Reviews (page 9 of 14)
Lovely folk rock goodness, Joni Mitchell knows how to write songs
It was pertty good but a little sleepy for me.
A very good album, even if I don't listen to it often.
Very nice instrumentation. Some jazz elements.
Really dragged down by being a non native English speaker and taking in the lyrics. It just becomes bland singer songwriter stuff when you take away the lyricism. Perhaps I need to come back someday and give it a focussed listen
Not my favorite Joni Mitchell album, but I do love it. Not as good as Blue, but then not many albums are.
This is proto bedroom pop and it's cool how great it still sounds. This was a good time and I'll probably listen to more of Joni because I do love Big Yellow Taxi
Spooky sound. Also, I learned about her wild blackface history lol.
This album has such a weird feel. It’s like it should be a steely dan album of things that were cut from their actual albums. She’s got a great voice and a huge vocal range but it doesn’t really click with me. I can’t put my finger on it but I just didn’t enjoy the melodies and found it all kind of lackluster. I like all the parts, just not the whole.
I was a bit apprehensive about this one, I've had a copy of "Blue" for years and never got into it, even though that is supposed to be THE Joni Mitchell album. For my taste was way more enjoyable!
Pretty good. Nothing super standout to me, but I enjoyed it as a sort of pleasant background music. Her voice is always very distinctive, and I appreciate that her lyrics are often quite personal and reflective.
I just have a hard time with her voice. Not for me.
This is #day111 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it was mostly okayish, but not to the extent I'd be willing to turn back to this album in the future. Besides, I suspect more from Joni Mitchell will come down the road. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day112.
A gorgeous album. Poetry woven by an angelic voice. Songs of hope and loss
Aw, Joni Mitchell. This is very much the kind of thing I was listening to in high school - nostalgia vibes.
не послушала все, но очень нравится голос, чучут не зацепило но думаю я вернусь к нему позже. мне нравятся гармонии и мелодии и как она поет. кросби и неш участвовали в этом альбоме тоже и это слышно шестой студийный альбом канадской певицы и автора песен Джони Митчелл, выпущенный в январе 1974 года на лейбле Asylum Records. бо́льшая часть пластинки выдержана в жанре поп-музыки, а также содержит элементы джаза.
Music was pleasant, I think Joni is a better singer than lyricist and songwriter.
One of the greats of my younger years along with BJ Thomas. Great lyrics, great voice and so pleasant to listen to. It also engender so many good memories.
Soft and gentle folk record. This one is a really easy listen and friendly on the ears. Not something I'd listen to regularly, but I will revisit this one as it was nice.
There's a distinct possibility that if I'd heard this album before the other Joni album on the list, I would have reacted much differently to that one. I had no idea she had this kind of range.
I’ve listened to it and can’t say it is bad. However I don’t like this kind of music to judge objectively hence the score is 3 (neutral). Don’t consider this a review.
Enjoyable sound. Created a laid-back, reflective with own thoughts and feelings mood. Twisted didn't quite fit the mold, but was very entertaining breakaway and ending
Not AS terrible as her other offerings.
This has a very relaxing and chill Sunday morning kind of vibe. Not bad, but I highly doubt if I'll ever purposefully listen to it again. I recognize Joni Mitchell's talent, but she's just not my jam.
Better than the last Joni Mitchell album, but this still isn't enjoyable for me.
Lotta big swings here! And I have to say I'm super impressed. I think after the intimacy and vulnerability of Clouds and Blue, I like that Joni then reaches out to more instrumental richness, filling her songs with bouquets of sonic joy. The harmonies are on point here, the compositions are just delightful - great album! Best Track: Help Me Worst Track: Trouble Child
Best Song: Help Me Worst Song: Twisted
This is certainly a joni mitchell album. 2/5
god every time i hear a new (to me) JM album im blown away and this was no different..
Не понравилось. Такое ощущение, что поёт невпопад: музыка отдельно, слова отдельно. Хотя отдельно и вокал хороший, и музыка приятная
Better than expected. Don’t love her falsetto. Most songs sounded more or less the same. Raised on Robbery best song
I think this is my favorite Joni album I've had so far (this will be the 4th I've reviewed). There's not a dud on this record. Usually I have a hard time getting into a Joni Mitchell album, but this one was great right from the start. She's a poet. This album falls at a time where she was starting to inject more folk and jazz into her music, so I think that helps too. Raised on Robbery is such a high energy song for Joni. It is fantastic!! Favourite songs: Raised on Robbery, Car on a Hill, Help Me, Twisted, Free Man in Paris, Just Like This Train, Trouble Child Least favourite songs: I really can't pick one. This album is super solid. 5/5
I'm a big enough man to admit that me and Joni got off on the wrong foot. This is pretty alright now that she's dropped the screeching harpy act from Blue. Very pleasant lyrics and instrumentals.
The songwriting is good. The instrumentals all sound the same for each song, but they nail that 70s soft rocky sound. Mitchell has a great voice. All in all, though, this music ain't for me.
Nice easy listening. I wasn't a big fan of her stream of consciousness lyrics sometimes. I really dig that '70s folk Pop style.
I find it quite boring unfortunately
Really good but not anything I will feel the need to listen to again
I can’t get enough Mitchell. So much sweetness in the stories. Heaven.
Nice change after AC/DC. Pleasantly melodic. But the age is felt. Jazzy, but not overly so. Fun, quick album. I enjoyed it.
Lemppari: Court And Spark Vähiten lemppari: Raised on Robbery
2.5 stars
I really liked this. Definitely Laurel Canyon-y with some Jazz thrown in for good measure.
Such a cool shift in base sound from Blue, Joni keeps her storytelling forefront with jazzier accompaniments.
Not bad, but a bit boring.
Realised after one hour that the album was over and that I wasn't listening to anything. Completely forgettable (for me) and even more astonishing if you see the (good) ratings it got on release.
Really enjoyable
Much more enjoyable to listen to than Blue. Still a bit too folksy for me though.
Iconic
Girls just wanna have fun but this album does not let that. It's so boring except the Twisted song.
Albüm kapağı hoşuma gitti. Joni Mitchelldan umutluyum. Lyriclerini çok sevdim. Benim için bi tık down tempo ama sıkılmadım. Böyle fikri hür, vicdanı hür folkçulara can kurban.
I need a break from folk music
Really good album, ruined by Twisted. The hell was she thinking, man....
Twisted is great! Never been much of a Joni Mitchell fan with very few exceptions, but this album changed my mind.
Joni Mitchell again. It still gets a bit annoying over time.
My second favorite Joni. Absolutely wonderful. 4.5/5
This is a slightly premeditated rating, in that I loved this experience and know that I will only love it more on repeated listens. Just wonderful.
One of my favorites. They lyrics, the mood. Joni's voice.
Pop, Rock, s.s., Jazz, 1974 -> 3
That was disappointingly forgettable.
Enjoyed the vibe. No part of the album really stood out to me though except the sexual content of "Raised on Robbery." Didn't expect it and it kinda startled me. Other than that the album had a good sound, though I didn't save any tracks from it.
A great album. Some tracks don’t seem to fit but overall it’s great. Free Man in Paris and Help Me obviously shine but it’s still a great album.
I agree with the common sentiment that she’d make a great poet. I found this record to be ‘OK’, but the melody-writing in some of these songs a little rough. Not bad overall though. Favorite track: Help Me
A wonderful album. Superbly arranged music & vocals.
It was alright
I had never heard Joni Mitchell prior to this but immediately heard her influence on some of my favorite singers like Sean Nelson. I enjoyed this album a lot!
This is a wonderful album
An average album, one that can be easily put on and forgotten about as it is playing. The album had some nice moments like Court and Spark and help me, but I did not enjoy the moments of Jazz that seemed to run throughout the album. Favourite song: Court and Spark Least favourite: Twisted Album artwork: I like the cover
Ballady 70’s
Good vocals, soft / folk
a very intresting mix, nice deep lyrics, love the mesh of the different elements... i expect this to age well, specially the uniqueness of the jazz pop sound which im excited to try in diff contexts. a very strong 3.
I didn't like Joni Mitchell before starting this journey, but now I've discovered that my dislike was based on only hearing her "hits" and that her albums have all been superb. I enjoyed this enough for 4 stars, but it didn't quite hit me as being worthy of a full 5 star rating. It was very easy listening, maybe too easy?
Lyrics were good. Song structure was weird and I didn't really care for her singing. Maybe I'll try again though don't feel like I was in the right mood for this album.
Very internal to her
Joni Mitchell's voice is a thing of beauty, such smooth silky tones. I found this album quite soulful and jazzy, rather a pleasant 36 minutes. Not my usual music of choice but I enjoyed it.
Lovely
Lovely
Pretty good.
Though on the surface this seems like it would be too folksy for my taste (and indeed it is too folksy for me to have listened to on my own), it is immediately apparent that Joni Mitchell is special. I really enjoyed the jazz influences that can be heard throughout, and when she really leans into the jazzy stuff, thus album is really fun. I will revisit this but it is unlikely to go into my rotation.
Raised on Robbery made for a movie
Hadn't listened to Joni Mitchell before, but I like this quite a lot!
I like this one
I liked this. Makes me excited to listen to Blue though, because I think I will like that more.
Probably my favorite Joni album, up there with Blue. It’s arrangements, lyrics, and vocal performances by Joni are outstanding.
Just perfect. High level songwriting with some of the best jazz and rock musicians on the recording.
This was very good. I love the instrumental work in this one. Catchy tunes all around, 9 out of 10!
Generally enjoyable! Not quite my type of tunes, but nice enough.
It's Joni! It was a pleasant album to listen to, brings back a lot of memories, but I soured on Joni after seeing her concert in Houston. She was in a bad mood, and took it out on the crowd. Never forgot that, and quit listening to her after it.
enjoyed it. saved the 2nd to last in a nice playlist
It blends elements of folk, rock, and jazz to create a unique sound that resonates with listeners. The album encapsulates themes of love, freedom, fame, and the complexities of relationships. It soothed me at the end of a long work week. Favorite Track: "Help Me"
Old fav
Pretty good. A couple of weird 70's weird sitcom sounding songs though.
It was perfect that this album popped up for me when it's raining outside. Joni, for me is always best listened to when you're trying to enjoy the quieter times in life, maybe with a cup of tea or your favourite adult beverage (I had ☕). - I find it difficult to listen to Joni Mitchell for long periods of time... Something about her voice makes me 🥱😴💤 - This album contains three of my favourite Joni Mitchell tracks; Help Me Free Man in Paris Raised on Robbery -
Surprised I liked this one. Not something I’d break out to put on in the background, but felt like I back riding in the back of my Mom’s 1975 Ford Maverick. This transported me back to the 70’s in the best way
Chill
This one pleasantly surprised me. Not that I'm completely unfamiliar with Joni Mitchell, but a lot of folk artists from this era tend to be TOO low key and one-note. This album was somehow both equal parts lively and equal parts mellow. The songwriting was strong for the most part, allowing each track to flow along thanks to the jazz flourish that accompanies this record. A fairly easy and fun listen that clocks in at less than 40 min. Fav tracks: Help Me, Down to You
Great? Great.
Lyric-centric music delivered by a wide ranging and subtle, but kind of a-melodic voice accompanied by gentle folksy jazzy band. Nice relaxed feel to it, especially the hippy country stuff, spacious and expansive, slow, easy going tasteful and adult. These are polite words for boring.
I enjoyed this a lot. I think it could have been 5* if more of the songs had choruses. Whenever the songs give hints of a chorus or a 'hook' they take a 90 degree turn and go back to more verse. Which is a shame. But very listenable to. I can imagine after 10 listens or so I could really get into the songs and really follow the lyrics.
scho cute
Somewhat chill vibes. Godd for jazzy background vibes. But nothing special
de vibe hett passt zum zmorge esse im tooggi
fire background album zum vo mine ferie in schwede verzelle… nöd wükli zueglost tho
I liked it very Mitchell
Highlights: Help Me A Free Man in Paris Twisted Beautiful
Never listened to full Joni Mitchell songs or albums, but it's exactly what I expected. I'm sure there are moms who love this stuff.
Absolutely beautiful album. Joni Mitchell continues to impress, as expected of course.
pretty and poetic enough that i accept i'm out of my element
Magic. Joni Mitchell is one of the finest singer songwriters and this is a fabulous example.
Such a unique album. Great songwriting and wonderful instrumentation.
I like the different instrumentation. Definitely needs a second listen to really listen to the lyrics. Probably great for a road trip.
I enjoyed the album, it was a pleasant musicality, and beautiful vocals. The scatting in Twisted was uncomfortable and unpleasant.
An excellent blend of Joni Mitchell's odd yet satisfying vocal delivery with the genre that matches it, Court and Spark's combination of this soft but complex pop with the always moving nature of jazz leads to tracks with many all-time climaxes. Everything in nearly every track builds up to something greater, and it almost always pays off, with a good touch of 70s mainstream folk to keep the album grounded and lyrically thought provoking. Nearly every track was destiny for Mitchell to perform, and she knocks it out of the park, exceeding anything up to this point, and still standing above anything after it, at least from what I've heard. It's that slight variation between tracks that really flexes Mitchell's musical muscle, and the bluegrass-y Raised on Robbery surprisingly sealed the deal for me; this is a amazing record.
It is one of her best albums.
Second Joni album in a row - the last was 4* and I thought “she’s done better” - and lo and behold I was right. This is better.
This was excellent, as I knew it would be. Help Me was a bright spot, but I knew it already, so I might be biased. So incredibly melodic and harmonically surprising. Five stars.
mögulega sú besta
I mean, it's not offensive is it. I put it on in the house and completely forgot it was going on periodically. Very background music to me
Not as good as Blue, but still worthy of 5 stars
djassskotnar fólk krúsídúllur. ekki slæmt. kaffihús. 3,5.
Nice mix in of jazz and folk background.
Beautifully sang
Unfortunately I dislike Joni Michells voice. I got through 3 songs before I had to turn it off
Was pretty surprised to get another Joni Mitchell album so soon after my first. I liked this one even more. A bit less jazzy, and I like that. Just beautiful sound, voice, and lyrics. I feel like this is one to age on.
This was the rare combination of both boring and cheesy. Boring music can still be good, and cheesy music can still be fun, but boring AND cheesy is neither good NOR fun. So basically I want those 37 minutes back.
she has a lovely voice
3.5 stars. This was decent but I prefer her more pure folk, stripped down music than this jazz-infused soft rock. Still a pleasant listen because of her beautiful voice and some good lyricism, just not my favorite. Standouts are "Free Man in Paris" and "Raised on Robbery".
Something's not right...
Great voice backed by a terrific band. Complex lyrics add to a great listen. Wish it were longer!
Wonderfully interesting. Joni Mitchell has a beautiful voice and there's some very unique compositions here.
Good album. Joni Mitchell’s voice is obviously stunning, and her songwriting and style of singing and song-making is next-level. I found myself frequently wondering “how did she come up with this instrumental bit in between verses?” or “why did she choose this kind of instrumental if the song has this many lyrics?” I do think that the album as a whole is overshadowed by “Help Me,” a masterpiece of a song, and the other songs I enjoyed, “Car on a Hill” and “Just Like This Train.” The rest of it kind of blended together. Overall though, it’s lush and beautiful, and I’m interested in checking out more of her material.
I liked it
I understand why this is an important album, but personally it had more low moments than high.
Reckon I'll try this one again at a quieter time. Didn't fully absorb. Enjoyed what I did pay attention to. 6 / 10 Best track/s: Raised on Robbery, Court and Spark
Amazing voice - definitely a trip back in time - nice to hear those 70's vibes again.
I've just finished the last track (which was the best on the album) and I have instantly forgotten the entire album. Had it been an album of songs like the last track I would have enjoyed it more. It isn't bad, but there is nothing else there that gripped me at all.
Yeah, I know this one because my sisters listened the shit out if this when I was a kid. Superior to "Blue" IMO. Won me over a little in spite of myself.
190/1001
Had a lovely time what a nice lady. Raised on robbery was a real unexpected bop at the end
Joni and jazz is a great combination. I imagine this will become a 5 star album with future listens. Painting your own album cover is so bad ass as well. 4.5/5
Difficult to believe this is 50 years old. Definitely one to go back to 5/5
My second Joni Mitchell album. I found myself enjoying this one more than the last (Blue). The songs were a little more upbeat and there was a larger variety in tone, especially toward the end of the album, which I enjoyed. Joni's voice sounded nice- she is a good singer, but I am not a big fan of the sped up brrathy singing she does a lot between stanzas. I think thats part of her signature style and I can see how fans enjoy it, but not for me. Overall- it was a nice album that was easy to listen too. I'd say 3.5/5, but not quite up to a 4.
I am a big fan of Joni's classic, Blue, but I'd never spun Court And Spark before. It didn't hit me with the feels in the same way Blue does, but I believe it could grow on me over time.
3+
Fantastic!!
Lush
sweet and fast
Joni Mitchell is remarkable
Good.
Joni Mitchell never lies.
It's cool
I really liked this - the jazz influence was subtle but kept the songs a bit more cohesive and listenable than some of the stuff on Blue. California is just so lovely!
preciso ouvir mais dela
5.5/10
I’ve never really gotten into Joni Mitchell though I felt like I SHOULD. She’s arty and jazzy and I like things in those categories. But her voice never really gelled with me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this. I’m not sure I could hum you a tune from it afterwards but it passed the time pleasantly. After my surprise enjoyment of Steely Dan yesterday, I wonder if 1001 is expanding my musical taste. Maybe there will be room for Joni eventually, or rather, there’ll be a better understanding on my part. Or maybe I can form new “moods” where I can spend some time liking types of music I didn’t before. Whilst I’m musing on that, I think I see why you get certain similar albums in sequence on #1001 now. It must be to get you into certain moods and more receptive to certain types of music. This obviously favours the subsequent albums but I suppose it helps. E.g. We seem to be in Jazz Rock mode at the moment.
Not familiar with this one by Joni before today but enjoyed….
Music for not doing things to
Es ist eine gelungene Mischung aus Folk, Rock und Jazz, die sich hervorragend für die gemütliche Atmosphäre einer Pianobar eignet. Mit ihrer charakteristischen Stimme und poetischen Texten schafft es die Sängerin, die Zuhörer in ihren Bann zu ziehen. Allerdings, trotz der musikalischen Qualität und der schönen Arrangements (“Help Me”), lässt sich nicht leugnen, dass "Court and Spark" nicht unbedingt als Meilenstein der Musikgeschichte eingeordnet werden kann. Es fehlt der gewaltige Tiefgang und die innovative Kraft. Die Songs sind zwar solide, aber sie hinterlassen nicht unbedingt einen bleibenden Eindruck, der über die Zeit hinweg bleibt.
Not much to say about this one. I didn't hate it, but I got sure wasn't the biggest fan. Liked how the songs flowed. Just didn't care for the album though.
Pretty solid album with jazz influences.
Another iconic artist, voice, and album from the 70’s.
This album didn't really do anything for me and sort of faded into background noise.
Joni es una capa, pero tndria que escucharlo leyendo bien las letras porque me pierdo cosas sino.
Too jazz-y, too samey, no choruses
What pipes! Great lyrics and depth, but the last song’s jazzy slide blew me away.
I'm really not sure why I haven't listened to more Joni Mitchell. She lives up to the hype.
Another artist I can tell is talented, but I just don't like her work much.
Some really good songs on here. Not my favorite of Mitchell's but still really really good.
A few great songs on this one.
Perfection.
I was never a big Joni Mitchell fan, but I love a lot of the artsy female singer-songwriters she inspired. So I'm always somewhat surprised by how underwhelmed I get by her albums. In theory I should love this, but I find it to be just ok. Key tracks: Help Me Free Man in Paris
lowkey kinda bland but I still think she's a good singer 🫶
Mitchell's music and singing is beautiful. I'm glad I gave it two listens. The music itself is not something I'd come back to often. I greatly enjoyed Raised on Robbery though. 3/5!
Good album, but not really something I'll expect I'll listen to again.
FIRE. Joni Mitchell is pure poetry bro folk music is the shit
This was not too bad, pretty nice album for a background listen. I would say that nowadays it is a bit okay-ish, and given that this came out right as AC/DC were formed, you can tell that times were simpler back then.
Liked this a lot
Beautiful light and almost jazzy pop with a silky smooth vocal.
Court and Spark is okay. "Help Me" and "Free Man in Paris" are decent songs, but that leaves nine others that aren't. I love Bob Dylan, but even there, if the music weren't doing real work, the lyrics alone wouldn't be enough. Great lyrics can elevate good music. They can't rescue boring music. Mitchell's lyrics are celebrated, and fairly so, but she too often pairs them with tunes that aren't pulling their weight. If she were singing about shopping at a grocery store, the reception would not be the same. If lyrics are 80% of what you have to offer me, I might as well read great poetry. I listen to music because I enjoy the *music* (crazy idea, I know). (My other issue is her phrasing. She seems to write a poem first, with irregular meter, and then force it to fit the music, cramming words in quickly where the syllables don't land naturally. It's not pretty to listen to.) When Joni puts interesting music underneath the words, it works. She's capable of it. She just doesn't do it enough. Two stars.
This album was super pleasant. Joni's vocals, the warm guitar tones and the jazzy composition really made it for me. Will probably revisit in the future.
Light pop with a bit of jazz & country. Reminds a bit of Eva Cassidy but more pop. Nice enough listen
Dreadful hippie shit
Loves me the singer songwriter genre and Joni Mitchell is S tier for this. One of her better albums, but it's no Ladies of the Canyon...
I don’t like Joni Mitchell’s music
Definitely the best of the singer-songwriter albums I've listened to so far. Very peaceful feel. I dig her style.
I always think I hate the artsy vibe and the whole musical poet thing that always feels kinda empty to me. But somehow Joni Mitchell does not feel empty, but more or less the opposite, like she's not saying all she could and I love that.
Another Joni Mitchell album.....yay... NOT! Sorry but I find her music boring and unappealing.
Ei oikein herätä mitään tuntemuksia. Tosi neutraalia 🤷
Perfectly fine and nice but didn’t rock my world. Seems mean to give it 2 and too generous to give it 3. I think I’ll stick with 2. It was fairly forgettable
Very good, nice to learn about her
An album I had to listen twice. 5. People's Parties transitions to The Same Situation gracefully. I love Raised on Robbery. Trouble Child and Twisted speak to me. While every song is sweet on the ears.
Not my kinda sound
++: Car on a Hill, Twisted +: Court and Spark, Help Me, Free Man in Paris, People's Parties, The Same Situation, Down to You, Just Like This Train, Raised on Robbery, Trouble Child 8,1/10
I could imagine this being 100% better when you're stoned.
Ooh, this is nice!! 4.
I am finding words to describe how wonderful this album is. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
I am familiar with Joni Mitchell as an influential folk singer-songwriter and have heard a few songs from her in the past. However, I had not heard anything before from this album. Court and Spark takes the folk-rock music she had been known for before and infuses it with elements of jazz. The result makes for an overall exquisite listen. Joni got creative with the song structures, where the tracks don't always fall into the standard verse-chorus-verse structure and instead play around with bridges and refrains to give more depth and expression. This more obtuse approach to songwriting is complemented by song transitions throughout the album such as towards the end from "Trouble Child" into "Twisted" with the trumpet soloing. These kinds of structure tweaks made for an engaging listen. Lyrically, this album touches upon the pursuit of love and a simpler life, while also giving some fun caricature moments such as the prostitute's plight on the rocker "Raised on Robbery" or the experiences of Joni's music agent friend David Geffen on "Free Man in Paris". The words come off with a sense of whimsy and the stories told feel lived in. I was very impressed with Court and Spark, and give it a high recommendation.
What a beautiful record. Joni Mitchell has, I'm my opinion, a perfect voice. This record is varied, a little bit sexy and pretty relatable throughout. I enjoyed it a lot, but wouldn't put it in my regular rotation. It's a 3.5 realistically, but I can't give it a 4
This is a seminal Joni album and objectively excellent. I was familiar with it but don’t remember the last time I listened start to finish. I expected, and wanted, to love it. But it didn’t really hit. Maybe give it another go in the future.
Great album
As someone who isn't a fan, this is hard to get into. None of her known songs are here and there is a lot of cheesy backing tracks to her poems.
Absolute classic by a genius at the height of her powers. Everything Joni Mitchell touched at that time struck gold. A truly unique voice of beauty, grit and grace. Masterpiece.
First time ever listening to one of her albums. I can see why people like it.
Really liked it. Kind of a concept album. Some parts of some songs threw me off a bit and overall the experience varied from 3 to 5 stars, but the parts I liked I really really liked. Definitely going to listen to again, I bet this slaps in the U-Bahn. Does not however work very well in the shower, the background instrumentals are too important for the music. The voice reminds me of Tracy Chapman a bit.
For this I was bouncing back and forth between really good and just alright. Joni's cadence and songwriting are so unique for this time, you can see how she's become as influential as she is.
Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark is an album that, while newer to me compared to her acclaimed Blue, has proven to be a deeply enriching experience. When listening to it with my daughter just the other day she said to me “she has such a beautiful voice, how does she sing like that?” I could only agree and guess at the years of practice that contributed to her ability to deliver such honest and emotive performances. As a fan of Blue, I initially approached Court and Spark with a sense of familiarity but found the more complex songwriting style to be a fresh challenge. In my younger years, I struggled with the seemingly rambling nature of singer-songwriter lyrics, feeling they sometimes took a circuitous route to their points. However, as I've grown older, I've come to appreciate and even revel in the poetry and nuance of Mitchell's writing. The album's instrumentation, particularly the orchestral elements, adds a rich layer to the listening experience. Tracks like "Down To You" stand out with their lush arrangements, demonstrating Mitchell's ability to blend intricate music with her profound lyrics seamlessly. Overall, Court and Spark is a testament to Joni Mitchell's extraordinary talent and evolution as an artist. Its sophisticated artistry and emotional depth make it a compelling listen that continues to reveal its layers with each spin.
Blue is the only full album I've listened to from Joni, so that one is my favorite. I was blown away by that album, so I am listening forward to hearing this one. Her roller-coaster vocals are so cool. It's always a mystery where she is going next, and it's a beautiful ride. The musicality and musicianship, the harmonies, the songwriting, and the storytelling are all mastered by Joni. I could listen to her all day. In fact, that is what I'll be doing today. Just Like This Train is one of my favorites on this album. I still like Blue better, though. Easy 5 from me on this one, and probably most of her albums.
Once we started this project--around the time of listening to Marianne Faithfull--I assumed we'd hear some Joni Mitchell, which excited me because of her reputation as a great songwriter, and I haven't heard much outside of the poignant "Big Yellow Taxi." Or so I thought. This voice sounds very familiar, exactly that soft Sesame Street/SchoolHouse Rock! instrumentation and relaxed "Laughter in the Rain" vibe that I attribute to the 70's. I assumed her sound was more folky, but there is soft rock, interesting arrangements (flutes, strings, saxophones), and some jazz infused in her melodies. You can tell she knows how to write a song easily, but is choosing to push some more advanced musical ideas, even if some smooth jazz licks may sound like the theme music for Bob Ross' Joy of Painting. I keep hearing glimpses of Billy Joel's Cold Spring Harbor and Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes albums. They are all in good company. Skilled and smooth, but would benefit from more catchy and accessible melodies.
This one really took me by surprise. Believe it or not, I, Miss Where-Are-The-Female-Artists-On-This-List, have never actively listened to Joni Mitchell. I've gleaned bits of knowledge of her over the years, understanding that she was an important and influential artist. I had brushed up against a handful of her songs, namely Big Yellow Taxi, and through that, I thought I had an idea about who she was as an artist. But listening to this made me realize that there's a lot more to her than I was expecting. There's one song on here, "Down to You" that pretty well exemplifies what I was expecting to hear. More of a stripped down "girl and piano" or "girl and guitar" kind of sound. Maybe there was more of that in her early career, more folk influence and coffeehouse vibes, and that's what I had come to associate her with. I just didn't know there were other sides to her. Apparently this album was a step in a new direction for her, and I really like it! Some of the production sounded so delightfully 70s to me, and there were lots of unexpected interesting musical things happening on many of the tracks. I'm still thinking about some of the songs a day later, which is a sign that I will probably return to this album for subsequent listens. Also, she released music into the 2000s, so there is a lot of material for me to explore, should I make the time. She has a clear, beautiful voice, and she was able to do lots of more challenging runs, even getting into some jazz phrasing, seemingly without effort. As interesting as the music was on this album, I always gathered that one of the main strengths of Joni Mitchell was her lyrics. She paved the way for scores of other female singer-songwriters to bring their perspectives to the music industry, and that is evident here with lyrics that are vividly personal and introspective, exploring emotions and human relationships. This album is at least a four for me, but I could imagine it being a five if I had more time to get acquainted with it.
So....I own a Joni Mitchell album and have had it for years, but never really listened to it. I'll have to go back now and give it a listen. Though this is not exactly my type of music,. I was really impressed with it. On songs 2 and 3 I thought to myself, 'I didn't know Joni got down like this'....I mean some of this stuff really jammed. Also, the entire album sounds like a ton of thought and planning was put into it. With this album charting high when it came out, it reminded of some of the more dumbed down contemporary music that is high on the charts today. Some of the songs sound like music theory nerds were involved in the instrument arrangements. I mean when is the last time you heard an Oboe feature prominently on a song? Or French horn for that matter? Joni's voice is very clear and she seems to hit notes very effortlessly and cleanly. The jazz song was kind of a curve ball for me, I had no idea that she could be a jazz singer. I feel like Joni must have been an influence on Tracy Chapman and Alanis Morrisette.
Help Me is the big song from the album, meh. This sounds like an album of Sesame Street Songs with grown up lyrics. I think folk music is not for me, Bob Dylan and folk rock maybe. This is mildly annoying. Her voice has a Carly Simonesque quality. Or maybe Carly Simon's voice sounds like Joni Mitchell. Every time the album seems to be improving, the next song makes me reconsider. Raised On Robbery has a different sound and is the best track on the album. The addition of Cheech and Chong to the last song is just the cherry on top of this terrible album.
Wonderful - the sound of a singer-songwriter really coming out of her shell and embracing new sounds and styles
Folk songs are...nice (not) .2/5
Gran joni mitchell, aunque no es el mejor de sus discos.
I'm torn here. I'm giving it a 4 for first impressions, but I suspect it may grow to a 5 on repeated listens. Lyrically brilliant, playful, and distinct.
I think I like the idea of Joni Mitchell more than I like Joni Mitchell's actual music.
Definitely not your usual singer songwriter experience hearing this. Interesting melodies and Jodie has a fun and enchanting way of singing. The singing makes me think of an earlier, less angry version of Alanis Morisette somehow, she also has an unexpected rhythm to her singing that I like. I’m writing this review quite a while altering listening to the album, and I realize I have forgotten quite a lot of it, not a great sign. The first song is very good though, and when skimming through it I really like it. On the edge of being a 4, but will have to settle on a strong 3 since it obviously didn’t leave that strong impression on me.
My only relationship to Joni Mitchell is from "Love Actually". Chill vibes. I've always heard the lyrics were the centerpiece but they didn't really stick out to me, maybe due to working will listening to it.... Anyway favourite song was "Just like This Train" and I also liked the country rock song "Raised on Robbery". 3 with potential.
This album is FINE it’s FINE. I gave Blue 5 stars because it’s one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard. This one…isn’t. It’s nice. It’s pleasant, but the lyrics don’t speak of pain and love in nearly the same way. It’s a lot more stories. And they’re fine. But nothing as electric. This might be one of the most 3 star albums for me
I started this journey Sith the first album being "Blue" and at 279 - I get met with another great Joni. Such a treat! you really hear how she is such a poet and musician - cent understand how one can be so blessed with talent! Awesome!
My favourite of her work so far. Those last few songs were spunky!
I think I like this more than Blue and Hejira. Really interesting arrangements and engaging songs, and very personal writing. Pretty fantastic
I love, love, love Joni Mitchell. This album is really great. The whole mood is really nice. The lyrics are great and how it's reflected in the arrangement. Really wholesome listening experience! So this is my first 5 star album. Favourites: Free Man in Paris
70’s
Fun singer/songwriter album. Love Raised on Robbery!
Nice
Love Joniiii
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I did give up on a couple of songs, but just a few, and at least 3/4 of the way through before skipping to the next.
I listened to this album the first time when I was 19. I thought it was beautiful, quirky, sad and funny. Nothing has changed. Love this album.
The best
Magnificent. Wonderfully specific (occasionally waspish) lyrics, great tunes and arrangements, one of the high points of a great series of albums from the singular talent that is Joni
Two Joni Mitchell albums in one week. I feel about the same about this one. 3/5
More Joni Mitchell music is good music. Nice vocals and instrument arrangement
Ну какое то не пойми что. Поёт неплохо, не раздражает, как фон на который можно не обращать внимание.
An absolute banger of jazz-rock that is in the pinnacle of historic albums.
Decent folk album think it will definitely grow on me the more I listen to it
Pas mal
joni does it again. i like the production on this one more than blue (which i gave a 5 because i fat-fingered my phone and submitted it without realising)
Had an idea of what she sounded like, and assumed she was overrated. Then I heard Blue and was blown away. This however, reinforces my assumption that her music is aimless and whiny, barely listenable
At times meandering, this is a fairly soft and easy-going album. I could see why people enjoy it, but I can’t really stand her voice unfortunately, else I’d probably rate it higher.
There’s no denying that this is good music!
Not terrible but didn’t set my world on fire
It's nice, it's jazzy, a pleasant listen. But my overall thought is similar to the earlier Joni Mitchell CD, which is that beyond the opening track it's not that strong overall. Mitchell's voice is so good, she just makes anything work. It's a little light and slow for my taste, but the times when she does rock ("Raised on Robbery") are pretty awesome.
An original. Lyrics and music that last. The muse of the late 60s, 70s. Not even her best album. Very good. Great backing musicians from Robbie to Cheech & Chong. Tom Scott paints a colorful musical accompaniment. Joni deserves all the accolades.
Favorite track: Car on a hill other picks: court and spark, help me, down to you
Not my favorite but a classic
i’m starting to change my mind on Joni Mitchell. my introduction with her was Blue and i maintain that i hate that album. she sings in falsetto the whole time and it’s slow and boring and terrible. but since then i have listened to Mingus and was pleasantly surprised and now i am listening to Court and Spark and it’s undeniably hitting. also Both Sides Now is a genuinely amazing song that i really liked even when i was anti-mitchell
3 за попытку миксануть фолк и джаз
Folksy
Entspannter Pop 4/5
Мне нравится Джони Митчел. И мне нравится, как горят от нее пердаки у всяких фанов А Цэ Дэ Цэ, Джудас Прист и проч. Лучшая песня - Help Me.
Sure
p320. 1974. 3 stars. Well, the voice is great, and the lyrics are sharp - but there are no standout tunes, and the production has NOT dated well. Without the voice this would be soulless mid 70s West Coast FM listening.
Easy listening 3*
Dull, but harmless.
An easy listen
I have never listened to Joni Mitchell before. There’s really something special here and her lore makes sense to me now. Timeless grooves.
maybe you had to be there? It not bad, just boring?
love it
Very 70s chill. Best Song: Free Man in Paris
This is nice, she has a nice voice, but the album just doesn't do anything for me. 2* Enjoyed: raised on robbery
Mostly decent but the singing is weird to be honest. 2.72.
Love me some Joni.
oh come on this is always a 5
Kinda crazy how "Blue" is so much better than any of her other albums and I don't even know why that is, since all of her songs follow roughly the same structure - for better or for worse. For worse on this album, since I barely even noticed the song transitions.
Great album
pleasant musik
A very good album. Released a year after I graduated high school, and I was all about Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and locally the Tubes. So I didn't pay much attention to Laurel Canyon music unless it was on the radio. But surprise, I enjoyed it very much
Muy relajante, la verdad que no me ha parecido tener nada de especial reseñable, pero muy agradable su sonido y tranquilo, perfecto álbum para tener puesto de fondo como relax.
Never listened to this album before, I'd only heard "Help Me. Just not a Joni Mitchell fan. Her vocal acrobatics, while interesting, often take me out of the moment. She is a good lyricist and tells stories from some unexpected perspectives. I did like Raised on Robbery, which I hadn't heard before. But I won't be listening to this album again anytime soon. "First he bought a '57 Biscayne, he put it in a ditch"
Not wonderful but enjoyable.
Took sips of this during the day. Joni Mitchell is like Brussel Sprouts - something I hated as a kid but now I think "hmm.. ok, I guess if you smother it with bacon or figs". She does have a lovely voice and unusual phrasing. I've been listening to a little of this album and a little of FKA Twigs LP1 in the same day and strangely I prefer FKA Twigs. How is this possible? A Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, 11 Grammy awards winning world renown artist who has inspired many artists vs. something I'd expect to hear in a mall in LA. Oh well. I did like the last song "Twisted" quite a bit though. 2.5 rounded up "Lately I don't count on nothing, I just let things slide"
Hadn't listened to much Joni before other than the very well known ones. Pretty nice, and I can see why she's had so much influence across the industry.
Never been a huge Joni Mitchell fan, but appreciate it for what it is.
Love Joni Mitchell’s voice.
Nous sommes au début des années 70. Joni Mitchell, la grande prêtresse du folk californien, la reine de Laurel Canyon, en a ras le bol. Le cirque médiatique, la pression, la vie de star... tout ça la saoule. Elle plaque tout et retourne se geler les miches dans son Canada natal. Une retraite stratégique qui va accoucher de trois disques majeurs, dont ce fameux "Court And Spark" en 1974. Et là, bingo. Le succès est total. La critique crie au génie, le public achète en masse, ça devient son plus grand succès commercial. Sur le papier, c'est l'histoire parfaite : l'artiste qui se retire du monde pour mieux le conquérir avec une oeuvre plus mature, plus sophistiquée. Oui, "sophistiquée", c'est le mot... Parce que cinquante ans plus tard, qu'est-ce qu'il en reste, de cette étincelle ? Pas grand-chose, si vous voulez mon avis. Oh, bien sûr, c'est impeccablement produit, joué par des requins de studio de Los Angeles, la crème de la crème du jazz-rock de l'époque. C'est lisse, c'est propre, ça glisse tout seul. Un peu trop, même. C'est le genre de disque qui a tellement peur de déranger qu'il finit par ne plus rien provoquer du tout. C'est le genre d'album qui baigne dans la naphtaline, un son qui sent le salon bourgeois, le tapis épais et le verre de Chardonnay. Chaque note est à sa place, chaque arrangement de cuivres est d'un goût exquis, chaque harmonie vocale est millimétrée. C'est d'un professionnalisme à faire pleurer d'ennui. On est loin, très loin, de la fragilité à fleur de peau de "Blue". Ici, tout a été poncé, verni, lustré jusqu'à ce que toute aspérité, toute trace de vie sauvage ait disparu. Et puis il y a ce fameux "spleen". Ce vague à l'âme typique des chanteuses folk de cette période, une sorte de mélancolie confortable qui sent bon la déprime de luxe. C'est une tristesse élégante, une douleur qui s'expose dans de jolis arrangements. Une complainte feutrée, susurrée à l'oreille d'un psychanalyste sur la Cinquième Avenue. Alors, oui, il faut l'écouter, cet album. Au moins une fois. Pour comprendre une époque, pour saisir ce moment où le folk a flirté avec le jazz pour devenir une sorte de pop adulte un peu trop sage. Pour admirer la technique, la production impeccable et la voix, toujours magnifique, de Joni Mitchell. Mais de là à y revenir, à le faire tourner en boucle, à sentir son coeur battre la chamade à son écoute... Faut pas déconner. Un chef-d'oeuvre ? Non. Un disque important ? Sans doute. Un classique indémodable ? Certainement pas. C'est une relique. Une très belle relique, certes, parfaitement conservée dans son formol musical, mais une relique quand même. Un témoignage sonore d'une époque où l'on pouvait être numéro un des ventes en étant simplement... de bon goût. Et parfois, le bon goût, c'est l'ennemi juré de l'art. 1/5. C'est sévère, mais c'est honnête.
I know it is controversial, but I think Joni is just OK. If you heard her at an open mic, you’d think “Yeah, she’s good.” I’m almost prepared to go 4*, but not quite.
Pretty good. Starts out quite strong and gets a little forgettable toward the end. Very Schoolhouse Rock at times. Made me really wanna listen to You’re So Vain by Carly Simon.
Before Toyota Corolla, what was the mom car? Joni Mitchell is pre Toyota Corolla core
it’s okay. nothing revolutionary IMHO
beautiful！
I like this better than Blue. It’s diverse but solidly Joni. Big fan.
Not my favorite Joni album, but her effortless and lighthearted style elevates anything she does. 3.5/5
Good vibes. What a time to be a music lover in the 70’s.
very nice
Some very pleasant and easy to digest songs. I really like her voice as well as the lyrics of *most* songs. The last one on the album was a terrible closer, but the rest of the album was varied and enjoyable.
Oh, this Joni Mitchell album is beautiful. I'm obsessed with the incorporation of jazz to her usual sound. Jazz is a perfect companion to her soft, sincere sound and personal lyrics. Her music is even smoother than her other albums because of the jazz, and oh my gosh what a pleasant listen this album was. The jazz even gives Mitchell more of a bounce than what's typically found in her music. And I know I'm not making this up: Mitchell absolutely uses funk at least once, specifically on "Raised on Robbery." This makes sense for the time of 1974 when Black musicians' funk was becoming popular. It doesn't hit you over the head but it sure makes the album all the more vibrant.
Another solid Joni Mitchell album! I couldn't help but compare this album to "Blue"; "Court and Spark" was written not long after "Blue", and the project is giving me this album not long after I got "Blue". This is maybe the most lively I have heard her, as she leans more than usual into jazz rock, folk rock, and heavier pop sounds. It is still incredibly poetically written and expressively sung, but it somehow feels less introspective than "Blue". It's still a bit sad in its own way -- I think that's just how Joni Mitchell sounds -- but there is a tint of happiness and hopefulness to this particular album that seems a bit absent in "Blue". No matter what, there is just always something special to pick up on on Joni Mitchell albums. At this point, I have listened to all of her albums found on this project, and after being unable to help myself in comparing it so closely to "Blue", I still found this one landing as a nice close second favorite to "Blue". "Court and Spark" somehow feels like light as "Blue" is to dark. "Blue" is the moon, "Court and Spark" is the sun. Anyway, it was a nice way to wrap up touring Joni's presence on this project. She is a musician who won't easily be replicated and could never be replaced.
What a great listen!
ive never been the biggest joni mitchell fan unfortunately. this is enjoyable but doesnt blow me away. 7/10
A 3rd Joni Mitchell album on this list is insane. Clearly she’s dramatically overrated. That being said, Court and Spark is the best of the 3 I’ve heard. Her vocals are more controlled. It’s not as usual but nothing overly special. 6.0/10
I was trending lower around midway through, her cadence is interesting but gets tedious after 4 or 5 of the same style songs. But the second half of the album had some nice variety.
Not even good for going to sleep to
It's taken me a long time to get my head around Joni Mitchell. I'm only now in my 50s beginning to "get" her. Court and Spark is a great example of her high standards for everything that goes into her recordings. Highlights are "Help Me", "Raised On Robbery", and "Free Man in Paris".
Maybe the best yet.
emocionante
Beautiful voice and performances. Some of the music is just dated and out of touch. Great songwriting too, but relevancy today is a stretch. Some of the backing horns come in at strange times, and make things seem like a 70s TV show.
Joni Mitchell is best served in small doses. While this album is fantastic, it gets old quick. Her phrasing is interesting but I’m not a big fan.
Joni Mitchell is an amazing woman and musician. Not my favorite album but definitely not the worst thing ever.