Reviews (page 7 of 13)
Miellyttävän jazzahtavaa poppista. Omia suosikkeja oli People's Parties ja Car on a Hill. 4/5.
4/5
Era-defining sound
You go girl!!
enjoyed this, to begin with was a bit all over the place but also felt was being led on a journey, just as seemed too nicey nicey had some dark moment and piano was beautiful
moody and sad but should be an easy listen 4? sad about the fight with spotify.
I enjoyed this one a lot!
Delightful mix of styles.
Help Me tem uma voz bem legal
I do like a bit of Joni. Kinda washed over me on the first listen but gave it another run through and there's some really good stuff here.
I really liked this! I need to give Joni Mitchell a deeper dive, other than surface level songs I enjoy
An excellent album, a very nice departure from her classic folk sound but still retaining her style very well.
She's one of the great. One point more for her long-life commitment, today leaving Spotify as a protest against no vax podcasts
Blue is one of my favorite albums ever. In comparison, this one is just so... jaunty? I like it, and this is a good reminder to put it back into rotation as background music while I'm doing other things, but so far I really can't imagine sitting down for an hour and focusing all of my attention on it.
I've never been a huge Joni fan. But I enjoyed this album especially the last song.
Lovely warm stuff with beautiful writing. I can't say the forays into jazz were a great choice, but her classic singer-songwriter pieces are excellent
I love Joni Mitchell
De av swaag
Joni be like: brings home the bagel… I like the variety on the album and Car On A Hill is funky
Jättebra dude... stark fyra
Twisted is good.
Part folk, part rock, part country, Joni takes her talent in all directions. Sonically, some of this album is very dated, but the showcase here is Mitchell's lyric writing. It's amazing that this period of American music gave us Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan etc… 4/5
War eigentlich schön auch wenn ich den Singsang auf Dauer etwas eintönig finde. Trotzdem sehr beruhigende und angenehme Ausstrahlung. Die Texte sind meistens recht gut und relatable in ihrer melancholischen Stimmung. Der letzte Track war bisschen weirdly out of place. Vermutlich die schlechteste 4 aber 3 ist mir zu wenig
Schönes Album! Also wirklich schön. Mag Blue noch mehr aber das hier hat mir auch sehr gefallen.
Album hat einen extrem guten Vibe und schöne Songs. Der letzte, jazzige Track ist komisch aber bisschen wirkt ein bisschen fehl am Platze auf dem Album.
People absolutely love and adore Joni for good reasons, and this album is one of them. Dreamy internal monologues, relational observations and hidden conversations meet ambling guitars and early 70s Bacharach & David folk swing. Also, after 34 years, I finally get that reference from "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker". It's never too late.
I really enjoyed what I heard here, but especially "Down To You" - God, what a gorgeous track. Overall, combines folk/rock/jazz in a great way. Jazzy enough to make it interesting, but not too jazzy that I lose interest (I am still trying to appreciate jazz more but I can only digest it in small doses for the most part).
No-one bears - needs- repeated listening like Joni Mitchell. Even if it's on Youtube as she's pulled this from Spotify over the Joe Rogan spat. On first listen the tunes, even the song structure, are difficult to make out. Each listen, as the songs become familiar, gets better and better.
4 stars. Was not a fan of Joni Mitchell until I listened to this. Much more interested now
just listened through two days ago great folk/soft rock pop album
really good! i love joni mitchell, her songwriting is always impeccable and she has one of my favorite voices ever.
the jazzier stuff (especially the last song) on this is a little cringy to me (i prefer her earlier albums blue and ladies of the canyon) but i still really enjoyed it. her voice is deeper and stronger here and the lyrics are as good as ever
Mooi
Wonderful songwriting, I'm just not huge on Joni's voice
liefelijke stem, best wel mooie liedjes 4*
Never really listened to Joni Mitchell before, but she has an amazing voice! This is a really rich album.
Beautiful voice, some great ballads throughout. Don’t know if she’s totally my vibe but no doubt an excellent album.
Joni Mitchell always has great lyrics, poetic, conversational, confessional, interesting rhyme scheme, even when sometimes a little forced it works with her delivery. This album was filled with fives. But I hated Raised by Robbery and Twisted, the Rockish forced spear of The former and the lame white skit scatting of the latter. Killed the vibe.
:) 4/5
Great stuff.
Schönes Album
Endlich mal wieder was wirklich schönes. Herbie hanckock hat vieles noch besser rübergebracht
Still great storytelling about finding love and finding yourself but more energy and an upgraded musical delivery compated to Hissing of summer lawns. More funk/grooove/rock vibes. Help me, free man in Paris, Raised on Robbery 3.5
Just before Joni went full Jazz. Some beautiful songs!
as you may know, im fairly familiar with joni mitchell. from this album i remember and love 'help me' new songs i found that i liked were: - court and spark - car on a hill
Coming in as a Joni Mitchell newbie here, but this was MUCH more palpable than Summer Lawns (not a great starting place if you are just getting acclimated). Quite bluntly, this is a beautiful album with fantastic jazz arrangements. I would say that that the backing band, made mostly up by members of The Crusaders and LA Express, are the stars of this album, but Mitchell's songwriting and singing is just magnificent. A great album to kick on for a dinner party or a cozy fireplace. Favorite Songs: Raised by Robbery, Free Man in Paris Least Favorite: The Same Situation - I sort of get lost and disconnected when this song plays.
First impressions, good band good voice, will go back to this
don't understand the hate, y'all will listen to a fat middle age man named danzig yell about his mother over and over again but this lady giving us her star trek TNG captain's log in song form is not ok for some reason
Emperial phase Joni. She could do no wrong.
Rating: 7/10 Best Songs: Help me, Free man in Paris
The album on which Joni really developed her voice, vocally and instrumentally. And this was as mainstream pop as she would get. She invented, transcended but also fit right into the mainstream ‘70s singer-songwriter movement.
car on a hill + twisted >>
good album. Not my favorite of Joni's. Court and Spark is the sixth studio album by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. It was an immediate commercial and critical success—and remains her most successful album. It reached No. 2 in the United States and No. 1 in Canada and eventually received a double platinum certification by the RIAA, the highest of Mitchell's career. Mitchell spent most of 1973 in the recording studio creating Court and Spark. Mitchell and engineer Henry Lewy called in a number of top L.A. musicians to perform on the album including members of the Crusaders, Tom Scott's L.A. Express, cameos from Robbie Robertson, David Crosby and Graham Nash and even a twist of comedy from Cheech & Chong. In a July 1979 interview with Cameron Crowe for Rolling Stone, Mitchell recounted playing the then-just completed Court & Spark to Bob Dylan, during which he fell asleep.[20] She later suggested that Dylan was probably trying to be "cute" in front of label boss David Geffen, who was also present.
Very cool album!
This is where Joni Mitchell began her evolution from acoustics to a more rounded out sound.
Good Sunday listening music. Especially loved the first song.
Beautiful warbling.
Chill, nice, and sweet
Great classic
On the whole, this was an enjoyable album, really nice to have on in the background. She's got a lovely voice, I think I'll explore more of her music one day.
I like Joni while I’m cooking, driving in the car, as background noise while I read. A good companion indeed.
This album feels like it could be released today and be great. An artist I definitely want to explore more of.
Really like Joni's wandering, folky songwriting. Love the slightly dijointed feeling you get from the way she sings her stories. Like the different guitar tunings too. Lovely memories of Aunty Shirl singing a few of these songs
Move over Lady Gaga, Joni Mitchill has entered the room. Joni would be a tough competitor if she was spinning her vinyl magic today. Pianist, Acoustic Guitarist and Clavinet were just a part of her artistic talents. What a beautiful voice! I loved Help Me” and “Night in Paris”,and “Raised on Robbery”. I rank her in the top 15 most amazing women artists. This album is just a small glimpse of her talent. Have to listen to her sing “Big Yellow Taxi”, Woodstock and “Both Sides Now” She is by far one of the most talented women out there. Her songs are catchy songs or folk songs that weave a web of life and its journeys. You can “parking my lot” any time any day. Well done Jonie
A high 8. Love her voice and would probably rate it higher on a relisten, but fell off at towards the end
So I guess I'm a big Joni Mitchell fan? Who knew. This album is excellent. There's something so personal and easy listening about Joni's music. Love it Favorite track: Raised on Robbery
Bastante agradable. Voz relajante, buena instrumentación. No le pude poner mucha atención a las canciones, pero suenan con buen ritmo. Canción favorita: Car on the hill por lo satisfactorio que suena cuando dice "so much sweeeeetness in the dark". Me siento como en una comedia romántica retro jajaja. Ya ese es mood.
Excellent so gwriting accompanied by a unique voice. All her songs tell a story making these songs a little more meaningful than most. Guitars reflecting the sounds of the time but mostly sound modern. Enjoyed this album and will listen to more from Joni
Yeah, pretty cool - this is Joni's Steely Dan album. Even the cocktail jazz track at the end is hip, for the most part. I still can't quite get along with her voice, but some really inventive music and decent songwriting throughout.
Joni Mitchell is someone I don’t think I’ve heard before but I’m sure a song will pop up that I will recognize. Nice to finally have a female artist in the running. It’s been a British sausage fest so far. The album cover is confusing and totally 70’s. I really like her voice, it sounds like Paula Cole a little bit and Danielle Haim a lot (Haim may have even said Joni was one of their role models). Very folksy. Wow, Help Me is really good. I love hearing her go from different octaves or whatever it’s called. She has a lot of range and clearly sounds like she has room to grow into tons of different sounds. I saw she has a million albums so hopefully she was able to experiment throughout the years. This album kind of feels like the Carpenters. Apple Music dares you to try NOT listening to this album a dozen times in a row. While I don’t think I’ll take up their challenge, this is certainly a great album and something I thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to any more Joni that comes up. She weaves both fun and carefree with insecurity and romance (and even some of her Jazz in Twisted).
first blush is that it sounds like a concept album. interested to see where it goes. I really have no idea what to make of this album, will need to listen to it again sometime
Very nice vibes, reminds me of Diamante. It's not the best Joni Mitchell album I would say though
Fantastic production, great songwriting, and lovely vocals. A bit guitar-centric for my liking and the back half was more forgettable, but altogether good. 8
J’adore joni mitchell, c’est une de mes artistes favorites, Blue est un de mes albums preferes mais celui ci est en dessous. Tout de meme trres bon. 4.5
Not my style but a well put together album
Though twisted is a little out there, the album is sophisticated, engaging and very enjoyable to listen to. Help Me stands out, but i also liked the energy of raised on robbery and the mood of the same situation.
In a strange coincidence, before I knew this was the album today I was talking with my Dad about the very first albums he bought - one of them was this one! The songs are creative and interesting. Sometimes I find them impactful, other times I get a bit lost. Much of her craft seems to depend on the lyrics and if I'm not able to follow them I lose interest a little bit. That said, I think there is a lot to unpack here that can't be gleaned from a single listen, and I look forward to coming back to it.
I liked it.
Joni Mitchell is a true original. Love the blending of genres here, especially the touches of jazz.
Quizá si no hubieran salido dos discos de Joni Mitchell seguiditos podría apreciar más este sin estar en función a comparar con el otro. El disco me gustó mucho, me sonó mucho menos melancólico y adolorido que el anterior, con rolas hasta alegres y que llegaría a considerar (soft)rockeras. Me gustó en especial la última (Twisted) por su onda de jazz.
Took me a few listens but a very touching and relatable treatise on early love
Enjoyable jazzy songwriting
Classic songs, quite good
Help me Free man in Paris Raised on robbery
Love her voice but her melodies get repetitive. Great arrangements and musicians.
Good album. Free Man In Paris is a classic. Didn't realise Joni was so prolific!
A warm summer's day. 7.5/10 FT Help Me
Reminds me of the carpenters a lot
This is definitely an interesting album. I like how she blended folk and jazz and a little bit of rock together. Her lyrics were very memorable and packed a punch. I wouldn't be mad if this came on but I wouldn't seek it out either.
3-/5
It’s good and pleasant. Joni still hasn’t “clicked” for me yet.
I really like John Mitchell, and I really like how calming her voice is. None of the songs necessarily “stuck out “to me, but it was more of a feeling that the album gave me that is going into the score.
It’s pretty, I guess, but it just felt unstructured. Also for reasons out of Joni’s control, I was not in the mood for this album yesterday
Pretty good. She’s a great singer who has a knack for dressing up complex musical/lyrical topics in a fun pop song
3⭐️
Cute but overall i didn't enjoyed this much
Court and Spark is a solid album. Joni Mitchell is an odd duck, but very talented. Her imagery is a bit jarring sometimes, much like her voice. The songs flow together very well, and then once in a while a song completely surprises you, and those might just be the best moments of the album. "Down to You" and "Twisted" stand out as two of these special tracks.
It's bizarre to me that this remains Joni's biggest selling album, given its lack of good singles, and how inferior it is to each of her previous albums. Sadly, it would only get worse. Luckily she still has her voice for this one, something which would succumb to the ravages of age, acid, booze, and ass, needles, guns, and grass in later albums. She sounds as good as ever here, but it's the first time she begins to recycle vocal melodies from previous songs. That's a problem with being prolific. The jazz elements which would take over her approach to music are creeping in here, meaning this is a less coherent album with too many sparse pauses and free-flowing silliness. As such, melody and emotion takes a significant hit.
Seems ok A bit too "medievally" for me
Moody and better than I expected
Album was really good. Not her best, but enjoyable.
Helt ok men ganska blend.
This was fine. Although hippie folk is far from my favorite genre of music, Joni Mitchell has a pretty pleasant voice and is a good, relaxing listen. The songs on this one didn’t blend together as much as the previous Joni Mitchell album I listened to (Blue), so that was a welcome development. A high 3/5, would be a 3.5/5 on a proper scale.
This is the kind of album you can put on repeat in the background for hours and apart from a few catchy choruses, will feel almost ambient. More like exceptional mood music. It is the same melodramatic mood on every track, and yet her voice remains compelling throughout.
Surprised me honestly, I quite enjoyed it. Except for the last song. Last song is way too Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs.
A really cool mish-mash of genres in this. We've got some classic acoustic style songs, gentle piano tunes, a proper bluesy track and even a fun wee jazz one at the end. Definitely appreciate the variety in this. Joni's voice was as beautiful and soothing as ever. Some great lyricism in this too (particular stand out in 'twisted'). I've already heard 'Help me' before, and it probably is the best song on the album, as well as being one of the best songs she's written. I'm hardly new to Joni Mitchell; I've heard her Blue album and several of her famous songs. I prefer Blue to this one. Something about her acoustic sound is (so far from what I've heard) unmatched. For example, one of my favourite tracks on Count and Spark was 'People's Parties', a pretty acoustic song with a hint of jangle pop. Despiste all my praise, this is just a pleasant enough album. But knowing how great some of her other albums and songs are, I don't feel particularly enthusiatic about this one. But this is a first listen. It may grow on me more someday.
Te quiero Vania
it was nice, i had it too low so i want to play it again and really listen, but it had a nice vibe
Might like this one more than Blue. No really memorable songs though.
trying too hard to be jazz without actually putting in the work. it's fine and all but it's not consistent.
Wasn’t necessarily my bag, but was quite good
Nice to listen to but nothing more.
Before starting this list I had never heard of Joni Michtell. Now that I've tried three albums I think I still can't make up my mind what I think of her music. Generally, I don't really care for lyricism, which others say is one of the major merits of Joni's music. This leaves me in a tough spot as for the rest this record isn't that interesting. It's a lot better than the other two records as this one at least has some decent instrumentals. I particularly like "twisted" with its jazzy playful sound. The rest is just kinda upbeat folk music. For what it is trying to do, its good. It however does not strike a single cord in me.
Ugh, 4th album in a row from late 60s to early 70s. And I didn't love the other JM album I've had so far. Still... 4 tracks in and it's as expected. A folky, acoustic-y sound. You can't deny she can sing, and write songs well. It just doesn't connect with me. I like some of the more jazzy/prog chord progressions that can be found, like the very end of Car On A Hill These unusual harmonies are prominent on Just Like This Train Jazzy feel back again on Twisted. With a vocal delivery putting me in mind of Regina Spector or Fiona Apple Best track - Car On A Hill, Just Like This Train 3 stars
I do like listening to Joni Mitchell, but the previous albums (Ladies of the Canyon and Blue) were more interesting.
I love her voice and harmonies, and help me is outstanding.. but I do find myself getting a little bored the longer it goes on.
3.5
Listening session: september 13th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: no Thoughts: Joni Mitchell has a really distinctive sound with the falsetto singing, folkish guitar playing and unstructured songs Favourite tracks: Court and Spark, Free Man in Paris & Twisted
Moni Titchell I liked it more than Blue.
I think this was the best Joni Mitchell album we had. I hope it was the last onen
3,3 Highlights: Court and Spark, Raised On Robbery
Classic female singer songwriter.
fine
#233 this is the most I have listened to Joni Mitchell at any stretch. It had always been sparse. She has a lovely voice and the songs were pretty familiar. The jazzier stuff really wasn’t to my liking as much. Biggest Hit - Help Me Biggest Miss - twisted Hidden Gem - free man in paris
Mi primer acercamiento a Joni, no estuvo mal, pero debo escucharlo más. También debo escuchar más de ella, fue una experiencia interesante.
Groovy, nice to work to.
3.5
Smooth easy listening, usually with a story
Good - enjoyed without being captivated.
Didn't grab me!
Nice listen! Nothing ground-breaking but lovely to have on while pottering around the house or on a road trip.
Really enjoyed some of the songs, particularly 'Raised on Robbery' and 'Twisted', but Im afraid to say, the overall package didn't stir too much emotion in me
Not bad
And thus ends Joni Mitchell's three album run of four star albums. I didn't mind this album. However, all her other albums had a few songs that caught my attention. This one just faded pleasantly into the background.
no me gusta joni mitchell! lo siento
I actually liked this more than i thought i would!
bonito, pero joni mitchell…
It was nice but all the songs sounded the same to me. It wasn’t really bad but it wasn’t really good either.
jazzed up folk stuff
good one
Okay album art! Oh Joni, how I loved you unconditionally before learning you had a whole ass Blackface persona that everyone just rolled with. Have had the actual thought, “Brandi Carlisle must know this and still loves her, so.” And then think, “Brandi is also white” Okay. Here we go. // Loved. Obviously. What can ya do, amirite
I like her voice but I'm just not into most folk rock. The best of this sounds like a movie montage soundtrack. It's good, but I don't like it.
fun bit of classic 70s folk. "twisted" is an interesting track.
I love her voice and songwriting but the arrangements don't do much for me.
The hippie poet makes The 1001 Must Hear List again. Much improved over Blue (our previous listen), Court and Spark is her masterpiece! Never owned this album in any format, but very familiar with it. Opens strong with title track, Help Me, and Free Man in Paris. These three and Raised on Robbery got radio play through the seventies so knew ‘em well. The rest of the album is listenable folk music, Twisted with its guest appearance by Cheech ‘n Chong makes for a nice finish - never noticed that before. (3.3*s) As I look through her catalog, I see two other albums that I recognize. She might be back again…
Nice to see a much more lively version of Joni Mitchell. I can recognize her skill as a vocalist and understand why her early stuff captured an audience when she first debuted, but I much prefer this style with some jazz/rock backing. It adds a lot more depth to her already competent songwriting and lyrics. It's still not something I would put on personally in my free time but I can understand how she carved out a fanbase and was a complementary featured act for many other artists during her height. She can obviously carry a tune and having some solid players behind her makes it more palatable to my ear. Her career endured for 50 years for a reason and I can understand that her music wouldn't have been made for my demographic. Not a bad entry in Court And Spark but 35 minutes was about all I needed. 2.56 stars
Tykkään Jonin pehmeästä äänestä. Tämä levy oli aika rauhallinen ja sisälsi monta hidasta biisiä. Yksi meneväni pala oli lopussa.
Yeah it was okay, pretty basic but some good emotional stuff in there.
I like her voice a lot, but overall, the music just isn't gestalt'ing for me. ★★★
love joni mitchell's voice and the way the lyrics are sung. overall gostosinho de ouvir.
Not as good as her early stuff, bit more musicianship- that raw edge is missing here
This is her best one yet but I still am not convinced she needs three albums in this list
Previously unknown. I enjoyed this more than I expected. Musically interesting.
Joni is an eternal 3 for me. I don't hate it, nor do I love it.
So far every Joni Mitchell album sounds like I woke up on a Saturday morning in 1970 and I gotta take my station wagon to the gas station and then pick up some groceries.
I love this album so much but then I remember Joni’s continued defense of when she did blackface.
Sweet and listenable but not for me
Court and Spark - 3.5/5 Help Me - 4.5/5 Free Man in Paris - 4/5 People's Parties - 3.5/5 The Same Situation - 3.5/5 Car on a Hill - 3.5/5 Down to You - 3.5/5 Just Like This Train - 3.5/5 Raised on Robbery - 4/5 Trouble Child - 3.5/5 Twisted - 3/5 As some people have already said, Joni Mitchell seems like she would be a better poet than a musician. There are things here that are pretty good, including the standout "Help Me", but everything tends to blend together where it's hard to differentiate between certain songs. It's a very strong 3.5*, but for this here it's a 3. Overall: 3/5 Favorites: Help Me
Never heard of this album. Very good. Listened to it twice. Will probably grow on me with subsequent listens.
Better than expected but not my type of music.
very beautiful and unique, but not really for me
She has a good voice but it still all kind of sounds the same after a few songs.
Blended together but her voice was good
Fine. She sounds good I just don’t understand why this is supposed to be incredible/important. Just fine, wouldn’t complain if someone put this on but if they did that and then said it’s their favorite album I’d give them a weird look.
started tuesday august 11th, 1:42AM
liked this more than Blue but i still don't really get Joni Mitchell
2.5. Some songs were fun but it isn't my thing.
I like the growth in Joni Mitchell's sound. Building in jazz and R&B riffs, a little more rock and roll on top of the folk singer/songwriter vibe that she owns. Comparing it to Blue is tough though. I really felt her in that album and mostly just heard her in this one. The way she stretched artistically is amazing but I lost some of the connection. Help Me
Def the most accessible Joni for me. Love the jazzy stuff, some bops on here
Joni Mitchell müsste ich vom Prinzip her völlig abfeiern, aber keines ihrer Alben, die ich bisher gehört habe, wollte zünden.
Someone said that most of the songs are just unstructured messes that never go anywhere (no choruses and endless verses). I couldn't agree more. They're cute, and thirsty, but become frustrating to listen to at times.
It's not quite the blue album but what a voice. I'm so glad there are multiple Joni entries.
I might get crucified, but i've never been a massive fan of joni - i respect the music but, it's just never had a mass appeal to me. However, I think this is one of, if not her most, accessible albums, it definitely has its place
Helt ok. Jag är inte överdrivet förtjust i Joni Mitchell. Visst har hon gjort flera fantastiska låtar, A Case of You till exempel. Men en hel skiva blir lite enformigt att lyssna på. Favoriter var Help me och Raised on robbery (egentligen enda låten som stod ut för mig). Jag gillar Joni i små portioner och inte på ett helt album, i alla fall inte detta.
Not bad, nothing special for me either. Piano based, variety in instruments. Maybe it needs a few more spins.
Maybe I was just having a rough morning but, while I enjoyed this, I didn't like it nearly as much as the fairly similar Hissing of Summer Lawns. I dunno man music is funny that way. Maybe I'll come back to it someday.
I don't mind this. It's not my jam, but I'll give it a 3 because I could see myself listening to this again.
Can't see myself ever getting into Joni Mitchell, but I respect the artistry.
This is a DENSE album! There are some toe tapping bits but I need to re-listen to the lyrics to really understand them.
Dug it some.. Maybe I don't like Joni Mitchell as much as I thought I did.
"Heeeelp me I think I'm fallin..."
Court and spark - 3 Help me - 3 Free man in paris - 4 People's parties - 3 The same situation - 3 Car on a hill - 3 Down to you - 2 Just like this train - 3 Raised on robbery - 4 Trouble child - 3 Twisted - 3
Fine
nothing but respect for ms. mitchell but this album isn't doing much for me. pleasant music, lovely vocals, well-written if a bit quaint and sometimes corny lyrics, in one ear and out the other highlights: help me, car on a hill, raised on robbery, trouble child
Fun
Joni steps into jazz. I love how weird she is willing to get in this one. It’s not my favorite of her albums but still really good.
Nice and calming to listen to - good background music.
It was really nice but some of Joni’s vocal line Melodie’s have lines running into each other and it irritates me as a listener because there’s no space. That s my issue and shouldn’t stop you enjoying some beautiful songs.
lovely
Pretty but somewhat boring
Some great tunes on here, though the 70s smooth-jazzy sheen has always been a bit of a turn-off for me. Still, it's Joni.
Pretty solid Joni Mitchell album. I’ve listened to her before. It’s a really lovely sound and feeling but I can’t say it was knock my socks off.
Joni Mitchell is a great artist. Blue is an alltime classic, and you hear a lot of the songs from this album on certain radio stations, too. So it's almost a personal shame that I can say that I just can't get too warm about it. There's artistry galore here, from Mitchell herself and I wouldn't be surprised if the session players are Wrecking Crew level 70s all-stars, too. But, sorry…
Very good album. I enjoy listening to Joni.
Me gustó mucho su voz. Me gustaría escucharlo más y con más atención a las letras, siento que me podría gustar más aún. Igualmente no es tan mi estilo como para repetir el disco entero, probablemente escucharía canciones sueltas. Me gustaría poner 3 ½ pero no me deja.
So, I feel like I should like this better than I do. I listen to all of the women inspired by Joni, so I should like Joni. I mean, is there something wrong with me? I don't know, but this was just ok. Maybe I just don't vibe well with her singing style. Her lyrics are interesting, but it's not enough for me to love Court and Spark. I did like the song, "Raised On Robbery", but the album as a whole is just ok.
Pleasant and well performed. Nothing really stands out. I liked the title track the best.
I don't mind a lot of Joni Mitchell's material, but for some reason nothing on this album grabbed me, maybe it was plan old familiarity (i.e. I didn't recognise any track).
Enough of my own musical heroes consider Joni a hero that I totally understand her importance. The music has just never done a lot for me. I have already had Blue in this project, and I think that was the only one people NEED to hear before they die. Diff'rent strokes, for different folks. Reading the Wikipedia page, this album had quite an all-star cast! This did kind of grow on me. Maybe I just haven't listened to enough Joni.
Good listen..timeless tunes
boring
At first, I listened to the beginning of the album while reading, and honestly, it fit really well with what I was reading, It felt very cinematic, almost like a soundtrack. Based on my music taste, I think this is the kind of music I’d have playing in the background when I’m looking for inspiration or just trying to relax. It reminds me of a warm summer sunset while I’m drawing and feeling inspired. “Help Me” has a great instrumental, However, it’s not something I’d listen to all the time or become obsessed with. It’s not really my usual style or what I’m used to listening to, but I still enjoyed it. My favorite songs were “Help Me” (which I noticed is the album’s most popular track) “Just like this train” and “Car on a Hill.” I didn’t finish listening to “Down to You.”
I watched a woodpecker climb a tree while the People Laughing portion, like Woody Woodpecker, of People's Parties came on. Its weird how nature can match the music you're listening to. She reminds of Dylan in that when the story is engaging, you are engaged. When it is not, it can be dull & my brain goes elsewhere. Yet the music is amazing. It's very jazzy & very easy listening. 3
Joni is just SO good at writing and has some of the most unique and recognizable styles of all time.
sehr schön
First of 4 Joni Mitchell albums on this list and the first time I've listened to an album of hers. Despite this not being *the* Joni Mitchell album (which I've heard it Blue) I enjoyed this album for the most part. My favorite tracks are "Help Me" and "Raised on Robbery" and while not every song hit like those I can appreciate what Joni is doing and I enjoy the various genres she features on this album. 3.5 rounded down to a 3/5
A pleasant listen, can’t say much more than that really
fint album. jeg kan virkelig godt lide joni Mitchell's stemme.
(5/7) glad she found a band
Det jag gillar med Joni Mitchell är just hennes röst men känner att hon sjunger likadant hela tiden. Nu låter det som att jag inte förstår att hon har en röst men tycker att hon kan experimentera lite mer. Låter lite oinspirerat ibland. Mycket fint men också mycket svalt.
My second Joni album in a few days and this one didn’t resonate with me as much as _Blue_. It was a jazzier affair than its predecessor and perhaps felt a little too produced compared to the more visceral _Blue_. Still decent though, and I’d probably give it another chance.
Fun and light, with some confusing lyrics
I have not heard this before, but I have heard all of these songs before. Joni Mitchell is great and these are all good songs. The accompaniment has a keyboard with a very mid-seventies sound playing very mid-seventies chords that I’m not a fan of for whatever reason, I really can’t explain the issue other than it’s always bothered me since I was a kid. Putting that aside it’s a good album.
I really like Joni Mitchell, particularly her voice and lyricism, and this was almost a four for me. I have a feeling I'll like some of her other music even more.
Jodå, svänger hyfsat.
The album was decent, enjoyed some parts of it, nothing I'd come back to but it was fun. Solid 3.5
I think I list this album better than Blue. It was a more jazzy record, with the same strong singing and songwriting my Joni.
pretty good
I don't mind Joni Mitchell, I just find the songs aren't very singable? This was good though, more jazz less folk
Mooi folk album. Ik vind het mooi, maar iets te ingewikkeld ofzo. Ik kan niet zo veel met de songteksten. Ik denk dat ik het instrumenten spel te jazzy vind en dat past dan net niet lekker bij het folky gevoel
This was very pleasant
Lovely album. Again, forgot to take any notes while listening.
This was a fine listen. I will not lie and say Jodi's voice isn't entrancing, but I don't feel like it's enough to carry the whole album. 3/5
A perfect crystalline voice and nice songs, though they're not as emotive and essential as some of her older work that I prefer. The last track is a horrible direct hit to the heart of my jazz aversion and almost retroactively taints the whole thing.
Wouldn’t ever think of listening to any of her stuff as it is too much “easy listening” which for me = “why bother?”. I quite liked this album though. However, I felt that most of the songs ended before they came to a satisfactory conclusion and I kept hoping they would build into a bigger ending. Best track was the more up-tempo “Raised on Robbery”.
Wikipedia says it's her best selling record, which is mad cos you'd assume that was Blue? I’d never even heard of this. It’s a pleasant listen, the first one of these I’ve felt compelled to play twice, and maybe eventually this is a 4. 'Down to You' is my clear fave, absolutely loved this song. 'Twisted' by far the worst and really has no business being on this record!
It's OK, but not for me. Every now and then, there's a hint of country, and that's upsetting. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ❌️ ★★★☆☆ (5/10) Total reviewed : 346 Already owned : 77 Purchased : 16 To buy : 3 Nope : 250
2026.06.08.
This album doesn't have anything that stands out to me
Liked the songwriting more than the actual music
Good album. Nice to hear something by a female artist that isn't all love songs.
Stylistically not my cup of tea, but I think the lyrics are the stand out here. I don’t pick up on them or do a full read along. I’d give it a 3.5 if I could, but I don’t like it as much as some of the 4’s I’ve been giving.
I tried to like this. She has got a lovely voice and the production is spot on. Unfortunately it just doesn't click with me. Yes she has talent. Maybe I'm the issue
I really like Joni Mitchell’s voice, but her music still feels distant to me. Listening to Court and Spark, I often felt as if I was reading a beautiful piece of literature from another place, one that feels out of reach.
Not as good as Blue, but some of the songs are more fun. It does feel a bit like "Mom Music" but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Comfy soft music has a place too. Also, Raised on Robbery is the best Joni Mitchell song I've ever heard.
Joni Mitchell is a fantastic poet. The songs were enjoyable if unstructured. I can see why her, Leonard Cohen, and Bob Dylan get lumped together. Although her songs posses less depth but more joy than the other two.
Oddly enough, this is the first time that I have heard this album. It feels a bit like a transition point between the earlier work and the more jazz influenced work to follow. On one hand most of the songs feel like they wouldn't be entirely out of place with the earlier records, but the arrangements and vocal approach is different. The songs almost all have larger arrangements, including horns and strings. The vocals are often multi tracked to create choral effects. It creates a distinctively different feeling than before. I'm not sure about it. There is certainly an effort to move forward and create a new sound, but I think I prefer the earlier records. Still, its an interesting document and one that I might warm up to if I return to it later on.
Vocals were nice, but overall the album was pretty middle of the road. Not sure why she has 4 albums on this list. So far none of them have been mind-blasting.
Joni venía de otro clásico como For the Roses, y aquí presentó su trabajo más accesible. Temas como Help me o Free Man in Paris (con José Feliciano, Crsby, Nash o Robbie Robertson). La banda que la acompaña no es cualquier cosa: vientos de Tom Scott, el piano eléctrico de Joe Sample, la guitarra eléctrica de Larry Carlton, el bajo de Max Bennett y la batería de John Guerin. Todos ellos músicos muy respetados entonces. No es la voz que más me gusta, ni el estilo tampoco. Pero Joni, sus afinaciones, su influencia y su legado bien merecen estar en el listado con discos como este.
Sort of an average Joni Mitchell album with a standout oddity in the track twisted. It was an easy listen in the morning while I had an hour to clean around the house and work on a project. I don't think I'd ever choose to listen to her but I'm never upset when she is playing.
I like Joni Mitchell, but nothing jumped out at me from this album.
Nice mellow
I used to think Joni's music was downbeat but this album is completely different. Enjoyable stuff.
Intetsigende
enjoyed this for the most part, prefer the folkier stuff
We'll just slip back to the mid-70s to hang out with Joni Mitchell for a little bit with *Court and Spark*. This thing reached number two in the U.S. charts and number one in Canada and ended up with a double platinum. I'm not going to lie, that kind of accolade generally fills me with a bit of dread at this point. But let's get in and find out what's going on. Joni Mitchell goes ahead and gets the title drop out of the way with the first track *Court and Spark*, in which a busker is overcome with a wave of the Holy Spirit or perhaps just a radical epiphany and realizes that what he wants to do is get rid of the money and go find a random woman to hit on. He rolls up on Joni Mitchell. She obviously doesn't trust him, but isn't just kicking him in the face like a reasonable person would because she's an anxiety-ridden white woman. Decades before that became the in thing. He confesses that he has made himself better. He got rid of his blues. He promises that he can complete her and somehow with eyes with whites the color of sand and irises the color of the sea, she's kind of into it until she realizes that LA has sunk its cruel, twisted, demonic hooks into her. This may be the one time that Los Angeles has caused someone to make a good decision. The album is off to quite the start. What the hell, Joni? This is your every 35-second reminder not to take life advice, particularly romantic advice, from musicians. Nothing good comes of hanging out with ramblers and gamblers in *Help Me*, and falling in love with them is the worst kind of choice that you can make, especially when you are perfectly aware that this is a bad decision, it's not going to end well. You are going to suffer. The other party is not really feeling it in the same way that you are, and yet you just keep trundling forward with stupid decisions. "We love our lovin', but not like we love our freedom." Of course you do. That would require you to be a person capable of making trade-offs and decisions which are based on reasonable expectation and not just letting your hormones run away with you. Dammit, musicians, learn for once. Learn! Ah, the hard life of the music industry agent. I never thought I'd hear a song that portrayed them in a marginally positive light (*Chainsaw Charlie* is far more in line with my expectations), but "Free Man in Paris" does its level best to pull it off. Do I believe it? Not for a second. It's the kind of thing that someone who's lived a favored life their entire existence dreams about doing when they are successful just to show off how successful they are. "Man, if I wasn't too busy greasing the rails of making people into superstars, I'd cut out for a minute and just go back to Paris, where I didn't have the responsibility of making and breaking people every day." Yeah, dude. Sure. It's the kind of pained humblebrag that just makes me want to stab people in the throat. Actually, come to think of it, maybe this song has more in common with *Chainsaw Charlie* than I thought. Dear hell below, maybe I found patient zero! The source of neurotic upper middle class/lower upper class women. It was Joni Mitchell in 1974. It was her the whole time! Listening to *People's Parties* struck me like a bolt from the blue. Ostensibly, it's a song about going to LA parties and how pretty much everyone there is performative, with a focus on the hot chick who is clearly working it for attention and even pulling the crying Jenny. Then we get this hot little number: "I'm just living on nerves and feelings with a weak and lazy mind." Well, there it is. "I wish I had more sense of humor keeping the sadness at bay." Yes, we all wish you had a better sense of humor and could see the irony and humor in the absurdity of life. I'm starting to think that if Joni had dyed her hair purple and got a side shave cut, she would have fit right in. I'm starting to think that if Joanie had dyed her hair purple and got a side shave cut, she would have fit right in. I think I need to go get some brain bleach. I'm not sure who needs to hear it, but you need to carefully phrase your prayers to any heavenly choir. You should use the same cautious, overly litigious attention that you would use when contracting with the devil below. Quote, "Send me somebody who's strong and somewhat sincere" may actually end up with you getting someone who is both, which is not really what you want. Now you've got one: a man who has had other beautiful women and who is capable of telling you the truth and making judgments for himself, like a church, like a cop, like a mother. But no, don't actually give me your sincere truth because that's considered turning it on you like a weapon when you need approval. Gentlemen, if you find a woman like this one in the song, *The Same Situation*, consider it a vast pile of red flags and go the other way. This has been a public service message. Tip your waiter. Hold up a minute. Is this a Taylor Swift album? I swear three quarters of the tracks have been about how the singer-protagonist has absolutely no taste in good men, but instead finds herself drawn to absolute assholes and then continues to make bad decisions. *Car on a Hill* is no exception here. She's been sitting on the hill for three hours waiting for the guy who she thinks is a friend and she's been banging. He said he'd show up. She's been waiting, has no idea where he is. Look, sweetheart, if he's half an hour late, you don't hang around. If he's an hour late, you better have some important news to tell him. If he's three hours late and you're still waiting up on the hill, that view better be amazing in and of itself. This album is like a shrine to poor judgment. In *Down to You* the projected subject of the song is an emotionally distant man who has prioritized position and easy acquaintance over actual connection. But we are told upfront he's a kind person and a cold person too. He picks up someone in a bar. They bang. She's gone by the morning. He really doesn't have any close acquaintances or even friends, but frankly, he doesn't seem to care that much. He's doing all right. In fact, he thinks he's got it made, but trouble comes knocking at the garden gate. I can't help but think that this troubling news is that he has fathered a child out of wedlock and now has the opportunity to step up or step away, thus bringing it full circle back to the title of the album and solidifies the idea that the singer is in fact the woman in question. Hey, we have a coherent narrative. It actually presents a man in a light that's not wholly unpleasant. I'm going to consider this a win. This is also quite possibly the most jazz-influenced track on the album so far, making some pretty significant use of uneven beats. It's okay. Perhaps not surprisingly, *Just Like This Train* is about a woman who has terrible self-control issues and makes unwise sexual choices. Any jokes about pulling a train at this point are purely in your head and certainly not by implication, even though it does open up by saying that she used to count lovers like railroad cars. She counted them on her side. Look, I'm not responsible for that imagery. It's in the song. So she goes and decides to get on a train to get away from some implicit cause and sees a number of people waiting for the train. She boards it, she settles in, and then thinks about the guy that she lost her heart to, and thus her goodness. But who clearly doesn't want to be with her because she's on this train going somewhere else and she is with her sour grapes talking about how happy she will be to see his hairline receding because he's so vain. He probably even thinks this song is about him. What is it with women celebrating their terrible decisions? It's a media motif. Next up, the most upbeat song on this list, *Raised on Robbery*. It also has one of the most straightforward setups: a guy drinking in a hotel bar, watching the hockey game he has a few bucks on. A prostitute comes up to him and attempts to solicit his company. There's a really nice metaphor there in the middle regarding cooking as a symbolic replacement for sex. Then the whore in question has the bad decision-making of talking about how she and what is theoretically her husband had some money, and he's even worse with handling it than she is with picking men, having wasted it on a car which he wrecked, and then drank the rest of it. Wisely, our heroic gentleman decides that his time is more valuable than the possible ambush situation he would be walking into and goes his own way. Frankly, it's about time we had another good ending, and I'm here for that as well. I'm of two minds about *Trouble Child*, and that is always an awkward place to be. On the one hand, it is a song that acknowledges that the singer-protagonist is actually the problem, that they need to get their fucking head together and their ducks in a row, and that there's nobody coming to save them, whether it be going to rehab or expecting your friends and family to do it. This is generally a message I encourage people to come to, that they are on their own and that nobody is more intimate with their problems than they are. It's their responsibility because it's their suffering. But on the other hand, the song never actually comes to the conclusion that they need to actually do something. That it is their responsibility. That they are the active agent in their own life. It's just whining. It may be accurately observing the world, but it's lamenting the world, not being driven by an understanding. No, I think I've settled on the fact I don't care for it that much, but I don't hate it. It's halfway there. Okay, I was wrong. *Twisted* is the most jazzy track on this album, by far, bar none. It's better for it. It comes across as a bit of a bebop jazz hop about a woman who is actually certifiably insane. At least she's just rambling about crazy things and not crying in a corner, so better company than some of the protagonists of earlier songs on this album. I don't really have much of any feeling about this track at all, honestly, aside from the fact that it was a little bit fun, but taken as a whole with the rest of the album, it's yet another singer-protagonist declaring that their bad decisions are absolutely correct. In isolation, it's great. It's fun. A little bit of a novelty. In context, not so much. Overall, I guess *Court and Spark* is a decent album. Musically, it's incredibly accomplished, shifting between folk rock and jazz with a fluidity and grace that you don't see very often. Joni Mitchell's voice is extremely accomplished, which should come as a surprise to no one. It's the content of the songs, man, that I just can't get on board with. Is it a bad album? No. Is it a good album? That's always the question.
It was fun to listen to. Absolutily not boring. But it just isnt my style.
Fun album enjoyed specially twisted and free man in paris I dont even now what genre this is maybe fun or humorous but overall great album a pushed 6.2/10
Cozy, every other song was alright but got boring easily.
I haven't heard much of her but Joni Mitchell has a very unique sound. It's not really for me but it is impressive and captivating.
Bien à certains endroits mais manque de structure ou de quoi que ce soit qui le rende unique.
This is a pretty album, it’s folky and a little bit jazzy. There’s some really excellent instrumentation throughout, the piano specifically is quite beautiful. I can recognize that Joni Mitchell is both incredibly talented and very successful, but there’s some quality to her voice that makes it hard for me to fully immerse myself and enjoy this album. It’s all very good music, but I don’t think it’s for me. 3*
I’ve never heard of Joni Mitchell, and it seems I’ll have to listen to some more of her stuff to get a good basis of what she was about.
Joni is an awesome storyteller. Love the chill vibes of the album, but it didn’t pull at me in any strong way.
Court and Spark succeeds on its own terms: a meticulously crafted, lyrically nuanced, musically elegant album that marked a turning point in Mitchell’s career and resonated strongly with critics and mainstream audiences. But its restraint, polish, and emotional ambivalence mean it won’t land for everyone, especially if you prefer more visceral, raw, or sonically adventurous music. Like a nice bowl of oatmeal or tapioca pudding. Meh.
Love Joni!
niet slecht maar af en toe een beetje afdwalend
It's a good album overall, "Raised on Robbery" was my favorite.
C’est pas Johnny, c’est pas Eddy non plus, c’est Joni Mitchell ! La première chanson est plutôt ravissante Oh je crois que je me fous de ce dont elle parle On a des ruptures qui font que l’album n’est pas monotone : car on a Hill, moderne et multi genre Il y a quelques riffs qui semblent familiers, je pense que les sons sont influents (just like this train) L’album gagne par son originalité et la variété des sons pour un album de folk, hyper en avance
Very light
This is a more annoying era of Joni Mitchell
Joa, einiges ziemlich meisterlich, einiges ziemlich egal. Texte teilweise auch.
Hatte ich schon einmal in der Liste und ist nochmal aufgepoppt. Hatte damals 3 gegeben. Ohne Begründung. Bleibe dabei.
Dobre sa mi to počúvalo.
First Joni Mitchell album on the list for me! I admit I never really listened to here, but for some reason very excited and high expectations because of her legendary status and one song I do love from her catalogue after recent discovery when watching Martin Scorsese's The Last Waltz is "Coyote". SO at the first glance and throughout the day it mostly seemed good, inventive music but maybe nothing super amazing and an easy 3-star rating. However, now, as I am writing this after work I am appreciating this more and more. I know it will be at least 3.5 on RYM, but it is getting harder to decide, maybe will be super greedy and give 3 stars but one for sure to REVISIT!
Great voice, uninspiring music
Decent
Soothing voice Fave track: Help Me
Inoffensive background music. 2.75
For some reason I thought Joni Mitchell was more folksy than this
2.5 - Fine, but not really my thing.
Very good! Lots of different musical styles
Tää oli taas tämmönen että joutu useampaan kertaan kuunella, yllätäen hyvin variaatiota tässä albumissa. Sopivasti vähä Jazziä, Rokkia ja Poppia. "Raised on Robbery" oli aika iso yllätys. Oli useampi hyvä kappale mutta kokonaisuus oli aika meh. Top 3 Honorable Mention: The Same Situation 1: Raised on Robbery 2: Help Me 3: Twisted 3/5
Ну нежно. Уже как будто устаревший, но довольно слушабельно. Я не фанат такой музыки
#117/1001 🇨🇦 I've got through Joni's albums on this list pretty quickly. This is another that i've never heard before. Of all of them this feels the most polished and accessible but not necesarily my favourite. Best Tracks: Free Man In Paris, Peoples Parties, Down To You.
Good Album, not every Song hits, but overall I felt entertained. Fav: Court and Spark
Sliter fortsatt med å få helt taket på Joni. Grei bakgrunnsmusikk.
Helt greit. Fun fact: På 80- og 90-tallet spilte faren min i et band oppkalt etter låten Free Man In Paris. På NRK ligg det faktisk en halvtimes konsert fra Kulturhuset på 90-tallet. Mer om dette får du i boka «1001 lokale band du aldri har hørt om», som æ skal gi ut med Robert Dyrnes.
Hyggelige greier, men mangler høydepunkter.
Not the worst 30 or so minutes of music.
어우 듣기좋아
entendo
Had never listened to Joni Mitchell before but am well aware of her significance. Wanted to like it but after one listen felt no connection and it was a sure 1 for me. Then I listened again. And again. Gave it several listens throughout the day and something has clicked and now I find myself really liking it. Glad I gave it another chance after that first listen.
I can see how someone would like this. dont hate it but wouldnt listen again. not my goto voice style of choice
Court and Spark Free Man in Paris Raised on Robbery
Free Man in Paris Raised on Robbery
Much more pleasant and evocative than Hejira. I do follow some of the comments on here that claim that Mitchell would be a better poet than a singer. Her lyrics are rich in meaning and deeply storylike. It makes you wonder what went through her head when she composed the songs. Her pleasant vocals are still a-okay, though. No complaints from me.
Joni compares herself to Cohen and Dylan in a quote that's included in the book. And if we do so, Joni is equally poetic but not as political or sombre. Essentially a ray of california sunshine in the genre.
Female folk. I think this is the lady from the movie with Bob Dylan.
Ok not my thing
Great songwriting. Her voice is a little unusual. This reminds me of Carole King.
Pleasant, they even a little too old for me to feel Nostalgia for.
good instrumentation i just don’t fw joni’s flow really
Nice to listen to, but disjointed album as the songs do not have consistent structure.
very chill album and she has a beautiful voice but not a huge fan of the melodies in her songs
6.7/10
From song to song, feelings varied from "meh" to "oh I like it" to "I'm going to sleep now"
Honestly pretty good and sounds ahead of its time. I would have thought this was recorded in the 90s.
It’s fine. Idk if Joni is for me
3/5