Hejira

Like a lot of people, I found this album somewhat inaccessible when I first heard it years ago. I think it was at the beginning of the streaming era when I was excited about hearing the whole catalogue of artists who I only knew from an album or two. “Blue” was already one of my favorite albums and I knew about some of her later work, but just didn’t connect with this one. But now it feels indispensable. Joni stories and lyrics and phrasing are always in a class by themselves, but what really makes is so great to me is the back-and-forth between her voice and Jaco Pastorius’s bass. It is weird to me that so many reviewers hear it as discordant when to me it is clearly a conversation between good friends. Maybe it’s the Emma Thompson of it all, but I feel like Joni Mitchell gives us music to age with. She’s never been without cynicism, but her later albums seem more frank in the need for joyous connections and experiences as an antidote to the world’s awfulness. And to cultivate one’s inner voice even when it sounds really different from what people expect. I’m in my 40s now and would sure love to ride around and hear her tell stories over the fretless bass.

I think any Joni Mitchell album deserves a 5 star. I love her voice, her melodies, her vibe.

5 immediate stars, except that the stars are from a different, higher universe. When Dylan won the Nobel Prize for Literature there were those who said, "Sure, but have you heard Hejira?" Written at a difficult time of her life, this documents the physical and emotional journeys she went on after the breakdown of a long term relationship. There are songs here so personal and intimate - Amelia, for instance, or Song for Sharon - that you feel awkward listening to her sing them, like you shouldn't be overhearing what she's saying. The fact that the man she broke up with and that some of the songs are about is playing with her in the studio makes it even more awkward. The songs on here are lyrically dense and musically static. Few chord changes, lots of words and sung as though they're being spoken. Quite a bit of Coyote IS spoken. Probably Blue Hotel Room and Black Crow come closest to being songs you can sing along with, while Hejira, Song for Sharon, Coyote, Furry Sings the Blues are their own thing, a whole different type of music. On later albums she would go further in this direction and by the time she was recording Dreamland or The Dry Cleaner from Des Moines she was in a world all her own. This is probably the best of her Jazz Albums. In fact, it's one of the best albums.

It's been about a year and a half since I got a Joni Mitchell record. I recall enjoying the fusion of jazz and folk-rock that she employed on Court and Spark. Since that record, Joni continued to experiment with jazz influences, which not only meant keeping Larry Carlton on guitar and John Guerin on drums, but also bringing in Jaco Pastorius on fretless bass. Also, she was inspired by travelling across the country with friends and the many twists and turns that happened during that time. The resulting album chronicling these events was Hejira, and it made for an adoring listen. There is such an exquisite bounce to this record, between the lush guitars, supple bass, and spare percussion, with only a few instrumental embellishments such as Neil Young's accompanying harmonica on "Furry Sings the Blues", the subtle touches of Abe Most's clarinet on the title track, and the breezy horns that come in halfway through "Refuge of the Roads". All these elements coalesce behind Joni's hypnotic delivery, making for the restlessly venturous style she wanted to go for with this album. As for the lyrics, once again, Joni gets personal with the details, drawing on the aforementioned trip across the country and continued adventures in passion. The brief fling she had with playwright Sam Shepard on "Coyote", her encounter with blues guitarist Furry Lewis on "Furry Sings the Blues", the affair she had with a flight attendant who was simultaneously wise and childlike on "A Strange Boy", her trek from the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia on "Black Crow", all vividly detailed with the poetic prose that's expected from her. There are a few songs that feel the most revealing of Joni during this period. Across "Amelia", the title track, and "Blue Motel Room", she reconciled with the dissolution of her relationship with John Guerin, not only detailing her reasons for leaving him, but also leaving the door open should he ever wish to rekindle. "Song for Sharon" envisioned what her life could have been had she settled down and married a farmer like she wanted, only thinly veiled under the name of Joni's childhood friend, Sharon Bell. Finally, the album closes out with "Refuge of the Roads", detailing Joni's three-day visit with a Buddhist meditation master on her way back to L.A., curing her cocaine addiction and experiencing a brief "awakened" state. For a moment, she had such bliss, until her self-awareness, the "thunderhead of judgment", started kicking back in. Hejira is another excellent record in Joni's catalog, an absolute treat to listen to. I honestly can't wait for my next record from her, whenever that may come.

Too slow

I am truly starting to understand the wonders of Joni Mitchell

W/ Astral Weeks, Hejira is the record that's most meaningful to me, at once the music that brought me back to myself & exploded any & all senses of what it means to be a self-encoded man (shrooms will do that to ya). The song that's got the most revelatory energy is 'Amelia,' a lullaby searching inevitably, realistically. Quiet, confident, & self-willed inquiry really frames the entire record, & road trip as theme, point of departure & point of arrival, matters greatly: 'I was driving across the burning desert / When I spotted six jet planes / Leaving six white vapor trails across the bleak terrain.' Jaco is the other genius, of course, & his lines were once what I felt to be literally living within, but Joni is an almost frighteningly gifted artist. No comp, no.

Canada's greatest songwriter.

Got this on a Sunday which is the perfect day to delve into the stories on this amazing album. Adore Jaco Pastorius bass lines that weave in and out of the vocal lines.

a true classic. lovely listening, great lyrics, what's not to like

I could listen to Joni Mitchell sing for the rest of my life

Great.

I just had a Joni album one before this. I bitched about her high register singing. Then came a Mercury Rev album and i wished for Joni to come back. I am a fickle consumer but hey, the universe provides. Track one Coyote and i’m relieved ahe uses a bit more middle tone in this one at least. Can concentrate a but on her rythm and timing, which is very good. Ahe pulls in some immense musos i must say. Jaco on track 1, with larry carlton again! She has a very unique melodic sense i feel, at once usual but then unexpected. Just a lovely album.

Now here’s a woman worth listening to. What a band firstly. And before you say ‘why would you mention the men first ?’ Joni put them together and wrote music to suit them. Jaco on bass on some tracks. Larry Carlton on guitar. Max Bennet on bass. Just an incredible lineup. And it’s my favourite Joni album - it’s a bit more sophisticated than Blue and Joni stretches herself. 5 stars.

Ah, Joni. Poetess of our dreams and life and musings - a Jazzy Folkster. Atmosphere and whimsey across the decades. How do you make the natural talking cadence fit in song? So, I , naturally, looked it up. Joni Mitchell’s unique, conversational vocal style is often described as a blend of folk-jazz phrasing, conversational lyrical phrasing, or melodicized poetry. - any "icized" word is complex, so lets unpack: .... the technical terms for what she is doing when she "Adapts Natural Cadence to Song" : Prioritize Melody Over Rhyme Scheme: Mitchell often composes the melody first to avoid the rigid, predictable patterns of traditional verse. This allows the words to follow the natural rhythm of speech rather than forcing them into a strict poetic meter (like iambic pentameter). - Rhythmic Flexibility (Syncopation): Rather than singing directly on the beat, place words on the off-beats. This mimics the way we naturally emphasize words in conversation. Extend Key Words (Melismatic Singing): Make minor, filler words very short (16th notes) and allow important emotional words (like "river" or "skate") to be held for several beats or a full bar. Employ "Conversational" Phrasing: The lyrics should follow the rhythm of natural, contemporary speech. Use "Chords of Inquiry" (Suspended Chords): Mitchell is famous for using "sus chords" (suspension chords) instead of immediate major or minor resolutions. These chords create tension and a "question mark" feel, which keeps the song flowing, allowing the lyrics to feel more like a unfolding story or question rather than a finished statement.

Mid seventies Joni had hit her stride. I'm not sure what it was that she was doing with chords etc, but when she played Coyote at The Last Waltz Garth had to explain the chords to the rest of The Band! This is a delightful record by an extraordinary singer song writer, it was an absolute listening pleasure. Nothing leaps out per se, rather the body of work flows over you. Has the late great Jaco's playing dated somewhat? I mean there are certain points where you'd love a bit of fretted bass root notes, but the harmonics as a whole still work. This is a fine record, which manages to transcend its mid seventies context.

I’ve always really liked this album. Joni seems a little less like she’s trying to be this mystical poetic genius, and instead we see her authentic side, which is, as you guessed it, a natural mystical poetic genius. My only qualm is that the prominent bass played by Jaco Pastorius sounds like, well, bass played by Jaco. I know some people praise this guy on their hands and knees, but his work just sounds dated and distracting to me.

Hay algo que esta mujer no sepa poner en las palabras mas hermosas posibles? Te amo Joni "I see something of myself in everyone" <3

I should have listened to this years ago. A gem. I saved “Coyote”.

Classic case of me enjoying an album the more I listen. I didn't get it with Coyote, the first track on the album, but after giving it my full attention I want to listen to this again and again.

Das war in der Tat ein Meilenstein in der Musikgeschichte!

This was a beautiful way to start a morning. A strong album that suits Joni Mitchell’s strengths very well. Ethereal listen.

utterly wonderful - Queen Joni with one of her greatest, lyrical, allusive, great melodies and arrangements, an album you can go back to again and again

Starting the challenge STRONG!! I looooove Joni Mitchell, and this is certainly one of her better albums in her discography, even though it's her eighth. The album heavily features Paco Pastorius (from Weather Report) playing a fretless bass, a surprisingly interesting combination, despite this still being a folk album, it brings some amazing jazz influences that elevate the album. OVERALL RATING: 5 stars FAVOURITE TRACK: 'Song For Sharon' LEAST FAVOURITE TRACK: N/A (Couldn't decide :c)

you can't go wrong with joni

Coyote - 5/5 Amelia - 5/5 Furry Sings the Blues - 4/5 A Strange Boy - 5/5 Hejira - 5/5 Song for Sharon - 5/5 Black Crow - 3/5 Blue Motel Room - 4/5 Refuge of the Roads - 5/5 Average score: 4.6/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amazing to unwind to, so glad to have finally heard this. Low 5

My favourite album by one of my favourite artists. Incredible basswork by Jaco, great narrative storytelling from Joni and just a record you can live and travel with for years.

Some of her best work, although her Mingus album is my favorite!

Fav: Amelia Beautiful and subtle, so close to perfection <3 Jaco Pastorius playing bass is just another reason this album is an unforgettable classic.

Jaco Pastorius's performance on opening track "Coyote" should be enough to convince you that Hejira is a different kind of album. these are songs that wander and meander, much like the pilgrimage invoked by the album's title, and yet there's also such a focus and precision on display at the same time. surprising nobody, Joni Mitchell's explorations with jazz in the mid-seventies resulted in my favorite music of her entire career. her ever-lowering voice was now a smoky alto which transmitted some truly stunning poetry. the pristine layers of electric guitars from Mitchell and Larry Carlton, plus Victor Feldman's vibraphone, results in a transcendent listening experience on "Amelia". "Furry Sings the Blues" freely moves from one key to the next, but it always comes back to that beautiful A minor chord one way or another (Neil Young on harmonica!). it keeps going in much this same way; every song has at least one or two surprise chords, and Mitchell's melodies remain ever-searching. many of these tracks feature little or no percussion, which really adds to the soul-searching nature of it all. by the end, you really feel like you've wound up somewhere else. one of the most immersive albums ever created. it's great to pay close attention to, or you can just check out and let it wash over you. 10/10.

her best in my opinion.

More poppy

Demands your attention - especially lyrically, but also musically, with layers of precise instrumentation seemingly designed to enhance Joni's singing. Everything sounds bright and present and intimate. Furry Sings the Blues scared me off at first, but her take on the blues ended up being a standout. The title track has a haunting intro riff and the fretless bass is prominent again. It's a bleak masterclass in creating atmosphere. Blue Motel Room leans even further into the quiet, jazzy song structure. You could be in the room with her. Refuge of the Roads is a worthy closer, a wandering epic. The last bass notes fade away... but this leaves a lasting impression.

I never in my life would have listen to join Mitchel by choice..... This album is essentially perfect. Will listen again many times in the future.

This is my favorite album by her. I would listen to Amelia as I was flying, and itt would touch something inside of me.

perfect in every way

Just Joni. That is all

Joni Mitchell. An artist that I may never get tired of listening to. Let's just skip the intro stuff and get right into the review. I feel like doing that today. I don't know why. Hejira is fantastic. Blue is often called Joni's masterpiece, and the people are right in saying that. But who's to say that one artist can't have multiple masterpieces? Not me, that's for sure. I'm here to say that Joni Mitchell has at least two masterpieces. Blue is obviously one of them, but Hejira is not much worse. This album expands on the jazz-fusion thing that her past few albums had started to introduce and I love it. Joni Mitchell's always had good compositions on her albums, but they're really on focus and here and it's amazing. She even got Jaco Pastorius to play bass on some of these songs! I understand know why people call that man a master bassist. But of course, the writing is still the focus, and its as perfect as ever. The blend of storytelling, occasional humor, and deep introspection is the exact kind of thing that music like this calls for. Whether its the amusing story of a song like the opener "Coyote" to the emotional longing of the title track, there's always something to analyze and appreciate on Hejira. No weak spots. No bad songs. No filler. Hejira is outstanding. 5/5.

Beautiful. Gave me wanderlust. All the sounds were so pleasing to my ears.

Lyrics about solitude/travel/aging can stand alone as poetry. Her tuned down guitar and Jaco's bass sound so soulful and reflective of one another. It ends on one of her signature deep introspections that pans out to the world. Even though her chords and lyrics are a mix emotional, her passion for life and beauty is ever present and leaves the listener with a wholly earned sense of contentment.

4.5/5

Beautiful and sounds effortless in its grace. Musically moves and flows, gorgeous moving melody and astonishing instrumentation of a liquid jazz, shines and glows, is wistful and reflective and shines with life's hurt and love. She is caught in between, moving between connections, searching and fuck I feel that. The way she sings over this is stunning, esp with her lower register that really tugs at me. She is at her absolute best

Widely considered the end of Joni's classic period (though I will defend Mingus more than most), this really is an album that rewards repeat listening. There's almost no hooks, just sprawling, languid and reflective songs which eventually sink into your brain. Favourite songs: refuge of the road, strange boy, amelia

A sensação que eu tive ao escutar pela primeira vez...

I had never listened to Hejira before but I feel somehow that it has been there my whole life. It fills me with nostalgia.

I’m at a 5. Not quite the easily digestible tones of “Court & Spark” (which I gave a 10 to), but a lovely road trip album regardless. This album is deeply inspired by a lot of Joni’s personal life, making it a little harder to digest at first, but I think once the “therapeutic road trip” angle comes in, a lot of this album really melts into place. Joni Mitchell apparently went traveling a LOT in 1976, crossing through a lot of America while on & off various tours, even with no driver’s license. This album is practically her recollection of those cross-country trips, reckoning with why she did them, the sense of heartbreak that caused her to do them in the first place, and trying to heal her tensions & vices that came to light before & after the trips. I suppose “Hejira” really makes sense as an album title, given that it’s a loose translation for Muhammad’s spiritual pilgrimages from Mecca to Medina. I think it’s a very well written album; rather verbose at times, and occasionally a bit cryptic (namely on “Amelia” with its false alarms), but full of vivid & rewarding imagery in its most straightforward moments. “Furry Sings the Blues” being about the decay of such a vitally important spot in music (Beale Street in Memphis) stood out really well to me, as did the deep desire for marriage on “Song for Sharon”. I do think “Court & Spark” is a better written album, but it’s just because I was able to pick up on a lot of the metaphorical writing there on a first pass, whereas some of these took a bit longer to reveal themselves, though they're rather vivid all the same. Joni Mitchell’s voice is still very good; not as dazzling as it was on “Court & Spark” due to her more conversational / talkative tone on this album, but she still has some moments with a presence & power that can only come out of someone who really means the tracks they’ve written. Instrumentally, it’s a much more blues-y / jazz inspired album, which leaves it a bit more somber & slightly more one-note than the variety of “Court & Spark”, yet the moody attitude rolls along really nicely. I compare it, in a sense, to “Autobahn” by Kraftwerk; not in the style of music at all, but in terms of capturing a sense of travel. The simplicity of the lead guitar on a lot of the tracks, when surrounded by the passing bass melodies, the very light percussion, and the myriad of other atmospheric instrumentation (special shoutout to Neil Young’s harmonica on “Furry Sings the Blues”) really creates the feeling of just looking out of a window whilst driving or flying or some other form of transportation, and just contemplating life as it is, while the scenery whips by. I think it’s very easy to have those moments as a passenger or a driver, lost in your own thoughts. That’s what this album captures very well, and while the sense of verbosity in the lyrics is intimidating at first, I think they’re just there to give richer depth to the imagery that her voice & these instrumentals already succeed at capturing. They’re optional, and they add a lot to the album, but they’re not crucial. As a whole, then, I really enjoyed it. I do think there’s a bit of mixing issues on a few tracks that distract from what the album is going for, with some instrumentals burying Joni’s voice in the mix. This could’ve also been trimmed down by a bit; I wouldn’t cut any tracks, but some verses here feel a little more tangential than others, in a way that’s not as tight as it could be. Overall, though, it is a road trip album, and it may be even more enhanced by just listening to it in a car. I think it’s a rewarding album if you choose to engage with the lyricism, but it’s not as necessary as it seems on a first pass. It’s got great instrumentation (quick acknowledgement for Jaco Pastorius of Weather Report doing bass on some of these tracks, & any of the other session musicians here), great vocals, and I can’t find many flaws with it. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s certainly mine, and I think it’s a 5.

Joni is a national treasure

Always heavenly.

Just adore. Must relisten 100 times.

Another great driving album. Perfect for long stretches of lonely road. Mitchell liked traveling as inspiration for her songs... it's only proper.

Probably my favourite of all the Joni I’ve heard. And there’s a lot of good stuff. One of those albums where the cover perfectly matches with the music itself with themes of travel and wandering. You can hear clearly how the melodies and lyrics influenced others like Joanna Newsom. Not as instant as other work but gives you something new every time.

267/1089 - Cool to hear the crossover of jazz fusion with folk. I like this a bit more than Court and Spark. I wish some more Jaco was on the list like his self-titled album or Bright Size Life by Pat Metheny. Such a great bass player. By the way, I have a bone to pick with you other reviewers on this site for this album particularly! That's not a mouthwatering delicious juicy cock on the album cover, that's her wrist! She's got a bracelet on and everything.

Not sure what to say about this other than it’s an experience. Joni’s voice is ethereal and haunting. Great listen on a fall day.

Gran album. Sonido jazz innovador destacando el bajo de pastorius.

No matter how personal to her are the matters that she sings about, Joni Mitchell's songs always draw me in. I think that's her gift to us: she sings intimately, as if sharing her stories for our ears alone. Most of these songs do meander somewhat, but always thoughtfully, with the melodies tending to resolve every so often into a lovely warm, major chord. The effect is one of Joni being on her journey, observing, puzzling over things, worrying, messing up, examining her feelings, but ultimately content. And, of course, sharing it all with us through her lovely storytelling. I told my two friends who are sharing this musical journey that this wasn't one of my favourite Joni albums (that was before I put it on), but it's a measure of how good she is that I immediately stopped everything else to be able to soak it up (I'm guilty at times of multi-tasking my way through the 1001). Wonderful album. She's just great.

A cold, on the road album of motel rooms, broken relationships, sadness, and occasional happiness peeking through the snow clouds. Though Mitchell continues to plumb the depths of her own and essentially humanity's psyches, the music is more jazz influenced and unexpected. Odd tunings, winding melodies and (of course) the game changing fretless bass playing of Jaco Pastorious. Best Tracks: Coyote; Hejira; Refuge of the Roads

приятная музычка. басист молодец.

I love Joni Mitchell’s every album

Incredible story telling set to beautiful music

4 for enjoyment but I think it deserves a 5, also it has the best instrumentation of her albums

#DÍA 8: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) Como el nombre del álbum indica, Joni Mitchell en este proyecto nos embarca con ella a un largo viaje de carretera y manta, o como canta: las “finas líneas blancas”. Todo este LP se siente como entrar dentro del cerebro de la artista para escuchar y sentir su flujo de pensamientos mientras marcha por todo el país. De hecho, la lista de canciones se siente como un día entero, desde los sonidos matutinos y ensoñadores de Amelia, hasta la atmósfera nocturna de Blue Motel Room. Es un trayecto desolador, lleno de melancolía azul y de íntima reflexión, principalmente sobre amor, pero también sobre la propia existencia, el envejecer o la avaricia, entre otros tópicos. Los instrumentos mezclan de forma realmente sofisticada elementos del jazz y del folk, dando un resultado onírico, piezas de poca variación que se sienten como un paisaje tras aquello de lo que nos canta Joni Mitchell. La voz de la cantante es cercana, expresiva y absolutamente en línea con la poesía a la que da melodía. Posiblemente el LP resulte algo monótono si no te terminan de hipnotizar las canciones, o si no te interesa escuchar qué tiene que decir Joni Mitchell en las mismas, pero una vez sintonizas tus ondas cerebrales y el latir de tu corazón, se convierte en un viaje de lo más humano y bello. Favoritas: Amelia, Furry Sings the Blues, Hejira, Song for Sharon, Black Crow, Blue Motel Room, Refuge of the Roads Menos favorita: A Strange Boy #DAY 8: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die As the album title suggests, in this project Joni Mitchell takes us on a long road trip with her — or as she sings, along the “fine white lines”. The entire LP feels like stepping into the artist’s mind to listen to and feel her stream of thoughts as she travels across the country. In fact, the tracklist feels like an entire day, from the dreamy, morning sounds of Amelia to the nocturnal atmosphere of Blue Motel Room. It’s a desolate journey, full of blue melancholy and intimate reflection, primarily about love, but also about existence itself, aging, or greed, among other topics. The instrumentation blends elements of jazz and folk in a truly sophisticated way, creating a dreamlike result — pieces with little variation that feel like landscapes behind the stories Joni Mitchell sings about. Her voice is close, expressive, and absolutely in tune with the poetry it brings to life. The LP might feel somewhat monotonous if the songs don’t end up hypnotizing you, or if you’re not interested in hearing what Joni Mitchell has to say in them. But once your brainwaves and heartbeat sync with it, it becomes a deeply human and beautiful journey. Favorites: Amelia, Furry Sings the Blues, Hejira, Song for Sharon, Black Crow, Blue Motel Room, Refuge of the Roads Least favorite: A Strange Boy

Her last perfect record.

Don't be ridiculous.

JACO! JONI! What an incredible album. I ended up listening to Blue four or five times before rating it because I just loved it so much and wanted to sit with it. I'm not going to bother waiting this time. Easily joining some of my all time favorite albums even after one listen.

Great bass on this one and I love the jazzy vibe and the sound of the guitars. This was my favorite era of Joni's music from '71 to '76. Excellent stuff.

Kicking myself for not diving into more of Joni's catalogue. This sits just as good, if not better, than Blue, an already immaculate listen.

I bloody loved this, great vocals, easy to listen to but still with enough substance to keep me engaged the whole way, great discovery

For “Coyote” alone this is a fantastic album. The rest are very good as well. An album that hits all the spots.

Thus is another fantastic example of Joni Mitchell's style, featuring lyrical complexity accompanied by almost spartan musical arrangements. I really enjoy the pictures she paints of life on the road in this album. Favorite tracks: "Coyote," "Amelia," "Refuge of the Roads"

i’ve returned to this album after a while because it annoys me that i didn’t like it as much as Blue. i don’t know why it never hit me the first time but it’s really working well now. i’m paying attention to things and it’s such a beautiful sounding album. i love the sound of the bass, guitar, vocals, everything. just so gorgeous. it’s getting upgraded from a 3 to a 5 😮 yep. i’m doing it. i love this.

Beautiful album. So much depth and range in Mitchell’s voice. Blue will always be the favorite, but this ids excellent in every way.

When I was younger I hated olives and also Joni Mitchell. Now that I’m older, I absolutely love olives and at least like this album quite a bit. Sure seems like she was boning a lot back then. Makes me sad I wasn’t around for the 60s and 70s, though if I’m honest, I probably would have been a square then too.

This issue with this app is that sometimes a day isn't enough to take in the albums. This is one such case. On first listen it's a strong three or four star record, but the more time you spend with it the more you get from it. I love her early albums of course, but this is a masterpiece. Heavy, floating, ambiguous. Classic indefinable Jonie, on another level - it's an incredible mix of the greatest folk player with jazz giants. Nevermind Portrait of Tracy, this is Jaco's most sublime playing. Lary Carlton complimenting everything so perfectly too. A truly beautiful record.

Witchy ahh 🔥

Heavenly. That bass tone makes me feel things.

The first Muslim community.

Like a cool breeze on a summer day ❤️

Hejira marks the moment where Joni Mitchell completed her transformation from an easy to pin down ingenue of soon-to-be burned down iconoclasts to an abstract road warrior hardened and wizened by what was in front of and around her. Completing what was started with The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira is Joni's finest hour as the jazz influence makes its presence felt and the lyrics take on a hazy, albeit contained stance verging on rambling yet memorable. This is a steep mountain to climb and it is not a surprise that many have tried to emulate its footprint in the years since.

An incredibly dense record, but god is it rewarding. I was initially a bit hot-and-cold on it, liking a track and then not liking the next, ironically preferring the more esoteric jazz cuts to Joni’s typical folk songstress shtick, although both left my head spinning in the end. But as Side B played out, I warmed up to it a lot more. The tipping point for me was “Blue Motel Room,” with the brilliant verse: “You and me, we're like America and Russia/ We're always keeping score/ We're always balancing the power/ And that can get to be a cold cold war/ We're going to have to hold ourselves a peace talk/ In some neutral café/ You lay down your sneaking round the town honey/ And I'll lay down the highway” This felt like the Joni I know and love, and felt like a save point for me to latch onto if this record got too weird. Then, I played it a couple more times, and each time, I became more of a fan. The bass on “Coyote” and “Hejira” are both mind blowing– shoutout Jaco– and the story on “Fuzzy Sings the Blues” (despite its unfortunate history), “A Strange Boy,” and “Song for Sharon” have so much depth to dig into lyrically and sonically. Once my ears adjusted to the weird folk-jazz of it all and I had my bearings, I was actually able to vibe out to this record. The only song I really don’t adore at this exact moment is “Amelia,” which is the most complex song lyrically and arguably sonically, since it’s so thin, and I have a feeling I’ll warm up to it with time. Hejira is one of those records where you need to spin it multiple times to get it, but you won’t love it until you get it stuck in your car’s CD changer, or you find a vinyl in a yard sale and just feel slightly too lazy to take it off your turntable and put it back in its sleeve, so you just listen to it for, like, a month straight. It’s a record whose love needs to be nurtured, cultivated, grown with habitually repeated listens. At this exact moment, it’s definitely not my favorite Joni Mitchell album by a long shot, although it’s still a standout. But I have a feeling that, over time, it might become my favorite as I garden my love for it. (Especially since her jazz era after this is a bit, ummmm, tarnished with polish, let’s just say that 🤢)

So so good wow

Wow. While I've enjoyed, I've never been overly impressed with Joni Mitchell outside of Blue, but this was outstanding. Totally blew me away. "Coyote" and "Amelia" are possibly Joni's best songs, but every track on this album was fantastic. Totally brilliant, and I loved the mood of the album. I'll be listening to this a lot.

This is incredible. Amazing singing, beautiful instrumentation (love the fretless bass) and incredible songs. It just delivers with this incredible weight. Awesome.

This album is one of my favourites by Joni Mitchell (which is saying a lot) after only maybe Blue, and it contains “Coyote”, which is one of my all-time favourite songs. The way in which she sings that first verse is just…inimitable. A truly beautiful album that never fails to make me cry.

you either love Jaco or not I guess. The chords and lyrics are ace. It's a masterwork

I've heard of Joni Mitchell before but never heard a song of hers. I just know that she's a legend. It's definitely a grower of an album, and it will take multiple listens to fully appreciate it but after only two spins, I already love it. It's a collection of some of the loveliest songs sung by someone with one of the loveliest voices I've heard. The title track has a slight south Asian tinge to it which sounds great. An immediate standout would have to be the epic 'Song For Sharon'. It's gorgeously haunting. The bass throughout the album is a highlight but on 'Black Crow' it's so so good, it oozes cool, coupled with the equally good guitar riff and solo towards the end of this slightly heavier sounding track. There's not exactly a typical structure to the songs and I love how loose and open they are. Albums like this are the reason I started this challenge. Great from start to finish.

joni is a gem and legend.

Not Joni’s greatest but it’s Joni so it’s great.

I've always loved Joni's songs. On this album, I really appreciate the music, the texture of the guitars, especially. There is a warm depth of the music that I really love. 4.5/5

My favorite Joni Mitchell album. A sprawling exposition of 1970s feminity and self-identity.

We have crappy, snowy weather today in Colorado. And what a great album to listen to in such conditions, staying warm by the fire and away from the cold. While I love Joni’s earlier work, this was more of a challenging listen. And I mean that in a good way; you just don’t get the lovely nuances in the instrumentation and chord progressions, which are typical Joni. Like a lot of music that demands deeper focus and attention. She doesn’t disappoint, especially in the writing, but it’s the band that gives this a cohesive vibe. Having said that, it’s that necessary deeper listening that goes against the idea of a 1001 albums challenge with one new album coming at you every day, that makes this one a harder than usual case. I’m rating it a 3 of 5 stars today, but I get the sense it’ll provide rewards for me if I revisit it regularly. My favorite cuts are “Coyote”, “Furry Sings the Blues”, “Hejira”, “Song for Sharon”, “Blue Motel Room” and “Refuge of the Roads”. My copy is from the Asylum Albums (1976-1980) box set released last year from Rhino Records, a great way to get an overview of her later work. < EDIT > Yup, it’s said that this album is a grower and damn if that experience didn’t happen for me. I listened again as if it was calling me to reconsider its merits, and I gave a focused listen with no distractions and I fell in love as if the universe was opened up to me. Not only a five star album, but a stone cold classic.

Sometimes albums I listen to in the morning decide my playlist for the day on Pandora. I enjoyed listening to this album, plus the music that Pandora connected to it. A wonderful day of inspiration.

Stunning production and the usual heartfelt lyrics that we've come to expect from Joni. When testing new audio equipment, this is one of my go to albums.

Take the jazzy parts of summer lawns and give the songs a rock edge. Joni Mitchell is seemingly the queen singer/songwriter, flexing her stylistic range with each album throughout the '70s. Hejira is simply fantastic, taking everything she's learned to date and perfecting it to a fine point. It's a haze of memories and introspection, with the road guiding Mitchell to be the woman she is today. The mark of a great songwriter is someone who truly knows themself, being able to weave stories from their own life and emotions. It's beautiful, in a word.

I think I liked this even more than I liked Blue. Amazing bass playing from Jaco Pastorius, who really brings that extra something to the tracks he is on.

over the past couple of years I have really fallen in love with Joni Mitchell's music and although this is the first time I've listened to this record, in particular, I can say this falls right in line with everything else. this album lives at the crossroads of folk, country, and jazz, and it is such a comfortable position there. this album is so cozy even though at the same time it feels like a road trip album. there's a longing that exists in a lot of Joni's music that is also ever present. here. her songwriting and her melodies are top notch as always, and I love the expanded jazziness exhibited here. just a great album through and through!

Insanely good!! Loved it and will listen again!

This is a great album and is definitely growing on me. It’s in between folky and jazzy. Gonna do a 4.5 because I can tell there’s more there.

Joni Mitchell versteht ihr Handwerk mit viel Seele und Herz. Beeindruckend was die Grand Dame abliefert. Ihre Kreativität ist unerschöpflich. Top!

Not a Joni album that I reach for that often but a really great one that demonstrates an evolution of her sound.

Absolute masterpiece. One of the greatest albums ever made. Whilst Blue will always have a special place in my heart, Hejira is probably the pinnacle of Joni's work.

Super

"I see something of myself in everyone." <3

A fabulous record from my collection

Nice riffs, beautiful emotion, interesting songwriting

Without this album I probably would not have invested as much time checking out Joni Mitchell's discography as I have done, starting with her continuation on the more jazzy path with Don Juan's Reckless Daughter. Especially Larry Carlton and Jaco Pastorius give Hejira a unique sound that combines so well with Mitchell's songwriting and vocal performance. And then on top of that you have Amelia, probably my favourite Joni Mitchell song ever. Top end five stars for me.

What a fantastic album. An easy 5 in my book.

Fantastic entry in Joni's storied catalogue. Absolute masterclass in songwriting and arrangement from start to finish. Murderer's row of session musicians.

5/5 The music seems to be simply a vessel to take on Mitchell's poetry on the opener Coyote, like much of Dylan. But it is great writing. Amelia is more melodic, and so beautifully constructed. Then Furry Sings the Blues is a pleasant and evocative if not groundbreaking tune. A Strange Boy is pretty similarly good too, and after that the title track is really packed full of emotion. Such a good tune. Song for Sharon is an amazing groove, and Mitchell's performance is fantastic. It's actually just one of the best things I've ever heard. Black Crow is such a welcome change of pace, full of life and energy. It's a brilliant track before Blue Motel Room is a relaxing, laid-back love song. The closer is great to wrap up the whole concept of travelling and feeling unsettled. In summary, Mitchell proves that she is one of the greatest lyricists and vocalists of all time. The high points are so good, and these exceptional peaks are scattered across the album, which has a cohesive, consistent feel. Coyote 4/5 Amelia 5/5 Furry Sings the Blues 4/5 A Strange Boy 3.5/5 (LEAST FAV) Hejira 5/5 Song for Sharon 5/5 (FAV) Black Crow 5/5 Blue Motel Room 4.5/5 Refuge of the Roads 4/5

Oh boy - its such a unique soundscape that is a pleasure to listen to for 50 minutes

Pure poetry absolutely beautiful from start to finish

This album - all about moving from place to place, person to person - is itself transportive. From the opening chords of Coyote you are taken to a world that is uniquely Joni Mitchell. This was my entry into Joni and continues to be my favorite. Listening now I feel like this is music outside of genre - not exactly folk or jazz or rock - it's just music. Musical portraits expertly drawn one of one.

'Coyote' sets the tone. Story telling , folk yet with that west coast feel throughout. Lauren Canyon personified.

Joni Mitchell is a rare human. If you listen to her lyrics you realize that she is putting herself out there, open, vulnerable, and raw. That is (to me) so lacking today. That kind of intimacy is precious. I am probably so very different than her in so many ways that AI would not put us on the same matrix. Yet I feel her lyrics, they are my feelings in many ways. Sometimes paradoxical, like some may hear the words but not understand what she is saying. Some see her as sad or melancholy, I see her strength and humanity. I think there is a lesson here; in vulnerability comes strength. Words can be twisted and poisoned but truth is steadfast. Also this is a GREAT road album.

4.7 - Like a female version of Paul Simon in places. Fantastic album, looking forward to more from Joni

(Finally) instrumentation to match Mitchell’s wandering vocal style. Tales of hitchiking across state lines, road houses and gas stations, truckers and coffee, fleapit motels, and barroom brawls. A souls journey, grit yielding pearl.

Her best album

oh joni mitchell my canadian queen....

😭😭😭mega smuk

Another one I listen to all the time

Great guitar folk

Yea, this sounds amazing. Awesome folky instrumentals with great vocals and amazing storytelling.

I had to give this one a few goes through with the good headphones. It's a fantastic record. The minimalistic sound and the poetry in her lyrics are just perfect.

Everyone gives Joni Mitchell credit as a singer/songwriter and as an instrumental innovator, but what people rarely mention is her ability to craft a really decent concept album. She did it with “Blue” and she does it again on “Hejira.” It’s all about roads and traveling and the hard wisdom gained from the journey. Plus is enters new musical territory with a jazzier feel married to a Pop sensibility, something of an echo of “Court and Spark” but matured. Another in a collector’s deck of classics.

Are you trying to make me cry? I shouldn't be listening to this while trying to get work done. I should be in a bubble bath, sipping a pinot noir. Honestly, the first time I heard this one was because I had just learned about Jaco and found out he played bass for a string of Joni records, so I drew a bath - probably my first since childhood - drank a bottle of red wine, let it all wash over me, and cried. Nothing about me should like Joni Mitchell, especially because she's the epitome of what my mom would listen to, whose taste in music I've often been skeptical of, but had she ever listened to THIS Joni, I might've never thought that. Easily 5/5. This is artistic genius.

I really enjoyed this!!

The only song I knew from this album was Coyote. This is a tremendous collection of folk jazz epics about travellin' and gettin' some strange. Way to go, Joni.

Joni's greatest achievement.

Falling in love with an album that’s not on streaming is just the worst feeling. And the last time I remember wanting an album to be on streaming so badly was when I heard Exmilitary for the first time. But that album doesn’t hold a candle to this. I appreciated The Hissing of Summer Lawns. But maybe I don’t remember it sounding very similar to this. I thought of it more as a Steely Dan inspired singer-songwriter record. But if it did, then I was sorely mistaken in my score. Because holy shit. This is one of the most stellar pieces of music I have heard in a long time. If it isn’t obvious by the many albums I have given high scores to, I love jazz. And I love all things inspired by jazz. So the combination of her traditional folk sound with more progressive jazz elements is a match made in heaven. Joni just has a voice that speaks to my heart. She’s like a female Neil Young. I just can’t deny how warm and fuzzy their voices make me feel. And her uniquely creative style of lyricism makes for a handful of delightful moments. I was also really blown away by how elegant the production is. This album probably has some of my favorite guitar tones and textures I’ve ever heard. Those, put together with the very deep and full bass sound, creates this beautifully layered sound profile. I will admit that I’m guilty of not listening to the albums I say I love as much as I should. But this is one that I immediately wanted to put back on and dig into once it was over. I could also see myself falling asleep to this in the future, because it’s really relaxing. Rating: 10/10!

Seems addictice

Very original road trip inspired lyrics over jazz influenced pop, with some craZy ass bass lines from Jacob. Yeah, this deserves a few listens for it to really be appreciated.

this is one of my favorite albums ever

Didn't know some artists took their music off of Spotify. Joni Mitchell is always a win. One of the best female voices IMO.

jaco pastorius and joni mitchell 4eva

I mean, Joni and Jaco. Perfect.

🚨 BANGER ALBUM ALERT! 🚨 OK I feel like I earned this after the last stretch of stuff I had to go through. I feel rewarded. We have a winner. The album is Hejira by Joni Mitchell. I will preface this by saying I knew NOTHING about her going into this, except for her name. This thing had me floating. Maybe more like drifting. Floating but a little bit sad. I don't know how to phrase it but Joni Mitchell would because she's also a fucking poet. Some of the best lyrics I've ever heard. It's heavy and beautiful. And with the instrumentation, everything is necessary Nothing is done in excess. The music always pairs perfectly with the subject matter of the lyrics. Longing, loss, love, wanderlust, dissociation, materialism and spirituality, even gentrification and environmentalism at points. It sounds on paper like the messages would all get muddled but they don't. I got misty eyed at the title track, and while I usually get attached emotionally to good music, that doesn't happen to me a lot. It's all delivered in a very human way. It's human music. Maybe the most human music. 5/5.

Joniiii

this is THE album to hear before you die like i want Hejira to be what i am hearing as my soul shuffles off this mortal coil beautiful hypnotic melodies & swirling sprawled lyricism jaco’s harmonics also had me Weak obligatory : furry sings the blues? you mean twin fantasy?

No he encontrado el álbum como tal en Spotify, pero sí las canciones live sueltas y me parecen una maravilla.

The first Joni Mitchell album I ever heard, and forty-odd years later, still amazing

my god, now this is an album i feel like is worth talking about for hours. this is not an album, this is a journey across the land. what a listen. i absolutely adore every track; just listening to those guitars for a millisecond makes me instantly spellbound, enchanted. i am here and i am happy to listen to every bit of joni's life and the clear-as-day imagery she expresses in every single line. there's certain albums that i've just... i've never heard in my life and after hearing this, i can safely say that this entry is one that has changed my life forever. it's so gorgeous.

Beautiful production and beauty in lyrics and melodies.

1001st album! (but there's about 1090 actually)

This album is a sprawling and contemplative journey though Joni Mitchell’s life at the time. Here she is unsure of what she wants, and she expertly weaves lyrics that meander yet go straight to the heart of her restlessness. The music itself is similarly open and more meandering. In this album, it’s beginning to embrace a jazz feel over the folk base. Overall, this album is intensely vulnerable, absolutely beautiful, and relatable for anyone who has ever felt adrift.

a masterpiece. Period

4.6 - Joni, I don't know why I ever doubted you. Maybe it was the collaboration with Jaco Pastorius that had me skeptical - would there be too much noodling on bass? Or, would your hippie-dippie coffehouse lyrics make me cringe? Looking back, I don't blame myself for harboring these reservations. But, goddamn, somehow you were able to tame those unruly elements and put together another masterpiece, another stunner in your stunning catalog. I'll never doubt you again, Joni.

Until now I've only heard Joni's Blue and Ladies of the Canyon, both of which I adore. Hejira is definitely different from those albums' guitar- and piano-driven sounds and I LOVE IT TOO. Joni's vocals and lyrics are just so so singular and special. No skips. I can't wait to put this on my regular rotation. Would I revisit this album? Absolutely!!

This album was much better than the other one of hers that I've had so far (The Hissing of Summer Lawns). Favourite songs: Black Crow, Furry Sings the Blues, A Strange Boy, Song for Sharon, Blue Motel Room, Refuge of the Roads, Amelia, Coyote Least favourite songs: Hejira 5/5

a sound so comforting, as well, as songwriting and chords that flow so seamlessly yet can still surprise you. An absolute master at work

What a run of albums led to this. One of her most enigmatic, but seductive albums. Everything comes together on the final track which one of my very favourite of hers.

Very interesting how this reminds me of Sting and Red House Painters at the same time. I've never really listened to Joni Mitchell before and I really dug this. Everything feels carefully calculated yet effortless as the instruments weave around her voice with an unusual quality. The inclusion of Jaco Pastorius was a perfect touch.

The third album from Joni Mitchell's 1974-1976 period. Like Court and Spark', and 'The Hissing of Summer Lawns' it is jazz, blues and folk infused, lyrically dense, and excellent. This record may be the best of the three. It is characterised by long, meandering, chilled, songs. They tell stories of the road, on which they were written. Despite being long and verbose, Mitchell's voice makes them constantly lovely and never boring. Every so often a lyric will jump out and plant an image in your brain. Here are two examples: From Refuge of the Road: "In a highway service station Over the month of June Was a photograph of the earth Taken coming back from the moon And you couldn't see a city On that marbled bowling ball Or a forest or a highway Or me here, least of all" From Blue Motel Room: "You and me, we're like America and Russia We're always keeping score We're always balancing the power And that can get to be a cold cold war We're going to have to hold ourselves a peace talk In some neutral cafe You lay down your sneaking round the town, honey And I'll lay down the highway" A quality album. Rating: 4.5/5 Playlist track: Coyote Date listened: 08/09/23

This is a 5 star Joni album that stands up there with “The Hissing of Summer Lawns” and “Blue”.

Everything by Joni Mitchell is 5 Stars. She's the fame Bob Dylan.

10/10 Some of Joni Mitchell’s best work absolutely breathtaking

pretty nice

Of course, a wonderful record. If I had my way, I’d meet Joni Mitchell in a cafe on the road (always the road). We’d have a torrid love affair with a lot of conversation and mid-afternoon wine at cafes and then we’d part and she’d stay on the road and it would be my deepest wish that our brief time together be memorialized in a single phrase on a Joni album as great as this.

Joni is a legend and this is one of her best. 10/10

An important and exciting transition point in Joni Mitchell's career. I love hearing her experiment with these kinds of arrangements where everything feels so open but still remains grounded by her songwriting.

At the very least this is my 2nd or maybe 3rd favorite Joni Mitchell album.

Hejira is Joni Mitchell in constant change and constantly moving. It's folk in the backseat of a car, progessive poprock on a plane, and jazzy fretless bass on a train. Always while looking up and realizing that the clouds and the world around her are moving much faster. Hejira somehow creates even more vivid mental imagery than the masterpiece Blue, and Mitchell constantly seems to be in complete control of not only her own voice but the expressions of a dozen genres. Everything comes together when she momentarily directs her melancholic gaze backwards in time on the phenomenal 'Furry Sings the Blues'. This is what every singer/songwriter should aspire to be.

Legit this album is everything, it is perfection

Beautiful

A year ago, I hadn’t heard any Joni Mitchell. Today, when seeing that I was generated this album, I felt excited. I loved Court and Spark, and I loved Blue, so I have high hopes for Hejira. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Coyote, Amelia I love the storytelling on this album. Most music that I tend to listen to might tend to have lyrics more about an idea or a feeling, whereas here we have music that pints a picture and tells a story. It’s a staple of folk music, and something I never expected that I would feel so drawn to. As usual, the vocals are the perfection that I’ve come to expect. I did want to also mention the bass playing on this album. It’s fairly simple, but complex enough to stay interesting, and very complimentary to the music in general. Overall, another fantastic album by Joni Mitchell that I enjoyed a lot.

This album shows Joni at the peak of her creativity and is especially through the collaboration with Jaco Pastorius simply unique.

Those jangly guitars got me, man.

Goodness me another obvious and unavoidable five star. A thing of undisputed beauty.

Powerful lyrics that truly make me feel like I was on the road with her Props to the other reviewers that pointed out the road head on the cover because I never would have noticed Can't wait for the generator to flip me some more Joni 5/5

Primer disco que no tengo dudas que es perfecto 10/10. Desde las letras, las melodias, todo es espectacularmente perfecto. No aburre, no cansa, no me pasó como en Blue que algunos temas rozaban lo monótono pero se veían salvados por la voz y las letras de Joni. Este caso es excelente, el mejor que he escuchado de ella.

I like this woman and her 'big yellow taxi's and 'Blue' feelings. Joni is a brilliant lyricist, telling enticing and flowing stories that really captivate your imagination. She uses word play so well it really seperates her for the rest. Joni also has such a unique sound, both in voice and music. Her singing is spoken poem like and her music is folky but with inspiration from around the world. Overall 9/10

I think this kind of meandering jazzy song structure would not work for me, in general. However, the instrumentation was very nice and Joni's voice just had me from the first note. I kind of felt uneasy at times, but each time the album ended, I wanted to start it again.

Another gem from Joni Mitchell. We are truly blessed.

Such a lovely album from such a lovely woman. The songs have long, descriptive narratives that create such vivid images of their subjects. Just what I would want on a road trip with Joni Mitchell.

Perfect to me.

What a stunning record by Joni Mitchell, the artwork alone makes me long for a road trip, far away from home. Hejira falls right in between pop songs and some more jazz structures, so that it remains nice and relaxed listening/musing music. This album is especially amazing with the combination of all these songs, written for guitar, with bass, vocal and guitar. After all the (deserved) praise for Jaco Pastorius, I would like to point out that he is not the only bassist on this album. Max Bennett and Chuck Domanico also leave their mark on the songs they play on. Hejira is therefore perhaps the highlight of Joni's impressive discography for me, a beautiful album!

The apex of Joni Mitchell's adventures into "Folk-Jazz" yields a wonderfully groovy album with long, winding songs about travels and tyrsts, all overdubbed by the masterful fretless bass of Jaco Pastorius. A great album shrouded in the haze of lounge cigarette smoke, coupled with the moodiness of someone who's traveled there and back again. Standout Songs: "Coyote" "Furry Sings the Blues" "Song for Sharon"

I literally never listen to this kind of stuff, but this went really hard.

Beautiful album.

wow, such power, such incredible writing

Certamente é uma obra-prima para ser continuamente revisitada.

Best album ever

Wonderful record all the way around – unhurried, mellow, contemplative – exactly like a great road trip (surely just a coincidence). The guitar playing is excellent – who knew Joni had such axe chops but Jaco's name should be on the masthead, too. Speaking personally, this feels like peak Joni: "We got high on travel / And we got drunk on alcohol / And on love, the strongest poison and medicine of all." First two cuts are most engaging and the last a beautiful closer.

Amazing record! Shame it's no longer on Spotify, but still great.

Joni Mitchell is an acquired taste, generally speaking, but I'm sure glad I acquired said taste for such extraordinary music. I think *Hejira* is probably my favorite record of hers, along with the poppier *Court And Speak*. I even prefer those two records to her earlier classic albums on the Reprise label, including the all-time great *Blue*. *Hejira* is the one record where she burned all her ships behind her so as to fully embrace that jazzy, sophisticated sound she would never completely forget in the rest of her carreer. Jaco Pastorius' fretless bass does wonders on it, but the guitar parts are insane too. Yet what seals the deal in it is what Joni's voice is accomplishing here. Her vocal lines are incredible, and the lyrics exploring that theme of finding yourself while on the road are driven and focused, as many other reviewers already pointed here. Brilliant literary writing all around. What struck me as I read some of those reviews is how laudatory the four-star ones were--actually suggesting a 5/5 grade instead. I'm pretty sure those Joni fans couldn't bring themselves to bring that higher grade because of the "experimental" nature of this record, and the fact that it is not *Blue*. But the two should *at least* be considered as equal in their overall quality. Both are masterpieces exploring the American psyche, and this in moving and sensitive ways no other record had attempted to reach before. To sum it up, *Hejira* is not merely an "experimental" album, it's an album with a lot of heart and intelligence in it. 5 stars is the least I can give for it. Number of albums left to review: 765 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 118 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 57 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 60

The 1,001 randomizer granted me my wish for more 1970's Joni Mitchell rather quickly. "Hejira" is the eighth studio album from Joni Mitchell. The album was written during a series of three road trips in 1975-1976 including one as a member of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue. The music is jazz-inspired and the best descriptor I saw was jazz-pop; she had distanced her music from what I would classify as folk. Many of these sprawling songs are about severed relationship including one of hers with drummer John Guerin. The music is guitar-driven, acoustic and electric, (as opposed to a piano). Joni also met fretless electronic bass player Jaco Pastorius during the writing and recording and he adds just great playing and a jazzy atmophere on four of the songs. Hejira is a transliteration of the Arabic word Heira or Hijra referring to the migration of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina; Joni used it to reference/describe "running away with honor." "Coyote" starts things off with guitar, percussion and Jaco's subtle bass. Great free-flowing lyrics. It's about a one-night stand with a ladies man; many say it's about Sam Shepard whom Joni had a fling with. One of my favorite Joni songs. "Amelia" is a slower song. Electric guitar. Vibraphone. A beautiful and sad song. It was inspired by her break-up to drummer John Guerin in the desert. Imageries of airplanes in the desert and Amelia Earhart disappearing. Another great and melancholy song is "Hejira" which Joni said was her toughest song to write. It accounts her reasons for leaving Guerin. Jaco's bass adds to the atmosphere. "Songs for Sharon" begins side two and it's about a woman deciding between freedom and her marriage. Allusions to Joni's break-up and road trips. "Black Crow" almost sounds like a fusion; the electric guitar reminds me of the Woodstock era which is justaposed with a clarinet and Jaco's bass adding a jazzy element. Great song! "Refuge of the Roads" finishes things in sprawling fashion with a song about Joni's trip to a Buddhist meditation which she attributes to helping kick a cocaine addiction which she was battling during the recording and writing of this album. This is an excellent album. It seemed very personal and autobiographical. The emotion carries through. It just added to my quest for re-visiting all of 1970's Joni Mitchell.

Sublime!

perfect album. favorites: coyote, amelia, hejira, blue motel room, refuge of the roads

Coyote is one of the most vivid experiences in the history of music, a must-listen to The rest of the songs were absolutely splendid, the atmosphere felt a bit dull at times but almost every Joni album is a 5

Wonderful. Loved it. Never heard it before

cool

LINDA PERFEITA MARAVILHOSA

Jazzy!

smooth

V nice, quite a lot of wacky bass though by the end

her voice, the mood

Usually not a big fan of Joni’s voice but this one works for me. I think it’s the combination of the music and her storytelling. It’s got less weird vocal takes. Coyote was the only song I was familiar with but I have always liked that one.

This record is really good. Ive been less interested in joni stuff before but this is a turning point. There is one huge difference in this album compared to blue or whatever the other one was. Jaco. Jaco is awesome in everything ive heard him in. He steals the show for me. Makes joni and her band feel fuller and all around better. Its crazy. Hes missed on the tracks hes not on. Not that the other bassist are bad or anything. Its just such a clear tone. I picked up on him immediately. Kinda crazy how the way an instument is played can make you as distinct as a singer. Speaking of singers I like these songs better than ive heard before from joni. Im still not 100% sold on her but I get it more now. I like her as a singer well enough but as a songwriter i get it more. She puts together great tracks. The title track is very good. Also the opener. Those tracks are my favorites but alot to love outside of those. Best joni ice heard so far. And im sure ill hear more but im more in on it that ever

A really beautiful album with a really chill and free vibe. In tone it feels like something that should work as a travel album, but it is probably too chill for that. It's an album that is probably for when you are laying in bed thinking about travel, which is an extremely specific situation, but this really is the perfect album for that specific situation.

Dense and somehow ethereal at the same time. It's an enchanting album that is hard to pin down. My second of four Joni albums on the list it's very much more my style than The Hissing of Summer Lawns.

What a great album. Love Coyote with Jaco Pastorius and immediately picked that the Rolling Stones picked the same opening chords 5 years later on their song “Waiting Friend”. The album has an interesting backstory with some of the songs being conceived on a road trip after breaking up with her boyfriend. Heart broken and at the same time songs about other men she had flings with on the same roadtrips. Love Joni and her incredible innovative open tunings.

Du Joni Mitchell quoi, toujours très sympa à écouter, mais peut-être pas son album que je préfère

Très cool! J'ai bien aimé le style

Favss: song for sharon, a strange boy

I'm quite fond of Joni Mitchell's music and this album is no different. Great instrumentals (shoutout to Jaco Pastorius on bass) and vocals.

A beautiful jazz folk album- calming, tranquil, and affirming all in one. Her voice is hauntingly beautiful and the lyrics never intrude on the pleasant sounds.

Liked this one a lot more than Court & Spark

3.5. I know I’m supposed to like Joni Mitchell. Great song writing, beautiful voice. Unlike a lot of folk music, amazing composition and backing band. It’s good maybe even great. I don’t like Joni Mitchell. Giving her the lowest mathematical score to still get a 4. I know it’s good, I don’t like it.

Very good, sleepy lovely and good and guitar and the bass and ooh yes lovely

Joni is the GOAT. A true capital A artist. Blue is my favorite and a master piece but I like this one too.

I really liked this one. The instrumentals are often flowing and understated, yet they occasionally feature additional instruments that keep things interesting like the clarinet on the title track or the harmonica on Furry Sings The Blues. Her lyrics match the vibe of being on the road and moving past the world in such a great way. Favorites were Coyote, A Strange Boy, Song For Sharon, and Black Crow.

Not my favorite of her albums but it's still pretty good. Coyote is one of my favorites but the other songs are not bad, just not on that same level. I have to admit that she does that thing that I hate where she changes the cadence of her vocals to make them work in the song. Fortunately she is probably the best at doing this and I don't mind it so much. The music is really good and matches the style perfectly. I'm sure I will listen to this album again sometime, it's just not at the top of my list.

Foretrekker forløperne, men denne plata er fremdeles meget sterk.

4/5

The poet strikes again.

This album is definitely a continuation of Joni Mitchell exploring new sounds, heading more into a folk jazz direction. It has a more mature feel compared to her earlier work. Her lyrics carry more weight, with a deeper sense of insight and wisdom, and the jazz elements add a more sophisticated touch to the music.

9/10 If I was to one piece of advice to listeners if this record before it begins, it would be to approach it as a jazz recording, rather than a song-focused folk one. Yes, there are lyrics and vocal lines, but they are approached in a similar way to the lead instrument within a jazz ensemble. Don't go in expecting a standard verse/chorus structure, at least for the most part, or even a typical repeating melodic approach. This is free-form in places, but appreciated as an exploration of melody and harmony through organic development and experimentation, it's incredibly rewarding and beautiful. Interestingly, the album does ease the listener in with a couple of slightly more "song" structured efforts, but let that ease you in and you'll be floating along with the work as it becomes looser. The instrumental blend is, of course, a more traditionally folk rock one, but structurally and compositionally, this is very much a jazz record at its core. I can understand why that might make this feel like an unfocused or uninteresting album to some, but for me the beauty of this record lies within that approach. Joni's melodic skill and approach to harmony makes much of her work feel very unique, which is no doubt part of why people tend to love or hate her, but to me this is a very beautiful record that is given that extra level of quality due to the blend of jazz structures and that aforementioned compositional style. Worth mentioning here is the subtle range in instrumental use. The core of the album focuses on guitar, bass, vocal and subtle drums, but Joni invites in various other instruments in different places to create textural depth and range to that stable core. And the addition of Jaco Pastorius' trademark mid-tone roaming bass work is an absolute delight that adds extra jazz bona-fides to Joni's journey in that direction. If I were to have one complaint, it's that there is the odd occasion where that looseness drifts a tiny bit too much, but in all honesty, I strongly believe that if you fully immerse yourself into the work, that floaty nature is actually a benefit to the aesthetic, though it does make a casual listen a touch more challenging. That aside, this is a harmonically rich, melodically beautiful and structurally inspirational piece of work that sits very much towards the top tier of Joni's catalogue. Coyote - This is a lovely mid-point between folk and jazz. Jaco's bass brings a sense of urgency to the mix, while Joni's vocal drifts beautifully between a laid back swagger and slightly more forward to match that bass groove. Melodically, it rolls around it's centre in a very free, jazzy way, but it feels so coherent and thematically solid despite that free form approach. A very beautiful and rhythmically interesting start to the record. Amelia - I love this song. Again, it floats around in a very structurally jazz influenced way, but the instrumental blend is gorgeous. It's a melodically adventurous, while keeping things loose and free. The central motifs pop in and out, with the counterpoint between guitar parts and vibes is incredibly pretty too. It's not the most focused song, but in this case that works very well with the theme and general vibe. Furry Sings The Blues - That more free form structure starts to drift a tiny bit on this track. There are some really lovely moments, but that melodic centre doesn't feel as clear and defined as on the first couple of tracks. The guitar playing floats around the bass, in this case by Max Bennett, really nicely, and the harmonica adds an airy quality to the tone. It's very pretty, but lacking in definition just a tiny bit. A Strange Boy - Joni starts to tighten up the structure again here. It's still melodically fluid and jazzy in its approach to performance, both instrumentally and vocally, but that centre feels more defined. There are some more very pretty motifs and riffs from each of the instruments and the track soars in places and drifts into a mellow wash in others. It's a really nice experience to sink yourself into. Hejira - Jaco's back on bass now and the way his lines and Joni's guitar lines dance around one another really is gorgeous. His bass tone is always excellent, but it sits in this mix especially beautifully. The various lines, both instrumental and vocal soar from and dive back to a mellow home that rumbles along at the base of this song. As with much of the album, it's structurally fluid and roaming, but it always feels purposeful. The brief appearance of the clarinet adds a nice bit of range to the tone too. Beautiful stuff Song For Sharon - The cadence of the underlying structure here is very cool. It drifts along through some nice chord changes and then roams upwards before dropping back to that base. There's a bit more of a melodic focus here than some of the more free-form moments. The bass, back with Bennett again, gives this a nice platform on which to play and even wades in to the fun in places too. This is a little more sonically dense with the backing vocals adding extra weight to the mix. It's another really nice, floating effort, even if it is a touch on the long side. Black Crow - This is a more conceptually complex and atmosphere focused track. It's a sonic departure from the tone of the rest of the record but, while it's possibly the most challenging listen within, it's got interesting rhythms and grooves that make it a worthy inclusion. The addition of the distorted, reverberant guitar lines adds a lovely, dark texture to the composition too. It's not necessarily my favourite track on the album, but it's arguably the most interesting. Blue Motel Room - And we're now on to the most trad-jazz track on the record. It's got a beautiful swing to it, and a hazy, loosely focused flow to it that is so incredibly inviting. It's a pretty, floaty and warm experience that wraps you up and takes you on a lazy journey. Lovely. Refuge Of The Roads - We close out with another loosely focused, jazzy, melodically exploratory track. Just when you think things are drifting, though, Joni tightens things up and drops in one of the core melodic motifs to bring things back to the centre. Jaco's bass is roaming and interesting again, with a freedom that matches the floating nature of the track. Again, it's one that you need to settle in and enjoy the ride as the rhythms come and go, while the harmonic structures ebb and flow against those grooves. It's lovely stuff, even if I can see why it's not for everyone.

Whilst this doesn’t showcase her astonishing voice the same way that many of her earlier albums do, he voice is still a thing of shifting mercurial beauty. Musically there’s a broader palatte. Fretless bass, electric guitar and sometimes that limits the flights her voice takes but lyrically she still makes the everyday shine

Great songwriting from one of the GOATs. 4/5

ik ken een liedje van haar blauwe album die is meer piano based very chill nice singer songwriter mensen haten echt op haar?? dit mag bij albums die we in de woonkamer aan kunnen zetten

ik ken haar niet maar ze kan wel goed singen & songwriten.. goede chille muziek

Never listened to a full album of hers before. The lyrics come across as anecdotal, almost inconsequential. It's like the backing track is already laid down and she's fitting the words of her diary to it. Enjoyed it more than I expected to.

Очень даже

I still don’t understand who the Coyote is, but great set of songs

I recognize a few of these tracks by title, but otherwise have never listened to this album start-to-finish. I'm also a big fan of Jaco Pastorius, so I'm at least looking forward to that portion of this album. I'm not normally a fan of Joni Mitchell, but I enjoyed this collection of songs more than I usually do. I think I'll add this to my list of albums to listen to again.

I’ve really quite enjoyed most of the Joni Mitchell albums I’ve gotten for this project. I think this was my fourth? She’s a name I knew, but idk if I could name any of her songs except “Big Yellow Taxi.” She’s a lovely writer. This isn’t my favorite of hers I’ve gotten but it’s still quite good. I especially love the sequence of songs going “Furry Sings The Blues-Strange Boy-Hejira.” Really strong right there in the middle. There’s a line in the title track where she poetically describes life as “Between the forceps and the stone” and I’ll be honest, hearing that took my breath away. Lovely, dark way of describing a life. Great writer! Love the tone of the songs, again, especially on the sequence I called out earlier. Guitars almost sound like alt-rock 90s tracks. Very cool and forward thinking.

Very smooth and cool-girl-coded. If I was walking through the streets of New York this is what I would be listening to.

only ever listened to Blue, this whips

Another song-writing legend I've now experienced for the first time! I actually really like this spoken word stream-of-consciousness style that she's going for here; it feels like I've been cornered by a woman at the end of her rope, sitting me down in the dark corner of a cafe so she can tell me her life story. She's dangling me off the edge of a metaphorical cliff and it's a coin toss whether she'll pull me into safety or let me fall. I can understand why this isn't for everyone, but to me these weirdly intimate rambles are the real star, the instrumentals are just here to set the mood (very well might I add).

Some jaw-dropping beauty here, and a few odd ducks too. No denying that Joni is masterful and so lovely to listen to, and adding fucking Jaco Pastorius brings us up to the freaking moon. But again, not every song goes there. The lyrics are generally just a little too loose for me (however, they are true poetry), but the vibe is wonderful -- an album written along the road that somehow makes you feel like you are also on the road. A beautiful, quiet, winding road. A wonderful album, and just barely not a five. Fave tracks: - Coyote - A Strange Boy - Hejira - Black Crow - Blue Motel Room - Refuge of the Road Edit: oh wow. That's a penis.

Deus abençoe ela. Gostei, mas o Blue não tem comparação.

Gentle, kinda spooky folk

With Hejira, the transition from folk to jazz is complete. This is a lyrically driven record; poetry over jazzy chord progressions. Not my favorite Joni Mitchell, but an unarguable classic.

Another album nice for background music at work.

I think I liked this better than Court and Spark and am going to be lazy and give it a 4 because I liked it and can't think of a reason not to!

Coyote is a great song and several others are quite good, but the style of music is not something I listen too a lot. 4 stars or B+.

Yeah this was great. You gotta listen to it in the right context, i was doing a lovely sunday afternoon in the sun pulling some weeds out me garden. Enjoyable. Not as good as blue

Not a Joni that I was overly familiar with - although a lot of the songs I felt like I knew, which just shows the way that she gets into the ether and under the skin I guess. It's a really lovely affair, not at the level of Blue, or maybe even Court and Spark, but still with a beautiful lush feel to it. It has the sound of being a bit later in the 70s, with some Fleetwood Mac influence in the arrangements and even a little bit of disco-y base in the opening track. But at the heart of it all is the purity and wonder of one of the greatest vocalists to ever do it.

Perfect album for a long walk

Lovely.

lot more harmonics than i would expect in a singer song writer album. damn good

I think I may actually be coming around to Joni Mitchell. It may be due to the fact that I listened to it whilst relaxing on a lovely Sunday afternoon (and not at work) but there’s something so lovely and dreamy about this. What is this musical genre?Americana, jazz, folk? I’m not sure but I like it. A Strange Boy and Song for Sharon were great…. Oh and Furry Sings the Blues! Mitchell’s voice on Blue Motel Room is just exquisite. Her lyrics are interesting and sometimes witty, inviting you to look them up and read more! I loved this! (Might actually have to give Court and Spark another try). Took me a while to see that it was her wrist in the road on the front cover

The 1001 roulette blessed us putting this on a Sunday, as it's perfect Sunday morning music. Enjoyed it so much more than Court and Spark, loved the intertwining guitars and Pastorius sliding about on the bass. 'Amelia' was probably my favourite, I wish the vibes on this track (the instrument, not the mood (but also the mood)) were featured more throughout the album. 'Hejira' also exceptional. I think it ran out of steam a bit towards the end, but overall this was super good and suspect it will only go up in my estimations with repeated listens.

she is so great at creating tiny little atmospheres, this album is so sonically beautiful

The dreamy gentle sound of Joni Mitchell is not really my thing. However, took time to listen to this without distractions and started to see the strength of her talent. I must start listening to this when I need to chill and consider my naval. Helpful for that, for sure.

As lovely as ever

Great Sunday morning music

Coyote is pretty damn good. Yeah, this album is up my alley in a way I didn't quite expect. Not all the way up there, but certainly a pleasant listen.

Second time listening to a Joni Mitchell album. Was enjoyable, great lyricist and vocalist Highlights-Coyote, Amelia, Furry Sings The Blues, A Strange Boy, Hejira, ans Song For Sharron.

Preddy good...

I took me a little while to warm up to blue and Joni's style of singing. This has similar vibe of verbal overland but with a jazzier vibe. I have listened 3 times now and its a pleasant listen - but not having the same impact on me as Blue which was a real grower.

There's always at least some quality with Joni, and that's no different here. Whether it quite matches up to her masterworks is another question. It's not as instantly melodic as 'Blue', nor does it work the jazzy nuances as well as 'Court and Spark'. 'Refuge of the Raids' is a highlight - and that's where Kate Bush got here fretless bass sound from! 'Amelia' is very much a template for several Marling numbers and, similarly, grows over time to something quite phenomenal. The gliding chord progression is superb. Its an album, along with 'The Hiding of Summer Lawns', that I probably need some time to fully appreciate; but after many, many listens this does not feel on par with her two great albums, nor does it gel as well. And yet it still feels a uniquely compelling area of MoR with sublime touches.

Interesting combo of genres

interesting production, not what i expected from a joni mitchell. very nice, maybe will grow to a later 5 once i can digest it more

Joni Mitchell is like Bob Dylan, except she can sing. That isn't an original take in the slightest, but it's true. And I say that as a Bob Dylan fan.

4.5 Wow, I never really thought of myself as a Joni Mitchell fan but I thought this album was great. I was more enthralled with Jaco's playing more than anything but thought the instrumentals fit pinpoint perfectly to the songs. This is kind of like Graceland for me, Im not going to put this one once a week or anything but you have to recognize that this is something different/exceptional and should be a must for any decent record collection

i like the electric guitar soso much. voice in coyote has almost a latin feel which is so cutes... song about amelia earhart? i love you. this is such a relaxing album. oh fuck a harmonica. these tracks are much more of a standard rnb pedals go fucking nuts. i love how this album feels. highlights: Coyote

Needs some more listens but I really enjoyed.

Not a huge Joni fan, I like her best songs but the rest don't really grab me. So I was surprised at how cohesive and consistent this was. I still didn't love this, but it seems like it had a real cousin and I can at least respect that

I totally get why some people don't like Jonis songs. Why some people think she's boring. Just like I totally get why some people don't like Kate Bush. It's because they're fucking idiots.

I am aware of Joni Mitchell but have never done a deep dive into her stuff. I only have 2 liked songs by her prior to being assigned this album here. The 2 songs are "Both Sides Now" and "Big Yellow Taxi" - which are 2 of her most popular songs. I've always thought both of those songs are lyrically very genius. Thoughts after listening 3 times... The first time through I couldn't focus on the lyrics really at all because the music is just so different than stuff I am used to. I had to just sort of let the vibe of Joni sink in a bit. The lyrics are just so dense - long poems really - with no chorus. I guess they have a refrain sometimes. I had to read them and try to slightly figure out what she's talking about. By the 2nd or 3rd time through I started to notice how unique (at least to my ears) the music is. The instrumentation is very stripped down and sparse but the guitar and bass parts are very interesting. I thought the guitar on "Strange Boy", "Song for Sharon" and "Black Crow" is really interesting. And the bass on "Hejira" is really good. The music is almost more atmospheric in nature - which is cool. "Blue Motel Room" kind of reminded me of Sarah Vaughn who I first heard through this project. This my be my jazz ignorance here - but it seemed like Joni was attempting a similar style. Her voice and singing style grew on me after a while. It's very "talky" but she definitely has a broad range and her voice get's very powerful for emphasis sometimes. "Song for Sharon" is a good example of this. I think that may be my favorite song on this - I like how it goes on for a long time (almost 9 minutes) and I also thought the background voices were cool. I don't see any credits for background singers so I assume that is layers of Joni's voice or something. I ended up "liking" 6 songs - which means I will hear them as the come up on my automated playlists. Those songs are "Coyote", "Amelia", "A Strange Boy", "Hejira", "Song For Sharon" and "Black Crow". I think I am going to have to listen to these songs many more times before I fully "get it" - but I am intrigued. Definitely interesting. In general, I am a big fan of story songs that don't have a chorus. These are like that - but on early listen the stories are a little hard to follow - but I think that is a me issue. And they're not always stories - they seem more like thoughts or reflections and complex metaphors. I have a feeling these will grow on my more. Cool stuff Joni! Looks like I am gonna get 3 more albums by her on this website - so am curious to see how those go. Liked songs on Spotify: 6/9 Rating: 4/5

I really like Joni Mitchell. Here story telling folk songs are great

First Joni album I've received so far. I've never been super into her music but its always enjoyable when I do give it a listen and this album is no exception. "Furry Sings the Blues" is probably my new favorite song by her. Favorite track: Furry Sings the Blues 3.5/5

Much better than the last Joni album they gave me on here, but probably not as good as Blue? Not sure yet. Haven't heard that one in a while. Anyway.....4 Stars

Enjoyed it! Half paying attention since I was working out, but liked the lyricism

4.5

4.5

Marvellously hipcat album with particularly amazing assistance from jazz cats Jaco Pastorius and Larry Carlton. Also the best Joni Mitchell album for furries. Best tracks Coyote and Furry Sings The Blues.

Que insanidade de produção, simplesmente magnífico dado que é um álbum que transita entre muitos gêneros e métricas e ritmos diferentes!!!

A joy to listen to. It feels incredibly creative, and each song was a joy. I was very surprised how well I could keep my attention to this, as often these acoustic songs bore me.

Funny to have this after the MC5, as it’s everything the MC5 is not, for better AND for worse. A meticulously crafted album of beautifully written songs and impeccable arrangements that somehow falls short of her best. Coyote is one of my favorites, and everything here is good to very good, but it falls well short of Chalk Mark or Blue or Hissing and probably a few others

Molto interessante e molto tranquillo, lo voglio riascoltare sicuramente

Joni is impressive, her guitar playing alongside her songwriting, lyrics and interesting phrasing just stand out. I'm not sure how much I enjoyed this, like I really don't know, but it was all interesting enough I be 4 stars. Probably if I knew the songs better everything she does could be 5 stars. One day I'll give her records the time they deserve but right now I had a helloumi wrap and a nice walk home.

a very wonderful time. nothing she's ever put out there warrants anything less than a 4 in my eyes

finally, a return to greatness. the british are not coming. the title track on this album is fantastic.

I love Joni but this was surprisingly my first listen to this album. I was blown away. I can't believe this came out in the 70s. There's still so much influence that's made its way to the 2020s. My only critique is that the songs themselves and the album overall carry on a bit too long. This will be getting lots of replay. The title track had me enraptured, I don't think I moved a muscle during the whole song.

Had never listened intently to JM. This album was surprising. Sophisticated chord progressions and amazing sounds all around. Joni’s voice is really just perfect. Call me a convert.

I’ve enjoyed Blue for awhile, but never explored Joni’s catalog further until now. This style speaks to me with it’s unpredictable production as a backdrop for potent lyricism only enhanced by Joni’s voice and performance. Folk music that is anything but repetitive or ever short of ideas, it feels like the work of a one-of-one creative. The standout feature might be the storytelling though, which demands return to this to grasp those stories fully and piece them together, but with Joni I imagine they come together beautifully. Exploring her emotional state through her music in the way she does, Joni does one of my favorite things in singer-songwriter music, throwing out a hook to explore more. 1 listen Favorite Tracks: Song for Sharon, Title Track

This is a lovely mood to get lost in. Such an iconic voice, and Larry + Jaco add so much flavour

Another great album by one of the great singer songwriters.

Buen disco, relajante, como para disfrutarlo en un atardecer. Me gusta mucho la voz de Joni Mitchell, es primera vez que la escucho.

Not my usual but Joni Mitchell has grown on me. Like Black Crow a lot.

It's poetry night at the combination coffee-shop-and-local-art-gallery, and brother, your drink is free

7/10

Joni Mitchell is another one of those critically acclaimed artists that I've never really checked out until now. That was clearly a huge mistake on my part because this was pretty great. I can see why some people may not have liked this because of how repetitive and minimalistic the instrumentation is here, but I think that allowed for greater emphasis on Joni's incredible songwriting. A lot of the songs here a pretty dense lyrically, but thought they were able to paint a lot of really vivid imagery that kept me interested in these songs even despite the lengthy nature of some of them. I do think this album is a bit too repetitive at points and there's a song or two on here that do overstay their welcome slightly but overall, I still very much enjoyed this. Fav Songs: Coyote, Hejira, Song for Sharon, Blue Motel Room Least Fav: Furry Sings the Blues 8.6/10

joni on her jazzy shite. interesting that "nighthawks and the diner" was only an album away from this as this feels like Joni's equivalent in terms of singer songwriter to jazz focus with those beautiful clean electric guitars and jazzy rhythm's/arrangements. Not an instant classic but definitely want to wear a beret now.

Beautiful, classic Joni. This hasn't changed the fact that I really don't love her singing, despite her pretty voice. I love her as a songwriter.

Really good songwriting. Her delivery is great as well, so effortless, like a soothing breeze. She really is amazing. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again

#72/1001 🇨🇦 First time listen. I've been through it twice back to back and feel like its one of those albums to come back to again and again. It has a sense of road trips, escaping broken relationships and falling into other unwanted ones. Best Tracks: Coyote, Amelia, Song for Sharon.

Her voice is so unique.

A sophisticated blend of great songwriting and sultry vocals

Enjoyable. Lyrics are well thought out.

Joni Mitchell, all the lyrical talent of Dylan, but with a voice that doesn't sound like a Simpsons character

Damn i haven’t had any duplicate artists yet in my 50 odd days, except this is my THIRD Joni album, how lucky am i. She really knows how to tell a compelling narrative and transport you to her world, and even though this isn’t my favourite from her, it’s still strong. The standouts could be any track from the title track onwards, its a pretty consistent album.

All in all a pretty solid album from an important musical artist.

It's Joni. How can you not enjoy it.

Loved it - very dense lyrically. Sound was very 70s. Can hear inspiration of modern singer songwriters.

Love Joni

Enjoyed this as I wouldve guessed 😂 Some deep tracks with pleasantly simple instrumentation. Jaco's bass takes over your attention from time to time. Carltons playing was dazzling in Blue Motel Room. Random thought: sometimes Mitchell sounds like Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac 4 stars for me. Blue was a much better album IMO, but this is still rock solid.

Think this could grow on me but not as much as Blue

Better than coldpla