Court And Spark

I can't really explain it, but, as a straight man, this album makes me want to put on a sundress and spin while the sun is shining down on me. This album just makes me happy and comfortable. The jazz music in the singer-songwriter/folk style is incredible. Favorite Song(s): Help Me, Down to You

Great album. Used to listen to it often.

Crying and laughing, both the same release

Love me some Joni Mitchell and this album is absolutely a class act. Still holds up some 40 years later without question. Standout Tracks: Help Me, Car on a Hill, Raised on Robbery

A little dated for me but good enough that I don’t mind it on in the background. Good lyrics. I’d give it a 2.5 if I could

It did not make a lasting impression. But for playing it was perfect for playing it in the background.

Nice find

It’s beautiful, it‘s lyrical, it’s heartfelt. I’m not really sure why I don’t like this more, but it’s lacking a little something for me.

It's nice but doesn't hook me.

loved it

Really interesting and fun, she explores other genres a bit with that same spectacular voice!

It's a fine record I just have never "got" Joni

I finally figured it out So I think Joni Mitchell has both an amazing, real, and pure voice. I also think she is deeply poetic and draws out a lot of feeling in her lyrics. I am always likely to pause or stop whatever I am doing to listen out one of her songs. Nevertheless, at the end of the day I am stuck by the paradox: "Yeah, she is great!" followed by "No, I don't have any of her albums." And this 1001 album site has helped me to understand why! There are no drops, beats, tonal changes, primal screams, ... in short, there is no drama. It is sweet, gentle, sometimes poignant, but she is best if listened to as a blend, on the radio, or in a mix or some other way than a continued line up of songs (although all bets are off if one had the chance to see her live!) In real life, that voice... Yeah.

I don't know a lot of Joni's albums all that well. I need to play through them all because this proves that I'm missing a lot of good music.

I love u Joni

Court and Spark // Help Me // Down To You // 3.5-4/5

What a great album that's totally out of my wheelhouse. There were a few songs that had chord progressions that reminded me of Steely Dan. Sure enough, once the album was done, Spotify played Midnight Cruiser from the first Dan album. Another coincidence was that Larry Carlton has played guitar for both Joni Mitchell and Steely Dan. Liked songs added: - Help Me - Down To You - Raised On Roberry - Twisted

If Taylor Swift was as good as her fans claim.

The first half of this was fantastic. The 2nd half stumbles a bit imo, but still a great album.

really like this, quite a eclectic mix of genres from auld joni. great voice

This is one of Joni's best albums

I had actually listened to this a few days before as I found a copy of $11 of on original pressing. Jacket was a mess up the record pristine. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to her on proper sound system before instead just on my iPhone. So lovely to hear in a full some way. This is a great record. Highly recommend.

Alright

Already loving it! You can tell this has influenced many artist. Like the folk feel to it. Loved that intro.

6/10 This was fine I guess, well sung and played, but Joni Mitchell being considered a great is genuinely becoming more of a mystery as I hear some of her albums. Going into this project I would have just assumed it is correct that she is a legend, now I am developing the take that she might be one of the most overrated artists of all time. Sorry. Best: Free Man In Paris

6/24/24. Joni Mitchell does the folk/pop sound really well, and all the songs are written with excellence. Enjoyed this one.

This album was much better than I thought it would be. I never really listened to Joni Mitchell but think I might start. Her voice is unbelievable and one of my new favorites, but I think her songs and melodies are too all-over-the-place for me.

Her voice is like butter. I like the review about Stevie Nicks dropping acid while hearing this record. Overa, not my thing but that voice is indeed enchanting.

Classic Joni

Interesting listen 3/5

I really don't like Joni Mitchell...and I love female vocalists.

Tu sais que quand un « Johnny » ou dérivé sort de quoi, ça va être de la qualité (ne s’applique pas à Johnny Test)

i am a big joni mitchell fan and, on a good day, this may be my favorite joni album. there truly is some brilliance here, as with much of her music. her songwriting is as top notch as ever. clever, funny, emotional, great. this album has her starting to move in a direction she would continue to follow in the later part of the 70s, with it being a little more sophisticated and jazzy at points. we're not at 'Mingus' territory here yet, but it truly is her firing at the pinnacle of her powers. not only does this have great singles, like "help me" and "free man in paris" (all timers, in my opinion), but has incredible album tracks such as 'people's parties' and the title track, as well as the rocker 'raised on robbery.' because of the shift to jazzier music, she includes some fantastic musicians on here. i also love how well curated the sound of this album is. nothing really sounds like this album and it all sounds consistently great. really, this is a moment of transition for joni, but ultimately, this might be the sweet spot for me.

While a great songwriter, Joni Mitchell is not my thing

Joni Mitchell's voice is amazing. Gilmore Girls vibes.

I think this album was better than the last of Joni Mitchell's that I listened to as part of the 1001 Album project. It's still not something that I care for.

Bores me even though she has a great voice.

Great vibe and songs, but not as memorable as a whole.

Pretty OK album. Like something I'd hear in a diner or something. Worth a relisten

Not for me

Each song has its own style and rhythm. No “sameness” between the tracks makes it a very listenable album.

That was really good! gonna make less notes, kinda ruins the experience. Would listen again. What a voice. Everything's so warm. 4

I didn’t mind her album «Blue», which I got last week. This one, however, I don’t like at all. More annoying than awful, so I’m giving a generous two stars

the song writing style of just talking about shit is weird but it is ok 3.5

Very good, but not her best. Feels kinda country-rock-fusion.

This is not one's favorite Joni (one rates Hissing and Hejira a bit higher), but it's solid throughout, alternately sharp and sweet, dreamy and bouncy.

its kinda cute

School house rock voice. 6/10

Rly good

Court And Spark is an album that i don't have the strongest opinion on but from what i heard, is fairly decent at what it does. The songs at the beginning of the album were not really anything to write home about mostly due to just sounding a little too similar to each other, It handles this better than some other albums but the problem still stands. The back half though really allowed the writers and Mitchell to really flex their creative muscles as the songs here were much more interesting and had quite a lot of jazz elements towards the end which i thought were handled very well. This may not be the greatest album around but its still a solid one. Best Song: Raised on Robbery Worst Song: Free Man in Paris

- Hat mich kalt erwischt und richtig umgehauen - Kannte nur Blue von Joni Mitchell und das gefällt riesig gut! - So eine tolle Stimmung, die die Frau erzeugt. Super komponiert, total gefühlvoll und textlich mega authentisch - Zum Ende hin wirds etwas experimenteller aber meiner Meinung nach auch etwas schwächer 4,25/5

War besser als erwartet, aber overall auch nur okay für mich. 1,75

This isn’t it

One of my all-time favorites.

okay on second listen its so enjoyable and cohesive like

It's funny, one of the recent albums I reviewed was from a certain modern musician who draws a lot of similarities to Joni. A negative I had for that other album was that some of the songs felt like long-winded narratives. Where the two separate themselves is in Joni's voice. Her distinct sound and style can carry a less orthodox lyrical approach like that with greater ease and keep the listener drawn in to her stories.

another joni mitchell album! i really really liked the last one i listened to. just like the last one, this one is VERY pretty when it comes to composition and writing, the perfect album to listen to when you're sitting in a patio and sipping some wine. emotional, relatable, and transcendent in time. what a great listen.

A female Bob Dylan lyrically. Love what she did for music and what she was doing at the time, but not my cup of tea for a regular listen

Beautiful. Not terribly memorable, though.

Nostalgia

very good lyricism but some of the songs go on for too long/becomes boring at times

It was good, i enjoyed the first half of it, but again it got too Boring, but still great music and vocals, really enjoyed her voice...

Schon wieder Singer/Songwriter. Aber diesmal ein Name wie Donnerhall, kurz hinter Bob Dylan. Und zur Abwechslung eine Frau. Endlich dachte ich. Das muss jetzt gut werden. Wurde es aber nicht. Vielleicht bekommt sie auch einen Literaturnobelpreis. Aber keinen fürs Musik schreiben.

Spoken word sung to music. Tolerable but not enjoyable.

Pretty good. Clearly a songwriter operating with great skill and assurance, and the album went down smoothly and pleasingly while I listened to it. I wouldn’t want to argue with anyone who claims this is a masterpiece as there are probably layers to uncover with further listens. The problem is there aren’t enough moments that really stick in the memory and make me desperate to invest in those further listens (until arguably the last track, which isn’t really representative of the whole). 3.5

Typical Joni.

No...

I want to bottle her voice up and keep it for days which I feel bad. It’s so unique and cutting, too me, almost a perfectly delicate singing voice, that’s passionate and soothing. I’ve always been privy more to how a song sounds, vs. its lyrics and meaning, but this album strikes both so well. Her other album, Blue, is also terrific which I’ve listened too. 3.7

Really enjoyed the album, great example of an expert singer songwriter at the height of their powers. Flowed great, just amazing all around.

Nice tunes here

A good soothing album, I liked Help Me and Twisted the best.

Joni has such a beautiful voice, wow. While I'm not sold on every song, I'm giving it a 5 because I anticipate myself loving this album with more listens.

I forgot how unique Joni's voice is.

Joni Mitchell is a talented musician, singer and songwriter. Her ability to intertwine her unique blend of musical stylings and meaningful lyrics stand the test of time.

Not a bad soundtrack to Merci Boulangerie but her descendants I like much better.

I like her lyrics and her voice well enough, it was enjoyable.

Court and Speak 2.8 Help Me 3 Free Man in Paris 3.1 People's Parties 2.9 The Same Situation 3 Car on a Hill 3.2 Down to You 2.7 Just Like This Train 3.1 Raised on Robbery 3 Trouble Child 3 Twisted 2.8 Score: 2.963636364

Quality.

never listened to joni mitchell before this. glad that i finally am cause this was great

Overall pretty good! I like Joni Mitchell. I like that there were a variety of musical styles on display. Help Me and Car on a Hill I listened to twice. I felt like a lot of the vocals were talk-singing which sits in a weird space for me. Sometimes I'm interested and receptive, and other times I feel like I'm not listening to music. Nothing here came close to Big Yellow Taxi for me.

Great voice, good songwriting, not quite my style but I get it

For some reason I don't like it as much as Blue or Hissing of Summer Lawns but it IMHO has some bangers, in particular "Help Me".

Great album, enjoyed that one.

This album is mostly calming and pleasant, with piano on some songs that I really enjoy. Some songs are less calm, but still enjoyable.

This sounds like the other Joni Mitchell albums, Blue, Hijra...the Hissing Lawn one. I would have to listen to all of these back to back to sort out the differences. Lyrically this has some clever word play and musically the song mix it up and they don't all sound the same. This is just as good as her run of top shelf 70's albums. This might be the best one, I don't know, it's like splitting hairs. 3.5/5 5/28/2024

Great album. Still have it saved.

Help Me Free Man in Paris Car on a Hill

Man I just don’t like Joni Mitchell’s singing style. This was better than Blue in my opinion, but despite great lyrics, I just can’t deal with her voice.

This is GOLD that will never be matched. Her voice was so pure and solid. Truly spiritual. 4 stars easy.

smoother than the Blue album

ok

yes I love listening to Joni Mitchell's unique voice. Timeless.

Josiah - 5 Elen - 3 4

Quite enjoyed this. Sounds far more modern than the release date. Very good

Folk. No me atrapa.

She’s a national treasure but ultimately not my bag

It all just feels a bit directionless, in the melodies especially. Also, I cannot for the life of me hear where this supposed Jazz influence she’s supposed to have is. Maybe I’m thinking of the wrong kind of Jazz, is it supposed to be easy listening stuff rather than Hard Modal Soul Jazz? I found the ascending motif on Just Like This Train really grating. And oh god, I just got to Raised On Robbery. This sounds like a rejected Captain And Tennille song. It’s like someone tried writing a Rock n Roll song but only had a second hand description of what Rock n Roll sounded like. I’m actually kinda baffled. The few songs that are awful are truly awful, and the rest are all kind of boring. Twisted, with it’s actual melody, actually allowed me to listen to Mitchell’s voice. Her lower register is great, breathy, Jazzy and expressive. Her higher register is shrill and just so irritating. Well, I’m glad that’s over. I’m not gonna give it one star, because the majority of it’s sin was boring me. But it’s put me off checking out more Jono Mitchell in the future. Check back when I get to Blue and I’ll see how my opinion on this album has changed

I don't know. Ultimately, I just find her voice regrettable. I think she's a good songwriter, but I just cannot connect with the music at all. I wish I could give it 2.5 stars. I think it's probably a "good" album if you're into this sort of thing, but I just don't like it, so giving it a 3 seems wrong. So just know in spirit it's 2.5.

I can definitely see the appeal, although I wouldn't say I loved it. That Jasmine also was pretty poor. Noise, cacophony

Yeah, not for me. Not sure if it’s folk or rock or jazz. Any on its own may have been better. Maybe it improves with time.

Joni is a treasure, but this album doesn't hit the sweet spot like Blue does.

Well written but wouldn't listen again

Technically solid, but really not my style

Not sure this is her best

Muchos temaikenes

Hermoso disco. Muy buen sonido, grabación, talento y complejidad. Sin embargo, le falta algo de "feeling", la sensación es que no queda nada memorizable. De todas formas, la complejidad de las armonías y las estructuras hacen que cada vez guste más, y sólo lo oí 3 veces.

listened to under a big moon i do get the genius effect, but a lot of joni mitchell voice is a lot. but still rlly liked! 3.75

Wow. Two songs in and I’m finally getting the Joni Mitchell hype. She’s fabulous. Such an influence on modern music. So much of what came after this was an imitation. This is another one of those albums that could be released now and still be a sensation. Goddamn her singing is so, so pretty. Not my usual style, but I really like this a lot. It’s flawless.

Has the only two Joni Mitchell songs I care to listen to. Or that I wouldn’t mind hearing. Or that I wouldn’t not listen to. Baha. It’s fine and she’s aight.

Mostly forgettable except Help Me, great opening and her voice sounds great. Can one song make an album?

Joni Mitchell is not for me. I can appreciate the songwriting and lyrics but it all just sounds the same.

Incredibly complex and interesting music.

Joni Mitchell is...fine...for a song or two

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background Solid 4. I've never been a huge Joni Mitchell fan, but I enjoyed this. Maybe doesn't hit the peaks of Blue but very enjoyable. Highlights for me: Help Me, Raised on Robbery, Twisted. Really enjoy the variety the last two provide.

Soft spoken, beautiful, and well written. Joni hits it out of the ballpark. Blues still better though..

Recognized a couple of songs here. This album is mostly more lively than those of some other singer-songwriters of the same era on this list - I'm just not really a fan of the genre. I likely won't relisten.

Jazzy Joni is the best Joni

3.5

Incredible album. The best surprise of this album is the voice of Joni Mitchell’s passing through your heart from his start until the final.

Das dürfte das kommerziellste Album all ihrer Alben sein. Das ist nicht negativ gemeint, sondern mir hat die durchaus positive Stimmung sehr gut gefallen. Abwechslungsreiche Songs, frisch und lebendig produziert, garniert mit Jazz, Soul, Folk, Pop... Das hätte ich nie von Joni Mitchell gedacht. Danke.

Not a fan

The light jazz/folk combo is a solid "nope" for me. I don't like the Elton John vibe either. I'm starting to the resent all of these albums that sound so mid-70s. They are so stuffy and pretentious. I'm just waiting for punk emerge and put us out of our misery.

Enjoyed this, but needs a re-listen to see what sticks. More varied than I expected!

Not really my thinf

I know Joni. Never really truly listened to her but I do know what she brings to the table. won't listen to much of this. Just too americana/folky for me.

ugh, boring

Pretty enjoyable as far as folk music goes

Joni has an amazing voice. Solid folk rock.

Fantastic album, slowly bringing in some jazz elements that she take farther on later work. Hard not to give this a 5.

Joni Mitchell is pretty great. While I love Ladies of the Canyon and Blue, this record feels like it sits somewhere in between and not quite as appealing to me as either of those. But still… pretty great.

Maybe not as good as Blue. Still pretty great.

It's really good. I enjoyed listening to this, but would probably put Blue on if I wanted to listen to her.

ok, aber manches very slow

Not my thing

This album was on Rick Beato's 40 greatest sounding albums of all time list, and I can see why. It is subtle, insightful, and beautifully recorded. It's flawless, just not my thing. Four stars for the genius though.

Been waiting for a Joni Mitchell album. I knew very little if anything about her music but I know how beloved she is. I can see why. The songwriting here is absolutely top notch. I could quote multiple lines here but I’m writing this as I leave for work and don’t have the time. The music…is alright. Sometimes it borders on schmaltzy but it usually doesn’t cross the line. I loved the incorporation of jazz and orchestral elements on multiple songs, especially on “Down to You.” And some of the vocal harmonies are just excellent Overall this was great. 4 stars because of the songwriting and in spite of the sometimes corny musical arrangements. Standout tracks: Court and Spark, Free Man in Paris, Car on a Hill, Down to You, Raised on Robbery

Not for me

Calming zen genre. 5/5

Very cool, nice voice and tune. Great discovery

Good but uninspiring.

Pleasant enough but didn’t grab me throughout the album

I found this whole album to be rather calming. Relaxing. And she has such a beautiful. Worth listening to again. 4

Court and spark Her voice is so great and sounds so good on this album. This is one of her more accessible / poppy album with lots of smooth 70’s soft rock sounds. Great album from the whole way through. Of the 4 we’ve had I’d say my order is Blue, Hejira, Court and Spark, Hiss of Summer Lawns. Some favorite songs are Help Me, Down to you, Peoples Party, Free Man in Paris and Twisted.

Objectively probably a 5 but kinda not my thing

She just sounds like a good white church singer. Raised on robbery was my favorite.

This is one of those songwriter names that several of my singing friends have spoken of in reverent tones. It's good listening.

This was a pretty good album. I thought it was a lot more accessible than Blue, which I'm still trying to get into. I sort of wish she would do more choruses, but I enjoy the stream of consciousness narrative style. Her voice is really beautiful and there's some good variety musically on this album — everything from simple folk to uptempo almost psychedelic rock to jazz. Highlights: “Free Man in Paris”; “Raised on Robbery”; “Help Me” A couple of the jazzier songs weren't really my cup of tea, though they weren't awful. "Twisted" reminds me of the theme song to The Nanny. 4/5

When this album started, it reminded me a lot of the recent Joan Baez album I had on this list. Come to find out the two had a bit of a rivalry back in the day. From what I've heard from these two, I prefer Joan over Joni. There were some songs on here that probably would be better for me if they weren't so distracting vocally. The phrasing in the lyrics was hard to follow because it was delivered via a rollercoaster of dynamics. A pause in a phrase could happen seemingly mid sentence and other thoughts seemed to blend together without any separation. Also, when I could follow the lyrics, sometimes they were very random. Maybe a couple extra listens are required to get in a little more familiarity and not be trying to keeps up with everything all at once. Favorite track "Help Me" 2/5

I have such a soft spot for Joni Mitchell I've noticed. Musically and lyrically. This album as well, with its wide range of styles, from folk to pop to jazzy and we're even rocking on some songs. This might not be as perfect as Blue or Hejira but it's close.

Yeah I still don’t really get her

This one seemed like it had a little bit more energy than the one I had literally a week ago, so slight bump over that one but still only a 3.5 for me.

Interesting folk songs without much structure to them, but pleasant to listen to as an album. Stand-out: Car on a Hill

Hippy chick Mannnnnn

Never knew she was so jazzy!

Sounds like all other Joni albums

Great album. Court And Spark is not as put together as Blue, but it is still worth listening to.

Very well manuel

Rock jazzeado

My first Joni Mitchell album. Pretty much exactly what I expected, good but not entirely my thing. Hopefully I like some of her other albums more. 3/5

Appropriate album today for the release of Taylor Swift’s new album. I don’t know much about either artist, but I can imagine Joni Mitchell having tremendous influence on TS. Anyway, this album did not impress me. I found it boring and her voice average.

A good singer songwriter album.

A beguiling tho brilliant listen where she dives deep into jazz vocals.

Album 385 of 1001 Joni Mitchell - Court And Spark Rating : 4 / 5 I enjoyed this more than I anticipated. There are times when I think Joni Mitchell was just the right person who was there at just the right time and is overrated. Then there are times when I hear something like "Help Me" and I'm forced to reconsider. Maybe just not totally for me as her lyrics are what her songs are all about, rather than the music. In my very first post in this project I mentioned that my favorite music is related to the music...not the lyrics. There are some exceptions. Some of her songs may be among those.

A troubadour for the ages. No five for Joni, she's a TEN!

Vettefan alltså. Rösten är inte jätte bra och det är vid första lyssningen ganska svåra ackord/toner. Får väl ge henne fler chanser.

What a terrific album. Truly legendary. Joni Mitchell perfectly melds lyrics, melody and arrangement and incorporates jazzy licks. Great songs like 'Help Me', 'Free Man in Paris', ' Raised on Robbery' and 'Twisted'. A nearly perfect album.

Raised on Robbery is THE highlight

Musically pretty good, liked everything except her voice.

One of those albums that everyone should own. Such a great sound and voice.

Bu far my favorite Joni Mitchell album. I like a lot of her stuff but on this one she actually sounds like she is having fun.

I am not a fan of her in general. When I hear the name, I just roll my eyes and say, “no, please….something else, not her.” Help Me is a great song. The rest, eh… its listenable at least. 3/5

One of my favourite albums of all time. Grew up with my mom playing it in the car often because it was her favourite too. 10/10

A typically Joni Mitchell Album

Very mid

This was a good listen. She has a great voice and the songs have some good energy. Free Man in Paris is great.

People's Parties is the first track that jumped out for me. Her voice and lyrics are interesting, but the music itself is a little bland. A high 3.

Great voice, some haunting tunes, but still sounds amazing today. 4/5

Beautiful, nothing else to say!

I know I'm in the minority, especially in my demographic (sorry, Emma Thompson), but I've never been a Joni Mitchell fan. I just can't get past her weird phrasing, which makes some of her songs almost like jazz. On this album that's not as much in evidence, so it was mostly fine. (And I actually like "Help Me.") But just fine.

just not my thing. 1

While not my favorite, it is undeniably a poetic masterpiece with incredible musicality. Super folky jazz, I’m v into the back half of the album, raised on robbery goes so hard

This album is a lot like being on the edge of an orgasm. I spent the entire time waiting for her to do something musically that would really put me over the top and call this a great album. It’s just too soft and steady. I got close a couple of times, but never got there. It was a mostly enjoyable experience but I’m walking away feeling a bit blueballed.

Boring💔💔💔 I like the other one better, although SOME songs were good

Blue is my Joni Mitchell album and I’ve been disappointed to learn that it’s the only one that really does anything for me. This was ok but I was glad when it was over. It neither offended nor engaged me.

I really liked this. I couldn't listen to it every day though

I liked the instrumentals and I enjoyed her voice a lot, but a little too discordant to be something I'd come back to often. Still a lit of fun though, went by fast.

Folk. No me atrapa.

Beautiful Fav songs: court and spark :3

Fun listening. I want to listen again to better digest the lyrics.

Meh

Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell was an OK album. It was kind of just some background music. There was one song at the end called twisted that was kind of poppy that I enjoyed. like I said just nothing great but not terrible.

An ok album

Nice but not my vibe right now

Joni really nailed the balance of Folk, rock and jazz here, that's not easy. The lyrics are sweetly personal and delivered by a wonderful vocal. There's some quite experimental moments. While not all of them work, the ones that do really elevate the album into a floaty jazzy cloud of a place. Honestly this is just the project where Joni goes full Steely Dan mode and I couldn't be happier for it. There's a good mix of soft piano moments that let the vocals come through and huge rocky moments that explode through the tracklist. Raised on Robbery is an especially huge track, bluesy and fun. I was impressed overall by the instrumentation and respect Joni for pushing her sounds into bigger places like this.

I've not listened to too much Joni Mitchell in the past, but her music still sounds familiar. Great album, I feel it's one I need to listen to more to really appreciate it. I'd like to revisit this album again soon.

4.5 stars. Beautiful album. Elements of folk and pop. Tracks like "Just like This Train" and "Raised on Robbery" sound full and upbeat. I really enjoy the use of harmonies on various songs. A great sounding album

I like how she came back to Spotify just in time for us to listen.

could i write poetry to this? n

I only recently started listening to Joni Mitchell, and have discovered that I really like her work. The band is outstanding, although I prefer the later lineup with the amazing Jaco Pastorius on bass, and Pat Matheny and Larry Carlton trading off on guitar.

Good, but ultimately pretty boring.

Magic. 5

Idk kinda feeling nothing about this. But it wasnt bad at all

There's something about the style of her songwriting that reminds me of musical theater - both trigger an intense negative emotional reaction in me. My emotional response is always to music. Lyrics can make a good song great, but they can't improve mediocre music at all. Joni Mitchell, and musical theater sound as if the songs are written to fit the lyrics. The words are not only paramount, but primary. It sounds like Joni writes her po-EMS and then follows Buddy the Elf's advice - she just talks them, only louder and longer and she moves her voice up and down. The result is not melody but a lead line that meanders and drifts and sounds unfocused and even shambolic to my ears. And that's what irritates me. I feel like I'm listening to a poet tack on music as an after thought. And then there's her voice. Now if she wrote great music, I wouldn't care. But since I don't like the songs, I try to find something to listen to and then I'm annoyed by her faerie little voice all tarted up with inelegant displays of vibrato. Vibrato is an affectation that I generally find weird and off-putting. I say generally because in the hands of a Master vocalist - I'm talking Sarah Vaughan or Dinah Washington level mastery - it can add an interesting dimension. But Joni's abuse of it makes her sound like an 8 year old trying to sound old; which makes me cringe even harder.

Great 3 album this week of Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell. Really enjoyed this one, although not as much as blue

Mjög góð, ljúf hlustun

the last joni mitchell album that i got i did not enjoy that much so this was a pleasant surprise i am really enjoying this album its a vibe especially while working really good timing as well now that her music is back on spotify like literally today 4.4/5

Surprisingly good. I was expecting typical folk music, and although you could feel that it was also a lot more jazz-tinged. I'm not a big fan of her vocals, it kind of jarred a bit with the style of music. Very listenable though.

ну приятненько что-то между 3 и 4

алкоальбом: кислый коктейль на игристом с джином

Help Me Free Man In Paris Car On a Hill It’s alright. Kind of forgettable tho. I liked her voice. Nothing really notable to say about it. Just that it wasn’t awful.

I feel like I’m supposed to enjoy this record because it’s Joni Mitchell. I really didn’t. Very same-sounding from track to track. Stream of consciousness lyrics (not in a good way). I’m not saying Alan Rickman’s character in Love Actually was right to have a wandering eye. But if Emma Thompson’s character lived Joni Mitchell I kind of get it.

joni please marry me

Good, but not my fav Joni album. V springy

Very nice easy listening.

Joni Mitchell is one that I really don’t get. Her stuff meanders along aimlessly and does nothing for me. And it’s on YouTube and so annoying that I can’t do anything else on my phone at the same time. Accidentally skipped a few tracks and did not feel the need to go back. It was a bit of a relief if I’m honest

really enjoyed the horn parts - twisted is pretty twisted but very funny lyrics, walking electric bass and shuffle groove very of the moment

Not bad

I have never been a huge Joni Mitchell fan, mostly because I have not been exposed to her music. I knew more of these songs than I thought that I had heard. I had some other Joni Mitchell in this project, so I am happy to have a chance to listen to another album. I prefer this album to the other ones I have heard and would recommend this to others. This album leads me to want to at least hear Mitchell's greatest hits to see if there are other songs I know but didn't know I know. Of course, I can't do that on Spotify, which is a bit frustrating.

Very unique blend of folk and jazz. Lots of excellent musicianship on display. Really missing some memorable vocal hooks/choruses. The vocals just sorta ramble and the melody feels like it’s being made up on the spot.

It’s a singer songwriter album. Same guitar riffs, same voice modulation. It suck’s.

I hate to say it but I loved this album. Even though I had to listen to like 7 YouTube ads this was probably the best joni mitchell/non-spotify 1001 albums experience I've had. It was a lot more upbeat and catchy than other albums I've gotten from Joni and it's made me want to go back and give blue another try since I remember being bored by it. It's a bummer I can't add all the songs I liked from this (help me, free man in paris, raised on robbery) onto my spotify playlist and this is the closest I've come to giving a YouTube album a 5.

I'm thinking that with Ms. Mitchell's professed admiration for German wine, she and Alan Partridge would get along famously.

This was actually pretty good. That last album I listened to from her was decent but I couldn’t get around the sound of her voice. As for this one, the music aspect was really good, and I also enjoyed the sound of her voice better on this one as well.

pretty cool voice

Such a prolific song writer! album not on spotify, but i found it on youtube

My favorite Joni album, defiantly more upbeat, even a little swing in there. Free Man in Paris is a jam, go listen to it again.

Joni is great, she has a great voice and is super talented. The album was fine.

Can't connect with most of the lyrics. Raised on Robbery more upbeat I dig it. The slower folk songs I'm not too high on. Sounds boring compared to even the singer-songwriter stuff from today, maybe she's talking about things I can't relate to not sure.

Bedge

Unfortunate that I'm a bit lazy with listening to music that isn't on spotify because Joni Mitchell is one of the best things to ever happen in music and I've loved everything I've heard but I've barely listened. Been in love with anything I've heard from her since listening to her album with Charles Mingus, she's just so creative with the most beautiful voice ever, really don't have much to do but just gush lmao

This album is no available on spott

Not on Spotify. L

This album was kind of like punishment for me. I was already cold on Joni Mitchell after listening to Hejira as one of my first albums on this app. She has a wonderful and graceful voice. Her lyrics can be brilliant, but don’t do much for me. Ultimately, I struggle to stay with Joni as she lilts along. Raised on Robbery was a nice injection of energy. It also doesn’t help that she isn’t on Spotify, so listening to this album is peppered with ads.

I tried hard to like the first two Joni Mitchell albums the generator served me. I am about ready to give up and admit I don't have what it takes to be a Joni Mitchell fan. I was pleasantly surprised when I kind of liked the first two tracks on Court and Spark, but then it wanders off. Joni Mitchell reminds me of when my step daughter was little; when she was in a good mood and wanted to sing she just made up a songs on the go. There's ideas here, sure, but they don't feel fully formed, and I am bored and sometimes annoyed but sometimes something pretty or interesting happens. A frustrating listen.

When music was real!

Wow what a beautiful record. This was so enjoyable to listen to. I loved the melodies and the instrumentation was so good. Lots of different instruments adding flavor to each song. Just weaving in and out. Loved the harmonies and the songs were just written in interesting ways. I love that it's a poppier album but has folk and jazz influence. It makes it easy listening but also interesting.

What a gem. Joni is such a phenomenal song writer. Not only are her songs full of soul, meaning and introspect, but her voice always matches the character of the song. Sometimes she's playful and having fun, and other times she's in a deep place right there with you. I really love Blue, but I love the direction she took with this record. A lot of instruments. It feels more like a singer songwriter rock album than an acoustic folk album.

Vähän rajatapaus jaksaako tätä kuunnella fiilistellen vai onko enemmän negatiivinen kokemus. Levyä kuunnellessa fiilikset ja vireystila oli aika nollissa ja siihen ei kyllä lääketta tai lohtua tästä löytynyt. Toisella kerralla voisi olla parempikin kokemus muttei näitä ja youtubesta pyöritellä.

Tää oli tällasta pilluunpuhaltelua

I wasn't able to listen to every song on this album, but such was unnecessary as I know them from when they saturated the radio, certain parties and even the juke box at the bowling alley. Ms. Mitchell is a brilliant singer, a superb songsmith, and a master of multiple genres. This is a very good album among her many, but it's not my listening pleasure.

Joni Mitchell's voice and style irk me

Solid Joni, but the very over the top jazzy stuff brings it down.

A nice surprise, great song writing, & an enjoyable listen.

Consistently great folk rock album. It hits a lull in the middle of the track list but picks right back up with the jazz trifecta at the end.

Really enjoyable. I know it's because she's principled and a true artist but I can't help but wish it was on Spotify so I'd ever listen to it again 🥲

this was nice. good vibes and pleasant music. idk what else to say favorites: court and spark, help me, down to you, twisted

the lyrics are so good but i think the melodies in some of the starting songs are just okay. the folk vibes are kinda fun though. in some songs there is some beautiful piano. car on a hill is so good. even the production on this and the background instrumentals are so goood. her voice is like another instrument. down to you - another good, different song in this album. she tells so many stories in these songs. the second i thought was better than the first.

I’m not familiar with any of Joni Mitchell’s music, so I only had a vague idea of what to expect with this album (I imagined it would be somewhat similar to Carole King’s Tapestry). I thought this album was really beautiful, and I enjoyed listening to it. Joni Mitchell’s voice and lyrics are fantastic, and she created some really great piano and guitar arrangements to create a great overall sound. I enjoyed the second half of the album more than the first half, and “Raised on Robbery” was my favorite track on the album. I loved that “Raised on Robbery” was the most fun song, and I loved that it was a little bit different than the other songs, but it still relied on the elements that made the album as a whole successful: great guitar playing, great lyrics, and beautiful vocals with some sweet harmonies. The saxophone playing was what really elevated this song for me, and I thought it complimented the other elements in the song really well. “Down To You” was a close second for me; I really loved the opening piano melody, and the woodwind arrangements were incredible. Overall, this was a really good album, and I’m looking forward to getting to review more of Joni Mitchell’s work.

Каждый альбом из этого списка я ставлю на репит и жду, пока моё ухо начнёт за что-то цепляться. Здесь, сколько бы я ни слушала, я не смогла зацепиться вообще ни за одну песню. Что даже как-то обидно, учитывая, что сам саунд из тех, что мог бы мне понравиться

Great until the last few. Seems like the label was pushing her to a new sound and it didn’t work out. Too bad, but it doesn’t overshadow the immensity of this talent. Top ten songwriter of all time

Had to listen to it on Amazon music…with ads 💀

Nice jazz sounds, maybe too folk-y for me

liked it in the beginning, got bored by the end

I was very late to appreciate Joni Mitchell, and now feel like I've been missing out. This one doesn't quite match Blue for me, but it's more fun and also a 5.

Already pre-programmed to like anything she does. The album is a little all over the place but I never minded

Feel good vibes with an iconic voice. Never heard this one before!

Only bangers. Had no idea what to expect going in but really liked it. 4 probably isn’t generous enough but 5 is too generous.

Youtube commercials between every song definitely messed with the experience here, but this was all new to me and I generally really enjoyed it. Still hoping she and Spotify make up one day

Familiar sounds from Joni! The album was pleasant to listen to but not my favorite

good "poet", cool voice, nice listen. Not a lot of focus on hooks or melodies. voice can get annoying after awhile. "raised on robbery" is fun

Garbaggio Last song attempt at jazz is just poopy. Nothing special about her voice. Maybe stick to songwriting and stay unknown to the masses

Not on Spotify but I feel like I would’ve given it three stars if it was

It’s very hard not to give Joni 5 stars. So many good songs here.

Not a fan

Wild and free, Laurel Canyon really did an umber on its' main inhabitants. A level of self-expression and confidence to change the norm that is as mesmerizing as the songs on the album. Truly came into her own on this one

I'm sorry...I just do not like her voice even remotely

I'm yet to get an album I don't like here. This is the first one not on spotify so i didn't quite get the same experience I had to pull it up on a PC. Some lovely compositions and apparently the start of the jazz influence on her records so I can see why it's so highly regarded.

Brilliant! What a rare combination of gifts!

I'm still not a Joni Mitchell fan, this was my third album of hers. This was probably the one I liked the most.

For some reason I cannot get into Joni’s voice. I see this as a me problem.

Love this album

pretty dope. 3.7

What a lovely Monday morning treat for this arrive on my list! As I’ve written before I’m a late convert to Joni Mitchell and rue the lost years I did not have her in my musical life. Choosing your favourite Joni album is like choosing your favourite child - impossible. But this one right now is at the top of the pile having today listened to it twice. First time in bed with headphones on which was so beautiful and comforting sent me into a lovely snooze. The ability of an album to do this is a mark of a great album to me. Second time on my hifi which reminded made me how great the album is sonically. Wonderful instrument separation across a broad soundscape. Every note is so clear even on my modest system. The signature piano chords running through the title track sound fantastic and been track 1, side 1 herald how great the album is. Like all Joni albums either on or neglected by this list i give it top marks.

Wasn’t on Spotify but was able to listen to on Youtube Music. I like listening to Joni. She has a real easy voice to listen to. There was one song on this album that was pretty fun to listen to, little more blusey vibes. This album still a bit too folky for me but Joni seems to be the Queen of this genre. Rounding down but could be a 4⭐️ on a different day.

This album has some nice tracks, but I would not listen regularly.

I was just listening to this in the car a few days ago and so it was a bit funny to have it come up on the 1001. Amazing artist, really lovely album. I find myself getting emotional when I listen to Joni Mitchell, which makes her a very unique talent indeed.

I liked this on the whole. Twisted is the weak link on the album. A fairly solid 3.

Some classic tunes

Really loved this album. The voice, the production, and the lyrics. Except that last song stinks. I actually turned up my nose at it. 4.5/5

I’m sorry…why haven’t I been listening to Joni Mitchell? Her albums on this list, so far, have been *excellent*. On Court and Spark, her voice, as always, is beautiful and unique, the instrumentation is varied, lively and engaging. Her blend of folk and jazz manages to be both soothing and invigorating, with flourishes of ambitious sonic textures and experimentation. What an excellent album.

Solid music and great singing, kinda boring though. Nothing specifically great or terrible 4

I have tried to listen to Joni Mitchell multiple times in my life and every time its the same result. "Not to day Joni!"

Full disclosure - not a Joni Mitchell fan. She's written some exceptionally great songs, notably "Woodstock" and "Both Sides Now", but vocally, she's subpar and difficult for me to listen to. But I made it through this, and it wasn't unbearable, so let's call it a win.

Not my favorite.

top gal with a top voice

Tremendous

Good album not my thing though

Not much into folk music but this was somewhat jazzy.

I liked this better than I expected. Pretty good!

What a gorgeous album. Lovely music and very thoughtful lyrics; I’ve never appreciated what a wonderful songwriter Joni Mitchell is. Cool to see she’s getting traction and visibility in 2024, well into her elder years. A fun mixture of James Taylor-esque melancholy, more upbeat excitement, and introspective songwriting that made me think of Bobbie Gentry and other trailblazing women songwriters of the 60s/70s. A shame this isn’t more accessible by being on Spotify, but just a wonderful, memorable album. An easy four stars with potential for more.

A couple bangers and a nice vibe.

Sem nenhum defeito, muito bom!!!!

Protesting her

Like this more than hejira. Less spoken word poetry, more fun country sound. Love it

Strong 4

Meh

Excellent album packed with great details in the lyrics and lots of fun twists and turns in the music. Sometimes Joni Mitchell's lyrics feel like diary entries. She has a way of writing in a very emotionally direct way but she still sneaks in clever turns of phrase and metaphors. Dan, the other day you were talking about how Fiona Apple jams a bunch of words into a song and bends the song to fit her lyrics. Joni Mitchell definitely does that too. I love how she speeds up sometimes to fit a long phrase into a line that wouldn't fit otherwise. It gives the songs personality. It's one of my favorite things about her style. "Car on the Hill" is a great song! The jazzy chorus with the backup singers is fantastic. And the section from 0:50 to 1:30 when the music swirls and builds and you're not sure where it's going next but then the flutes bring it right back to the main melody! Really cool. I've heard that Joni Mitchell liked Steely Dan and I can hear that connection in this song. "Twisted" is a great last song. It's a surprising change in style and the lyrics are really funny, how she thought she was a genius at 3 years old and chugged a bottle of vodka and had visions. This song stopped me in my tracks and I just had to give all my attention to it.

What great timing for Joni Mitchell to appear on this list (2nd time on our group's go-through), as she just performed at the Grammy's for the FIRST time in her 80 years on this planet. This album has all of the elements of a great album in this style. Evocative vocals, amazing instrumentation that really dances in and out with her voice, and her usual incredible lyrics. I love the structures in this album, they are often unconventional and keep me on my feet. This list / project has gotten me to listen to Joni Mitchell more and I'm very thankful! This was really an enjoyable listen. Beautiful album cover.

Perfect Joni.

Less interesting than last one