Reviews (page 4 of 7)
It's okay
While beautiful, it all turns into elevator music.
Joni's a genius and national treasure, but her avant jazz poet phase has never done much for m.
The lyrics may have been poignant, but I was too bored to listen to them. I think this is a "give another chance" later sort of album, really need full focus to appreciate.
I don’t get Joni Mitchell. Might be too sophisticated for me, but respect the craft. Unlike say Elvis Costello she doesn’t come across as pretentious to me.
absolutely beautiful cover art. very easy and chill listen
I tend to find singer/songwriters fairly boring. This one was less so, but probably not something I'll return to. There were some interesting/weird bits, so I guess it was worth the listen once. At least she has a good voice.
I consider Joni Mitchell to be a great songwriter. To me, her magnum opus was released four years before this one. This album is simply a good record. I can’t say much about it other than that it’s tight and features some interesting lyrics, but Mitchell plays it a bit too safe vocally while the jazz-influenced instrumentals seem to be doing their own thing. Still, it’s a good one. My favorite songs were "Edith and the Kingpin" and the title track, "The Hissing of Summer Lawns".
Good hosting music! Smooth and palatable. I enjoyed the guitar licks and the bluesy rhythms. The album is also very well recorded. I think it meandered around a little too much to be a compelling full-album listen, but I’ll definitely be coming back to some tracks.
Nothing extraordinary but pretty nice listen. Harry’s House / Centerpiece was the best song. Fitting name.
Solid album. Good listen.
Continuing the Joni Mitchell discography in order following “Blue”, then “Court and Spark”, today we have “The Hissing Of Summer Lawns”. 3/4 Joni Mitchell albums down now, just 1 more to go. I didn’t like Blue, as I thought it was boring and I didn’t gel with her voice all that much. The next album, Court and Spark, really surprised me though, and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I did Blue. How does The Hissing Of Summer Lawns fare, you ask?? Well, more or less the same as Court and Spark. It's fine. I think I'm actually getting used to her voice now. I don't dislike it as much as I used to. I would still definitively never return to this album, but I never actively wanted to turn it off. It's peaceful, and when it's not boring the hell out of me, it's pretty good. That being said, the first song, "In France They Kiss on Main Street", sets a pretty good precedent for the album, which then proceeds to fall off of a cliff in enjoyment until we hit my favorite song towards the end of the album, "Harry's House/ Centerpiece". Unfortunately, it must be said. This album is painfully boring, and Joni herself doesn't help her case. Some songs are pretty unique, but most of them sound the exact same as any other Joni Mitchell album. She has such a specific way of singing that works in small doses, but an entire 42 minute long album of it is a lot to go through. I don't know man, if you're into this kind of stuff, that's cool with me. I think it's fine personally, but I can only handle it in small doses. It's undeniably pretty boring and forgettable, which as I always say, doesn't make it bad, just nothing to write home about. The background elements and instruments in "Harry's House/ Centerpiece" actually did resonate with me though, Joni's voice be damned. It's easy enough to drown it out. Not tremendously easy, but easy enough to let the song stay enjoyable. Well, I think at the bare minimum I've gotten use to her style. Not enough to really call me a fan, but enough that I can give this a 3 instead of a 2 and not feel bad about it. I haven't actually returned to Blue since the day I heard it. I know that's considered by many to be her magum opus. Curious if I would still give it a 2 if I heard it again now, but also don't know if I care enough to go back and re-judge it. Well, one more of these to go. Will she finish off strong?? Only time will tell. This one wasn't terrible, and had a few good moments, but none that are going to stick with me after today.
A bit too religious for me
Not the best Joni Mitchel but still decent
Best Song: Edith and the Kingpin. Evocative lyrics and a great showcase of Mitchell's exemplary phrasing. Worst Song: Shadows and Light. I found the layered vocals and the reverb organ really cheesy, like she was trying to force a kind of gospel aesthetic into a discotheque. Overall: It's undoubtedly Joni Mitchell. Sometimes an artist has so distinct an artistic voice that there can emerge a sort of sameness that hangs over their music. No one else sounds quite like Joni Mitchell, so when I listen to her I sometimes feel like I have to actively work past hearing what she sounds like in an archetypal way to hear what she sounds like specifically, on this or that song. That doesn't make a ton of sense. The album is fine.
I don’t know what it is but JM just doesn’t connect with me. A lot of people whose taste I respect are big fans but it hasn't clicked with me yet. Maybe someday.
En del är rätt bra. Allt är inte bra.
Jag tycker om när de jazziga inslagen är framträdande som i inledande In french the kiss… Tankarna går vid flera tillfällen till Laura Nyro och Wendy Waldman. Inte minst vad gäller harmonier låtarnas struktur. Nick Drake är väl också en relevant referens. Tycker nog inte att Mitchell gör det bättre än någon av dessa, även om albumet växer vid ytterligare genomlyssningar (funkar för övrigt dåligt som bakgrundsmusik, utan kräver någorlunda aktiv lyssning). Går från en svag tvåa till en stark trea.
'twas alright. It probably had a lot better story telling. But I'm much more of a musician side than a lyrics side.
I feel like I would have liked this a lot more if I was a lesbian. I love Joni, but not feeling this album more than a 3.3.
As with the last Joni album, it feels like a close listen to the storytelling in the lyrics would elevate this. But even only catching snippets, her beautiful voice and the stories she weaves made this an enjoyable listen. 6/10 Pretty Good
Mitchell is super talented. I've enjoyed albums of hers in the past but this one never grabbed me. I think it would be really cool if I actively listened more, but I'm just haven't been in the mood for this type of music lately.
Interesting but I didn't find any song especially exciting. Great voice though.
great
Woof…1001 needs to space out their Joni Mitchell assignments more. Odd duck this album. I was pretty neutral and that is fine.
I'm not a fan, but I was surprised how this landed. Far better than expectations. Her sound has matured from earlier releases, and for the better. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit 🫳 ★★★☆ (6/10) Total reviewed : 302 Already owned : 68 Purchased : 15 To buy : 4 Nope : 215
A good album, I liked Edith and the Kingpin and Shadows and Light the most.
I much prefer Blue - but it’s still Joni. She’s a legend
I’ve never been a Joni Mitchell person and this was kind of a snooze fest. Beautiful at times, delicate and folk that felt very jazz inspired but it’s just not my cup of tea.
Great listening experience. I personally just discovered Joni Mitchell with this album and I plan to listen to her entire discography. Lyrically poetic and meaningful, and musically a very polished and meticulous soft rock album, with some jazz influences and subtle synthesizers. The cover art is also captivating, and knowing it was done by the artist herself adds to its mystique. Some songs are a bit too long, and i don´t like the second song at all, that`s the only real critic i have. Maybe i would rate the album as a 3.5 out of 5, but we cant put half points, so i will rate it as 3, cause 4 its a little bit too much. Anyway, grat listen recomended for everyone
Good.
The instrumentation on this is pretty good for folk music (although the bar to clear is on the floor for folk). Her repetitive way of singing her poetic lyrics (or stupid lyrics, depending on your perspective) is supremely annoying and had me wishing she would change her delivery by the 8th track - which she thankfully did. Overall, the jazzier bits are enjoyable, even if they're very basic jazz bits, and there is enough variety to make this listenable. 3.0/5.0: Good
Interesting and pleasant sometimes but probably wouldnt play again
I don’t think I’m at a very Joni Mitchell time of my life. Seems to have been a lot of Joni Mitchell put in my life by this website though.
Didn't have my favorite songs of hers but for some reason I'm a little enchanted by her music.
This is my first Joni Mitchell listen outside of Big Yellow Taxi but I like the majority of this album. There’s a few misses but the high points really stand out. Even the songs that I don’t particularly like seem really well put together. I’m excited to listen to more.
My favorite was probably Harry's House/Centerpiece. I'm not always clicking with how the lyrics break time from the music, but I think other works from Joni might hit better for me.
This was really good. I don’t like all of Joni Mitchell’s music, but I do enjoy exploring it
As someone who is both self proclaimed "open minded" and isn't a fan of hippie folk music, I went into this album expecting to roll my eyes and gag, but was pleasantly surprised by a strong and unique opener of a song that made me question my distaste for Joni Mitchell, and I started to question everything. That didn't last long as the album slowly descends from really good into mediocracy. Life went back to normal... But! This wasn't that bad, so I shall investigate further. 3/5 stars
Was pretty interesting to hear an artist I usually associate with the neo-folk movement took a more electric and lounge direction. But after the first few tracks the novelty wore off and totally tuned out. Might feel differently about this one if I didn’t listen to it while staying late at work.
Smooth and jazzy. A good weekend morning record.
got some decent stuff
Not her best but still very good
Objectively good, but extremely not for me. This rating is a compromise.
Nice vibes.
Maybe I'm not as big a Joni Mitchell fan as I thought I was. This album is really good, musically, but all of a sudden I may have had enough of her voice. Her singing style is quite samey on all songs, with most phrases ending with the same vibrato. Kudos for the 1st sample ever, apparently, and Drummers of Burundi (which I love) at that! It's a 3.5 for me.
seems like a good summation of Joni's songwriting/capabilities and influences up to this point. for folk rocky. more orchestral and expansive. not my favorite of hers but still great songwriting/playing
Certainly Joni Mitchell deserves a few albums on this list. But this one? It feels like a throat clearing for Hejira. It’s very good. But I look at the albums by other artists that aren’t on this list and wonder.
I am going to defer to Jessica Hopper's excellent overview of Joni Mitchell's studio albums (https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/17269-the-studio-albums-1968-1979/). Ms Hopper is a critic I much admire for her incisive analysis and excellent writing: "Mitchell saw there was not much of a place for her amongst the new talents and the Peter Pan-ing crew she came up with, as a woman in her early 30s, and she saw jazz as a genre that would allow her to age gracefully and expand as an artist-- and so there she went. She was trying to find or develop a place to belong. Through all of this she arrived at Hissing of Summer Lawns. The 1975 album marks Mitchell's official departure from the mainstream, her embarking upon her jazzbo journey. It's the album of an artist absolutely assured of herself, and it's addressed to anyone who might not consider her a serious musician, who believed all she could do was confess her heartache. Though it doesn't have the rhapsodic rep as Blue, it's unquestionably one of Mitchell's finest albums, and it is certainly her most timeless. ... The rest of the record is dark, tense, and lilts unapologetically toward something softer and more ornate than jazz fusion (no more than the later Steely Dan records it predated) with Mitchell singing observationally, about the place of women in the world, about the trade-offs they make for power and freedom. ... Mitchell had never made a record that wasn't bigger than the one before and was shocked that her fans and many critics saw her new sound as an abandonment and misguided move, respectively. Reviewers chastised her for her ego. While the album went gold and brought her a Grammy nod, as her 1974 live album Miles of Aisles attests (a wonky fiasco, skip it) there were still plenty of people shouting for "Big Yellow Taxi". But that Joni didn't live here anymore. Hissing was proof. The era of Mitchell doing no wrong was over and if her audience couldn't hang, she wasn't about to do anything to reel them back in." I will confess I don't like this album as much as Ms Hopper does; the jazz-ness of Hissing _does_ leave me behind. It's just not my taste, although I respect Joni for going where her artistic instincts determined. This is an album I admire more than love because it just isn't my thing (not that there is anything wrong with that).
#78/1001 🇨🇦 Another Joni Mitchell. For me this one doesn"t match up to Blue or Hejira. I think i prefer Clouds too. The record has a nice folk / jazzy feel, bluesy at times and some more experimental parts. It didn't quite hit the mark with 2 listens today but might be a grower. Best tracks: The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Harrys House, Don't Interupt the Sorrow.
Folk jazz fusion isn’t for me, but the strength of the lyrics saves this being painful.
Great storytelling and lyrics. Quintessential Joni Mitchell, fan of the explorative instrumentals, reminded me of 70s Arabic rock jazz
Waiting room music.
It was very scary I am very scared of Joni Mitchell
Folk
Wel chill, niet zo mooi als Blue
life changing
This wasn't bad, it made me feel pretty calm. But not something I'd go out of my way to listen to.
Track# 2 had weird sound effects that were irritating so I had to skip ahead to the next track. Only 3 tracks in and I already remember liking Court & Spark better. Still not bad. Rating: 3/5
Nice easy listening
Lastig album om te reviewen! Waarom lastig? omdat de muziek gewoon niet echt mn ding is. De zang van Joni is ontzettend sterk, de productie zeer minimalistisch en haar verhalende manier van zingen is een beetje een acquired taste waarvan ik gewoon niet zo goed weet of ik m al heb. Ik neig sterk naar nee, omdat het heel erg voelt als een album dat je volledige aandacht nodig heeft, maar dat niet echt wilt pakken. Ja dit album pakt me gewoon niet helemaal. Hoe jammer ik dat ook ergens vind, maar het woord dat voornamelijk blijft hangen is 'prima'. Het is niet wereldschokkend en hoewel de zang erg sterk is, is het instrumentaal of als muziek gewoon niet al te spannend. Misschien ligt dat aan mijn aandachtsspanne, maar je kan niet 1089 albums luisteren en elk album een aantal keer opnieuw luisteren met de tekst er bij. Dat is de makke van deze 'challenge', maar het is niet anders. Sorry Joni, wel een mooie naam. FAVO: The hissing of summer lawns, Harry's House/Centerpiece
Ta bien, más o menos.
This was good but not as good as some of her other stuff. Seems like if they needed to cut a Joni album from the list it would be this one.
It's a calm listen. Joni is a very evocative lyricist, but the music itself is on the bland side, so you really have to listen to see its beauty. Needs some relistening to appreciate fully.
Wetter than I remember but not necessarily good.
Joni
Many beautiful moments on this record, both musically and lyrically. Stand out tracks for me are 'Edith and the Kingpin' and 'Shades of Scarlet Conquering.' Some filler and odd choices--that might make more sense on future listens--which ultimately bring the record down a notch.
I really liked the second track. The rest was fine, but kinda boring.
Woah, way more varied and experimental than I expected, really interesting listen.
My opinion on Mitchell's sing-talking hasn't changed since I listened to "Hejira" back in mid-January, which is to say that I still don't like it. This album had a bit less of it though, and I think the instrumentals on this were great. Favorite Tracks: Harry's House / Centerpiece | In France They Kiss on Main Street
I love Blue and if you told me that Joni went into jazzy soft rock later I'd be pretty excited but unfortunately it just didn't fully click, I did like a few songs though
I like it but then I don’t like it. Can’t make up my mind
5.5/10
Easy pleasy No hit No ear grinders Soft and smooth
Another Joni (my third). Fouund myself enjoying this one more than others- still a lot of songs I couldnt get into, but also a few with a more traditional melody I enjoyed. Overall- probabt a 2.5/5
Pretty good I liked a few of these songs
Not her greatest. But a good Joni Album.
Had some interesting lyrics like the reference to Rousseau, ultimately an album I appreciated more than fully enjoyed
This was nice. I bought it when it came out, and didn't like it much. But it has some great songs on it. It did get a little long near the end.
Palju huvitavaid mõtteid on siin, aga väga vähesed jäävad pähe kummitama. Kiiksuga muusika üldiselt meeldib, aga kiikse sel plaadil on vist liiga palju, et see kuidagi mõjuks. 3.2/5
3/5
This wasn't bad. Not great? Not the most notable Joni Mitchell album? That's what I don't get - these albums, on this list, that aren't the most notable by an artist taking multiple spots on the list. What's that about?
Joni continues to be the only singer associated with the folk movement that I seem to enjoy. Though, this album is a little unconventional and I’m not sure I'd even really consider it folk. Experimental Moog work on Jungle Line is so cool.
The second half, especially "Harry's House/Centerpiece," was much more enjoyable than the first. The vocal talent and lyrics are terrific. The music itself, again especially in the first half, seemed pretty pedestrian.
The percussion on “The Jungle Line” was great, the rest of the album was pretty average
Joni Mitchell had a string of good to great albums in the 70s and this is certainly one of them.
Kanske är jag lite mer imponerad av än förtjust i Joni Mitchell. Men jag gillar henne också!
Slow and ponderous with evocative storytelling lyrics. It's not entirely my jam but I appreciate the craft.
These don't really feel like songs; they are free verse set to music, often without a recognizable verse/chorus structure or even a defined melody. (The exception is "Centerpiece", a beautifully rendered blues/jazz standard that feels like a curious digression in the middle of everything else.) The music, jazzy and flowing, is fantastic, featuring a number of LA session superstars, Steely Dan alumni, and superstar musicians in their own right. The lyrics are poetic and meandering, but intelligently written and beautifully sung. This isn't the sort of album that you can sing along with, but it's a beautifully crafted listening experience.
Very nice album though nothing stood out as outstanding
Reading reviews and analysis reveals that there is a level of artistry with Joni Mitchell and this album that I am not necessarily picking up on. I’d probably benefit from a deep dive or documentary because my familiarity with her is cursory. That said I enjoyed the music.
A prime candidate to lend further credence to the argument that more than two or three selections per artist are unnecessary. Hejira, Court and Spark and Blue are plenty enough representation for Joni Mitchell, where this album offers little that the other three don't, despite being a broadly enjoyable listen. Meanwhile, we have barely any extreme metal artists represented aside from one first wave black metal band in Venom, Sepultura and Napalm Death, a criminal lack of classical music, only a surface level assessment of industrial and noise rock, a very anglo-centric view of punk and a disproportionate amount of newer albums from 2010 onwards that largely lean into similar genres.
This was fine. It’s not really my kind of thing, but I can see equally why people like it or loathe it.
My first Joni Mitchell album and I’m a little underwhelmed. I find her phrasing not so enjoyable although the voice itself is very nice.
Pretty mellow and trippy, but most of it didn't really grab me as much as I was expecting. If this entire thing was more like "Shadows and light" I'd probably love it.
Love me some Joni Mitchell. Very nice to listen to on a Sunday morning.
Started off well, I enjoyed "In France They Kiss on Main Street". "The Jungle Line" didn't click with me at all, definitely not something I'd choose to listen to again, but it tried to do something different. The rest of the album is just very safe easy-listening hotel-lobby music. Lovely vocals, and the instrumentation overall is good it just doesn't really break the mould. Stuff I could happily listen to as background. Piano solo in "Harry's House" woke me out of the easy-listening coma (in a good way). Back to sleep until "Shadows and Light", which was _fine_ but not my vibe.
Standouts: The Jungle Line Harry's House / Centerpiece I'm not sure what this album was going for. It was nice/easy listening but the Jungle Line was a super experimental track at I really appreciated but it felt like it was in the wrong album. Joni's voice is really nice and she uses it to great effect with the instrumentation. I appreciated the more unique choice of instruments but I wish they did more with them. Mid 3
My third of four Joni Mitchell albums on this list. This was also a pleasant listen, with some more experimentation that would ultimately lead to the successor Hejira, which I found difficult to listen to.
Didnt enjoy as much as her other albums. A bit hit and miss. Standout songs: In france they kiss on main street Dont interupt the sorrow
So I'd never heard of Joni Mitchell? Interesting to read about her, not my kind of album but I liked how different this was to everything else I'd been recommended so far! Good for a history lesson
fallegt og flott en ekki minn stíll
Beautiful and soulful voice and mostly relaxing background music. This kind of music is great to have in the background while reading at home but not something I actively seek out all that often. Its still a solid album and a great singer. But what was the "drums" on that second song? It didn't fit the vibe of the album at all.
Better than Blue, slightly below Hejira
The last Joni Mitchell one was better.
Posh, clever, and a bit pleased with itself. Like turning up at a dinner party where everyone’s quoting French philosophers while you’re just after a decent glass of red. Some gorgeous moments, but mostly feels like homework set by someone who owns too many scatter cushions.
oh wow, i had a song from this already saved
I'm not familiar with Joni Mitchell's discography, but from what I've read, this album was from an era where she departed from vanilla folk, and it shows. This is a collection of songs that lie somewhere at the intersection of jazz fusion and folk. I mostly enjoyed it, perhaps mainly for the novelty, but also for instrumental performances (shout out to the session bass player(s) on this -- so many great bass lines), and Joni's singing. I can see why this particular combination of genres didn't take off... It can veer into territory that sounds reminiscent of lounge / elevator music. I can hear some parts that easily could have influenced music I love that came much later, though. Harry's House was a high point. Strong 3
35/1089 2.8893* She's a symbol of the 60 and 70s folk and very effective at what she does. This is a nice album to have on low volume during a dinner party.
I've never listened to this album (77).
Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background This wanted didn't vibe as quickly as other Joni Mitchell albums for me. I suspect I'd like it more with additional listens. The Jungle Line was an early highlight...early shades of Bjork in there?
I can appreciate what Joni Mitchell does but it all feels a little wooden to me. This is an interesting record though more in the sense of being cool to experience once and that's it.
Enjoyed this. Found it relaxing and interesting. Probably worth another listen.
2.5
At times this is more interesting musically than any of the more vocal driven songs. A couple of songs I really liked but for the most part, it doesn’t strike me as an album I’d return to, though I can understand the appeal.
I appreciate her evolving as an artist, especially continuing to incorporate jazz.
It's a Joni Mitchell album of 70s experimental synthesizers. I kept hearing the Tom Petty lyric, imagining the record company saying, "I don't hear a single." But you're Joni Mitchell -- she gets to make whatever she wants.
Eh, not a fan of her voice
Folksy soft vocals
More Joni Mitchell. I have given the other three albums on the list a two "4's" and one "5," all of which were deserved. I'm not here to be loyal to legends just because they are legends. Am I totally into Joni Mitchell? I am not. Do I respect her albums and understand her impact on female singer-songwriters? Absolutely. Her music is good enough for me to enjoy but not good enough for me to seek out. I find the best songs on The Hissing of Summer Lawns to be the more up-tempo tunes, which isn't something I can say for most of the Joni Mitchell albums I have listened to. The slower songs, which are most of the back half of the album are slow and kind of boring to me. This is my least favorite of the four Joni Mitchell albums I have listened to. These were my favorite songs: In France They Kiss on Main Street The Jungle Love Don't Interrupt the Sorrow The Hissing of Summer Lawns
3.5/5
I appreciate it but I can't imagine Joni will enter my regular roster
Meh, this wasn't that great to me. I get that Joni Mitchell is an excellent songwriter and there was a clear intent with this album to be experimental in different ways. It just didn't hit with me at all. A lot of the songs were too convoluted to actually be good listens and tunes I would come back to. Still, hard to deny her talent for writing. 3-stars.
I thought it was good
The Hissing Of Summer Lawns is a pretty good album. It definitely does feel a little more experimental than Mitchell's other albums, almost like a precursor to the new-wave album she made that didn't seem to be well received. This album does seem to follow the typical Joni Mitchell staples that the others all follow. The songwriting here isn't as strong as some of her other albums but i would say that the music here is one of her stronger works. There was that one track where it had a bongo and also bleeps and bloops that sounded like they are from video games that wouldn't release until years later. It may not be my favorite album by Mitchell but its still a good one to go out on. Best Song: The Jungle Line Worst Song: Sweet Bird Side note: Since this will be the last Joni Mitchell album I'm reviewing, I'll rank them here: 1. Blue 2. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns 3. Hejira 4. Court And Spark
A lot of surprising stuff in here and I really didn't know what to expect from Joni. Not exactly my thing but revealing enough that I shall check out more of her catalog across the decades.
Great album name and great cover - although its summery vibe falls a bit flat on a cold and wet winters day. I have listened about 5 times now and there's lots of bits I like but then there are also lots of bits I like not so much - especially when it gets a bit jazzy and lyrics a bit too dense and wordy. In the end I had to score per song to try and work it and whilst In France They Kiss and Shadows and Light scored highly the overall average was a high 3.
'In France They Kiss on Main Street' starts very much like the glorious 'Help Me' from Court and Spark. But this progresses to sound like Steely Dan - very easy listening, with amped-up guitar-licking. The guitar obviously pales in comparison to Steely, but the painfully MoR melody sits very nicely alongside some of 'Aja'. Nash and Crosby are on this but you wouldn't know it. The title track in particular feels like the bass player probably has an overbite while the band wade through the monotonous funk. Joni even embarks on some jazz scatting which is highly unnecessary. And the likes of 'The Boho Dance' is like Bacharach playing in a lift. 'The Jungle Line' is a totally different proposition, and a fantastic outlier. The use of the synth feels like a 2000s indie band, it reminded me a lot of 'McCartney II'. A worthy evocation of the work of Le Douanier. This album was not viewed well by critics upon release but is now seen as one of her best. So maybe I need 40 more years to reappraise it. In any case, it's still Joni and it still has a thread of greatness running through it.
Känns väldigt Joni Mitchell, inget som jag brinner för. Shadows and light känns inte så tidsenlig, lite cool
The second song sounded really cool but it also reminded me of how much Joni Mitchell loves doing black face. So you know. It’s complicated.
:(
Curious and interesting. I realised I knew nothing of hers apart from BYT, so I was really keen to hear this. Track 2 (The Jungle Line) is very unusual indeed. It certainly grabs - and holds - the attention.
Originelles Songwriting - zurückhaltend entspannter, cineastischer, jazziger Folk-Pop aka folkiger Jazz-Pop 🦆
Really interesting lyrically, but the songs themselves and music aren’t my bag. It got nicely experimental with ‘Jungle Line’, but alas, the experiment was short. Harry’s House was a cool song as well.
Sounds ahead.
There are a couple of tracks on here (The Jungle Line & Shadows and Light) that stand out for being musically interesting, but the rest of the music is in the same jazzy vein that mostly (not always) seems to exist just to provide a rather vanilla canvas for the lyrics, rather than adding any energy or emotional value of its own. Frustrating, as the songs probably deserve to be engaged with more.
Tudo neste disco é tecnicamente competente. Melhor, tecnicamente ótimo. Os arranjos são expansivos, a produção é imaculada, e os vocais de Joni são repletos de ternura e suavidade. É um álbum fácil de ouvir e de aproveitar, chega até a ser relaxante aos ouvidos. Mas, dito isso, só porque o achei tecnicamente bom não significa que ele me agradou pessoalmente. A realidade é que não senti nada muito forte o ouvindo. Apesar de o achar ótimo e tremendamente agradável, achei que faltou um molho especial. Algo para o destacar melhor, o elevar para outro nível. Um pouco entediante em alguns momentos, apesar da linda sonoridade e produção limpíssima. Uma pena. Mas consigo facilmente ver porque alguém amaria este disco. 3/5
2.5
jolig, goeie cover ook
I'll still give it a 3 for the lyricism but I don't like this album. Don't like the weird jazz, which I don't think meshes with her style. It detracts from it. 3⭐️
Beautiful album! It's very dense, I feel like it's worth multiple listens. Love Mitchell's voice and lyrics, she's very captivating.
I like Joni, not my fav album
Favorite Track: Sweet Bird
I was a fan of some of Joni's earlier work, and I bought this album for the track "The Jungle Line" which sampled Burundi drumming (previously featured on the 1971 single "Burundi Black" by "Burundi Steiphenson Black"). I wasn't a fan of her Jazz-Rock style, preferring her earlier Folk music. Album opens with "In France They Kiss on Main Street".
credo di aver dato lo stesso voto a Court and Spark anche se in realtà lo preferisco. Questo è più sperimentale, e mentre court and spark è più introspettivo, questo è più uno sguardo verso il mondo esterno in generale mi ha coinvolto di meno però la voce resta sempre bellissima
Very avande garde and experimental attempt by Joni but the core of this album is as sweet as that of Blue. Despite having such experimentation it doesn't step far from what made her special. This one would definitely take time to appreciate for a casual. But its a good time.
Ehkä vähän hidas vaikkakin taidokas. 3/5
Not my style. I think I enjoyed the later songs more than the first ones. It’s good as background music tho. Funny that Taylor Swift has been compared to her. 5/10
I didn't find anything special bout this in 2025.
A good enough album. Joni is a good songwriter. Has a distinctly 70's vibe to the music, but not in a bad way.
This was fine, but nothing memorable
Beautiful but a bit more boring than her other albums... Maybe 4 albums are bit much on this list?
Singer/songwriter uit 1975... Geen idee wat ik mij daarbij moet voorstellen.. Bob Dylan achtig? Eerste nummer bevalt mij wel ergens. Zanger zingt erg hoog, dat is wel even wennen. Het is heel lief ofzo, met af en toe een lekkere gitaar rif. Ben benieuwd naar de rest iig! Oef, het 2e nummer bevalt mij toch een stuk minder.. Erg vreemde beat. Ergernis is dan toch het woord wat in mij opkomt. Nee, mijn muziek is dit niet.. Al had de piano in Harry'sHouse zeker nog wel iets. Ik kom uit op een magere 3.
Franchement c'est pas mal on ne s'ennuie pas trop. Après pour moi c'est pas le classique qu'on attend
3,5
I listened to Joni a lot in my formative years, thanks to my bra-burned hippy of a mother. I didn’t mind it so much, and this style of music might have played a role in the development of my soft and tender side. Helped with the ladies. Within ten years, I fully switched to Punk, and really couldn’t give a fuck. Now a days I can take it, but prefer to leave it. Lyrics are too wordy, pitch and tempo are all over the place. Keep it simple soul sister! Cappuccino!
Probably my first full length Joni album listen (sorry) and realise it’s a bit of a mid-point to enter her style. But curious to see how it lands… The message is important. Great songwriting and lyrics and just not so grabbed by it. Some really lovely jazz refrains. Pleasant enough but just left a bit meh from it Don’t interrupt the sorrow ✊🏻
*Cool use of the Moog synth and the lyrics are compelling. I just don't find too many of the songs catchy enough to want to listen to more times.
I have never cared for Joni Mitchell's singing style - tone or phrasing - and her music typically is not a style I generally like. In that context, this album surprised me. I did like a lot of the music on this album - it's inventive and interesting, and diverse across the album. I enjoyed listening to it well beyond my expectations, and Jungle Line is actually a song I'd say I enjoyed! I still can't click with her vocals and lyrical style, and I won't listen to this album again. But certainly glad this project got me to listen to it this once.
Pretty and delicate.
I don’t know man, I just didn’t get into this one.
I think it's good. Probably needs multiple listens to enjoy
It's a pretty melancholy album, beautiful, but sad.
Rolling Stone 258 A good Joni Mitchell album but as a whole a minor work, not very memorable moments or songs.
Not my favorite.
Sound listen.
Fint nok.
Didn’t listen
3,3
this lady's alright. 3/5
Not my favourite Joni Michell record that I've heard so far, but it's good nonetheless. I enjoyed the first half of the record, but it fell short in the latter half, more specifically in the last 2 tracks. Favourite Track(s): The Hissing of Summer Lawns Least Favourite Track(s): Sweet Bird
Great voice. Nice songs. Good album
Light 3. Love Joni’s voice, love the story she tells in her songs. Hmm she sure does bring up black people and the black experience a lot in her songs, I hope she’s never done anything weird re: black people before!!!
Joni moves further into the jazz age. When I first heard this album I kinda hated it, but I realized it was a natural progression in her sound. I like it a good deal more now, but it’s also harder to get hooked. Her voice is till in peak form though, and it’s a pleasure to listen to her move into different moods and methods.
Cool listen 🎧
I’m not a fan but appreciate what she has done for music by women, for women. 3
Heard it before. Not my favourite from Joni tbh. But hey, it's Joni 3/5
I don’t know Joni Mitchell but she has a late 90s type of sound yet sounds very 60’s.
Ok
Side A is fun, Side B is boring. 3/5
This didn't quiiiite hit me as much as the last Joni Mitchell album I heard, but it's still pretty decent!
I didn’t like it as much as the other Joni Mitchell album I’ve gotten (Court and Spark) but it was good! I really enjoy her voice. Specifically liked the title track and the guitar magic on the opener.
Very solid record! I love what she can pull off with these instrumentals, but it feels like Joni ends half her lines on the same drawn-out, sustained note (the closing track is especially egregious). This sameness in delivery drags the record down a lot, imo, though she does have a beautiful voice nonetheless. Standouts: The Jungle Line • The Hissing of Summer Lawns • Harry's House / Centerpiece
Joni Mitchell is a name I’ve always heard in relation to the 60s and folk music and something that older people like, but never something that found its way into my ears. I always put her in a box with Joan Baez, and since I don’t remember Joan’s music either I’m not sure if this comparison is fair or not. ¨The Hissing of Summer Lawns¨ is such a cool title that actually listening to the album itself threatens to cheapen it. I imagined a less angry, more refined Patti Smith and that’s basically what I got. Replace the grime of the 70s with the vaguely optimistic vibe of the 60s, put it in your kooky aunt Tabatha’s album collection and there you go. {Note: this album came out in 1975, the same year as ¨Horses,¨ but it sounds 10 years older} I found the music to often be a bit boring, but the opening ¨In France They Kiss on Main St.¨ was exciting, as was ¨The Jungle Line.¨ What isn’t boring is the poetry she spews, painting pictures as good as Dylan or Nas, often eschewing any sense of verse or chorus. If an album could ever be considered ¨a grower and not a shower¨ it would be this. What was boring on the first listen I found nuanced on the second. There are musical and vocal choices that superseded any kind of expectations I’d normally have of a singer-songwriter. Respect to Joni Mitchell. Best songs: ¨In France They Kiss on Main Street,¨ ¨The Jungle Line, ¨ ¨Harry’s House/Center…¨
I have never gotten into her voice or songwriting style. There were a few tracks toward the end that held me better than others, but I accidentally let this loop and I was 4 tracks into the relisten before I realized it.
fun. airy. fine.
Bon album dans l'ensemble avec des bonnes chansons mais les quelques expérimentations au synthétiseur et autres samplers sont ratées.
I like the synthesizer components to the songs, interesting songcraft. Probably won't often go in circulation but I enjoyed it.
It's okay as a background album, but it should've been more interesting. It has one song that really makes you go "oh, I was listening to something!"
Ehh couple of interesting arrangements but didnt really connect to any of it.
not his best pero con cosas interesantes
I've never really known what to do with Joni Mitchell. While I love 'Blue' it is everything before and after I have difficulty with. This is a good album. I dont know if I will ever listen to it again.
horrible
Interesting, but not my thing
Joni Mitchell's brand of quiet, contemplative resistance seems quaint and almost archaic in today's world. Still, it's a decent album.
How many Joni Mitchell albums are on this list? Starting to feel like it might be all of them. Pick one, Dimery. We already know you love Joni and all things from the 1970's Laurel Canyon scene. But, c'mon... this is ridiculous. This spot should have gone to an Ani DiFranco album.
Although this album is good - especially the lyrics - it just doesn’t quite hit the same level as her other albums enjoy. So I’m going high 3
It’s one of those albums that is just so beautifully performed that, despite not having individual songs that I’d pull out and shine a light on beyond the opening a closing track, still come together as a grand and satisfying whole. The only song that I didn’t gel with is The Jungle Line which interrupts the flow a little bit. It’s stunning that’sJoni Mitchell is such an exceptional artist that this excellent release doesn’t stand amongst her best albums.
Felt like an album someone wrote from simply observing humans and writing their thoughts on interactions down. Very genuine, funky, and conversational.
interesting start, with a bluesy guitar driven folk song. not a bad album. Thee was nothing that stood out, but a couple of notable songs including the title song. I think I like Edith and the Kingpin the most. I would listen again, but not something I would seek out to listen to. 3.5 stars
thoughts: i did enjoy the jazzier back half of the album a lot more but this is honestly pretty disappointing. love joni’s voice as usual but eh, this just didn’t hit the way i thought it could’ve songs: “don’t interrupt the sorrow”, “harry’s house/centerpiece”, “shadows and light” rating: 5.8/10
A strange experience for sure, but it's unique style was fun trying to understand. The more vocal driven songs could feel slow and shallow at times, but when the experience culminates in certain patterns and grooves it is able to highlight Joni's voice. 5/10
I loved the jazziness and the detail of the lyrics (especially IFTKOMS) and didn't find it boring at all. Also, I love the songs which represent being stuck in a suburban home with a man and, overall, the experiences of women. I think the lyrics portray that very well, and they almost sound satire. Favourite: In France They Kiss On Main Street Least Favourite: The Boho Dance
Listened without skipping any tracks
Mere jazzy Joni. Et ok album men mere anonymt end Blue.
Finally, the last Joni album. I'm not sure what it is about her but I've come to learn that I really don't like her music. Maybe it's her grating voice but I'm glad to have finished this one. 5/10.
This was a pleasant enough listen. Feels like 1 really long song. It’s fine. Can’t say I paid attention to the lyrics much which is where I’m sure it shines but for a first listen, I like it.
I am not so found of all that jazz ( that kind of jazz) but I appreciate the lyrics. I read them and it's just poetry. So if we listened to this album as sung poetry (not all songs have that ambition). it's quite allright. And it's Joni Mitchell!
I really haven't connected with Joni Mitchell during this project, which is surprising. I thought I'd be super into her. The albums just feel noodle-y and aimless. They're very pleasant to listen to, but not songs that resonate with me in a serious way. This almost slipped down to 2 stars for me, but something is keeping it at 3 for me.
NICE
I don’t quite know why Joni Mitchell does nothing for me. On the face of it she should be right up my street - folkish singer songwriter with a great voice, but it just doesn’t spark anything in me.
The Hissing of Summer Lawns is the point in Joni’s career where she thoroughly embraced jazz structures in her songs. They tend to ramble and never feel like they make too much of a point, but Joni’s appeal is her chill delivery, and her fierce experimentation…as heard on the wildly rhythmic The Jungle Line. Overall, for me she embodies Sunday morning chill ambience and art house music done fairly well, if a little boring on this particular album. She’s also at the top of the list of artists who are “an acquired taste”. Once it seeps into your soul though, you’ll find yourself defending her to the death.
I wasn't particularly fond of the last Joni album we had, but I enjoyed this one a bit more. She creates cool jazzy atmospheres with these songs, it's not just her voice telling stories. I especially enjoyed the unique and dark sounds of The Jungle Line and really liked Harry's House with the piano too. Her lyrics can feel a bit like abstract art, I don't always understand what she's singing about, but apparently some of these are standing up to patriarchal norms, so I'm all about that! Overall, while this was an intriguing and thought-provoking journey, this style of music just doesn't move me. The songs meander so much and there's no rhythm or beat that gives them shape.
I like Joni Mitchell. Her music is something I listen to when I wish to feel a very specific type of melancholy. My criticism of this album is just that there aren't really any songs on it that I can remember the next day.
Some pretty sounds but didn't entirely click, gotta say
Album 836 of 1089 Joni Mitchell -The Hissing Of Summer Lawns (1975) Rating : 3 / 5 I’ve spent decades trying to form a solid opinion on Joni Mitchell, and somehow I’m still not there. I fully appreciate her talent, her influence, and her place in music history—but I’ve often wondered if her recordings, which I find perfectly fine, might be just a bit overrated. I know that’s a risky statement, but there it is. As for this album, it was... again, fine. It kept a similar tone and feel throughout—nothing bad, just not much that grabbed me either. I have a hard time criticizing a legend, but I’ve yet to find my seat on the Joni Mitchell bus, though I'm still open to it.
Joni Mitchell is an artist in the truest sense
It’s obvious that Joni Mitchell is a great songwriter, and the albums that I’ve heard from her - including this one - are certainly testament to that fact. However, her vocals just really aren’t my cup of tea, so I don’t think I will ever move from appreciator to real fan.
Wasn't bad, feel like i didn't give this one enough attention. Was kind of bored listening to it, but could be better with several listens.
I can’t believe how many times you listened to this!! I like the music, I like her voice but I am just not into the rambling melodies. Perhaps it will grow on if I listen more but…
The deeper Mitchell's music, the denser its sound. I've always found her mid-to-late 70s records difficult to dig into it. While I admire her brave artistry, her willingness to develop her style, her utterly original blend of jazz-folk, and her vivid lyrics relentless in their images, the resultant sound too often stays within the same lane and becomes bland. A few exceptions submit themselves in 'Centerpiece' and 'Shadows and Light', but I can never remember much else about this album.
Jazz-Rock-Folk mit Stromgitarre, das ist ja mal was. JM ist nicht mein "cup of tea" aber ich finde diese Songs hier experimentell, originell und "frisch" für 50 Jahre auf dem Buckel. Aber vielleicht habe ich auch schon zuviel Gin Tonic intus.
I mean sure why not
A good semi-experimental, jazz release from Ms. Joni, but if anything I wish she pushed her experimentation to further lengths
Niet helemaal af kunnen luisteren, maar het klonk niet zo geweldig. Goed genoeg, maar allemaal wat saai
I was prepared to hear Joni sing songs only dogs could hear (SNL). I was not prepared to like much of this due to the music. Glad I heard a full album of hers.
Cheeky achtergrond muziekje maar een beetje te dramatisch voor mij
Legendary singer, not her best album in my opinion. Still enjoyed it though
Back to back Joni and consecutive releases - what are the odds!? That said, this one passed me by a bit like yesterday’s did - probably a 2.5.
I think the significance of this album is to show that queens can flop too. Rounded up for the lyric “like a priest with a pornographic watch”
It was ok, pretty out there for 70s, nice change of pace
Maybe not something to listen to in the background
First time listening. Quite enjoyable
I love the lush atmosphere that songs like In France They Kiss on Main Street create. But there are some serious low points on this album as well like the jungle line and harry's house.
I really like the instrumentation on this one and the album art is 10/10.
Don't Interrupt the Sorrow The Hissing of Summer Lawns
Interesting lyrics, not a big fan of the sound
Nice, but doesn't stand out to me tbh
It's Joni Mitchell. Can't not like Joni Mitchell
I really liked Harry’s House / Centerpiece especially the talking bit
Alright
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it.
I like her blending of folk and jazz.
Pleasant listen, I enjoyed her jazzy sounding voice. 3.5
The best Joni Mitchell's up to this point. More jazzy, less folky. I like it.
This album is my introduction to Joni Mitchell. I've heard of the name, know the impact and influence of her music, and still, never listen to a song of hers, that I know of. I mean the story telling, off the rip is above par. Been noticing a lot of 70's, 80's music have a lot of story telling in general. Mix of sounds, wasn't even sure what time of ROCK to label this album. Soothing voice, takes you away. Slow album, you're not head banging to this one but you might be taking a nice walk to the park,
You know I liked this and thought it was more interesting than I was expecting. There is some weird avant-fusion stuff happening underneath some of these songs, not nearly as out there as I'd like but interesting nonetheless. At the end of the day, it does just kind of feel like folk music to me that doesn't hit super hard, but I enjoyed this.
Aika viehättävä, a-puoli erityisesti. Kuulosti tuoreemmalta kuin 70-luvulta aina paikoin. Tarinankerrontaa, mukavaa kävelykuunneltavaa. Mutta en muista yhtään biisiä enää seuraavana päivänä. 2,5
Too hard for me. I'm going to listen to the Carpenters again.
Unique voice, and songs. Sounds of the 60’s and 70’s.
Not my favorite Joni album but had some great songs on here
Joni Mitchell doesn't have my favorite voice, if I'm being honest. What she does have is an unmatched ability to weave a tale that you feel like you are a part of when listening to her stories (songs). I really appreciate this quality as a writer. The acoustic guitar is really the only instrument I could pick up while listening for a majority of the songs, and it felt like it was more music playing in the background of a scene. It helped enhance the stories Mitchell was telling with her voice. No doubt that there are very "of the time" topics and lingo being used throughout, but what I loved about it is that I felt like a character in each of her songs just living through the events she is retelling. It was truly a joy to listen to, and the only folk album I've really enjoyed thus far.
Joni! This kind of looks like the Brian Eno album cover. Is that just what 1974-1975 was like? I like the Canadian vowel raising on "flags". To be honest, 'In France They Kiss on Main Street' is giving SNL's Garth & Kat. And 'The Jungle Line' Regina Spektor. But the rest is more Joni, who I like, but don't love, because it's all a bit too mellow for me (right now?).
Her voice and cadence are amazing on this album and work incredibly well with the music. Bass playing is exceptional. Overall a good album. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
Chorus-less songs really don’t work for me on this one.
Lkec it much more than Blue. No chirpy choppy vocals and you can really hear how lovely her voice is on this one. Still, not really my thing overall. 3.5* rounding down.
I like this album slightly more than yesterday's Court and Spark for its heavier jazz composition. I respect Joni Mitchell's songwriting and genius, but for some reason, there's a barrier somewhere in which I just cannot resonate with her music as much as I want to.
Not gonna lie, I was pretty surprised when I thought my phone meeped out and failed to submit my rating yesterday, only to realize that it was in fact another Joni Mitchell album that the 1001 gods prescribed to me. This album has all the same flaws as the last. Admittedly I thought The Jungle Line had an interesting sound, kinda like Q*bert music 7 years before the game would be released. I guess this is a solid 3/5. If I was in a worse mood, i could've justified a 2.5.
I find Joni Mitchell's voice too ethereal to to get into her lyrics. It just sorta sits on top of you like a light dusting. This makes it boring. And very soft instrumentation doesn't help.
Some of these songs were pretty cool. “Jungle Line” especially stood out as unlike what I traditionally expect from Joni Mitchell. But there were still too many more typical Joni ballads on “The Hissing of Summer Lawns.” What is not cool, is that after our first three Joni albums, I learned about her history of blackface and strange justifications long after we all knew better.
Once again Joni’s voice sails and the music fails…to live up to her voice.
I think I said this on my last Joni Mitchell album but it really sounds like she just sing/talks words and then they add music in afterward. Some of it works fine but some of it comes across jarring in the difference of tempo, theme and general sound. 5/10
If it weren’t for The Jungle Line I’d swear this was just one long song. As an aside, my uncle is a HUGE Joni fan. Joni was also seeing some musician fellow from my hometown in Saskatchewan. We had one nice restaurant then and my mothers friend spotted them eating there. Once she left they grabbed her wineglass and gave it to us to give to my uncle. For weeks we had Joni’s lipstick embossed wineglass around our kitchen. I’m certain that antidote is at least as interesting as this album.
She's singing more like a folk singer on this one than what I remember from Court and Spark, and sometimes that's just too much, but I really enjoy the jazzy elements. I hear a lot of random instrumental similarities with the brilliant Emily's D+Evolution by Esperanza Spalding, which is kind of inspiring me to want to listen to this again but really is mostly just making me want to listen to that album instead.
It's good but I don't find it essential. I am already not all that crazy for Joni Mitchell, and she can't quite break through and make me excited here either.
There's a few really incredible songs here, like "The Jungle Line" or "Harry's House / Centerpiece", but the rest of the album doesn't really live up to it. Seems almost deliberate as moat of the other songs just seemed way quieter than the 2 I mentioned. However this was overall a pretty nice album I think a 3 is in order
Easy listening
This doesn't feel like it reaches anywhere near the peaks of Court and Spark, or obviously Blue. It's just a tiny bit same-y and unremarkable. I really enjoyed Edith and the Kingpin as a standalone song though, and of course Joni's average work is still better than most other people's best.
Has a couple of corkers such as In France They Kiss On Main Street, a substantial amount of soft, plain folksy balladry that wisps by too easily during the middle portion and also a couple of completely off-the-wall experimental numbers that are as jarring as a million jars left ajar by Jar Jar Binks. The Jungle Line uses Moog synth and sampled tribal percussion to create a feverish swamp of sweltering skewiffy summer sound. Probably the strangest pop composition since Tomorrow Never Knows. Shadows And Light on the other hand is a stark Moog acappella that makes the album sound like it’s been abandoned onto some lonely faraway planet at the very end. This album is a big favourite of Prince and he of course has impeccable judgement so perhaps this is all great stuff. Not long after this album though, Joni started inhabiting a character named Art Nouveau and went about dressing as a blackface pimp on her record sleeves, in her music videos, at parties and in a live album and film called Shadows And Light so I’m thinking these two off-the-wall experimental numbers maybe helped set off an unfortunate chain of creativity and perhaps weren’t totally for the best.
Standouts: • In France They Kiss on Main Street • The Jungle Line • Shades of Scarlett Conquering • The Hissing of Summer Lawns • Harry's House / Centerpiece
singer-songwriter mit jazz .. teilweise anstrengend, teilweise easy listening. highlight Harry‘s House/Centerpiece, für die jazzigen elemente.
Maybe I wasn't on top form when I listened to this, but it didn't sound as good as the other Joni Mitchell albums I've heard so far.
I love Joni Mitchell but this album didn't go much for me. Still a decent listen, but I don't think I'll come back to it.
I love Joni Mitchell and her voice, but this album didn't feel like her strongest to me.
This was a nice listen, and Joni Mitchell's talents can't be denied. It won't be on high rotation, but I'm glad I know it's there.
This was pretty good, not something that I'd listen to heaps - but I appreciated it in my ears today
Joni Mitchell has a lovely voice and the instrumentation is delightful. This is not an album I would listen to even if I were in a good mood, and unfortunately for the impartiality of this review, I listened to this album while dealing with some of the most idiotic subhuman retard cattle ever to be given the right to vote (my colleagues).
A few strange production choices on the first two tracks kept me from really engaging with the album (the chorus of the first track and the weird ass moog on the second track that belonged in a Tangerine Dream song). However the production here seems to have been a watershed moment for western musicians, taking inspiration and sampling artists from Africa would become a lot more commonplace so I guess we have Joni Mitchell to thank for that. Once Edith and the Kingpin hits, the rest of the album the lyrics, vocals and instrumentals really worked well together for me. There is a good variety of sound and dabbling of different genres. But the album did lose my interest towards the end. Definitely an album that warrants multiple listens to mull on the lyrics here. This album also receives bonus points for receiving a lukewarm review from Robert Antichristgau (fuck you). Highlights: Edith and the Kingpin, Shades of Scarlett Conquering, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Sweet Bird
Pretty typical Joni
appreciate it, but not really my cup of tea.
Not her best album I feel, although I do enjoy a bit of Joni, I find often that it doesn’t captivate me enough. I can imagine plenty of people will adore this, but it just left me cold and uninterested.
Nice
Beautiful voice, great production for the time but none of the songs grabbed me.
Man, I so want to love Joni's jazz period. I love jazz. I love Joni. Seems like a match made in heaven. But there's the muzak-y haze over the proceedings that cloys at me. It started with Court and Spark, but somehow it doesn't bother me as much on that one as it does on this and Hejira. Also, I just don't love the compositions from these two albums as much as her earlier work, even though I admire their freewheeling boldness. It's definitely a me problem not a Joni problem. My loss.
Some of these were bangers, but the train whistle really threw me off
Not my favorite Joni Mitchell album, but her voice and lyrics spark joy and hope
If this wasn't a Joni Mitchell album it would have worse reviews and probably not even be on this list. While not as groundbreaking as Blue, The Hissing of Summer Lawns wears its dated sound while delivering a firm and creative package of solid folk songs. 3.5/5
Ja, nej. Det är väldigt ok. Inte mer. Behaglig röst, men det är inte magiska låtar. Väldigt lagom. En tydlig trea.
A voice softly deep Weaving through folksy rhythms Singing tales in prose
I almost gave this one 4 stars but I felt like the 2nd half of the album drags and doesn't have the same energy as the first half. I don't think I've ever listened to a Joni Mitchell song, much less an album, but I've definitely heard the name before. I can't describe exactly why but I get why people really enjoy Joni's music just from listening to this album. Great voice paired with really easy-listening music.
Sure. Good for a singer/songwriter album, but isn't anything more than that. Harry's House/Centerpiece was the best on this album.
I started listening to this last night, and found it kind of sleepy/dull. Upon listening to it more closely today, I found a lot to appreciate musically and lyrically, even if this isn’t my favorite of her albums. I’ll probably check it out one more time.
-this album was my first Joni Mitchell experience, and I really enjoyed it! her voice is beautiful and i can really see how she influenced a lot of later artists i like -maybe felt a liiiittle overlong / repetitive especially toward the end but honestly her voice and the lyricism were so nice that I didn’t mind. 3.5 - 4 stars -Favorites are In France They Kiss On Main Street and The Hissing of Summer Lawns
This project continues to teach me many things. Today's revelation is that although I like to think I am something of a Joni Mitchell fan, I might be kidding myself. This is the second album of hers that's come up in as many weeks and it's clear now that I admire the idea of her as an artist more than I enjoy a lot of listening to her actual music. My loss.
auðvitað tilgerðin uppmáluð en ég hef nokkuð gaman af þessu. set 3,5 því 'etta á skilið aðra yfirferð.
Not my favorite album of hers, but I do like Joni.
It's Joni Mitchell. The sound, the words. But not as magical as some of her other works.
Not my favorite Joni album, or even in my top five, but it’s still Joni. And enlisting three of your exes to play on your record is hilarious.
frankly boring and repetitive
Forse il miglior album folk finora Ma resta folk