Hejira

Joni is a national treasure

Great lyrics. Like ear catching. Songs are laid out very similarly so they are hard to tell apart. She can really sing.

Again her vocals don't convince me at all. Instrumentally nothing remarkable. Some might call this album atmospheric but I find it quite boring. Really can't see a reason for so many Joni Mitchell albums on this list! 1,5

I don't get the hype behind Joni Mitchell. The music is well produced, the songs have an interesting structure, and Joni has a wonderful voice with an emotive pen to go with it. But the music doesn't speak to me at all? It may be criminal to give this a 2 but oh well. It's not unlistenable like some of the other albums I have gotten.

If you like Joni Mitchell, you’ll like this album.

Doesn’t quite standout like the other Joni albums. 2.5/5

Some good songs. Some meh songs. Lots of Jaco Pastorius. Overall, fine.

Not my fave of hers…and still, it is Joni. 3.7

Love it! 4.5

Great sounding album. Definitely one I'll listen to over and over.

This album has a very distinct mood and her voice is very smooth and calming. I enjoyed a lot of these songs. Highlights: "Coyote" and "Refuge of the Roads"

TBH, the music on this record is really good; would have been 100 times better as an instrumental album. 1 star, Joni, because I just heard about the follow up to this album and your blackface stunts. Also, your vocals and stream-of-consciousness lyrics border on gibberish and nonsense.

Singer-songwriter fare if it was also kind of prog. It’s sprawling and sometimes jazzy and, as always with Joni, well-written and sung. It’s cohesive and pretty dense - I’ve never listened to this one in full before and I’ll have to revisit to really get my mind around it. Mitchell is a GOAT as far as I’m concerned, so I’ll take a challenging, mercurial listen from her over another British post-rock LP any day.

It hurts me as a Canadian to say this but Joni Mitchell doesn’t do anything for me.

2.5 maybe

Joni did black face on stage when she performed Furry Has The Blues.

She's just telling a story about her road trip

This is probably the first time I’ve ever listened to a full Joni Mitchell album and I loved it. I love the interplay of Mitchell’s phased out guitar and Pastorius’ bass, the rambling song structures, and the lyrical imagery and themes. Such a cool record. A bit of an Astral Weeks vibe to it. Will be checking out more Joni Mitchell now.

I can't explain why but Joni Mitchell always sounds like she's making up the song and lyrics while recording it

Bueno

Always heavenly.

okay

One of my favorite Joni Mitchell albums and the vibe of the record is immaculate. Amelia is one of my favorite songs. 9/10

Not my jam

Just adore. Must relisten 100 times.

chill, medio country, nada q me pondria a escuchar pero esta lindo

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

The songwriting and storytelling are really good but the pacing and spaced out instrumentation kills me, the songs sound so much more dragged out than they needed to be. I can understand why it could be a revered album but i don’t really enjoy it. Top songs Refuge of the Roads Hejira Coyote 6.0-6.3

Bit hippy dippy. Could grow on me though, with many many listens.

Very lovely album by a musical icon.

Another Joni album. Still not bad, but I'm not in love with it either.

Kinda appreciate what she does, but she just doesn’t grab me. Dont particularly enjoy her phrasing, and unlike Dylan whose lyrics grab you, after the song by Joni I couldn’t say what a song was even about. Again that’s on me I know but it is what it is. Know it’s kind of sacrilegious, but even though I like 70s singer songwriters I find it just a little bit boring. Know she is musically talented people with much greater grasp of musical theory tell me, but it just leaves me flat. 3 Star.

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.

The stories are interesting to listen to, but the music is so monotonous it's hard to get through the entire album in one go without getting bored. It lacks the dynamics and melodies that make Blue great.

I know I should like Joni Mitchell records better than I do but I like them exactly as much as I like them

I’ve spent less time with Joni Mitchell’s mid-70s work and beyond than with her early hippie-folky albums, which I love to this day. Part of that, I now realize, is because by 1976, the year Hejira came out, she had lost some of her celebrated vocal range that added so much emotional punctuation to albums like Blue and Ladies of the Canyon and sent chills up my spine listening to her incredible self-titled debut. I hear some of her former upper-register abilities on the lovely “Blue Motel Room,” and at any rate, if Joni’s ability to hit some high notes diminished over time, her talent for writing lyrics never did. This is a very good album filled with songs about traveling and discovery, reinforced by Jaco Pastorius’ fluid bass playing, the spare brush drumming and Joni’s uncomplicated ringing acoustic guitar. Like a lot of her catalog, it’s music for a contemplative mood.

Listened to this four times because I had no familiarity with this album, and I wanted to like it but... alas....

The very forward in the mix bass makes it hard to see these as original pop songs and not jazz vocals. Strange record.

Ikke min greie i det hele tatt 🙃

Merker at jeg generelt sett er veldig lite fan av folk som bare maser over noe bakgrunnsmusikk så første låten her ga meg en ganske dårlig inngang. Tok seg litt opp etter det, men ikke helt min greie. Kan være jeg ikke hørte hele (:

Fortsatt ikke det albumet jeg har hørt mest på av Joni. Det er fint, men man må ha tid og overskudd til å gå inn i tekstene for å la seg fange og føle av det. Inivterer til gjenhør og konsentrasjon, men alt fester seg ikke som BANGERS akkurat. Hun har sin egen greie. 3-4

Never a huge fan, but really enjoyed this album.

It's Joni my guy. At her worst, she's still probably the best that ever did it. At her best she is absolutely the best to ever do it. I've never heard this before so looking into it in the reviews and critical acclaim saying it is one of her best, I expected to think it's good, and I do.

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.

Baustelle, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Schönes Album.

Joni sounds completely at ease here — her melodies flow so naturally it’s hard to tell where she stops and the music begins. Jaco’s fretless bass tone is the perfect counterpart: fluid, conversational, and endlessly expressive. There’s a real beauty in how unforced the whole thing feels. That said, it’s easy to see why some listeners find this cold or self-indulgent — it’s more about subtle mood than emotional catharsis. Still, it’s hard not to admire how effortlessly Joni makes complexity sound simpl

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.

Will always adore Joni’s voice and the poetry is something to be admired but as a whole I didn’t overly enjoy this. Nothing particularly stood out either positively or negatively so it kind of faded into the background a bit. That’s nice too in its own way but yeah probably wouldn’t revisit. (2.5 stars)

I couldn't work out why I didn't enjoy this the way I adored the last Joni Mitchell album. Then I read the Wikipedia page and realised it's a jazz influenced album. Ah-hah, mystery solved. It's so beautiful, but I just can't handle the same-sameyness of it all.

Slightly mesmerised. Really appreciate ui!

Oops she did it again. The second Joni Mitchell album that converted me after a few listens. Plodding but beautiful nonetheless.

Неплохо, напомнило Небраску

не угар не стеб не секси уверенный 0

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

var bra men helt ok vibe

Jeg kan egentlig godt li' Joni Mitchell, men jeg synes Hejira falder en smule fladt.

This one becomes a bit to navel-gazing for me. I get the concept, but it doesn't really work for me very well. Standouts A Strange Boy 2/5

I thought this was nice. Joni’s lyrics are pretty good and it’s overall a really nice album to vibe to. It’s not mind blowing though, it’s just fine.

Objectively, this probably isn’t that bad, but subjectively, I kind of hate it. Also, that isn’t a penis- it’s her wrist.

Not my thing. A bit dull I'm afraid

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.

Lots of lyrical poetry, which is a given with Joni. Full disclosure: I've never been able to stomach Joni's voice, which gets way to warbly for my taste. Color me surprised, then, that the moments where it hits those "fingernails on a chalkboard" tone are relatively few on this one. Substitute the over-emphasized exploratory bass lines as the element of this one that I can't stomach. So close, Joni.

There's something unsettling with a majority of her songs, where it feels like she's constantly building up to a chorus that never comes. Third verse, same as the first. I recognize Joni Mitchell's talent, and just like her other albums, it has a very chill vibe, but I just don't really dig her style.

Every Joni Mitchell album is just a vehicle for poetry. The music always seems like a secondary choice.

Vocal-forward music is not for me, and folk rock is far from my favorite style of instrumentation. I don't care about vocals or lyrics all that much, and the instruments in these album tend to be in the background, which I also don't like. But in this album the vocals are not that monotonous and the instruments are a bit more present, so I through it was fine. I enjoyed Coyote and Song for Sharon quite a bit actually, but the rest were forgettable. This album is not boring but also not exciting. Just fairly enjoyable background music that is not really my thing.

This would probably be great live in a coffee shop. Kinda boring in the car. Favorite song: n/a

Moins fort que ses autres, ça reste du Joni donc on se plaint pas

Pleasant.

It was ok, I’ve rounded it up to a 3

This Joni Mitchell sound is so iconic and haunting and meandering and it’s just not my favorite Joni Mitchell.

Someday I hope I get Joni but I think most people love her story and lyrics.

This one is much more disjointed and meandering than Blue. Although those songs didn’t have a ton of structure, they still were easy to follow. This one was still beautiful, but a bit more of a ramble than an album

Lovely album listening to it on Sunday morning was perfect

My mom loved Joni Mitchell, but I was dreading this. That said, it wasn't bad at all. It had the right 70s acoustic vibe, and it was at least great music for me while working.

She has a beautiful voice, the songs are well written and emotional, but something about it feels slightly off in a too similar to itself way.

I can't imagine a word where someone hears this the first time stone sober and think this is a good album. This is on the level of Neil Young in terms of unlistenable boomer nostalgia bs. I wanted to turn this off more than the noise albums designed to be unlistenable.

I find 40 minutes a lot of Joni Mitchell but she definitely is a one off and this is pretty classic Joni. Understands what an album is and delivers. I suspect there's others to come and she maybe has more accessible albums.

I liked this one. Playful and interesting and Joni is great. Not a lot of real "star" songs but a good listen start to finish.

Besides Blue and a best of, I've not listened to much Joni Mitchell. I'm not sure why as Blue is a great album. This isn't as good as Blue, but it's still very enjoyable. A solid 4.

How come her name sounds so familiar. I'm not really into this. May not listen to the whole thing. 2 stars

some songs way better than others

Solid outing by Joni here, but weighed down a bit by the album droning on a bit too long. Started contemplating more and more about when the album would end as it went on.

Joni has a voice that takes me in. Her songwriting is exquisite and her storytelling is unmatched. I had never heard this album, but I really like it. Great stuff.

Joni has about 3 songs that I love, but none are on this album. I didn't find anything that really resonated with me from this album experience. The instrumentation was lively folk and the poetry was pretty crisp, but it didn't feel cohesive and there was so much noise to digest without much harmony — this killed any easy-listening factor for me, while not being technically impressive enough to catch my attention.

Ah, my final Joni Mitchell album to review. Sad day. I’d never listened to any of Joni Mitchell’s music before starting this project, but I’ve really fallen in love with her as an artist over the course of the first three albums of hers that I reviewed. I gave five stars to Blue and four stars to the Court and Spark and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, the latter of which definitely deserved five stars. Oh well, live and learn. Each album of hers has offered me something different, and I expect Hejira to do the same. Here’s to my last hurrah with Joni! Hejira definitely offered something different than the three Joni albums I’ve already reviewed, and I’d put it a little above Court and Spark for my official rankings. I loved that this album told stories of Joni’s time on the road, and even though this wasn’t really a concept album, it felt like all the tracks were tied together really well, with the title track of the album serving as the tethering point for those threads. As with the other Joni albums on this list, her songwriting, vocals, and ability to tell narratives is second-to-none. I loved how some of these songs took bigger ideas or figurative concepts, and tied them to Joni’s real-world experiences, making them so much more concrete and real. The guitar playing was great on this album, and I loved how rich each song was. Jaco Pastorius’s bass playing was truly exceptional, and his musicianship gave this album a really great sound. A few notes on some individual songs: The storytelling on “Coyote” is excellent. I loved the metaphor of the coyote as a ladies’ man and as a predator in nature. The vocals and guitar playing created an excellent vibe for the story. “Amelia” had a really rich sound, with more fantastic guitar playing, and the vibes (the instrument) added a wonderfully unique touch. The weaving of Amelia Earhart’s story into Joni’s personal experience was done perfectly, and I loved the parallels between the two stories. I loved the darker sound of the title track, and I loved how it was the song that tied together these other stories. I loved how the bass playing changed and developed over the course of the song as well. “Black Crow” had a really great sound to it, and I loved the unique rhythm of the guitar strumming. While this wasn’t my favorite Joni Mitchell album, I still really enjoyed it, and I can understand why it’s often regarded as her best work. Joni Mitchell is an incredible talent, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know her music.

All very samey. Lovely voice and bass though. I was intrigued by the chords and did some looking into it, then went round for one more go.

this was good, some really good songs and lyrics on this

I always struggle with Joni Mitchell. This is, like, the third or fourth album we’ve had of hers on this list. She has some of my favourite musicians around her and the music is always great. But it’s the old problem, not liking the sound of someone’s voice. It’s a bit reedy and weedy and whimsical for me. Nonetheless, I always give her a favourable score, even though it’s a struggle. And thus it is here. This might be one of my favourite albums I’ve heard of hers. The music is quite beautiful and you can hear Jaco Pastorious prominently. It feels a bit less hippyish, even though it’s only 1976. I don’t know if I’ll come back to it, but I’ll try.

As expected.

It was a nice album, nothing more. It feels like the singer intentionally hits notes that don’t feel like they belong after certain notes (not that I’m some musical genius). It was jazzy, but not exactly, though still nice. Maybe I just need a few more listens to the album. Top track I liked: Coyote.

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

Sounded like a female Bob Dylan, but without the good backing music.

Such a talented songwriter.

the great Canadians have come to me one by one. First its rush at aug 16, than its neil at aug 19, and today, at sep 9, its joni. don't tell me that leonard cohen is on his way to torture me. david byrne was talking about his fondness of Blue in an interview i was just listening to and yesterday i got a jazz album. so? i think its good but not that consistant. 3/5

What a load of pretentious garbage. The music is basic beyond believe, the lyrics are meandering, and the singing is mostly talking.

I liked it, very mellow

Not a fan of the singing style but I liked the instruments used. Some songs had that same old school electric guitar tone like the solo in I Want To Break Free by Queen.

This is such a beautiful album. I didn't know one song before this listen. It was such a treat listening to Jaco Pastorius' bass playing. I love his work, so it's like discovering a hidden treasure for me. Larry Carlton's playing is great too, but a lot more subtle than Jaco's. Joni's voice is like it's own instrument and her songwriting is so interesting on so many levels. Liked Songs Added: Coyote Hejira Song For Sharon Refuge Of The Roads

Enjoyed this way more than the previous Joni album. 4/5

I really liked Jaco’s unmistakable bass playing. I will listen again

not really any standout songs just a solid album

It's pretty good, but I don't remember anything distinct about any song in particular.

I think this style of music is just not my thing. Favourite Song: Blue Motel Road

one of those albums that sits between 2-3, its not bad but its just not great nor something id want to listen to again.

I keep trying to enjoy Joni Mitchell but I always find my mind wandering when I listen to her. And then realize I’m four songs into the album and can’t remember anything about it.

Mitchell's previous two albums incorporated jazz into a mix of folk and pop. On this one the jazz is the centerpiece, and it's a sparse collection of guitar, bass, and drums. It sounds good, but it leads to a collection of songs that end up blending together a bit, as it lacks memorable choruses of instrumental lines. I like Mitchell's vocals on this a lot; it has a reputation of coming out at a point where she had ruined her voice a bit but it fits the music well even if it's not as technically impressive as her earlier work. The lyrics I've heard are quite good, but I find it a bit hard to focus on them given the subtlety of the music. This is definitely an album I want to like more than I do, but I've found it difficult to crack so far.

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I'll be back for a few more listens at least. Quiet for not really my thing but lovely melodies and pleasant enough. Better that watch rock at least.

Very lovely album

achtergrond muziek. rustige zang

It sounds like if you flipped to a random page in a book and had to read it while making up a rhythm to go with it on the spot

This is a great, relaxed album; perfect for fall season. But, man, did they go overboard with chorus on Jaco Pastorius' fretless bass. 4/5

fav: Amelia

2 Stars (5/15)

I really can't abide Joni Mitchell. It's a shame because she should be right up my alley, but this is my third Joni Mitchell album and I cannot stand the way she sings. It's like the melody of the vocals doesn't match the music in a weird way. Sorry, Joni, it's not me, it's you.

***An ok album, easy listening. Most tracks sound alike

I feel Missy Higgins album "The Sounds of White" would be a suitable replacement for this.

It lacks and feels outdated

Absolutely incredible lyricism paired with an excellent voice that paints the picture of being on the road, isolation and love as clear as day. I just wish each song was trimmed by a few minutes since they can drag on for quite a while, which overall hampers my impression of this album. Still a great listen nonetheless, Hejira the song is absolutely a standout too!

приятная музычка. басист молодец.

Dumb cover

A bit jazzier than her other albums I've heard but the instrumental parts are still very minimalist and delicate. I still have the same issues with her unpredictable vocal delivery not matching up with the music and randomly changing in tempo.

Fine I guess, reminds me of the folk Paul Simon did on his self titled album 2.5

Classic Joni loveliness

This sounds very proto yacht rock, Joni and the meandering bass guitar of Hejira. It's a very pleasant album but it sounds like background music and doesn't inspire me to listen again.

Another good album from Joni Mitchell with acoustic folk with occasional jazz. Better than court and spark, but would come after Blue. Favorite track: Strange boy other picks: Coyote, Amelia, Blue Motel Room, Black Crow

I would say with a more jazz folk sound is where Joni Mitchell excels most. Some of her most evocative songs on here.

Standout Songs: Furry Sings The Blues A Strange Boy Black Crow Decent folk album but a few of the songs were waaay too long. Having multiple 6+ minute songs in a row makes it drag a little. I do love Joni’s voice.

I didn't hugely enjoy this. I love Joni Mitchell for the soaring emotional highs and lows of Both Sides Now and Big Yellow Taxi. This was more of a stream of consciousness album with mild psychadelic tones. I think if I had been in a specific mood when I listened to this, I would have loved it. The music was enjoyable even without the correct mood, and I'm sure I would like the lyrics more if I was looking for a continuous story. I will have to see if I ever get in that mood and go from there. I'm glad I listened to it, regardless. It is very good music even if I didn't like it that much.

Better than blue, but still awful

2.8 I can't really do Joni Mitchell's vocal style to be honest. The background music is pleasant, but nothing more. Not really a lot going for it. Overall bland, with some songs slightly grating due to her vocals.

As always with Joni Mitchell: I like it, I'm not crazy about it.

Might be the most I’ve appreciated Joni from all the albums on the list. Production sounds great and lyrics are usually pretty intriguing, although I found it easy to space out with more melody or flow to the singing. 6/10

kinda underwheling sadly, but will to it listen again some time

Coyote - amazing. Never reaches that height again.

Nicht meins, zu weinerisch und es fehlt das gewisse etwas. Packt mich nicht

This is another difficult review. Mainly because Joni is so wildly talented and it’s very clear. But if I’m being honest I didn’t save very many songs off the album but I had a lot of appreciation for almost every song. The big songs off this album for me are Coyote, Hejira, and Black Crow. I always struggle with slower songs and the vast majority of the album are slower songs that had my attention but I didn’t feel that inherent need to save them. The real standout that made me wish Joni only made psychedelic music was Black Crow. That song fucking rips. It’s so good and it made the whole album more worth my time cause I’d say that’s definitely my favorite Joni Mitchell song ever. Seriously this album is totally worth your time. Don’t let my number review discourage you. This album wasn’t made for me specifically, that is ok.

Thoughts before listening: I really want to like Joni Mitchell...and sometimes I do like her. Her music is soothing, especially when it's jazz inspired, and the lyrics are typically interesting. I just don't love her voice. It's too warbly or something. Review: So this opens with "Coyote" which is definitely one of Joni's best. An upbeat song with jazzy acoustic instrumentation, this is what I want all Joni Mitchell songs to sound like. Joni's vocal performances on this album are much better than I would typically expect. More husky voiced, bluesy talk singing than her typical folky warble, I am not as turned off by the vocals as I usually am. Real star of this album though is Jaco Pastorious on bass adding all sorts of interesting flourishes to the music. Maybe the best Joni album I've heard? 4-stars

Great songwriting but sometimes her vocal style gets annoying.

3 stars

I like Joni Mitchell a lot and I know how highly regarded this record is, but I struggle with it - there's some great songwriting but it just doesn't grab my attention. It seems quite rambling and there are no melodies I can engage with - maybe that's the jazz influence, and I just need to keep at it and let it click into place. I probably won't though - I'll put Court and Spark on instead.

Off the cuff remark: Blue is still my favourite Joni album. This was better than I anticipated mind. It's got less warbling (a good thing) and although it feels a little directionless that and the production gave a mellow feel I quite liked, or maybe it's the heat? Standout track: well there isn't really one, some rather lengthy tracks that merge a little Revisit?: hmm, perhaps, but it doesn't have A Case of You does it...

I thought it was , didn’t really do much to me 18$ went up in smoke is a good line , nothing else to say. Bit boring

idk i gave up on it good first song tho

I love Joni Mitchell’s every album

Look. Not big on folk.

Not for me

I like this. very nice voice and reminded me of the time in the 90's when we had some really interesting female vocalists around...before the x factor 16 octaves per note warble became standard

I don't like Joni

Incredible story telling set to beautiful music

I very much enjoyed this album listen! I believe this was my first time ever listening to a Joni Mitchell album in full and I had a great time doing so. Her songs are very lyrically and melodically gorgeous to listen to. I could listen to her sing all day. I would definitely listen to this album and more of Joni in the future!

not bad

Superb!!

Never been a huge fan

This is peak Joni figuring out her new direction; road trips are you kidding me? And collab with The Band; nothing but to love this one.

Joni Mitchell is one of the artists I’ve been dying to explore more. I’ve never heard any of the songs off this album. I love the imagery from the songwriting and felt she has the perfect voice to carry the story through. A dash quirky, I enjoyed it.

This definitely merits another listen. Some of the harmonic choices are beautiful, and it's quite listenable for how lyrically dense it is.

p357. 1976. 3 stars. A prime example of 70s West Coast singer/song writing. Fabulous lyrics and an achingly lovely voice, let down by sleek over production, 6+ minute tracks and a lack of standout tunes.

I didn’t like this. Too stream of consciousness for me. No hooks no choruses just words

Not for me.

Since it's no secret that Mitchell's lyrics and songwriting are masterful, I want to give a shoutout to the electric guitar across this album. The production on everything is extremely warm and smooth, but especially on the electric. It doesn't overstay its welcome on more acoustic driven songs, but it adds a perfect flavor and spark to what you might consider more "typical" arrangements compared to some of Mitchell's earlier work. And while this album is brilliant, it does feel a little safer in comparison, and almost like a step back for her instead of forward.

Learning this record emerged from cross-country road trips deepened my appreciation for its restless, wandering instrumentation that perfectly complements Joni's exploratory and literate lyricism.

Erinomaisesti sovitettu ja sanoitettu levy!

Little slow. Chill. Not for me.

Good album, now I get all the fuss about Joni Mitchell

Like speaking to someone who is high but really is speaking truth. Just hard to get figure out where they are initially

Feels like she’s generating random chord sequences then doing karaoke over that. Meandering to the tenth power, not for me 2.9

Для спокойного фона пойдёт, но вообще не вижу большого смысла слушать эту пластинку без знания языка. 6 из 10.

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

Talented in her own way but I would never listen to this.

There's a point where one I don't know what to say anymore about these kinds of albums. Did I like it? Uhmm, could be. Is there any difference between it and most of the soft jazzy folk records of the list? No, sir, no. Maybe I'll add it to my "Songs for driving" list, who knows.

#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.

1. coyote - 1 2. amelia - 0 3. bluez - 0 4. ztrange - 1 5. hejira - 0 6. zharon - 1 7. crouu - 1 8. motel - 1.5 9. roadz - 1 TERRIBLE ZONGZ AND VOICE

Don't be ridiculous.

Not really my thing

I'm m not in the slightest bit familiar with Joni Mitchell, however this album has got me very keen to explore further. Hejira in some ways acts as a fine juxtaposition to yesterday's listening via The Associates - this is one where the low-key sonic approach, on the surface of it, has provided a welcome change of pace. Whilst there aren't walls of sound to unpack here, what I did find impressive and most engaging about Hejira is the variety / complexity to the crooning melodies and instrumental patterns here, providing this album with a level of depth which isn't immediately apparent at first glance. There are undoubtedly jazzy qualities underlining this album, which I suppose you would broadly consider a "soft rock" or singer-songwriter effort. After wrapping up my listening, I noticed that a certain Jaco Pastorius features on the album as a bassist, who I'm also unfamiliar with but am aware is held in very high regard. Joni Mitchell's voice is wonderful, and unusually for a first listen on my part, I also caught onto a level of poetic, abstract beauty in the lyricism throughout. This is definitely high up on my list to revisit.

“I went to Staten Island to buy a mandolin” - yep, you sound like the kind of arsehole that would buy a mandolin. Fuck me, it’s like Colin Robinson decided to stop being on What We Do In The Shadows and record an album instead. My ring doorbell went off about halfway through the first several months of listening to this and that livened everything up considerably.

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.

Meh 2/5

She may be a great songwriter, but her voice and delivery is painful on most songs I’ve ever heard her do. Joni Mitchell is simply not for me.

Mitchell sings with absolute confidence and is in total control of her remarkable voice on this record but her jazz-inflected vocal melodies here are so elaborate and complex that they render the songs hard to relate to. "Song For Sharon", perhaps the best track on this album, is not coincidentally one of the most melodically straightforward tracks. More power to Mitchell for following her muse but keeping up with her on this trip down narrow and winding roads is a rough ride.

Folk Jazz being slushy music with no real form. It's like she is rhythmically talking and there happens to be music playing on the background.

#642. Nope 2/5: stop

Maybe I should pay attention to the lyrics/stories for each song, but this is completely forgettable. The fretless electric bass was nice, but I don't need to ever listen to this album again.

I'm torn on this one. Joni is a legendary songwriter that deserves every iota of praise sent her way. Incredible voice and wonderfully written songs, but very simple and bare arrangements for the whole album. If I was to hear any of these songs by itself, I'm stopping whatever I'm doing and just enjoying the pleasantness, but a whole album becomes almost chore-like. The songs are beautiful but can kinda drag on a bit and if you have the album set to continue to replay, then it's hard to tell when you're back to the first track. Realistically, this is probably at least a 4+, but I'm not sure I can give it that over the monotony, but it's a very high 3 for me

Didn't like it like the one below, still good.

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.

Very much not my thing.

Really liked the tone and atmosphere throughout. Vocals were less up and down, which I prefer. Didn't find any real stand out tracks though so more background music for me

Boring.

I wish these songs had choruses. They're very nice, but I barely remember them as they go by because it's just a stream of lyrics. I'm something of a song idiot, and I need a hook. It's a lot like Astral Weeks. Enjoyed myself, but the absence of the traditional song structure is a challenge for me.

Meh. I don’t get this at all? Are these songs?

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.

A good album

Not really memorable in my opinion, song writing not as captivating as blue, maybe a little insulting to say but kinda feels like background music

Aching and beautiful and worth multiple listens to keep discovering the lyrics.

Joni Mitchell is a tremendous musician but this album isn’t for me.

This was much worse than I expected. The other Mitchell album I had to listen to here was okay-ish, but this was just someone telling stories over the background of some droning music. Everything's somehow the same and then not. At least it wasn't really disgusting.

As soon as you see Joni's name come up, you know you're gonna get some quality tunes. I think this will take more than just this single initial listen to unlock the wonders of this album that are surely there, but there were definitely some standout moments on first listen.

Hejira is my favourite Joni Mitchell album, and it continues to grow on me with every listen. The blend of jazzy and bluesy tones creates a rich, introspective soundscape that perfectly complements her poetic, deeply reflective lyrics. Standout tracks like “Black Crow” and “Blue Motel Room” showcase Joni’s ability to merge storytelling with musical sophistication. “Black Crow” in particular is a brilliant, restless journey — both lyrically and musically — and stands out as my favourite song on the album. Honestly, there isn’t a single weak track here; each song offers something unique and meaningful. The album flows with a quiet intensity that rewards repeated listens. The artwork also deserves a mention — cool, mysterious, and perfectly aligned with the album’s moody, traveling spirit.

Coyote was a strong opening song, but not a lot else stood out. Don't think I liked this as much as the last Joni album we had. I'll put this as a mid-3 and keep it moving.

Joni Mitchell is one of those artists that I appreciate, but I don't get excited to listen to. I think of the several albums we've had on this list, I've mostly reviewed her at a 4. She has a beautiful, intriguing voice and her arrangements are well thought through and interesting. And yet, when I'm listening I'm not often excited. Now this could be because I'm listening to it in the wrong context -- after all I'm mostly playing this in the background while working. But I also think there is a part of this that I find, if not boring, then uninspiring. This album in particular was a wash for me. Pretty songs, pretty singing, but I had little care for it and was happy to hear it conclude so I could move on. I think as a reflection of all of this, I'll call this a 3 and move on.

Another 3 for the girl.

Not my favorite of Joni to come up something about the whole way she was singing was a little strange. Still very good musically though so can't complain. Didn't know we would have this many Joni albums though. Coyote is such a weird song and was extra weird when she did it live with The Band at Last Waltz

Just like the other Joni albums her vocal delivery is so unique and intriguing on Coyote. This song rules. Love the harmonica on Furry Sings the Blues. Turns out it's Neil Young!

Kocham Joni nad życie, ale na płyta nie jest wybitna. Ma lekkie kawałki przez które się płynie, ale nic mi nie rozerwało serca na strzępy, a tego się po niej spodziewam. Nadal 7/10, bo to Joni i ona nie jest w stanie nagrać złej płyty, ale czuję lekki niedosyt.

Another iconic 70’s singer. Great voice, and music.

I want to like this so badly but I just can’t get into her style of singing. I love the lyrics she writes and the vivid imagery but her voice just wears on me. Second half is better than first half.

Sounded like any other Joni Mitchell album. Nothing really stood out

not my thing, kinda whiny

Joni is from my home city! I love her voice more than I think. Black crow is probably the song off of the album for me

The music is pretty great, just not in love with the stream of consciousness lyrics. 2/5

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

She succeeded in creating the most boring album of all time. This was excruciating.

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"

Great

I did not use a private spotify session for this one. It's a Joni Mitchell album, sweet voice, nice melodies, but won't be on steady rotation in my house.

One of my favorite Joni Mitchell albums. Deep, introspective songwriting and stunning musical arrangements are helped along with some of the best musicians around. Jaco Pastorius’ fretless bass playing is always a delight to hear. Beautiful album.

Loved everything about this. Just as good as Blue

This was so boring

#503 : Hejira : 16/06/2025 I don't love it, it's a bit meh. It’s like she’s just kinda rhythmically talking and there happens to be music playing in the background. Every song sounds exactly the same and nothing grabbed or stood out for me. Shrug

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.

Each song was less of a song and more of a ballad. It got exhausting after a while.

I remember enjoying “Court and Spark” whenever I received that album some time ago. The songwriting and storytelling is just as prominent here, almost to an exhausting degree though. Mitchell was mostly inspired during her travels with bands or other men (was Joni a player?) or going solo. These tracks certainly give the sense of adventurous experiences, but don’t really stand out on their own.

Fine but boring.

Excellent album (for putting you to sleep zzzzz!) Boring!

Pretty chill tunes but it never captured me. The lyrics really help paint a picture but the music lacks in my opinion. Like the uncool Patti Smith.

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

At the end of the day, I'm just not a fan. I get why people would like her, just not me.

This is my third Joni Mitchell album for this project and I was pretty convinced that I do not like her music. Hejira had me questioning that sentiment three songs in. I like the instrumentation on these songs, especially the bass. I still struggle with Joni’s vocal style in places, but the good overrides the bad. Hejira is the most consistent Mitchell album that I’ve heard from beginning to end. It kept me engaged throughout. I could see myself listening to this again. I keep going between a 3 or 4 on my rating and I think I’m landing on a 4. Hejira has some staying power to come back to multiple times and probably get something new from it every time. I guess I don’t dislike all of Joni’s music after all. 4/5

So this is Mitchell's album where she got more experimental. That's all fair and square and I do like that more her folk stuff. She still has a delivery style that can drift into some meandering. Which then overshadows her talent as lyricist. Not sure what to make of it yet.

i don't know how some people (anna) can listen to an entire joni mitchell album without going crazy 2-/5

I only really knew Blue before, but this is right up there. Nice.

Not a fan. Jazzy though.

Led Zeppelin said it best, "Ramble On".

Only heard first 2 tracks, the instrumental stuff is cool never rly been too big a fan of joni's voice tho

Joni's got a delightful voice, just wish it was always singing 'Big Yellow Taxi'.

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.

A little less structured and poppy than I prefer. Maybe I’d like it if I was in a different mood.

Zapadnjacima treba zabraniti da pjevaju dosadni tzv. folk. Jaco je ubjedljivo najbolji dio ovog albuma.

Really boring and kinda stupid.

A very lyrically dense and impressive pop album. I really enjoyed the instrumentals and Joni's voice. Some songs went on a bit too long but it was all around good. 4/5

Such a beautiful voice, really enjoyed this but none of the songs stood out more than another on the first listen.

I liked this.

I wasn't super familiar with Joni Mitchell's music outside of some songs I heard from Blue so this is my first time listening to her music and good lord is this album pretty. It's basically a travelogue and her recounting all these small things along the road, but at the same time the emotions and ways in which this album plays out are pretty and calm yet very complex (helps she has help from a lot of jazz legends) It's fantastic stuff

Pleasant vocals and instrumentation but a lot of the lyrics seem nonsensical. Almost a spoken word kind of singing that flows rather than distinct sections. The self-titled song is quite good. Song for Sharon is good too. It sounds like Fleetwood Mac. It came out a year after the Rhiannon, maybe it was inspired (taken). Black Crow is good too.

Not as commercial as some of her earlier work, still has that great voice and interesting chord progressions you'd associate with Joni, the songs are longer, they ramble on with a looser structure. Lyrically excellent, a slower listen, needs a few listens I think to appreciate.

This is my favorite songwriters favorite album. So i think by default I kind of have to like it. Lyrically fantastic. But why is there a penis on the cover? That's for JM to know I guess. Really beautiful record though

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.

Lovely stuff. She'll go far.

Still don't get it.

Apparently I need to listen to more Joni Mitchell because this was very awesome. Strong vocals & lyrics.

Favorite Track: Coyote

3,1/5

4/5. Joni Mitchell is an interesting person, and with each album, I feel like I'm learning more about her while also asking double the questions. It's not that she's mysterious, it's that everything she's done seems to be known by everyone. There is a weird sense of violence towards her from many men in the music industry and I wondered why that could be. And after listening to this album, I think I understand. I think many men just hate women. Now, I knew this already but hearing Joni speak about travel, what if's, cocaine, and being alone, it became clear why these things were happening to her. She was smart, witty, confident, and yet still sexual, hence being with many music men. But these music men did not like that, they needed to be the smart ones. And so she never stayed with anyone too long for fear of harm. As far as the album itself, I still think Blue is her best. However, I did grow to like this more with each song. Hearing Joni speak from a place of privilege yet shame, the cocaine made sense. Identity crisis on another level filled with ego and hubris. It's a wild combination. It's sad to listen to Joni, as it is clear to those who will listen, that every song feels like a cry for help with a mix of shade and anger. And men don't like to hear that. I enjoyed it, but not Mitchell's best imo. Best Song: Coyote, Song For Sharon, Hejira

Zzzzzzzzz

det här var för trist

4/10 I liked the first song and Im pretty sure theres some good lyricism on the album, but the songs are soo boring and the more it dragged on the more I wanted it to stop. No matter how good an album is in theory, if I spent half of it looking at the time wishing for it to end thats just not a good sign. Highlights: Coyote

Pretty good

Meh

I appreciate her lyricism, but stylistically it reminds me of the muzak I used to have to listen to at work.

Listenable

Witchy ahh 🔥

Mitchell's voice is never not beautiful and the arrangements always complement her so perfectly. It's not 'Blue' but very few albums come close to that.

So lets be clear. Just from the cover you can tell this is definitely going to be some Boomer 70s shit. I'm not going to be able to take that part of it seriously. Let's bracket it out and listen to what else is happenening - some really innovative jazz fusion. Coyote has this wonderful shimmering guitar that feels like its springing out of Mitchell's lyrics. Her lyrics kind of slide across the rythym without a lot of regard for bars. Similar thing with Amelia but this time with a cool vibraphone and steel guitar thing instead of the guitar. Furry Sings the Blues continues the complex meters. Neil Young's harmonica doesn't add much but hey I s'pose ya gotta help a feller out y'know? Hejira finall calls it with a tenor sax. This thing was begging for a tenor sax! Song for Sharon has some wonderful overdubs towards the end. The last three tracks end things strong. Black Crow is the highlight of the second half, shifting gears by adding some tense guitars and removing a lot of the soft focus reverb that characterises the first half. Blue Motel Room is almost a straight blues track and I think Mitchell's lyrics benefit from this approach, they're a bit more grounded with the simpler structure. I really want to like this more, its got amazing rythyms and the players are just so well put together, Mitchell sounds beautiful, Henry Lewy and Mitchell's collaboration in the studio is at its peak - but the lyrics are just super grating, music is for young people! I don't want to hear about your old bones. I want the kind of energy and hope and despair that only young people can feel. I realise this conflicts with my last review (Portishead - Dummy), but I think the difference is how personal Mitchell's work is compared to that. Refuge of the Roads feels like the inverse of Coyote, with Jaco's guitar being sucked back into the bassline.

What a great start to a Saturday morning

Heavenly. That bass tone makes me feel things.

I recognize Joni’s contributions to music and the era in which she emerged. Her voice is lovely and her storytelling is impeccable. Musically, this is just not pleasing to me. It’s like she and her band are on two different pages. Shes just sing-talking, and the band is just jamming behind her. Like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell is important to a generation; just not MY generation.

2nd Joni Mitchell album. I liked the change in instrumentation even if it was mostly "put phasers on things". A few tracks are enjoyable, but I think I struggle a bit with her arrangements - the free flowing nature of the melodies isn't very repetitive, so I sometimes struggle to find the heart of the song. Coyote and Blue Motel Room are great, but a lot of the tracks don't stick in my memory. A strong 3/soft 4. Giving a 4 because I think it could reward multiple listens. Maybe I just haven't 'unlocked' Joni Mitchell yet?

This is definitely one of my favourite Joni albums - it's up there with Blue for me. I love the airy guitar and jazzy bass thought it. The first three songs in particular have a perfect soundscape, like a huge, but cold, open blue sky. Like being on top of a mountain, or looking out the window of a plane. Sounds exactly like the album cover looks in a lot of ways too. Really interesting images and stories in the lyrics. Just a beautiful album overall! Edit: after reading some other reviews, I had to come back and add this. It's not a penis on the cover, it's the wrist of her left hand coming out of her pocket. She's wearing a thin bracelet and has a prominent vein. Y'all need Jesus

Beat poetry with a monotonous voice. I hate this will all my being.

Beautiful voice, rambling album. I loved it anyway.

Cba to read the lyrics I kind of liked it, although logically I shouldn't. She's story telling and I don't even understand it, but it sounds nice

It was all right but she looks like a buccal fat surgery victim ayy lmao alyun in the cover art

Fairly boring. 1 time listen

Classic singer songwriter from Woodstock! LOVE PEACE

This is the most "not for me" album i've ever heard. It's every single element I can't stand rolled in to one.

I just don’t like her voice. Nails on chalkboard

The first Muslim community.

I’m not really sure what to say about this album. It’s not bad but it is also not my type of music. The instrumentation is top notch but it’s very jazzy and slow. Lots of mood music. I’ve never been a Joni Mitchell fan but the lyrics are great. I just don’t know how I feel about the overall album. I guess it was good but it’s unlikely I would listen again. Best songs are “Coyote” and “Black Crow”.

I was over half way through the album when I realized I couldn't recall a single lyric or note from what I had already heard. At no point was I wanting to stop listening, but also at no point did I want to listen closer. It was just. . . forgettable. At least up until "Blue Motel Room". The lyrics in that one were so cringe inducing. "Hanging on your boom boom pachyderm"? "tell them you've got Gerrrrman measles"? Yeah, this one's not for me.

So ... can we just talk about Jaco Pastorius.

It was ok, not my fave artist or voice

A sound

this was the album where Joni outstayed her welcome for me.

Like a cool breeze on a summer day ❤️

It’s Led Zeppelin. Great sound. Lots of fun. Not ground breaking now but likely was at the time.

The opening is a bit erratic, but it settles in a sweet spot of good songwriting and great tones

jaco bass action

Loved the songs, love to listen to Mitchell play guitar and sing. Plus she’s from the second coolest city a musician can be from (after Edmonton). Production on this one a bit too slick for me, but it overcomes it.

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 🤢)

Gorgeous instrumentals

Bit dull

Meh. Nice background but not my thing. Cozy fall/winter feel, but nothing special for me.

not bad! it wanders for awhile lyrically, but it kept me interested, Joni has a nice voice for this type of music and tells a good story. I liked Coyote and A Strange Boy but the rest I could leave behind, its just a bit too unstructured. This gave me shades of a proto Alanis Morissette if anything.

Coyote is a bop and saves this album from being 3 stars. The rest is good folk music but (at least on my listen) none of it stood out after that first track. Just nicely strummed songs with meandering lyrics

A perfectly fine Joni Mitchell album. A couple of tracks I really dug, mostly good background music. Would be a delightful listen on a fall morning, maybe with a cool rain falling through the open windows

Joni's a rising star. I went from disliking Blue, to tolerating Court and Spark to now seeing the merit in Hejira. The sky is the limit with the next album. Yeah, it's nice. The acoustic guitar is the main saving grace of this album. It's consistently great and bounces between many unusual and distinctive performances. "Coyote", "Furry Sings the Blues" and "Song for Sharon" are especially good because of this. The pitch/tone is also very unique. I can't say that I've heard an album with this kind of sound. I enjoy a good narrative song, though I still think that Joni's vocal performances run contrary to their efficacy. The jumping between pitches and tempos is very disorienting. There are moments where Joni harmonises beautifully with the music, but getting to that point feels like trawling through the megahertz of an FM radio. This is a carried-over experience from my time with Blue, though my experience of this album admittedly wasn't as bad as that one. She's much tamer here and is carried by the instrumentals much more. I may be mistaken, but I didn't feel like there was much going on in these songs. Maybe there's some deep meaning beneath the lyrics, though that isn't really conveyed to someone who was only listening to these songs casually.