Court And Spark

Really enjoyed this

Such a classic album. Love raised on robbery and twisted. Songs all flow so well together.

Really fricken good

Ms. Mitchell proves once again why she's hands down the single greatest songwriter to ever exist. And I will die on that hill. From the jump, this album has me mesmerized, constantly asking, "How in the HELL did she even come up with that?" It's truly not fair that someone can be this creative. There are turnarounds on this album that somehow make no sense and perfect sense at the same time. It shouldn't work, and that's the frustrating but amazing part.

Through a fruitful fusion of folk introspection and jazz sophistication, Court And Spark balances commercial appeal with artistic depth and emotional vulnerability with musical ambition, showcasing a songwriter at the height of her powers yet still reaching for more.

Zzz

Vibey. Listened in the car ride on my way to lunch. Reminds me of my mom - she listened to Joni Mitchell a lot when I was growing up. Her singing is very fluid and rubato - not sure I'm a fan. Piano reminds me of Elton John.

Propper songwriting.

el primero que escucho de electric joni. muy bien.

Meerdere pareltjes: "Help Me", "Trouble Child", "Just Like This Train" ... Al met al een soort toegankelijkere versie van "The Hissing of Summer Lawns". Ook iets minder interessant. Desalniettemin zeer consistent.

I did not enjoy this. Too slow and vibes.

I don't necessarily think this album is bad, it's just excruciatingly boring. There's a couple ok songs towards the end.

No one can sing like Joni Mitchell - she has such a unique style that is difficult to replicate, and she has some interesting stories/poetry in her lyrics. I enjoyed the build up in the title track, and how the whole album feels so 70s. But, it's a bit rambly.

She's got such a strange carefree way of singing in general that I struggle to enjoy her music. Like you can't just talk quickly without rhyming and call it singing. However, there were actually a few songs i liked (Raised on robbery, free man in Paris, twisted), so I'll give it a 3.5 rounded down

Fine. Nothing here is bad, doesn't do much for me. I don't really have much more to say.

truly one of the most boring albums I've ever listened to

I enjoyed sone of this. The jazzy elements were not fir me.

Zu seicht :D

I may be a bogan tradie Aussie bloke but fuck me dead I love a bit of Joni Mitchell

Fucking beautiful, I love Joni Mitchell. Blue might be the more talked about album but this is her crowning achievement I reckon. Cinematic jazzy poppy masterpiece

One of the greatest writers of our time, and probably the only white woman has an understanding of “the black man’s experience” ✊🏾

Fav: Raised On Robbery Least Fav: Court And Spark I think the jazzier she makes her music, the more I like it

Meh, I'm just not a Joni Mitchell fan. Her voice at times can be grating and the instrumental composition for most of her songs just doesn't do it for me. Lyrically she's great though. 2.5/5

I love Joni's early stripped-down folk and her later jazzy experimentation. This was right in the middle and a little less distinctive.

Another artist I never connected with, I can't understand her popularity. Average singer at best. Must be a poet, the wordy songs were lost on a savage like me. I had never listened to this album previously, but it sounds old and disjointed. It has a pretty good listen count, especially for "Help Me" & "Free Man In Paris", if that's the cream of the crop it's a lost cause for me to continue. Definitely not a T1001 album.

This was interesting. The jazz heavy stuff at the end caught my attention. The rest of it was just Joni Mitchell being Joni Mitchell which can be a bit repetitive. Most of it was not memorable.

I like early Joni Mitchell more. reminded me of Steely Dan at times

Considering this is apparently Mitchell’s biggest selling album, I wasn’t familiar with any of the songs on it. It’s a good enough album, but feel one of her more interesting records like Mingus should have made the list instead.

Нудна музика, з монотонним текстом

I don't l know how to say what want to say about this album with any eloquence, so I'll just write and let other judge. Joni Mitchell's voice is great. I don't know that I could ever confuse anyone for Mitchell or vice versa. I understand that she may have started as a folk artist, and while her lyrics are quite poetic in that folk vein, musically, by this point she is beyond folk. Mitchell is all chamber pop and breezy jazz, and balances the tension between these disciplines (and other experiments with rock, funk, and twangy country sounds) exceptionally well. I enjoy Mitchell's voice and vocal style enough that I would listen to her sing the ingredients from a soup can if set to nice enough music.

I love how softly she sings

I know she’s revered as a natural treasure. Doesn’t matter. I’ve never enjoyed more than maybe one or two of her songs. This is the second album of hers I’ve had on this list. I hated the first and don’t like this one. Snoozy and borderline pretentious. I said what I said!

chli weniger nice als blue aber scho au no nice. müessts vlt nomol lose. ame muessi albene mehrmols lose und dasmol hanis eif einisch gost und ned crazy ufmerksam. aso definitv wert nomol inezlose. paar lieder glaub scho no nice gsi anderi jabö

Seems interesting

Was ok.

Joni is pretty damn sublime. I had never previously listened to this album, but it's as good as I had hoped it would be.

Its this and hissing of the summer lawns for me. But this is just lovely

I can understand how people like this, but it's not for me 2/5

Honestly, after a third Joni Mitchell record I think i can say: it's good. It's never gonna be on heavy rotation, I'm not gonna gravitate towards it in an emotional moment but I enjoy it for what it is.

I never really gave joni mitchell the time of time. Major miss on my part. This was wonderful and dreamlike. I can't wait to listen to more.

Good tunes, i really mess with Joni

I had never listened to this album. I had heard Joni before but always dismissed it as grocery store music. I stand corrected. It is light and airy but not what I had previously perceived. Joni had a lot of influence on artists that I like but I never gave her a chance. Great voice. Great music. My preconceived notions were wrong.

Good for concentration at work!

This was not what I was expecting, this album was so much more enjoyable than I thought it was gonna be! There were some pretty good lyrics and it was more rock sounding than I thought it might be! Overall it was an enjoyable listen!

5*, duh.

First Joni Mitchell album

Somehow I've never heard this album even though I enjoy listening to Joni Mitchell very much This album is an amazing blend of folk and jazz all wrapped in a dreamy and lush package, yet it's just isn't enough to keep me interested for the full length of the album.

It's the voice and that hotel lounge music that is not for me. The music is like a weird mix of Pop and country, it's just so bland. Hold music. Lyrics *Checking on my sex appeal* what????? Polymath Ps The Television album contains one of the greatest lyrics "And the Cadillac left the graveyard"

This was one of my mom's favorite albums and I listened to it in our house all though my childhood. I really enjoyed revisiting it today.

help me is an earworm and it's very romantic. vinyl in collection. Would I listen again: yes Deserves to be on this list: I'd pick Blue over this one 4.3

It's strange that a more popular album wasn't recommended. I'm totally okay with country music, but Mitchell's songs don't ring my bells.

Dit album van haar spreekt me minder aan. Wel lekkere mix (de remaster althans). Vond het alleen niet zo indrukwekkend als haar andere werk.

Joni Mitchell's voice is great, she makes everything seem effortless and there's a slightly aloof quality to her voice, in a good way. Like she could sing like this all day with ease This takes a few nice creative turns. Her vocal melodies are sometimes a bit unusual but I liked that, it's kept me on my toes and engaged with the album. The end of Car on a Hill really reminded me of early King Crimson, I immediately enjoyed it because of that Twisted has that classic pop sound and whilst it's a good song it's a bit of a weird choice as a closer because it doesn't feel very climactic or cathartic, it just kind of stops. That's probably my biggest complaint with the album though Classic stuff like this that I've never gotten around to is partly why I enjoy doing this so much Highlights: Car on a Hill, Help Me

would’ve been a 4 but since this is maybe the first woman musician we’ve had in a week, and before the last one many months, gotta be a 5. love you Joni

I thoroughly enjoyed putting this on and forgetting to listen to it and then remembering just in time for it to be over. Three times.

Not quite a 5, but rounded up to a 5 - great variability, kept me interested - some bangers for sure - never really listened to her music bc I had a preexisting thought that it was boring but I’m glad I was wrong!

Ended up saving a song. Not too bad!

I've had 3 Joni bums and this was by far and my favourite of them The cover of Twisted at the end of was great.

I had a hard time with Joni Michell’s Court and Spark. The music sounded dated. Very seventies, but not in a good or even nostalgic way. I like a lot of music from this decade but I could not get into this album. Joni’s vocals over some of the music just didn’t fit. It was like trying force a square peg into a round hole. And I had an issue with her vocal style and pattern on many of the songs. One of the descriptions I read for this album said Joni was in between her folkie past and jazz rock future. I think that is fitting. Court and Spark feels indecisive and bumpy like being on a flight with tons of turbulence. You’re never comfortable and you want it to end. There were only a few moments that I found intriguing, but at least those few times convinced me to bump this to a 2. 2/5

Amazing artist. Good album, probs not my fave of hers but really enjoyed it. So many imitators who don't even come close.

I can’t find any reason to consider this music bad. I just don’t like this music to my taste. Its reminiscent of music I would have heard my Mum play at home. I don’t specifically see why in 1974 this would have been pioneering personally. Probably deserves 3 but this is about what I think so 2. I really had to preserver to get this album done.

Firstly, I love Joni Mitchell's Blue which might even make my top five of all time. Then a lot of her later stuff I find a bit bland. That runs true with this album, vocally still great but the music is somehow less raw than her earlier stuff and sounds a bit schmaltzy. Dare I say "middle of the road"? I am reminded of my primary school music teacher shamelessly playing over-sentimental tunes on the school piano for singing assembly. An average album from a great artist.

Not my cup of tea, and I like a wide variety of tea.

Love Joni Mitchell's voice, but thought I would like this album more. Guess I'm comparing it to 'Blue', but not as many songs stood out. Not bad or great. Standouts: 'Help Me' 'Raised on Robbery'

Great songs and good arrangements. I just think her voice sounds the same tone the whole time

I’m only starting to get into Joni Mitchell album so hearing this early work was great. Her voice at the time was amazing as were the lyrics. Great album

Mitchell's voice is on display at its most beautiful on this album. Help Me is a perfect example of both her range and her songwriting prowess, she has the power to jerk a listener around with her arrangements in a smooth and almost inevitable way and is probably the best song on the album. Hallelujah to the oddball harmonies and resolutions in Free Man in Paris and Down to You. The storytelling journey is especially strong in songs like Car on the Hill, and the piano breakdowns leave you wanting more. She is also exceptionally dynamic in a way that I don't hear often. I adore the jazz influences and arrangements on songs like Just Like This Train and Twisted (Twisted is just plain jazz, no pop nowhere). Raised by Robbery is the black sheep of the album, it's the biggest thematic departure. To me it's by far her most "standard" rock 'n' roll song, from the more "roll" days of rock. She does a great job but I probably wouldn't like her as much if she stuck to this genre, it's not where her arrangement style thrives. I see other peoples comments about her obviously being a poet first and songwriter almost as an afterthought. I agree with this for parts of the album, like People's Parties and The Same Situation. That said, her lyricism is groundbreaking and more than compensates for the poetic focus. Her phrasing is unusual as a result, but I think that's a plus. I don't see how this is supposed to be a pop album, or a folk album. Its jazz fusion if anything. Overall, I definitely needed to hear this before I die.

Really liked this album- turns out I’m a bit of a fan 8/10

Liked the music more than the voice. I never cared for Joni Mitchell’s voice growing up and that still stands. Very talented artist, just not my taste.1

Kinda slow and uninteresting but it’s calming

Oh boy Who suggested this? A regular Joe or a music critic? Joni Mitchell’s music is about as appealing as wet farting in a pair of white pants while teaching a high school class full of delinquents. Catch my drift? So then I throw out any ill feelings towards what I know Joni Mitchell to be. Results? It’s the same. It’s whiney even though I’m sure she doesn’t mean it to be. It’s not catchy although I’m sure she meant it to be. The music alone isn’t even that good. The only positive is that it at least blends well together. I just don’t see anything good in this album otherwise. Might I suggest listening to Fiona Apple instead

I did not use a private spotify session for this one. I enjoyed the more than I thought I would. I like Joni's voice, the piano was nice, but over stated, and lots of acoustic guitar. Good album for the morning while enjoying your third or fourth cup of coffee. This album is very much of it's time, so it won't be going into steady rotation.

How can something so dense remain so light? Guitar chords thick with extensions, but airy as folk. Arrangements full of instruments, but generally lively: the L.A. Express does a lot of work, probably too much, that flute is certainly grating on Just Like This Train. The lyrics are a lot, the subject matter heavy, the scansion often tumbling, but Mitchell's melodic writing and preternatural voice often turns that tumbling into dancing, that heaviness into profundity, and a lot into everything. Not every time here, but she can do it when she wants to. For all that praise, this is not my favourite Joni record, not by a long chalk. But, as with kidneys, the margin between favourites is slight and the best living is done with the full complement that nature has granted. You'll be happy you have it. 3.5 The six studio albums from Ladies of the Canyon to Hejira is one of the best runs in pop music. In my opinion Court and Spark is the least of them, which is no great criticism by itself. The songs are terrific but the arrangements are overwrought and the production queasily slick. Same Situation doesn’t need the chimes and the oozing pedal steel guitar (almost nothing ever does but here it is on most of these tracks) and the string section. Troubled Child doesn’t need the chorus of muted horns. Down to You is the worst offender - a great song and I wish it was just Joni and a piano. Strings and horns is the least of it; clarinet, cor anglais, flute, and a harp all pop up adding some extraneous line - all luxury window-dressing. This is the Mitchell album for the people that kept an additional clean copy of Dark Side for testing new Hi-Fi components. And all those celebrity guest spots. Decadence. Utter 70s Decadence. In terms of lyrics Court and Spark might also be Mitchell at her most self-obsessed, not necessarily a deal-breaker (Blue is probably taking silver) but then the album ends with Twisted. I have never liked this track - there is something unpalatable about Joni Mitchell trying to ironise thinking you are a genius when she is, demonstrably, a genius. ‘Cheech and Chong’ not being geniuses doesn’t make it funny. 3.5/5

This has been my favorite Joni Mitchell album. Great lyricism as always but this also felt more rythmic and upbeat than other albums I’ve heard like Hejira. The pacing was great and there weren’t any particularly weak tracks. Favorite songs were: Twisted Raised on Robbery Just Like this Train Free Man in Paris 10/10

This album rips. I didn't pay attention to individual songs too much, but I enjoyed the entire run. It's a great length and all the songs are at least fun to listen to. My favorite songs were "Car on a Hill", "Free Man In Paris", "Raised on Robbery", and "Twisted". 8/10

I like Joni Mitchell, but in doses.

Raised on Robbery and Twisted were the two tracks that stood out as different from the rest. Folky, singer-songwriter stuff. Not bad but a lot of it kind of ran together.

Joni Mitchell’s voice has a similar effect on me as Van Morrison’s. Overall, this album is deeply soothing but in an energetic and occasionally frantic way (?) Decent guitar and horns too. Standout tracks are: “Court and Spark” and “Car on a Hill”.

Great album - didn't realize the diverse musicians on this - Tom Scott, Robbie Robertson, some of the Wrecking Crew, David Crosby, Graham Nash and even José Feliciano and Cheech and Chong! Standouts are "Raised on Robbery" and "Court and Spark" and to a lesser extent for me "Help Me"

I always have a problem with JMs up and down the scale vocal stylings and this is no different. Solid.

Bof ! I was curious to hear an album by Joni because I had only heard her famous stuff. This isn’t that. Not my thing, voice is annoying and the music all sounds the same, too folky for me. I’m going to listen to some of her later stuff instead apparently it’s more rock jazz

Good but didn't grab me 3.25

I don't like her free-flowing songwriting style at all. The jazz and pop inflections just make worse, IMO. Not a good listen.

This album is way too ordinary for me.

Thought I had acquired the Joni Mitchell taste after the first couple of songs, but my appreciation waned to the sameness of the songs throughout.

Rating based on likelihood of listening again. It took repeated listening to appreciate this album. I'm not really fond of her voice on most tracks, but I enjoyed the lyrics and the stories told.

Some of the songs were okay, but other made me feel like this album was a bit too uppity for me. Not entirely sure why since some were good.

I know she’s one of the most acclaimed songwriters out there but I just didn’t find any of it that interesting to listen to.

Her voice is good and the songs were ok, just nothing to set the pulse racing.

She’s a really great lyricist (albeit I don’t think I’m the ideal audience for the subject matter), however, I’m just not into her songwriting as such.

норм

Enjoyed it Standout songs: Court and Spark The Same Situation Twisted

This is my first real exposure to Joni and... yeah its fine. The jazz elements kept me going and some of the writing is good. She randomly kicks her voice up to 11 and its beautiful but also off putting. I'm enjoying it more on my second listen but do not see it going much further.

Another great album to have on in the background at work.

I’ve never been a fan, and this didn’t change my view. I know she’s revered in some circles, and I know this album along with Blue are ‘big deals’. So I give her an extra star for being a legend, which doesn’t come easily, and for being Canadian.

Listenable.

Songwriting on this album is prolly its strong suit amazing instrumentals though i think this album is just great, like its genuine piece of art probably will have to listen more and come back to it.

Boring

This is the album that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant often mention when they talk about their admiration for Joni Mitchell. I personally prefer "Ladies Of The Canyon" from this period of her career, but this, like all of her albums, deserves at least 5 stars.

Not my thing, but Down to You is lovely; very 90s-film-soundtrack sounding. Love the jazzy number at the end though! Very unexpected from her.

Joni Mitchell's voice is incredible, I really enjoyed listening to this one. The cover of Twisted felt a little stapled on to the end rather than a cohesive part of the album but it was still a pleasant surprise for me.

not my favorite by her but still good

She's got such a weird carefree way of singing in general that I struggle to enjoy her music. Like you can't just talk quickly without rhyming and call it singing. However, there were actually a few songs i liked (Raised on robbery, free man in Paris, twisted), so I'll give it a 3.5 rounded down

Nice music. Nice vocals. I just can't identify with the poetry or the sentiment of this kind of music. My country was going through so different things at that time. Horrible things. This kind of music didn't even make it through here.

Was allright. Not really my cup of tea. "Help me" is a good song. The others all sound alike to me, tbh.

I didn't get enough time for this to sink in - the songs grow with repeat plays. It may bebetter than I first thought.

Beautiful. Jazz-like vocals on top of Americana/folk instrumentation. Perfect morning album.

I've yet to be blown away by the Joni Mitchell albums that have appeared so far (there have been a few) and it's been hard to convince me those albums are essential. "Court And Spark" contains at least three songs I'm very familiar with, along with a set of songs that are quite good. Hearing this record is warming me up to Mitchell's music, easy to listen to with less pretension and experimentation and more of the sound I was hoping to hear. Probably my favourite, or at least. enjoyable Joni Mitchell album on the list.

The more austere tracks on this album re as beautiful as her best work- and while I’m not a big fan of hers, I do appreciate her. The full band stuff sounds like 70s AOR and I do not care for it- they aren’t bad songs, but the production kills them for me. And she’d do jazz better once she hooked up with Charles Mingus.

Give me more listens

2 - White lady with a guitar sings folksy songs. Nothing wrong with the album just not for me.

Joni Mitchell is a national treasure

I can appreciate her talent and she’s good. Just not my cup of tea.

5/10

7/10

Joni has such an amazing voice. I recently saw a YouTube video of her singing live in 2022. 79 and she can still pull it off, gave me goosebumps. Great lyricist, great poet, great singer. A nice album. I’m going to have to go and listen to more of her albums today, and because she reminds of Karen Carpenter I’m going to listen to The Carpenters and Neil Diamond as well. (Then on to some Megadeth🤘🏻)

Vocals unsettled me, almost not in time. I enjoyed the instrumental, if I could remove the vocals I would. Raised on robbery is not bad I enjoyed that song! Twisted instrumental complemented her voice great song my new album favourite great jazzy track!

Not my favorite work of hers musically, but lyrics are as poignant (and depressing!) as always! Even though they don’t always land I appreciate the broadening of the styles. Listened to: at home. Favorite tracks: Down to You, The Same Situation, Raised on Robbery

Gepflegte Langeweile. Jedes Stück klingt irgendwie gleich. Unangenehm hohe Stimme, Melodien Mangelware. Nix!

This lassie can write a tune

It’s not bad at all, but for whatever reason, it just didn’t really click with me. Joni Mitchell is one of those artists I feel I should like, but neither of the albums I’ve listened to have made much of an impression. I’m not entirely sure why. Favorite: Twisted; Court and Spark

I always enjoy Joni Mitchell in the moment more than I remember. This is a good album. Not as good as Blue, but I can get into this.

it was fine. not bad, but sort of mid tempo and i prefer.. not that. i liked that she annunciated her lyrics

I wouldn't pick it over blue... It's fine.

Clearly very good, unfortunately got distracted by work so didn't appreciate it as much as I could have

Beautiful and relaxing. I took a little nap.

Felt like a Free Man In Paris while listening to this album. Don’t get me Twisted, but the decision to listen to this album is Down to You.

Pleasant voice, nice instrumentation. Don't particularly care for listening to someone describing things in a sing songy voice though. I'm left wondering what exactly the point is?

CONSTANT STRANGER YOU'RE A KIND PERSON YOU'RE A COLD PERSON TOO one of my favourite Joni album.

Folksy, pleasant. I would listen in a park

This was kind of a weird one for me. Not really what I expected.

Joni Mitchell takes an experimental new direction. I enjoyed listening to it, although I think the earlier stuff suits her voice better.

Maybe my favorite Joni album. Reminds me of driving to Mwold this was in the tape rotation for sure.

Albumi #148, 15.02.2025 Joni Mitchellin kuudes studioalbumi vuodelta 1974 on yksi legendaarisen laulaja-lauluntekijän parhaita. Aiemmista albumeista tutuksi tullut folk-pop on saanut rinnalleen vaikutteita jazzista. Todella hyvä levy.

Good singer songwriter album. 2nd half not as good as the first.

Good chill album. 4 stars

i liked it. not enough for a four, but i liked it. hell yea

Pre-listening thoughts: FINALLY we are back with a woman. Thank god and it’s legend Joni Mitchell. So hype Post/during listening thoughts: oh this is fireeee. Folky and jazzy in all the right places, and a masterclass in lyricism. People seem to be divided on her voice but I think it is beautiful. This is amazing. 9/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: mmm no but everyone should hear some Joni Mitchell before they die Fav tracks: no skips but I love Help Me, Car on a Hill, Raised on Robbery, and Twisted Least fav tracks: n/a

This was completely new to me. I had heard of her but had actually never really listened to her. I absolutely love her voice. The type of music isn’t my favorite. Still glad to have discovered her this way.

7/10

Get it twisted. You will never become a generational singer-songwriter. Your talents and efforts mean nothing to a cold, indifferent universe that will send Joni Mitchell to mog the ever-living shit out of you. You think you're safe, hiding in your genre. Sitting there thinking to yourself "I don't make folk rock; she can't hurt me." Then out of nowhere, like she's serving a warrant, Joni kicks in your door and says, "I learned jazz bitch." She proceeds to give you a tight, all killer no filler project. Just spitting hot lead for 37 minutes. Pay attention folks. This is how you blend genres. Sad to see it didn't win AOTY, but if you're going up against peak Stevie, I get it. Joni and Stevie battling it out in '75. Can you imagine? In the year of our lord 2025, I've got to seriously consider if Jacob Collier is going to win a Grammy. We used to be a country. 9/10 Favorite Song: Free Man in Paris/Trouble Child

10/10 Often imitated never replicated. Joni’s songwriting, composition, and storytelling vocals are in full force here. The peak of singer songwriter work here on the levels of Carole King’s tapestry but in its own unique way. Joni could make like a rolling stone but Bob Dylan could never make Same Situation. Favorite Song: Same Situation

Unexpectedly almost fun.

like a penny whistle drowning

Certainly one I grew up listening to quite a lot. Joni has a forever home in my memory.

Not a fan of Joni's voice. I understand she's a big deal in some circles, but I'm unable to appreciate the appeal. This album takes me back to being left home alone in a cabin in the woods with nothing but yellow tinged books, shag carpeting an an old record player with a few records. I'm pretty sure this was in there. Basically, aside from the dozens of photo albums of black and white photos of people I didn't know and the antlers above the fireplace, it was pretty boring. If I had to choose one standout song, it'd be the last track Twisted, because its different than the rest and it's also the last track on the album.

A Joni Mitchell 3-in-1 review to catch up… Joni Mitchell sadly doesn’t really do it for me. When her songs are upbeat and fast-paced, they are tolerable, but when they are slow they put me to sleep. The album “Blue” keeps the pace, but has Mitchell too often suddenly and sharply pushing her voice too high. She’s got a great voice actually, but that is not playing to its strengths. “All I Want” and “River” are deserved timeless hits, though. The album “Court and Spark” has less jarring highs, but too slow of a pace.” “Hejira” was the most forgettable of the three. We still have one more Joni to go. We’ll see if “The Hissing of Summer Lawns” grabs me any more.

I think my problem with Joni has always been that I can’t enjoy music as much when I can’t sing along. I appreciate the instrument that is her voice but the jazz inflections make this more difficult to access and connect with for me.

This album was a bit of a slow burn for me. Joni’s voice is still top notch. My two favorite songs were held until the last three tracks (Raised On Robbery and Twisted).

Lots to like on this, not least Mitchell's voice and the inventiveness of many of the songs. But I don’t really like the laid-back jazz-pop vibe.

2.3 Really can't do Joni's voice. 1 of every 5 songs is bearable but the rest, actually slightly jarring to be honest. Really not for me.

Lovely Album

im sorry this is so boring

very inspirational?

pretty different from what i expected. more soul and jazz-oriented than the stripped back acoustic sound on blue. some great choruses, surprisingly acute pop sensibility. of course, its joni mitchell, so the writing is really at the core of the appeal for me. thematically, its more-so a loose connection of vignettes than a cohesive concept. the lyrics are as fantastic as you'd expect—wit, earnestness, sentimentality. the depth of frank introspection gives the songs a diary feel. her diction when delivering those lyrics is also impressively dense; occasionally manages to fit in an absurd amount of syllables in each line, with considerable melodic complexity. sonically, almost sounds like a proto-fiona apple, which i can't really complain about. the elaborate compositions generally work, especially on the opening three track stretch. not without its failures though. occasionally the instrumental extravagance buries the raw expression underneath. the rhythmically rowdy "raised on robbery" felt especially out of place. jazz fusion is a fragile balancing act between kitsch and sophistication–one that this album almost always succeeds at.

I listened to the first song and thought to myself, arman and adi would have a field day with this album. decided to stick with it and was thoroughly surprised. The album was dynamic, sonically pleasing, personal, and different. Had never heard any of her previous works but was really surprised, I enjoyed it quite a lot. A bit poppy at times but the storytelling and lyricism made up for it. Will have to listen to the rest of her stuff and this again. Solid 4/4.5.

ive grown to really like joni mitchell this past year. although i prefer blue, i enjoyed to this album too

I rarely ever voluntarily listen to folk, but I really like how instrumentally varied this album is. I hope that I eventually start seeking this stuff.

Perfect record to drive home to on a Friday night in LA

I absolutely loved it. Stunning songwriter, pleasantly surprised

great

Didn't like it as much as the first one but better than Bat Out of Hell. Didn't connect with the melodies as much in this album as Carole Kings.

I’ve got a big ol’ Joni Mitchell-sized hole in my listening background and I d really enjoyed the opportunity to start to fill it in with some of these albums. These songs are a little corny, but utterly musical and extremely well crafted. I certainly see why she is wildly adored.

Joni.

Easy listening, I like her voice and sound

I know she gets high praise in some circles, but I was underwhelmed by this. Easy listening, sure, but there are plenty of other easy listening artists from the period that I would choose over this…

I’ve never really understood the hype around Joni Mitchell. I imagine it stems from her music being part of the larger folk movement hitting at the right moment during post-Vietnam times when the country needed a change. And while I always thought hearing a single Joni song here and there was pleasant enough, listening to an entire album really confirmed for me how much I don’t prefer her voice. So, I get why this album received such high praise. But outside of songs like “Raised on Robbery” and “Twisted” which are standout tracks, most of this just sounds alike.

Oof, there’s a lot to dislike here. So much so that I don’t feel the need to put together a list.

I had my AirPods on and when her voice came in on the first song it freaked me out! It’s like she was whispering in my ear next to me (and not in a good way). I mean…it’s fine. Not really my cup of tea and if I feel like if I listen to much more I might turn into a 60 year old lesbian.

I knew this day would come. And I always thought Joni would be deserving of a 1* bomb, but she is saved by my own ratings scale. I can't bring myself to say this is unlistenable...so it isn't a 1*. But it still sucks and she is overrated. 2/5

7.5/10. The music is very lovely. The vocals are really soothing. The lyrics are nice. It makes sense why Joni Mitchell is such a beloved figure in the world of folk music. :)

Joni Mitchell has been a black hole for me musically my entire 40 years of life. I had this idea of her as quietly sitting on a small stool, baring her soul, and while I know that that is indeed a part of her bag of tricks, I was astonished to hear the vibrant instrumentation on this album. It felt like this album was built in order to showcase her versatility as a writer of melodies and hooks, and has officially slid into first place on the list of 'Greatest Albums I've Never Heard Before This Exercise'.

Great. Will come back to this 100%. Lovely tunes, a great voice and thoroughly enjoyable instrumental breaks that are written with care.

2 Stars I just don't understand it, it's not my type. The melody feels ok and feels "free" like a bird. Other than that, I don't understand anything from this album.This is the second album that I have rated and I don't want to stress it too much, but this is not really my type.

Folkie did not enjoy

This album lets you bask in a mood. 5 stars just for being Canadian and making it.

No notes

Hadn’t heard this one, definitely adding to the rotation!

Love Joni ❤️

Good

Randy Newman once said he fell off a bit with Joni when she started singing about rich people. I get that, although "Free Man in Paris" is probably the best song here. As a Blue fan, I'm generally less excited about her forays into the jazzier side of things, but this one works well overall.

This hit just right for me. Liked it more than my first listen of Blue or For the Roses. Joni my beloved

I am desperately bored listening to this, and need something much more exciting from her in the additional albums I'll have to listen to. Best Song: Help Me Rating: 5.0/10 3 Star

Darker tone for her but still has a way with words and just a cuts to the heart of the matter.

neutral. probably won’t seek it out but I enjoyed listening to it!

Her voice, as always, is beautiful and unique, the instrumentation is varied, lively and engaging. The blend of folk and jazz manages to be both soothing and invigorating, with flourishes of ambitious sonic textures and experimentation.

She’s done it again

By far the best Joni Mitchell album we’ve gotten, imo. Enjoyed this, her voice intonation is kindve not easy on my ears but I feel like there was less of that than blue or Hejira. High 4

6/10 - Joni Mitchell has a nice voice. However, some of these songs are quite strange. Especially Twisted. I have no idea what the point of the song was. I liked raised on robbery tho

Still don’t really know how to feel about Joni Mitchell. I like the vibe most of the time, but when I pay attention the songs don’t really work

Inte min grej, gick att ha i bakgrunden, men lägre skiktet av den kategorin

Not my cup of tea but easy to listen to

the best album ive heard from her! its the first album i heard from here where i was thinking that the lyrics should better been used as poems. But this album is also good sounding. (3.0/5.0) i hope its not her peak album yet music wise

Glazed over this one. Not a massive fan of this style. Onto more albums.

Not my cup of tea.

This album is incredible

Enjoyed it. Forgot about her as an artist but after listening remember her way more than I had realized. Very 70s folk.

7/10 Voce incredibile, jazz/funk album interessante, sarebbe da approfondire i testi e gli argomenti trattati

MI’m re swing that the albums mom listened to, but still beautiful

i havent heard this type of music before

It’s fine. Not my cup of tea but has a few good songs.

Better than I expected

Less sad more playful than I thought it would be.

lovely

Not what I would call the best Joni Mitchell album? But basically fine.

easy listening and inoffensive but tends to dull

Joni Mitchell is not my jam

Okay not awful. But please no more Joni Mitchell albums.

4/5 We enjoyed this one. It was quality.

Like a lot of Joni Mitchell's music, I choose to like this album. She doesn't always make it easy for me to like it and in other hands a lot of these sounds and pretensions would seriously irritate me. A lot of these songs have parts I really like and parts I really don't like, often right after one another. I share a home with one or more people who seriously hate her music. So I have to be strategic about when and where I listen to it. In fairness to my housemates, Joni Mitchell's a bit of a musician's musician, I think, and that you'll hear a lot of people like Jimmy Page waxing poetic about her amazing guitar playing, but not a lot of non-musicians waxing about her. I think that's part of why she largely been forgotten over the last 20 or so years. Free Man In Paris is supposedly about David Geffen, who was her manager at the time and during a trip to France together was bitching to her about having put up with random calls from temperamental artists at all hours but in Paris where no one could reach him he was finally free and could relax a little. That's one tune I like all the way through without any major irritations. But my favorite story about Joni Mitchell and David Geffen was the time when he drove her to Woodstock and they got stuck in traffic and ended up just camping out in a motel room and watching the festival on TV where she wrote her song Woodstock that her boyfriend Graham Nash made famous with CSN a year or two later.

I'll admit I'm not much of a Joni Mitchell fan, so this isn't really my cup of tea, but I *do* appreciate it that this album is more interesting and likely more classic Joni Mitchell than "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns" (I can see there's still two more of her albums awaiting in this collection, but I don't know yet how "Court and Spark" compares to those two). I enjoyed "Free man in Paris" and "Raised on robbery" more than the others, perhaps simply because there was a bit more oomph to the session band's style on those tracks (I didn't realize that Crosby and Nash were backing vocals on "Free man in Paris" until later, but that might have been part of its appeal, and Robbie Robertson's guitar on "Raised on robbery" puts that song well above the rest). And while I wish I enjoyed her music more, I do appreciate how distinctive her voice is; it's hard to imagine confusing her for anyone else. I'm also impressed how many big names she was able to get to appear as studio musicians for her album (and a nod to getting Cheech and Chong on the kind of cringy "Twisted").

Great album: Mitchell's voice warbles and dances through the expertly crafted tunes, though her cover of Twisted doesn't do a lot for me (Annie Ross's original is sublime).

It's not as good as "Blue". "Court and Spark" is a bit too mellow for me. There are some good songs on that album. "Raised On Robbery" is my favourite on "Court and Spark". I've also been getting into more experimental music recently. 3 stars for "Court and Spark".

I liked Help Me and Free Man in Paris a lot. I've never sat down with Joni Mitchell, and this will be a slow burn for me. It was good.

det börjar rätt bra men sen ju längre det går så tröttnar man på rösten. att hon åker upp och ned i falsett och tillbaka hela tiden

I'm afraid this is a bit of a case of admire-more-than-enjoy. Joni is a wonderful artist but this isn't one of my favourite records by her and in truth, although it's quite nostalgic for me (reminds me of my mum), I ultimately find the style here a bit too 'jazz lounge'.

Není to špatný, ale přijde mi, že Joni Mitchell má lepší.

Pretty boring and repetitive

Another fantastic Joni Mitchell album. I forgot how good Raised on Robbery was.

Not my favourite genre but Joni has a great voice. Help me was my favourite song of this album. Album grew on me as I continued to listen.

I liked the atmosphere it created

Джони Митчелл — это Тейлор Свифт 70-х. Она, как твоя старая подруга из колледжа, которая сидела на ступеньках общаги с гитарой, но вместо того, чтобы выносить мозг своими страданиями, умудрялась рассказывать о них так, что ты действительно слушал. Альбом «Court and Spark» звучит так, будто эта подруга наконец-то заработала на приличные джинсы, немного утонула в радиопопсе, но всё ещё остаётся той же задорной и остроумной девчонкой. Это лёгкий фолк, который не пытается навязчиво цеплять тебя за душу, как какой-нибудь уличный проповедник — он просто существует рядом. Митчелл ловко смешивает джаз и поп, как будто делает коктейль, где джаз — это крепкий алкоголь, а поп — вкусная газировка. Всего в меру, ничего лишнего. И это удивительно, потому что обычно, когда фолк-исполнители заигрывают с жанрами, результат напоминает салат из того, что завалялось в холодильнике. Но Джони, судя по всему, знает рецепт. «Court and Spark» — это саундтрек к жизни, где ты не супергерой, а просто человек, застрявший в пробке или кружащий с тележкой по супермаркету в поисках нормального авокадо. Это музыка для тех, кто уже понял, что мир не изменится, но всё ещё хочет, чтобы он хотя бы звучал приятно.

Well written songs i can appreciate them but it’s not something that really sticks out to me as a whole Car on a Hill is a highlight though that song is amazing

Better than I thought. Had a very 70s feel to it

She has a voice like Amy Mann and the songwriting skills Bob Dylan but for some reason I can't get into it

Lyrical queen. I liked it.

stellar! never heard a joni mitchell album in full before, and really glad this was my introduction.

Not a fan when Joni does traditional rock or jazz, but the typical folky/pop stuff is great.

Great album

It's an okay album with some good songwriting. Doesn't really speak to me however.

Beautiful album

Beautiful vocals but the album didn't excite me until the last couple of songs. "Raised on Robbery" really woke the album up and was by far the best track.

de vrouwelijke Bob Dylan...

Groovy, simplistic lyricism, gentle, beautiful instrumentals, introspective

Easy listening

Quite like this

This is nice :)

Yeah this has some great songs but also has some flops.

A classic.

it's alright, folk ain't my thing and it's also a bit samey

Joni Mitchell’s Court and Spark is a stunning fusion of jazz, folk, and pop, tied together by her evocative voice and poetic lyrics. The album feels deeply personal, like a collection of snapshots from Joni’s life. Tracks like "Free Man in Paris" and "People’s Parties" showcase her ability to capture fleeting, intimate moments and turn them into universal stories. Her songwriting feels both observational and deeply emotional, drawing the listener into her world. The orchestration is a standout feature, with lush arrangements and thoughtful touches, like the gospel-like choir in Down to You. Each song feels carefully constructed, yet the album retains an unstructured, flowing quality, especially in tracks like Troubled Child, where the jazzy undertones reflect wandering thoughts and introspection. Raised on Robbery adds energy and relatability, while Twisted ends the album with a playful, witty flourish. With its blend of sophisticated lyrics, vivid storytelling, and rich instrumentation, Court and Spark is timeless and captivating. It’s a collection of songs that lingers in your mind long after the music ends. Final Rating: 5/5

A very pleasant listen!

She's a great vocalist don't get me wrong

Ok. Maybe better than I thought. Almost fell asleep toward the end until raised on robbery came on which was fun. 3 stars cause it's well done just not for me really

Classic folkish music that I really enjoyed listening to. She is really a legend now. Sort of haunting vibe, very chilled out. I'm sure I will listen to this again.

I've heard this album before. Not much of a Joni Mitchell fan. I'd like her a lot more if she had more songs like Raised on Robbery and Twisted. But all the other jazzy shit with pretentious and surprisingly misogynistic lyrics is better left forgotten.

Troisième disque de JM après 'Blue' (1/5) et 'The Hissing Of Summer Lawns' (2/5). 'Court And Spark' est dans la même veine que 'The Hissing Of Summer Lawns', avec l'introduction d'éléments plus Jazzy par rapport à 'Blue'. Mais il n'est guère mieux, je n'apprécie décidément pas le chant de JM. =>2/5

It’s a nice mellow listen.

Dazzlingly masterful folk rock songwriting and production.

booooh court and spark mit so schönem bass und slide giti larry carlton aaaaahh. help me het de LA sound mit tom scott horns und sie singt haaammer. free man in paris suuper geili chords gitarre mached so viel bgvs huuere geil im refrain. boooh joni. peoples parties meega schöni 12 saiter und soo kreativi harmonie immer wie? the same situation super schöne isatz vo strings und steel gitarre. es schwebt immer alles irgendwie. car on a hill seehr geils intri tom am sopransax. ich lieb alles bis etz. noooh riichtig geeeil es isch bitz aja time. hihat huere luut haha. down to you kenni. wuuunderschön. LOVE IS GOOOONE fuuuuck huuuui. just like this train kenni au han ich mol die zweit siite vo dem glost? suuuper schön! raised on a robbery mega upbeat für joni aber seehr geil. wafür e sooolo tom. troubled child ultra geil gitarreline. meh en ruhige track macht nöd so viel aber seehr geil. twisted straight up jazz. aaah joni komplizierti jazzmelodie time. aso jo da album isch e heeeerts füfi. easy

HERE COMES JONIII court and spark hani zwar schön aber nüt speziells gfunde, au wenn ichs klavier liebeee sie singt sooo unglaublich free man in paris aaaah hmm finds sehr schön und sehr cool wied lieder innenadflüssed aber s ischmer viles chli z langsam? down to you isch na spannend aber at denn ide bridge chli z lang findi zu raised on robbery chammer ricjtig s tanzbei schwinge grundsätzlich gege endi sehr viilsitig!! twisted megaaa

Nice

Increíble, es muy buen álbum ahora no lo puedo describir mucho pero tiene melodías hermosas (casi prog), ella una voz increíble, buenas letras, muy bien producido.

If this would’ve been the first Joni Mitchell I heard I’d probably be more of a fan. This album is much more playable and upbeat with some great 12 string guitar work. I actually enjoyed the song Help Me and Free Man in Paris. This album had a nice tonal blend of softer hits with great storytelling and uptempo quirk. She seemed like she had fun making this album. Twisted was a curious jazzy rap about therapy. Of her albums, I can actually listen to this one again. Probably won’t look for it but could listen.

I listened to this album several times over the weekend. While I generally like it, it doesn't ever grab me by the collar. It seems a bit more uptempo than the previous Joni album we listened on 1001 but I'm still trying to "get" Joni. One thing I noticed while listening to this album is that Joni Mitchell sounds like an old recording. It would not feel contemporary at all if it came out today. So it is like listening to a bit of a time capsule. Some of it is the production and use of piano. It just sounds old. Not all music sounds old, lots of the music from the 60s and 70s still feels fresh but this does not. Maybe that is part of why I don't "get" Joni.

I like this but only in small doses

I really enjoyed each of these songs, something about her voice just feels magical.

Not sure I have ever listened to this whole album before. I think it may be my favorite of hers. 3.5

All albums will be 1, 3 or 5 stars, with no further commentary or explanation given. Played via Spotify, re-listen. (Forgot to say for last two, both played via Spotify. Ágætis Byrjun was a first time listen, Ten was a re-listen)

this was more like a 4.5, I really enjoyed it + I'd listen to it unprompted, if the mood was right. I felt at times like I was listening to a Lorde album though I couldnt really express why. Her voice also grew on me a lot

Help Me is one of the greatest songs of all the twentieth century

Easily the most accessible Joni album I've heard. I prefer her jazzier albums with Jaco but that takes nothing away from this one. Really enjoyable listening.

I'm sure this is good if you like this kind of thing, but I found it mostly grating.

For albums I know nothing about I'm doing thoughts before and after I listen: Before: I know Joni Mitchell is a singer and she is well known and an influential artist, I could not name one of her songs off the top of my head. Did she do the paved paradise and put up a parking lot one? I expect to hear 70's folksy/contemporary music. I expect I'll recognize one or two songs. After: Recognized Help Me. She did do Paved Paradise, but it's not on this album. Definitely 70's singer/songwriter music à la Carly Simon or James Taylor, but leans more folk to my ear. I think it's a good album, but not my normal cup of tea.

I can see why this album was her most successful. It is probably among the most entertaining songs I've heard in a Joni Mitchell album. It is short and focused at a mere 36 minutes running time. I enjoyed the playful jazz rock arrangements and the wild instruments choices (jazz flute anyone?) far more than I did the other jazz rock album of hers' on this list. But, too many of the songs felt like she was trying to shoehorn in too many lyrics. While the songs are okay, I think they really could have shined with the less is more lyrical approach to really let the best lines land and breathe. Then again she has always been too much of a poet and not enough of a singer. Suffers from the same disease that Bob Dylan and Neil Young have. Too much poetry, not enough music. These weren't my favorite Joni Mitchell songs but I did enjoy "Help Me", Trouble Child", and "Raised on Robbery". You can really hear the inspiration she had on artists like Tori Amos. That said, I prefer Roger Whittaker myself.

Amazing, a true classic. There's no one like Joni.

Really enjoyable, this takes pop music and adds in lots of rock, country and jazz elements. The guitar is one of the best parts. B

Dug this considerably. Some cool hippydelic groovy grooves tossed in and some super cool session work from the guitarists, and other instrumentalists. The documentary really added to my appreciation of Joni and the rest of the Laurelite's (my nickname I came up with 30 seconds ago).

Not my favorite Joni Mitchell album, but it’s still really good because, well, it’s Joni. Songs are catchy, the album flows well, and I love her guitar playing. It’s no Blue, but still a great record.

It sounds pleasant enough but it's just boring. Nothing egregiously wrong but also nothing of interest. I'm also not a big fan of Mitchell's singing. Favorites: Car on a Hill, Trouble Child

I can't do it, man. I hate this stuff. Lightweight, meandering warbling that, I agree, shoulda been a poem. Feel like this is an inverted version of women reading Hemingway and hating it.

Great!

I... Can't think of anything to say about this, weirdly. 'Coz it's not in a way like, "Oh, I like this so much that the words just aren't coming to me." No, it's honestly more like... I'm just kind of apathetic to this album? I don't think the instrumentals are bad, I'm sure the lyrics are fine, and I don't even necessarily dislike Joni Mitchell's voice. It was just so easy for me to tune this out while I was listening to it, and then when I started writing the review I hardly remembered anything about it. Even listening to short clips after the fact I couldn't think of anything to say. Jus'... I'unno. I really tried to write a proper review, with a through-line and actually talking about the music, but I've really got nothing. I guess I can give this thing a 3 'cuz this a, y'know, fine enough listen while it was on — and "Raised By Robbery" has a neat instrumental, actually — but yeah. Sorry. Hopefully the one my group gets tomorrow will inspire me to say more.

Just some wonderful 70s pop from a very beautiful voice, which I dig very much. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I… might be at a 10. I’m serious. I’ve never actually heard Joni Mitchell until today – her name was familiar, and I think I have a decent sense of her place in the 60s/70s folk canon, but she’s always been more of a trivia factoid to me than anything else. I’ve just never really had an excuse to interact with her music. I did think this would be good, but my expectations were a little more folk-y & a bit subdued. Holy fucking shit, I was not expecting this though. I harped a lot on storytelling when it came to the Marty Robbins album we got the other day, and this is storytelling in spades. A little more complex, sure, but the imagery she provides throughout is vivid and full of life in a way that’s more relatable to modern times than gunfighter ballads – there are some lines that hit me like a fucking truck throughout this album, and that’s the mark of a fantastic *writer.* There are great songwriters, but she’s really flexing pure writing here. It also helps that she’s really fucking good at making these work as songs; there are catchy choruses and vocal patterns all over this album, but they’re still very easy to follow along to story-wise, save for maybe “Just Like This Train”, but even then, it’s still gettable. That writing ability is just as matched by her vocals (seriously, what a voice – it got me plenty of times throughout the album), and the extremely jazzy/Americana-influenced band behind her. The instrumentals here are fantastic, and give each song room to breathe, their own distinct identity, and just perfectly compliment each other. When this album wants to go full rock, it can do it without blinking an eye – same thing applies to piano ballads, guitar ballads, nightclub tunes, et cetera. I don’t have a single complaint about the production here; everything feels perfectly mixed, and the transitions are seamless when they happen. It all feels totally coherent, and that’s a testament to the quality of every track here. Everything about this album is right down my alley, and I’m really, truly stunned that none of this has ever entered my stratosphere until now. It’s a remarkably tight 37 minutes that kept me captivated on every single word, while still managing to leave room for attention on her vocals and the band behind her. I may simply be blindsided by lower expectations followed by such a strong album, but damn, this really got me good. It’s a hell of an introduction to Joni Mitchell, at the very very least. For my tastes… yeah, I’m at a 10. It was *that* good.

3 stars. not my fav joni album

Διαβαζω για αυτο το αλμπουμ οτι εχει απιστετους στιχους. Εγω ομως αυτο που κανω ειναι να επικεντρωνομαι στο ηχο αποκλειστικα , στα vocals και την παραγωγη πριν κινηθει το ενδιαφερον μου αρκετα για να κοιταξω τους στιχους. Δυστυχως οχι αυτο που περιμενα. Δεν υπηρχαν ρεφρεν και ολη η εμπειρια ηταν καπως βαρετη. Παρ' ολ' αυτα μαρεσει η φωνη της και η παραγωγη σε πολλα σημεια. Shoutout στο μπαμπα που ακουγε. Rating: C+

Tror fan det är tredje plattan med henne och det är så jävla dåligt. Världens mest överskattade kvinnliga singer-songwriter. Vart är Melanie, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joan Baez och Sandy Denny? Så jävla mycket bättre. På den här plattan fanns det dock ett par låtar man kunde lyssna på under pistolhot.

Beautiful album, as everything she does! In the same vibe as Blue but with more instruments!

Could be worse... Feel like its waiting room music at a beauty store or even hold music. It reminds me of sitting in the loungeroom at my grandparents on a weekend trying to nap but you couldn't because they played this music too loud because they were deaf even though they were more than likely already asleep...

Joni Mitchell is lovely when listened to in the right mood.

Not my cup of Tea! I usually like 70s music but this is one of the albums I would skip. One good song through it was Raised on Robbery IMO.

Folk Music. :/

Classic Joni Mitchell, i really like Raised on Robbery as it brings the pace, sadly Twisted was kinda meh, but her vocals and interesting melodies help her a lot

I'm well familiar with this album. Joni Mitchell really isn't my style of music and I don't often listen to her unless someone else turns it on, but she's a favorite of the critics and there's no disputing that this album was a big success for her.

"Court and Spark", "Free Man in Paris", "Help Me" are the highlights here. Joni Mitchell can be a little hit or miss for me, but this album is firmly in the "hit" column.

Amazing

почитала про эту легендарную женщину и рада что слушала первым именно этот альбом потому что джаз мне куда интереснее фолк рока очень приятный голос и действительно крутые тексты (за что её и любят) не скажу что весь альбом зашел потому что мне местами было скучновато но опыт однозначно приятный и много образов вызвал (как и было эээ обещано) отдельно отмечу песни help me и raised on robbery!

прикольно, но не эпохально

2 Joni Mitchell albums in 3 days, am I in purgatory?

My second Joni! The way she layers her voice on this album is so angelic. My favorite song is Help Me. I love the way she slides her voice on the words "help me", and the chord changes between 30 and 40 seconds really tickle my brain. I can't wait to listen to this again and really soak it all in.

Hated this on the first listen but really enjoyed it second time around

Chad Joni

Wow so much better than Blue

not shabby but pale in comparison to blue

Uniquely beautiful. Her voice is truly amazing and her cadence is just wonderful. “Free Man in Paris” is a great song. 4/5 Will listen again

Mixed feelings about this album because I'm not a fan of Joni Mitchell's move to Jazz, but it's quite a pleasant album, and her voice is a as wonderful as ever. I quite liked "Help Me".

really good, very rich with swelling guitars and great vocals, paired with great lyricism and storytelling. amazing folk pop. blah blah blah music nerd shit SHUT UP

I enjoyed this. Closer to my normal taste in folk music and some of the tracks near the end really surprised me. I enjoyed the more diverse instrumentation as the album built up.

I owe Joni more time, but I've always had an averse reaction to Big Yellow Taxi and this album didn't help my impression of her. I found it pretty throughout but the closing stretch really lost me. As one of two 1001 albums a day singer songwriter album I've been suggested, I found myself putting it head to head again Joan Armatradings 1976 album and most popular track from it "Love and Affection", which I can't help but think beats probably everything but the opening minute and a half from "Help Me". 2/5