mercería estar al lado de los grandes con esa habilidad de ligar las palabras.

Great folk album. 8/10 1. All I Want 2. California 3. My Old Man

Nice relaxing music. All I Want is a great opener.

Desde la portada te das cuenta de que va el contenido, muy agradable aunque le voy a dar otra vuelta cuando ande en el mood por que lo escuché manejando la moto y pues no lo disfruté como debería (ni el viaje ni el disco) pero puedo decir que tiene una increible voz y te transmite el sentimiento de cada canción.

Por un lado, es innegable que qué bonita voz tiene esta mujer y qué melodías tan llegadoras y llenas de sentimiento y nostalgia que además combina perfectamente con su voz. Sin embargo, también siento que no deja de ser música cliché de mujer sufrida por desamores pero igual fuerte e independiente. Como que es lo que oiría la tía ex-hippie que nunca se casó y maneja un vocho. Lo único que sabía de Joni Mitchell hasta ahora es que la caja de uno de sus discos se parece demasiado a una caja de joyería.

A self-contained universe

That was comfortable. Can’t think of a better description for soft 70s indie pop.

She has a beautiful voice. Some of the songs felt like the instrumental parts clashed with her voice.

Took me a while to understand her appeal. What a songwriter! These songs, are slow, melancholy and haunting. Perfect for a specific mood. Even if you're not in that perfect mood, listening to this will induce it.

Beautiful voice and soft guitar. Favorite songs This Flight Tonight and A Case of You. California is one of the greatest songs ever, and the project was nice. At a point though, the album started to melt together, 6/8 overall.

What a great put together album. Joni has her individual style yet one never feels like one song sounds like the other or that they blend together.

Honestly liked this one a lot more than I thought i did

I didn't expect to like this one but I did. Great lyrics, good production, and Joni's voice grew on me. Not much more to be said there, to be honest. Solid 4 stars.

Great songwriting and a great voice. Can’t ask for more than that

Good stuff. Her voice is different, that's not a bad thing. Definitely need to revisit this one several times more.

Me suena bastante a country, aunque es folk. Las letras son curiosas, tienes que prestarles atención para ver que son poesía. No me gustó mucho la voz de la cantante, por eso le doy 3 estrellas

she has a cadence unlike anything else

Good album

I’ve heard this one before a while ago Beautiful voice “A Case of You” is a highlight but overall the album doesn’t have enough to stand out for me to listen to it regularly

Always like her voice and style ..enjoyable album

Very nice female folk of the 70s slow and cool guitar work

not my thing. but good talent