Court And Spark

Сразу хочу отметить невероятно приятный голос, ушам становится очень приятно. Также не малую роль играет очень крутой и большой инструментал на альбоме, идеально сочетается и создает атмосферу. Хоть альбом и вышел зимой, но вайб у него лично у меня с летом. В целом хороший и приятный альбом, точно не жалею что послушал его, но не думаю что это все же мой стиль

Joni Mitchell has a more peculiar voice, which I only truly liked in Big Yellow Taxi. This was alright though.

It’s “Twisted”. The best song here is “Twisted” and it’s not even close. It’s strangely exciting for a closing song on an album that’s relatively mellow, but it’s an amazing song. The other great appeal to most of this record is how open Mitchell is about feelings of anxiety or doubt. Probably didn’t hear that a ton at the time of this albums release. An easy 3/5

Not for me.

I'd not been particularly interested in this album on previous glances, but I paid attention this time, and really enjoyed and appreciated it. There's a lot to attend to, in the music, arrangements, lyrics - it's intriguingly complex, without being deliberately difficult - I have strong impression it will repay repeated listens. There's a pleasing range of styles - one might skip particular tracks depending on mood, but none seem out of place. No-one should be put off by reputation as 'jazzy'. It's a "sit quietly and listen" album - I warmly recommend it in that space.

not really my vibe, wouldn't listen to again, dnf

Yah this album was a massive shock. First off, after all the times I’ve heard people talk about Joni, I have never heard anyone mention this album before. Which is crazy cause I think is my favorite Joni album now. It’s so good it has a ton of variety for a folk album and it has so many great songs on it. But everyone always says Blue is her best album, which I respect cause that’s an awesome album. And maybe it’s because Blue has a more defined “sound” but that’s what I love about this album is it feels bold as well as perfectly crafted. Honestly this album was great my only small criticism is I think side b is better than side a but that’s not the end of the world. Next time you hear somebody say blue is their favorite Joni album, ask them when the last time they listened to Court and Spark.

8/10

If this album had come into my life at a different time, it would definitely have been in heavy rotation.

Great era, great songwriting, unique voice

I'm sure the album cover says "Cunt and Spunk"

Beautiful.

Ok

More evidence that folk music just isn't my thing, as a lot of this went in one ear and out the other. I didn't really find much interesting about Joni's lyrics or her stabs at other musical genres, all of which felt more stretched toward bending said genres to Joni's limited vocal range and delivery. Given that she's a very popular, influential and widely-covered artist, I'm content to chalk this up to a me thing.

I preferred 'Blue'. This isn't my usual choice, but it's alright.

it's Joni Mitchell so it's always going to be a beautiful album, not as strong as her other work though

Couldn’t really get into this album as a whole. I liked parts of a few songs but can’t see myself coming back to any songs in particular. Top song is help me.

Very cool album. Would listen again. Really liked Court and Spark, Help Me, and Trouble Child.

I unfortunately wasn't paying a lot of attention while listening, nothing really stood out to me. But Joni's voice is incredible

3.5/5 Amazing instrumentation and writing, but I don’t really dig Joni’s way of singing. It feels a little like she’s just rhythmically reading a poem on top of music while trying to follow a melody; which I’m sure some people like, but for me it’s just an odd mix of like.. half-rapping and half-singing, almost. It’s enjoyable, though I wouldn’t relisten to it. A handful of standouts. Overall not bad

These early 1970s singer-songwriters are really to my taste. This was a nice album but, to my ears at least, not a great one. I don't really care for Mitchell's voice.

I don’t love her voice to much, i find it a bit high pitched sometimes

• Historically, I am not a fan of Joni Mitchell, so I'm not really looking forward to this listen. I'm going to try have an open mind, since I don't think I know any songs from this album yet. • The vocal harmony right at the start each verse of Help Me sounds really nice • Free Man in Paris encapsulates a lot of my feelings on Joni Mitchell in a nutshell; really nice instrumentals, fine vocal melodies (though even then I find some of her deliveries a bit grating) and lyrics I just can't get behind. A lot of her lyrics feel like they were written without any regard for how they would sound when sung. • The outro to People's Parties, specifically the backing vocals, sounds so bad • Down to You's lyrics are a prime example of what I was talking about • I quite like how Just Like This Train sounds, mainly in the verses I don't feel like my opinion on Joni Mitchell as a whole has changed after listening to this album, but I do think this album is a better than her other material that I've heard. While I didn't find any of the songs amazing, I do feel like the good songs stood out more than the bad. I wouldn't even say this was my least favoutite album yet, as I enjoyed listening to this a lot more than I did the Velvet Underground album. Favourite song: Help Me

Lovely, could do with more taxi content.

While it started off a bit slow, I really enjoyed the second half of the album. The closing track twisted is pretty funny. 3/5

My favorite Jonnie album so far.

ourt and Spark I think that before properly listening to Joni Mitchell, I felt that her dense poetic lyricism was a bit too contrived for my taste. But this album demonstrated to me that her writing is quite the opposite - so relentlessly honest in her expression that it can be a bit uncomfortable. Listening closely is the only way to listen; there is such a nuance in her relatability. Not to mention how fun her vocal work is - slides and register jumps. And I kinda like the instrumentation of this album - dulcimer and piano work especially - though it feels over-arranged/produced at some points overall… almost a little fusion-y in a way that maybe is where the contrived feeling comes from or gets in the way of her honesty as a poet.

Not generaly a fan of Joni - I find her a bit meandering, tough to grasp her choice of melodies - but this is a better one. Free Man in Paris and Help Me are great, and nothing is awful, she just doesn't always take me along with her. Despite that, very low 4. There shoulf be at least one Joni album here, and this is the best so far.

3.5 - need to realisten but def some songs i liked

Best Song: Raised on Robbery I really enioved much of the instrumentation: the blend of guitar and piano, and some of the sax on Raised on Robbery. As vulnerable and contemplative many of the lyrics may be, it strikes me that they would work better as poetry than in song, which touches on my main problem with the album. I feel that although Joni's vocal performance is technically good, I feel like either the melodies just dont land for me, or that they aren't integrating well with the instrumentation - like shes trying to carry the song with her singing but it feels like singing poetry over a song. I think this is exacerbated the lack of choruses. Standout songs like Raised on Robbery avoid these pitfalls. Also very notable how much of this she wrote, produced composed herself.

I have mixed feelings about this album. I am not a huge fan of Joni Mitchell’s style of singing albeit very impressive, I always feel like she puts too many words into the melody lines and it sounds cluttered/rushed, too conversational. However, the lyrics on this album are raw and poetic and it’s hard to not resonate with them on a personal level, the vulnerability she shares is beautiful and conveys complex feelings/emotions insightfully. The production across the album is great, arrangements are rich and layered and genres are combined smoothly, the entire thing is such an easy listen and in my option is timeless.

Nothing really memorable here.

3.0 - Ok

A few songs pop off but it almost feels like there’s too many filler song. A bit boring.

fua, FUAAAAAAAA

In a word, inoffensive. Pleasant tunes with wordy lyrics that don’t do a whole lot for me, but clearly other people love it. She has a lovely voice but never really uses it to her full potential. And the instrumentation is nothing too exciting for mine, but then maybe I just don’t love folk rock that much. The final song (cover of Twisted by Annie Ross) annoyed the crap out of me.

I didn’t really like this, but if it was playing in the background I don’t know if I would hate it. I’ll never come back to this tho

I mean – sie ist halt einfach unfassbar iconic

Enjoyed it almost as much as Blue

love joni

Quite an upbeat collection of songs, enjoyable. Stellar cast of backing musicians.

Very Joni Can’t say I would listen to regularly but was nice Didn’t expect to be so jazzy

Slow

Guitar playing was nice but her message goes right over my head. This is definitely not for me. 2/5

liked this a lot more than i thought i would

Not for me

Joni Mitchell - the one who got away, as far as Len Houmous is concerned. Maybe if she had fallen for his advances there wouldn’t have been 34 other wives. So many marriages broke down from the jealousy! 4.4 2/11 Help Me

had a pretty strong start and was intrumentally beautiful but I found myself become increasingly bored as the album went on. there were no major standout moments to discern from so the songs started to mesh together in my mind.

Nagyon meglepődtem, hogy ennyire fog tetszeni, pedig őszintén, annyira nem volt kedvem adni neki egy esélyt. Azóta is ezt hallgatom és most egy ideig ez lesz a gymes albumom.

chato :(

Nice voice!

Court AND Spark? Together at last?

Really dislike Joni Mitchell.

The actual music of the album was good, but the vocals were just not there for me...

I went into this one absolutely loathing Joni Michell. I gave it a shot, trying to hear what might have put it on a "great album" list. I have to report that my opinion has not changed. The best part about Court and Spark is that it's short.

Great album, never geard before of the artist but i can say it’s REAL good. I loved the entire album’s sounds but Twisted with its jazz-ish feeling just hit different for me.

When this is all over, if at least 50% of my reviews are threes, then I will say that I have assessed correctly.

I tried. I really did. I listened to six whole songs all the way through. I even recognized one of them! And Ms. Mitchell clearly has a lovely singing voice and probably a bottomless well of talent for the well-cultueed to appreciate. For me? No. I couldn't finish the album. The songs blended together in one dreary miasma of pop preciousness that made me tired and pissy. Blech. 2.

Not my normal thing and I was completely unfamiliar with this but I liked it especially when she does things that are jazz inflected rather than jazz. I had to listen a lot for the hooks to get to me but I really like the complete vision. It is distinctly 70s and that adds something for me.

Based on her voice, on the handful of songs I know well and love (Big Yellow Taxi, River, Both Sides Now, California, Chelsea Morning, Raised on Robbery), and on kind of her whole deal, I love Joni Mitchell. If I'd been in 17 in 1974 -- and although I'm old, I'm not that old -- I would definitely have had a crush on her. But only ROR is on this album, and while the rest is good, it's not quite as good as the songs I love. And there's a clunker or two. Anyway, bravo Joni, and I hope we have more albums in the queue.

4/5 - Beautiful album. I only knew Help Me, but Joni usually grabs me with her voice and unusual melodies.

I like her voice it always reminds me of car rides with Weaver

Such a creative sound across the tracklist. Mitchell's voice is an instrument along with the band and free-flowing rhythm and relaxed jazz-rock sound make for a great time.

Jon's work feels like a rare gift that I don't want to rush all at once, but savour slowly, step by step. I've yet to come across anything of hers that I haven't admired deeply. This album was no exception. Every single song was great. I did feel that the album flowed really well until Raised on Robbery where it took a pretty sharp stylistic curve until the end, but it was so damn jazzy that I couldn't complain. Loved it. Love you Joni.

さらっと聞けるジャズポップ、フォークポップ。 素晴らしいアルバムだけどベストオブベストって感じはしない。

Amei a vibe da Help Me Socorro estou a adorar todas O solo da car on a hilll amo Passei metade do tempo a identificar instrumentos WTF A DOWN TO YOU TEM 1001 INSTRUMENTOS I cant find my goodness cause i lost my heart Oh sour grapes because i lost my heart amei Raised on robbery deu bue vives queen no inicio ameiiii Amei o baixo na trouble child A vibe da twisted amoooooooooooo Estou a pesquisar coisas sobre a joni mitchel enquanto oico: O nome dela é Roberta Joan Tem 82 anos (ta viva thank god) Divorciada 2x OH MY FUCKING GOD ELA TEM UMA FILHA QUE FOI ADOTADA E ELAS CONHECERAM SE EM 1997 A mae nao queria que ela aprendesse guitarra pk associava com country entao ela comecou a aprender ukulele e foi autodidata de guitarra

Amei a vibe da 2 faixa hehehe Fav song: "Down to you" - o piano no início LINDO; Amei o instrumentalzinho, a variedade de instrumentos foi top e soou tudo harmonicamente bue bem, musica mt bonita Piano, harpa, violino, violoncelo, trompa?, flauta transversal, clarinete (ouvi estes tds, os outros ns decifrar mas o pa q incrível) AMEI A RAISED ON A ROBBERY AAAA ESTA MUSICA DEU ME VONTADE DE VIVER akkkakaka letra bue funny e vibe super uhu aquele mini solo de SAXOFONE NO MEIO Q LINDOOOO aaaaa amo A Twisted bue jazz vibes, aquele trompete no inicio fireee, e o baixo durante a musica toda bue bum dabum dagun dabum da dum dum DUM DUM DUM DUM dum dum DUM DUM DUM DUM Album com uma vibe top, ouviria novamenteeee, um 4,2* 😝 Also a vibe das musicas dela e mm a cara dela fazem me bue lembrar a Phoebe de friends ns pq akaka

The starting point here is that Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” is my favorite album. It is pure yin energy in its darkness, its doubts, and its devotion. It is in a class by itself. So in some ways I can’t even compare “Court and Spark” to it, but I think my best story about it is that it is Blue’s yang counterpart, brilliant and brash. And I can see that in some ways it is so much more challenging because here a woman is being braggadocios and brilliant in a way pop music had never quite seen before. She’s hip, she’s horny, she’s a wizard, she’s Joni. So I could see why for may people this could be here greatest album — no doubt about it being a 5 for me.

Fun, not much more to say about it. That last song has an interesting melody. "And you could complete me. I'd complete you."

Fun and light, some on joni’s best

Surprised by this. Will listen again.

twisted og down to you er virkelig gode!!

Probably top 3 most important female artists of all time. And this is in her top 3 all time albums. Help me is a banger.

Hate easy listening.

Fantastic, what a voice.

Phenomenal

I like Joni Mitchell's records 4.00-4.25/5

I prefer her earlier stuff

Is there a 40 minute break between the morning and afternoon sessions in the ashes. Yes. Really like this. Simpsons: Yes

Not quite a 5 but still really liked it. In response to Rozza's review... surely any album is a solid 5 when contrasted by watching cricket...

I like Joni, I liked this

Favorite track(s): Help Me, Car on a Hill, Down to You

honestly its right between 3 and 4 for me but because i don’t think I’ll come back to this album a lot I’m gonna give it a three but it was a really enjoyable listen. 1970’s Mitski vibe…haha highlights for me were The same situation and Twisted (which was a nice surprise at the end)

I love that the music doesn't feel built for pop consumption. Instead of every song following the same formula of verse/chorus, hook, familiar chord progression and repetition, each song here feels individually crafted, using the formulas surprisingly sparesly. Yet this handcrafted album achieves pop success that heavily formula-driven albums can only dream of. The mixing and orchestration are clearly 70s, but in a hi-fi way. Some instruments and song structures give a psychedelic folk feel, but not straying far enough to become inaccessible to the casual listener. Overall the album sounds good to modern ears without having to rely on nostaglia. Even though this isn’t my go-to genre, it’s hard not to admire what’s been achieved here. And honestly, the whole listen was enjoyable. There were few noticaebly weak moments, most pronounced with the last song "Twisted", which while sounds like an exercise in playfulness, is doing a complete u-turn on the rest of the album by diving deep into familiar formulas.

Need to finish but honestly a banger

Pretty dull…2.75

Dark, down. Good

One of the best albums ever recorded. Joni's 1st album change of direction into the fusion of rock pop and jazz. Does a great cover of Twisted one of my favorite songs she's done and the close out cut of the LP.

6/10 Some good songs amist quite a lot of meh

There aren't songwriters like this today. It's not something I enjoyed enough to give any song a second listen. 2/5

Very pretty. A lot less depressing than I thought it would be. Gets kinda jazzy sometimes, and I like that.

Unique and very '70. Not my music.

It's a fun record, with great folk and jazz fusions but I still prefer other joni mitchell works

Kan fint høra på da, men gir meg ikkje all verdens

Beautiful album. In this album, Joni starts to get into jazz. She was always growing, reaching. And intelligent lyrics-no profanity needed.

She does know how to tell a story.

love love love. favourite tracks: car on a hill and just like this train

Classic Joni. I liked some of it don’t like others. Some of it’s a little too fanciful for me

One of the great voices of music.

Won't lie, always have found it difficult to love Joni. If her work is an acquired taste, this listen was the first time I started to acquire. Jazz, pop, folk--a few songs still put me off, but a start

What a treat. So accessible and even catchy without sacrificing complexity and polyphony.

I can understand how Bob Dylan fell asleep when he was played this album. I'm a fan of Joni Mitchell, and the reality is that it was just Bob Dylan being very Bob Dylan - but to be fair this is a very, very mellow album. There's a lot of soft jazz bringing the energy levels down here, which results in tamer stuff than I expected from Joni. There are some great songs on here all the same. "Help Me" is a classic, and title track "Court and Spark" has some really gorgeous piano. It's far from "Blue", but still enjoyable. "Raised on Robbery" finally wakes myself and Bob up with some high tempo rock'n' roll, but we're already at the last 3 songs of the album at this stage. "Twisted" is a jazzy number to end on, and the double bass groove will have you snapping your fingers before you realise you're doing it. Joni's vocal performance is fantastic and varied throughout the song. As the album comes to a close, I find myself wishing there had been more of this earlier.

Not my thing Can't get on with Joni Mitchell I think it's her voice I can appreciate the songs and how complex and just good they are but I don't like it Enjoyed Raised on Robbery Help me All the rest I was bored and just wanted to listen to something else Not my cup of tea

Great voice, not her best album by a long shot but enjoyable enough. Help me in particular is very good.

There’s nothing concretely ‘bad’ about this album, but my god it’s a snooze-fest. I really don’t understand the hype around it - the songs don’t leave much of an impression, there’s limited variety & a real lack of energy. It’s not an unpleasant listen by any stretch but it’s also not inspiring whatsoever. Soft 4/10 for this one.

Definitely would listen again.

This album was part of the soundtrack of my life at one point. Each and every song is a jewel. Deciding on just one for the playlist was impossible. I settled on “A Free Man in Paris”.

Loved it!

Not really my vibe but i understand why its significant

Favorite: Car on a Hill Least Favorite: Down to You Overall Rating: 6/10 Not bad, just a little underwhelming. A lot of the songs sounded the same. Not for me, but definitely not bad by any means.

Calm and soothing.

solid. Country vibe. kinda whatever tho

I really like Joni Mitchell i love her other stuff and the uniqueness she brings with her lyrics. It was fun being able to listen to one of her bother albums but definitely wasn't my favourite

I didn't get this at all. Folk with 'jazz inflections' is really not my 'thing'. And that sleeve design is dreadful, which didn't help.

Whinny.

I’ve been courted and sparked

So many classics on here! Classic Joni voice, 10/10

oubliable dsl en plus j'ai pas écouté parce que j'étais entrain de réviser #j'aiflop de plus j'aime pas trop Joni Mitchell mais bon maybe ill give her another chance (I won't)

Not for me. I prefer blue

great vibe for this monday morning. i would like to spend more time with this one and her music in general.

Probably very unpopular opinion: I'm not a huge fan of the singing. She has a great voice and she can surely sing, but the melodies are often not very accessible or memorable and it feels like she tries to put too many syllables into them. Lyrics are good, but it feels like they were not meant to be sung. Pleasant exception: Raised on Robbery I can't really say I enjoy this album. It's pretty well produced and arranged and has some very good musicians. I would have liked it better if she had gone full jazz like in the last track Twisted. There she even does some great phrasings with those "too many syllables". But in the other songs, they just feel displaced. 3/5

One of the greatest albums of all time. First heard most of it at concert in Wembley, London in 1974

I never liked Joni Mitchell until now. Her songs always seemed annoyingly out of place when they come on the radio, but as a cohesive album, songs I thought I hated make perfect sense. Maybe it’s the strong opening track that explains what a court and spark is. Maybe I’m just ready for her now. Maybe I’ll listen to her other albums. Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

*1974. *Why more Joni Mitchell?!? *She's really not growing on me. There are some good bits, but I just can't get into her music. RATING - 6/10

Classic Joni.

Joni knows what she's doing

It's a little surprising to me that I'm not all over this album. Folky jazz should be up my alley but I just don't connect to it for the most part. It's definitely good, but not a favorite. Though it has at least 2 undeniable bangers that really got me moving

I'm not the biggest Joni fan but I dug this. I can see how she followed it up with The Hissing of Summer Lawns, which I like more. While this album is so mid-'70s California it hurts the main image I had in my head was of a 30-year-old woman dancing around her apartment in a flannel shirt and pajama pants. I'd give it five stars but I found the last track, a version of Twisted, to be annoying and unnecessary. Had to end the album somehow, I guess.

I have never really felt the urge to listen to Joni. Some of her word choices are silly, but wow the music is so well composed. Because of this album I checked out a live set and WOW is her band killer.

Jag är ledsen men jag blev uttråkad. Finns annat jag föredrar att lyssna på som tillfredsställer.

Good album with deep lyrics :D

Beautiful voice, nice feelgood music but songs are going a bit in all directions and a bit too jazzy at times. 4.2 stars

Another Joni album, another 3 stars

this is really good!! i think my favorite track is Raised on Robbery. i didn’t really know any of these beforehand, i’ve listened to the album twice now and i don’t think i dislike any of the songs, i’m not sure if they’re all songs i would listen to all the time but i have really enjoyed this. i like Twisted a lot too. the jazzy folk combo vibe of the album does really work for me.

?? female Folk Pop schön...Tori Amos-Vibes und die habe ich ja mal intensiv gehört.c

It was a Joni kinda day.

I love Joni Mitchell’s music, but I found myself inadvertently sticking to a comfort zone of her first five albums, and never branching out to see how her style evolved over time. As a result, aside from “Help Me,” this album was new and refreshing to me. I needn’t have feared her artistic evolution, because I’ve been missing out on a funkier, amped-up Joni Mitchell that I look forward to returning to. I loved almost every track, with the notable exception of the vocalese closing track.

There really is something special about this album. Joni Mitchell feels like a “one-in-a-million” type artist between her vocals and songwriting. The infusion of jazz throughout is done subtly but quite well. “Help Me” is one of the catchiest tunes she’s ever written and almost feels like the perfect song.

ksigz - thanks for all the great factoids, I didn't about the polio source of her tunings, and especially your mom's shared name! I'm glad that instead of going straight to the review I listened to this one again, reminding me how much I love this album. For me the first 3 songs here are the warmups, the album starts at Other People's Parties as she starts stretching out into the introspection mode that really plays deeper into the jazz on the next two albums, my favorites. Here and everywhere she writes the best lyrics I know of. And I doubt there isn't an album that isn't the favorite a big chunk of Joni fans.

Nothing like Joni to make you argue with your spouse about whether “paved paradise to put up a parking lot” is by Joni Mitchell (it is but I was thinking of the counting crows cover)

I've been waiting for this album to pop up! I'm a Joni Mitchell fan and this is probably my favourite album of hers (though Blue is also excellent). I just finished reading a book about her life and music, so this is good timing. Nice to see another Canadian artist on this list too! I think the only other Canadians we've had so far are Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright. This is one of the earliest of her albums where she shifts from a folk sound towards more of a jazz influence. I really enjoy the meeting of those two genres. The most iconic aspect of her music is her amazing voice that spans several octaves with ease and her creative and poetic lyrics. Both of those are on full display on this album. I think it's cool that she created her own alternate tunings on the guitar because she had polio as child so she had trouble playing traditional chords with her left hand. Her tunings make for very interesting chords and harmonies! I think all of the tracks on Court and Spark are fantastic. I've listened to the first three tracks a lot more than the rest of the album and still think they're great, but I particularly enjoyed listening from People's Parties onward for the first time in several years. I heard a lot of the songs with new ears and was particularly taken with The Same Situation, Car on a Hill and Down to You. I love the inclusion of woodwinds and horn on Down to You. Fun fact: Joni was born Roberta Joan Anderson, which is also my mom's name.

Easy listening, really chill album

First time listening to Joni. Came out of the gate really strong on this album, she's a great singer and had some discretely really good backup instrumentation on some of these songs. Felt like it ran out of steam a bit come Just Like this Train. Honestly didn't love the last few songs, she turned into the female version of Bob Dylan. No chorus', direction or structure with the way she was singing. Favorites were Car on a Hill, Court and Spark, Free man in Paris. 7/10

Wish I was her

enjoyable once but not my energy

While this doesn't do as much for me as Joni Mitchell's starker music before this or her stranger music after, there is a lot to like about her jazz-pop album. Her quality songwriting, and fantastic vocal performances are still here. And the lyrics are up to par with her best. Her ability of compelling, poetic storytelling is unique and used well. As I alluded to: this is not the Joni Mitchell album most for me, just on an aesthetic level. But I do definitely see why it is on this list (and why it was her best-selling project at the time). Give this a listen! It is still cool!

Joni forever

this album was fine and it was nice to listen to but none of the tracks except for Help Me really did it for me. i love the jazzy influence on joni’s music but most of the songs weren’t particularly interesting to me.

this surprised me honestly i’ve never listened to joni Michell before so i didn’t know what to expect. she’s really talented stand outs: Help me, Raised on Robbery 7/10

Didn’t like it too much

Not my bag. Not bad per se, but doesn’t move me. Might suffer from the hype.

HOLY SHIT I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT

Very thoroughly enjoyed this one, especially for the jazzy takes on her folksy style. Her writing and melodies are top-notch as always. However, in comparison to Blue, there weren't too many "wow" moments and aside from her meandering, often surprising but always beautiful melody, I wished to see more stylistic risks taken. Will be returning.

Okay

Loved it until the jazz number at the end.

This was my third Joni Mitchell album in the first 50 of this challenge. After the first two I was ready to avoid her music for the rest of my life. This one was a lot better. I felt it veered away from some of the pretentiousness, added better production, kept within her best vocal range, and was better lyrically. I'd give it a solid 3.

I knew it would only be a matter of time before Joni Mitchell popped up on this list, and I've always been keen to check out some more of her work, as she's easily one of the most influential songwriters of all time. Well, 'Court and Spark' is such a fitting start, as it's her most accessible release, and there's certainly a rare exquisiteness to her voice. Joni's voice is like that calming, encouraging inner spirit that's always there to remind you that you're loved and appreciated, regardless of how you might be feeling, and there's no denying the influential nature of her voice. Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, Tori Amos, Bjork, Alanis Morissette, Taylor Swift and countless more no doubt owe plenty to Joni Mitchell for helping forge their own identities. She's even influenced plenty of male vocalists: Prince and Maynard James Keenan [Tool, A Perfect Circle] are two I know of for sure. 'Court and Spark' is such a fine example of Joni's musical prowess. The delicate blend of rock, folk and jazz on songs such as 'Help Me', 'Free Man in Paris' and 'The Same Situation' really stand out to me, and her sharp and witty wordplay across the record ['Down to You' being a perfect example of this] only add to her enigmatic presence as a songwriter. I'm really glad this project has finally given me the motivation to check out Joni Mitchell. She's influenced a number of my favourite artists/bands and yet it's only now I'm really allowing myself to get invested in her work. If 'Court and Spark' is anything to go by, I'm really looking forward to delving deeper! Best songs: Help Me, Free Man in Paris, The Same Situation, Down to You, Raised on Robbery

Wanted to like it more than I did... a little too same-y for me to get into, and doesn't have the same punch as Blue.

Great, this definitely has different instrumentation to anything I've heard of hers so far (only blue but) I feel like there's certainly elements of jazz, but sort of that minimalist jazz ('fusion') stuff that was happening in the mid 70s which I really like. obviously she's a brilliant songwriter, for sure one of the best of this era, and quite a like Bob Dylan or Neil Young or someone, the songs are definitely concept or story based, which I like and I imagine probably took immense skill to master. I do feel like there's something about her vocal delivery that stops me from thinking she's my favourite singer ever, as sometimes it feel like she's speaking too fast and just spitting out words, but its still mostly amazing. Favourite songs: all but: jut like this train, raised on robbery. Overall around 7/10

Like this more than I thought I would. Joni is an incredible singer and songwriter

First listen through of this album, and I was a big fan. I had only ever listened to her Blue album, but allegedly, this one was more popular at the time. Loved Raise on Robbery, Court & Spark, and Free Man in Paris. The Carole King influence on this album is very prominent.

It is a classic, but I liked it alot.

Pretty good.

I’m not the target audience for this album. Some of it’s nice, but broadly this is what Carole King would be had someone shown her the gospel of instruments-other-than-piano.

This is the second Joni Mitchell album I’ve rolled, following Blue. I was very critical of Blue. Noting its accolades, I was expecting something very good and noteworthy. What I got instead was a voice I didn’t love, and a boring album I also didn’t really love. I was fully expecting more of the same going into this album. For some reason, and I have no idea why, I had a much different experience with Court And Spark than I did with Blue. Her voice here is calm yet confident and vibrant, and made every song sound great, the variety in a lot of the songs was good, and even if it kind of faded into the background after a little bit, I was more relaxed and entertained than bored. Joni has a very good voice for putting me at ease, and I promise that’s a big compliment. With 4 albums on here, I wonder if this is going to be what I can expect from her later albums. I’ve gone in order so far, we’ll see if that changes later on with the other 2. I really liked the big hit on this one the most, “Help Me”. The jazzy ending track, “Twisted”, and energetic, upbeat “Raised on Robbery” are also very good. Alright, good stuff Joni. I enjoyed this one a lot more than Blue. I found it much more accessible and easier to listen to on my ears. You’ve earned a 3 with this one.

Joni Mitchell continues her legendary career in a much different fashion, three years on from "Blue." The songbird-esque vocal range gives way for a deeper, more sultry delivery that was initially a little jarring. What isn't jarring, the poetry. I felt like a newborn baby seeing strange faces for the first time. My eyebrows would arch and squirm with each colourful line of prose. I find good poetry sounds so obvious when you hear it, but trying to write it is like brain surgery. Especially when you are in possession of a brain that might benefit from some of that surgery. For every fascinating "bar" there was a slightly obnoxious instrumental, but with a writer like Joni Mitchell, there wasn't a lot of time wasted on the riverboats of my nightmares, and I was repeatedly taken back to the thought-provoking prose soaring on odd vocal melodies. Thankfully, on days like this, where I don't have anything interesting to say, there are artists, who are able to say all that stuff I am too intellectually stunted to conjure. A step down from Blue, and hell, even Kind of Blue, but in a post-colour album world, this one holds up as an enjoyable and unique ode to the English language set to the sounds of music. 3-3.5

AL FIN UNO DE JONI QUE BANGERS Favs: Help Me, People's Parties, Car on a Hill

Pretty good, but not many standout tracks.

what i imagine is the first try at a musical made by a amator saxophone player

Was really excited to get this one after listening to Blue just a few albums ago. Very impressed with her vocal control. Every moment is taken advantage of and every moment is so calculated and intentional. I've been enjoying jazz lately, so I loved the heavy jazz influence. I enjoyed the lyrics on this album more than Blue. Loved the harmonies and creativity. I felt like there was an overall...layer missing to this. More "depth of sound" or maybe just more production would have gone a long way. I still enjoyed the stripped-down vibe. Joni is becoming one of my favorite singer-songwriters. So much talent. 3.8/5

Sounds lovely - first time listening to her

I loved this one. She’s always a treat to listen to

Joni mitchell er god

Strangely, I had actually listened to this album more than Blue before I fell in love with that album, through this list, earlier this year. Court and Spark finds Joni Mitchell moving towards the jazz sound she developed later in the decade, and the albums with which I was (slightly) more familiar with. Joni really is an amazing songwriter; there are no verse, chorus, verse, chorus songs here, everything feeling like she is telling a story. The melodies are wonderful and the production is clear and spacious, allowing the instruments and, especially her voice, to breathe. The supporting musicians are as great as you would expect - Larry Carlton, Wilton Felder, Joe Sample, Robbie Robertson, David Crosby and Graham Nash among them. The woodwind arrangements by Tom Scott on “Down to You” are incredible. There isn’t a weak song here. I think I am a Joni Mitchell fan…

Nice

I recently listened to “Blue” again, as part of this challenge. I’m really familiar with that album and gave it five stars. I’m less familiar with Court and Spark, so it doesn’t land the same way for me. It’s creative and the singing is amazing. But, i can’t escape the sense of her privilege and entitlement as a much admired and courted white lady. I’m not judging Joni — she’s a fantastic artist — but the songs come from a fairly narrow point of view that is hard to relate to in the 2020’s. It’s a 3 for me — maybe it woukd become a four with more listening.

It's good. But nothing has stuck so far other than it is nice to listen to Joni Mitchell sing. Raised On Robbery just slapped me in the face. Twisted did, too. But not in the same way.

me recuerda mucho a esta mujer que hizo la cancion de hey who really cares y a carole king, es coml una mezcla de las 2 pero 85% carole king y 15% linda perhaps creo q me acabo de acordar del nombre. En la canción de Just Like This Train dice "watching your headline receed" y me ha hecho gracia, rafa referencia? Canciones muy tranquilas y muy bonitas, podrían tener más chichilla la verda, no está mal

I've never really listened to Joni Mitchell a lot. My mom always said she was a favorite when she was in college, and I can see why. This album was just a joy to listen to. I feel like the swells in the music, especially in Down to You were super enjoyable. I also love whenever strings or brass is in music, and the use in the album wasn't crazy to take over the song, but really complimented well throughout.

Better than I thought it would be. 1 or 2 catchy tunes.

Love Joni. Another great album.

Bob Dylan as a woman and no harmonica

calm songs chill vibes good album

This woman! Her blissfully beautiful voice, songs and stories are a gift. Help Me on almost everyone's 'favorite tracks of all time' list, Just like this Train is just gorgeous. Not a note out of place, tracks 1-8 is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. I LOVE this album and her 4E : )

Her voice and phrasing is just mesmerizing. She moves effortless from her chest voice to her head voice. The harmonizing on several tracks is angelic. Her expressiveness and vulnerability draws you in. Must listen to tracks are Help Me, Free Man in Paris, and Raised on Robbery is just fun.

…like waiting for water to boil. Anticipation. Then it began and I wasn’t as invested anymore.

It is staggering the level of musicality that is held within the 3m2s of Car on a Hill. I have generally favored Hejira but relistening to this after many years away - it's tough to beat. Choruses are on short supply. Melodies extend beyond simple pop convention. She feels fully liberated here. An artist. Like a relationship - if you open yourself up it hits the head and the heart.

Meh. Likar stort sett Joni, men dette vart keisamt idag.

Gostosinho de ouvir. Nada de mais, mas voz boa e ritmo confortável de ouvir. 3 estrelinhas por ter feito minha manhã iniciar tranquila.

Não tenho muito o que falar aqui, são músicas bacaninhas, gostosinhas, mas nada marcante. Adicionei umas 3 só, que gostei mais, umas linhas de baixo mais catchy, uma mais agitadona também, mais dançante. Mas é, sem muitos comentários, álbum ok

Very soothing to listen to

Wow this is boring. These aren’t songs, these are rambling stories somebody who has the most boring life keeps rambling on about. Sigh. 2

This was nice, but I didn't have time to concentrate enough.

Top 3 Joni for sure. 8/10

I liked this album a bunch. Joni is a really interesting woman and her songwritting is just beautiful. The instruments in the back are killer on this. Reminds me of Astral Weeks.

Really really good honestly love the instrument and stuff

Never a big Joni Mitchell fan

Not heard this cut from Joni before. It’s now one of my favourites.

Joni, for me, is one of the true greats. A melodic and lyrical genius, really. This is a great record, not at the level of others of hers, though. Also pretty different, she went down a new road with this one. Still, a great record.

Cool

I am digging Joni's amazing lyrics, and the subdued guitar and riffs behind her are additive to the experience. Risk, love, travel. Definitely expressing lived experience. Peoples Parties doesn't exactly do it for me, there's something off about the cadence and sound, but the first 3 tracks are certified bangers. The Same Situation is so much more, the lyrics and rising sound feels right. Just like this train is pretty groovy but some nice vocal notes. The thematic little flourishes that are the same across sounds gives some continuity to this album. Raised on Robbery is a nice counter note of some upbeat sounds, and I'm enjoying what I think is a nose harp? Joni Mitchell's voice really carries parts of this album. Twisted got the vibe of a generation past, reminiscent of songs from the 40s? 50s? Kind of a fun song!

Ya, it was alright.

I love the depth Joni's voice develops later in her career. Just feels so warm and buttery compared to her higher range early career stuff.

Very enjoyable record. I listened to it inside a bus traveling through the southern Brazilian countryside. It's no Blue, but her voice is always a treat. Will relisten.

I liked this album better than her Blue album. This one has more instruments and more singers, more texture overall, more singable melodies.

i like joni but the jazzy stuff on here so excellent. def my fav from her

3 go girlboss

Couple of decent songs, rest was alright but not for me I think

This completes a week of albums out of my listening zone. Joni is a legendary songwriter but not in the universe I occupy. I often think that much of the hype surrounding an artist is the result of good marketing selling the idea that something is good and that there are enough idiots that fall hook line and sinker for the idea that this is good music. In America this is certainly true with both musicians and politicians. Look at the number of fucking idiots that voted for Donald Trump - a corrupt, convicted felon, evil piece of shit and pedophile enabler and yet a majority of Americans voted for him. Boggles the fucking mind. Anyway, back to Joni and the idea that somehow she is a national songwriting treasure. She is fucking not. And yet this record ended up in this list. I normally have a strong Canadian bias. This folk jazz record is boring as any Steely Dan offering yet somehow critics (paid promoters) said this was genius and a turning point in modern recorded music. Again, it is not. I would rather spend time on grief counseling than have to register to this record again. As I pondered the album, it struck me that this is what my mom played in the car while we drove to school. She would sing along to Help Me and although her enthusiasm was better than her vocal I can recall thinking you like this? I don’t fucking get it. And I still don’t. It may be the pitch - there is a particular vocal pitch that is one notch below screech and Joni is right there. I’m sure Free Man In Paris is enjoyable to someone, but unfortunately not me. I think Joni’s lyrical approach is solid - top shelf. Storytelling is an art and this is artfully done. People’s Parties is a good example of a complete and skilled approach but the music accompanying it, is exhausting. Raised on Robbery is the most energetic song on the album. It might be the one song I like best. I of course have heard it in other contexts. This is the first pass on a complete Joni Mitchell record and likely my last unless some clown felt Blue was also deserving. Probably. Back to my earlier point - it’s all sales. Music being spoon fed to the masses. You can’t sing but Joni can do it very well so the album must be good, right? Wrong. That is just the fucking incorrect way to make a decision. Think for your self.

Melkosen mukavaa meininkiä ja oikeinkin kivaa soitantaa ja laulantaa. Eipä oo Joni Mitchellikään tuttu itelle, mutta mukava uusi tuttavuus. Ei kyllä neloseen nouse mut voisin tutustua tähän enempi tulevaisuudessa

Melekosen tylsää musaa. Vähän semmosta mikä soi jossain Terminator kekkosen avausbaarikohtauksessa, ettei vie huomiota itse Arskalta. Pannaan 2 tähteä tälle paskalle, ei kuitenkaan pilannut päivää.

Ihan mukavan kepeää laulantaa.

Ihan kiva. Jotkut biisit nelosta mut osa sit kagosta. Kepulaasena siis mennään. Jos nyt oikein muistan niin näissä mitseleissä oli kyllä rajuja sekoilujakin jotkut projektit, tää nyt ol selkeesti ihan siedettävää ja melkein poppista.

vähän ehkä pliisua

Muutaman ekan biisin perusteella jopa neljän tähden kamaa, mutta puolivälin tienoilla alkoi kyllä toistamaan itseään ihan liikaa. Tosiaan alkupuolesta tykkäsin älyttömästi. Kivaa folkpoppia, vähän sillain semisti rokahtavalla otteella. Ja eihän Mitchellin laulajantaitoja käy kiistäminen. Huippukaunis ääni. Tässä oli vähän semmosta hippimeininkiä. Oman vähäisen kokemuksen perusteella tuli Grateful Dead mieleen varsinkin ehkä neljän ekan biisin kohdalla. Tuli mieleen myös, että onkohan Matti Mikkola kuunnellut tätä levyä tehdessään Saimaan vol kutosta ja seiskaa. Jotenkin samanlaista poljentoa tuossa levyn alkupäässä. Ja puhaltimet tietysti myös tekee vähän sitä. Puolivälin kohdan pianoballadit ei kauheasti nyt iskenyt, ja siinä tavallaan ehti vähän kyllästyä ennenkuin taas lopussa meno parani. Joka tapauksessa oikein hyvä levy, ja voisin hyvinkin omaan vinyylihyllyyn tämän ostaa, jos jossain tulee vastaan. Solid kolme tähteä.

I gave Blue 1 star, and I think this one is better than that so I'll give it 2 stars. Totally subjective but I just don't like her voice or style.

Another Joni classic. I think she got her stride more on “Blue” but this was another good example of great songwriting

Smooth, easy listening. It brings you back to the 60s with an avocado shag rug, orange couch, and this LP spinning on your record player

It's such a beautiful album

haim gets so much lyrical inspo from joni mitchell which must be why i love them so much.

Joni Mitchell is highly acclaimed and made a lot of stellar music, but I'm kind of indifferent to all of it. It's nice enough but it all kind of sounds same-ey to me. I didn't ever dislike listening this album, but I have no real desire to turn back to it. Hejira is a bit better IMO and has a bit more Jazz to it, this is nice but not really a favorite.

Other than Fleetwood Mac, Joni made the best mom music there is.

Leuk, beetje simpel af en toe maar goed op de achtergrond

Classic Joni. For a specific mood.

This album was just boring and bland outside of Help Me I couldn’t tell you any other stand out track

Nothing bad but no ‘blue’ 3/5

I don’t know if I like Joni Mitchell’s music. She seems lovely, but I don’t know if I want to listen to her. 6/10, but I’m being generous since I’d skip almost half of this album.

For some reason her voice annoys me to no end. 3 stars.

Sweet little peaceful album 😊

Her voice/vocal style makes every track instantly hers. This one is so interesting as a bridge from Blue to Hissing of Summer Lawns. I don't think I like it as much as those but there's not a bad track on here. Rating: 4.3

Bob Dylan is said to have fallen asleep when Joni Mitchell played him her latest album Court and Spark. She was understandingly not pleased but in Dylan's defense the music on Court and Spark did put me in a peaceful state of mind where I could have fallen asleep had I been even a little bit tired, but I had a good sleep last night & I'm well rested. My eyes are bright, my tail bushy. This is Mitchell's first album after falling hard for jazz music. She doesn't sound as confident as in her past few albums and I get it as new ground will sometimes have that effect on a girl. It's a solid album. I do prefer pre-jazz Joni, but this is a solid entry in her catalog and it's easy to see some listeners loving it, but I like it more than I love it and I think this is where I get off as Jazz Joni doesn't work all that great for me but it very well might work beautifully for you and if it does- I completely get even if - even if I don't.

#183/1001. Joni somewhere between folk, jazz and the inevitable 80s sonic experimentation (read: outdated and overused synths). Somehow this album feels like it is on transition to something or from something. But so are we all all the time, right? The thing which bothers me most is the amount of stories and text. Feels like she just has too much to recount and using songs to do that works sometimes, sometimes not. Our perhaps it is only me, who wouldn't / couldn't pay attention for every small and big story. Well or might be a good reason to revisit.

Like it more than Hejira on a first listen. Has the Prince song. Could grow on me.

Like the artist voice and his music gave me Peace and joy

good, not great

Franchement pour l’âge et le style j’ai trouvé ça vraiment pas mal !

Great album again, worth another listen for sure. 4.5

Good background music.

Most of the Joni Mitchell I have heard is just classic folk which I always like. But this album seemed a bit more experimental with Jazz. I really enjoyed this and I think I will find myself coming back to listen to it in the future.

Musically and lyrically, it's a great albium, and it's perfect for a mood that I likely will never be in.

Great melodies and lyrics

Beautiful. Beautiful songs, voice, production.

Didn’t finish. Not too bad, not my thing tho.

Very nice

Tb

it’s okay, the last track kinda saved it from being a 2, it’s just a little boring

Well, now I have to eat my hat about Joni Mitchell. This album defied my prejudices of her as a saccharine, trilling soft folk singer. This is hardly that. Excellent songwriting, sharp humor, jazz, electric guitar, and generally pushing musical boundaries. Every song is strong. Fuck me, it’s a 5.

It just sort of goes on really doesn’t it? Not Joni’s finest work. Some really good instrumentals at times though.

I didn’t like this as much as I thought I would. I always hear how Joni Mitchell is one of the greats, and although I don’t dispute that, I just didn’t really click with this album. It sounds of its time I think. Some influences from earlier decades could be heard. I did enjoy peoples parties.

Joni Mitchell is one of those names that I’m aware of but couldn’t name a thing about them. This was an interesting listen, clearly an amazing voice but found it quite sing-song. Feel like this album sums up the whole process, a name I’ve heard of but not a style I would listen to normally. Clearly a great talent and sounds much later than 1974 but not for me. Last track was a bit random.

3.1

Yeah, I remember that album, hopelessly in love with a neo-hippie girl as a neo-punk. Never thought I would listen to any of these songs or artists at that point in my life, but the heck, there we were. Surely, falling in love at 16 is a kind of different love, and opened the doors for me to this genre. Not that I've listened to it any time after we broke up, but today it just brings back sweet memories of adolescent, unconditional pure love. Although I'm more familiar with "Blue" and rate it higher, and started to listen to listen to her later works like "The Hissing of Summer Lawns", and "Mingus" due to my interest in (fusion) jazz years later, I still liked to revisit this album. Those sweet memories...3/5

Not being familiar with Blue yet, I suppose this is the moment where she shifts into more improvisational jazz territory. The blend of folk, pop, and fusion is handled well, and each song has something unique for the listener.

Did not know anything about this Joni Mitchell album for some reason and it is a shame. Her ethereal voice goes so well with court And Spark more jazzy tone.

79/100. A good and well-crafted album, though for me, it felt a bit repetitive in its overall sound. That said, the jazzy, blues-influenced vibe that emerges toward the end really stood out and added a refreshing shift in tone.

Nothing wrong with Joni Mitchell but her music is associated with bad memories for me.

All a bit waily for me.

Ensimmäinen Jonin levy alusta loppuun. Oli hyvä. Helppo 3,75/5.

Not as good as Blue

I have the same trouble with Joni Mitchell as I do with Bob Dylan. I appreciate some of the sentiments (when I can understand them) but I struggle wth the wandering melodies and lyrics. So here I am on the fence again 😐

Enjoyable but never really hooked me in. I think it’s just too folksy

Gorgeous vocals. Like listening to honey.

Meh

Music and singing coming together perfectly, none of them overpower each other. Very fun to listen to. 4/5

The second Joni Mitchell album on this list. As with the first album, this one got on my nerves right away. I listened to the first track of the album in its entirety and part of the second. I didn't want to waste any more time on it. The music is boring. I don't like the voice or the arrangements. 1/5

First actual experience listening to a Joni Mitchell album! Not sure why I haven't delved in, but here we are! It's great music. I guess I would call it Folk-Rock by and large? There's some orchestral arrangements as well though, and a lot going on musically in general, there's even a jazz number! The lyrics are also, a real strong point, but that's Joni's calling card. Some more experimental stuff in here, but a lot is fairly straightforward, with Joni's ethereal voice layered over top. Had a good time, though I don't know if I really connected with it enough to give it a five. Think it'll be something I play through some more though.

Heard it before. I love the jazzy vibes from Joni. Trouble Child is soooo good 3/5

She is classic but too much annoys me. Am I a bad person. If not for all the other bad albums this would probably be a 3

I hadn't got around to listening to Joni before, though I'd heard the odd song. This is really good and my rating will probably go up the more familiar I get with it.

Put simply, I like Mitchell’s voice and songwriting so I like this. I hadn’t heard it in full before and appreciated the breadth of sounds and her unusual melodies. Dense for its brief runtime.

I can’t count how many times I’ve listened to Joni’s masterpiece, and it doesn’t matter. I can play it wherever, whenever and I’m transported to the summer of 1974. Her voice now has that smoky, sexy edge to it, and I feel I’m literally living in the LA sun, in the hills, feeling the mood and breathing the air. It doesn’t make sense because I was six years old then. But I mean that she captures in words and music a time and place and feeling in such precise emotional detail that Court and Spark becomes a time machine. I step in and I’m there. I don’t mean just nostalgia. I mean an artistic vision that transcends the present. That is timeless, as in it stops time. The only other album that manages this feat is Rumours. That was a group effort. This is one woman’s singular story, and it’s perfect.

Enjoy her voice every time a bit more. Nice ballads Help me as my favorite song and Twisted that has nothing to do with the rest of the album

Didn't feel much from this one beyond the first few tracks.

This is a great lazy Sunday morning record, the original acoustic cafe music. Mostly folk rock with a couple of jazz leaning tunes and one fantastic boogie-woogie sounding song, Raised on Robbery. Joni’s voice is unique and interesting and she plays the piano beautifully. I really enjoyed this album.

Elevator music at its finest. In all seriousness, Joni has an amazing voice and the compositions are well put together. I understand that she was an icon of her time but I think you needed to be present in the 70’s to really jump on that train (and heavy usage of pot probably helped). Good album with no major criticisms to offer.

This is the kind of album that plays on the overhead speakers while you get a root canal. 🦷

Outstanding album. I've never listened to Joni Mitchell, perhaps knew one or two of her songs, never thought much of them but turns out I was missing out. Lovely voice, the fusion of jazz and folk is unique and interesting, really enjoyed the entire album. Looking forward exploring more of her music.

Another gem from Joni.

Enjoyed that.

I was a little dismissive about this when it popped up this morning. I was only half paying attention to the first few tracks, but it managed to pull me back in the second half. I gave it a more intentional listen and, to my surprise, I enjoyed this more than I did Blue. I understand that this came out later but hearing this first might have positively changed my mind about Blue and Joni as an artist. The production is very good across the album, and there's a lot of depth to explore - there are additional instruments and subtle layers that are easy to miss if you're not listening for them. I think her songwriting style (unstructured, unbothered to tie itself to choruses) lends itself to jazz and the album really comes alive when it gets jazzy in the backend. Overall, I prefer the second half of this album but that doesn't look like a popular opinion, based on the Spotify listen counts. It’s got everything I'd need in a ‘weekend morning’ record and I’d consider putting it in my rotation.

It's obviously Joni Mitchell, but the music has a lot of variation. Some interesting sounds and rhythms explored.

Love this album. Joni at her best? It is top 3 in my book. Have this on vinyl and gifted this on vinyl. Just great songs by a superb artist in her prime.

Wow. Simply beautiful. "Help Me" will always be a favourite of mine, but the whole album is a work of art. Joni seems to have a knack for writing the most beautiful and poignant lyrics that I so often don't understand a lick of, while dancing them around clothed in meandering melodies that just make you want to get lost in them. A stunning album.

Tuff

The only Joni Mitchell album I had heard was Blue, and this one further shows how incredible of a songwrite she is. My favorite tracks were Help Me, Just Like this Train, Raised on robbery

If this is Joni Mitchell's best, then Joni Mitchell is not for me

Perfect. Just perfect.

i could listen to this in the background nice and light

Gorgeous first two thirds! Favourite tracks: Court And Spark, Free Man In Paris, People's Parties, Down To You

O marco deste disco é o refinamento. Não em seu sentido elitista, mas na forma como as canções são aprimoradas meticulosamente em seus arranjos e interpretações. Cada peça soa cuidadosamente lapidada, com o instrumental preciso criando um panorama lírico, complementado pela voz personalíssima de Joni Michel.

A pleasant listen

Only ever heard the name, so this was my first experience with Joni and this album exceeded my expectations. I'll probably listen again soon.

Ya know, that was just plain pleasant

Rounding this one up to a 5. Not JM’s best album but beautifully sung.

Not my favorite artist but respect her music I suppose

Very good

Quintessential Joni Mitchell. Not as good as Blue.

Meh

Thoughts before listening: Joni Mitchell is starting to grow on me a bit, at least partly because of this project. Her warbly voice can still grate, but she does write some good songs. Review: So this definitely suffers from the warbly voice and also the overall light jazz meets folk sound of Joni. I'm sure this is a positive for many, but it just keeps me from fully connecting with her music. That being said, there are some very good songs on here. "Free Man in Paris" is one of Joni's best songs and I've never heard her rock as much as she does on "Raised on Robbery". Those songs are going on the playlist, but the best I can give this album is 3-stars.

Great album! I haven’t heard this in ages and even then only heard a couple of times so great to listen to it again. Such a great singer and songwriter! …and holy crap, Cheech and Chong are on the last song!