Reviews (page 9 of 13)
Talented singer and amazing lyricist
Time to give Joni Mitchell another chance.. Okay turns out I was just in an awful mood when I listened to my last Mitchell album, this didn’t grind my gears half as much! Maybe it’s just better but I wouldn’t know. I gotta give her some point for the lowkey anti marriage song but ykw it’s fine. I just don’t vibe with her music personally but I make peace with her on this one.
not what i’m used to listening to but definitely happy i tried. maybe i haven’t experienced something that would help me relate to the album. but i appreciate the flow of the songs. the songs are stripped pretty bare with mostly country instrumentals and her voice for the entire song; it gives a nice intimate feel to it, as if i was watching her at a 30 person pub gig
Such clear genius here. My problem is that I am not, and thus unable to appreciate the obvious genius on display in Joni's work. It's like thinking you can look into the sun because you're the President of the United States.
Its good with a lot of good songs but I dont love it. Mainly because of the falsetto.
Liked it but didn’t love it. I like how it floats between folk and country and indie rock and sounds like it could be new. But it also didn’t really grab me
Demasiado aguda a veces la voz de la Joni pero hermoso album, viejo 6/10
Lowkey intimate.
Fifty-plus years on, Blue still hits like an open diary, though its unvarnished production and Joni’s occasionally yodel-tinged vocals can feel a touch raw by today’s slick standards. There’s a deliberate intimacy to the lo-fi sound, like she’s singing a few feet away with nothing but a dulcimer or piano to keep her company. The highlights showcase Mitchell’s gift for melody and mood: the bright strum of “All I Want” and “Carey” gives a restless, sun-dappled energy (even if some lyrics betray their era), while the title track “Blue” drifts on stark, unguarded piano. “River,” meanwhile, slips “Jingle Bells” into a heartbreaker’s lament, a bittersweet sleigh ride through loneliness.
Not bad
Fine. Nothing bad, nothing great either
não faz muito meu estilo, mas ainda sim consegui gostar de algumas músicas, os vocais me agradaram, foi o suficiente, mas ainda sim não é o tipo de música que escuto no meu dia a dia. a faixa de mesmo nome do álbum foi minha favorita, junto de river
chega de rock
7/10
My love affair with Joni Mitchell only lasted only one album - Court and Spark from 1974. I like some of her other songs - River, Both Sides Now, Amelia - but nothing album-wise. Not a bad album, just not in my wheelhouse.
Joni Mitchell just sounds like the late 60s and early 70s. A time when songs could be slower and folk was truly mainstream. I have a hard time really getting into it but I love it as a time capsule and wish I could have experienced it in the day
Great abstract cool
Chill
3/5
NICE
So blue
Admittedly fine, but doesn't capture me the same way a lot of other singer-songwriters do. I'll take Cohen any day.
great voice and a solid album. 5/10
Really liked Carey, the rest was ok, a bit too high pitched singing
It was nice, but not the most attention grabbing - perhaps worth listening to in the car again.
I honestly just don't get it. River is fantastic but I just don't see why this is so critically acclaimed.
Listening to this while driving through the mountains of Colorado feels oddly appropriate. The music is beautiful, but her singing - it feels more like narration mixed with poetry.
I wanted to like this album more than I did. Just not my sort of thing.
Typical Joni Mitchell. Very easy to listen to.
I didn't engage with this as much as I hoped I would, it wasn't bad, but it just didn't pull me in enough
Honestly still sounds sorta modern considering its age
Soft and sweet folk. Very charming and melancholic at times. Joni has a very distinct sound that is both haunting and comforting. A folk legend.
I can see the value in this album. Fantastic writing, fantastic music. Its good but it doesn't resonate with me. I will have to listen to this album again in the future to see if I still think this album is just ok.
Inoffensive elevator music. This sounds like the same song played ten times in a row. I found it quite bland.
I love joni mitchell but I'm on the fence about her music. Feel like I didn't hear it at the right time.
Classique mais agréabkle
Joni! Listen, I know this album is in a lot of people's top of the top, and she also wrote one of my top 5 songs ('Both Sides, Now'). But if I'm being really objective about my subjective ratings here, I don't love pitch variation, especially in the higher registers, and there's a lot of that going on here. And a very slow tempo. It's still very much in the Regina Spektor ~ Jewel ~ Sarah McLachlan space for me, who are all artists I really like at times and find either boring or borderline unpleasant to listen to at other times. Sorry Joni! You're still cool though. Apparently 'A Case of You' is also mentioned in the hit TV show Parenthood. I'm starting to think a Parenthood superfan updated Wiki with every possible article mention, and I respect that. Lowlight: 'River' (and all covers of it)
I wouldn't go out of my way for this but she has a nice voice.
Nice folk album. Saved 4/10 songs. A bit monotonous at times, especially as I'm not really a lyrics guy. All I want, River (Jingle Bells?), The Last Time I Saw Richard as favourites. I was in a folk-loving period there a month ago, maybe I would have appreciated it more then. Perhaps it will, also, grow on me. For now a solid 3*.
This was okay. Good for background music while working. I don't exactly feel the need to listen to it again.
Joni Mitchell is an icon, and Blue is rightfully heralded...but I've never been able to get into her. This album gets me close, though—I immediately played it again when it was finished. When she sings in her upper register, as on "My Old Man," it's like nails on a chalkboard to me. But I can get into the songs where she avoids that, particularly "River," which is great. I can see why people love this, even if it isn't something I'll revisit a lot.
I know this is a culturally relevant album but for me it's more the nostalgia. Still, as a folk record, it's pretty mid.
Some songs are really good, but it’s not my style
i love her her style is individualistic
Unmistakable voice. Typically not a big folk music guy, but this is a good album. "River" sounded familiar. The 90's song "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle uses the same melody, thought that was interesting.
For decades MJK has talked about the influence of Joni Mitchell on his musical career - I think he even once called this his favorite album of all time. So I was excited to get into this today. Unfortunately I’m not seeing it. The songs are pleasant but the floating, fluttering vocals distract. I’ll give it another shot on commute home but for now feels like a 2-3 at best. So drive home left morning feelings unchanged except I did realize the Jewel became the 1990s version of Joni Mitchell. No doubt she’s a great song writer and singer but this album feels undercooked. Feeling generous. 3/5
Classic songs, not the biggest fan of her voice.
Nice mellow rock. Pure voice.
Lyrically it’s beautiful but her voice gets me cringy from the pitch.
I’ve heard many great things about this album so I’m a bit disappointed. I don’t really like her voice to be honest. The rest didn’t do much for me either. Maybe I need to return to this later again but right now it’s a 3.
Some lovely stuff but it just doesn’t grab me and I have to say I found her voice grating a bit by the end. Mad respect tho
I've never listened to this album, but I've heard plenty of discourse about how important this album is and knew what to expect. It's difficult to be anything but positive here, even if this album (and really the whole singer/songwriter genre) isn't for me. I totally understand why people think this is a masterpiece, Joni has a beautiful voice and it's only bolstered by the minimal instrumentation and raw lyrics. Controversial tangent time! Who knows if any of this holds up, but here's what struck me while listening to this album. I saw several reviews about how these songs don't adhere to traditional rhyme schemes or song structures, and that makes it harder to get into this album... I have the same complaint about recent Taylor Swift albums and struggle to understand why they're so popular. In both cases, the music seems more about the emotional journey than about popular appeal. It's art as personal therapy, whether it appeals to you or not; the people who are supposed to get it, will get it. Obviously there are plenty of difference between how the two artists approach their music, but hearing this record is very informative. Without Joni, I wonder if 2020s Taylor feels the freedom to shed the pop song structure like she did. Even if you ignore every other artist Joni's impacted in the last 50 years, that feels like plenty proof of influence.
God singersongwriter. Det vil jeg helt sikkert lytte til sammen med en kæreste eller lignende i køkkenet. Hun er angiveligt en som virkelig eksponerede sine følelser som en dagbog igennem sangskrivning som ikke var så normaliseret at gøre i sin tid. 3,5 nok. Kræver et revisit for mig
Danggit Joni! This is a hard one to review because on the one hand there are some nearly perfect tracks and then on the other hand her voice is so annoying on some of them. Very mixed feelings....
I should listen to folk more
3.0 - Ok
Good acoustic album. Not special in today's world.
Album 837 of 1089 Joni Mitchell -Blue (1971) Rating : 3 / 5 Why the music gods gave me two days in a row of Joni Mitchell, I’m not sure—but here we are. I mentioned yesterday that I’ve never quite found my seat on the Joni Mitchell bus, and after listening to Blue, I’m still standing at the station. I know this is considered a classic—an all-timer for many—and I fully respect her legacy and the millions of people who hold this album dear. But for me, it just doesn’t connect. I’ve never been able to get past her voice, and that makes it hard to focus on or enjoy the lyrics, no matter how powerful they may be. I respect what she’s done for music. I just don’t enjoy listening to it.
Buena voz, ritmos melancolicos... Es un buen album para escuchar un día de lluvia triste que te apetece recordar a alguien.
Típico álbum de cantautora canadiense de los 70’s. Su voz es muy sensible y bonita, relaja mogollón. No es mi estilo, pero para ponértelo para currar o estar chilling está bien. La canción que más me ha gustado es California
Good enjoyed it
Another haunting by Den and this time Beth. Following them from one sad trailer to another. They had to or one they were leaving. We went to get some old stuff from one but I couldn't get in and partly unwelcome now that I think about it. I could only get as far as between a tree that was growing between a window and a fence. I briefly left to get Krat from my parents and a guitar that made from plant and organic matter. This time I tried to get in through the front door but it was surrounded by rotting vegetables. I wish I knew why I was having these reruns about this old friend and why they're so dark.
A national treasure and not so much my thing. Too warbly.
It's a mellow album for a dinner party.
I can see the through line to Alanis, Sheryl Crow, Tori Amos, etc. Hard to groove to but rewards multiple listens. Turning the songs over like entymologist's prizes.
I'm pretty sure my pea brain is too stupid to understand how good this album is but it was released on my birthday so it gets 3 extra points
An intimate look into Joni’s feelings. A true storyteller. Yet I’m not convinced that this is the masterpiece that everyone says it is.
Me sonaba mucho el album pero creo que nunca había llegado a escuchar ninguna canción del álbum y me sorprendió un montón. Su voz es preciosa y es como que me puso de buen humor. Este album lo fui escuchando de camino q casa y me perdí así que fui como por el campo y vi unas cabras y pegaba un montón con la vibra, así q eso ao lo mejor influenció mi escucha. Y eso q pensaba q no me gustaba el folk (culpa de Bob Dylan). Quizás si lo volviese a escuchar me gustaría más, pero le doy un 7/10
No me molestaría escuchar ese disco una tarde de verano o de cualquier otra estación, la verdad. Pero siento que este es un disco que se beneficia mucho del nivel de atención que le prestas. Mientras más atento estás, más descubres.
I did not know This Flight Tonight was by Mitchell. I also did not know Nazareth was Scottish. I thought they were Canadian. I blame CanCon. Mitchell is a very emotional singer; she can sell a song that I would otherwise find boring. I would expect to like this more on subsequent listens (I love Brandi Carlile, and am getting a similar feeling), but nothing hooked me enough to really love it at this point.
3/5
Good, I think... I can't really tell.
Strong female vocals and acoustic guitar. This didn’t fit my taste but she is a very talented artist.
The third greatest album of all time according to Rolling Stone. Human musical achievement doesn't get much better than this, folks. She's like the female Bob Dylan. I happen to think both are overrated. She, and Dylan, are like crack to bohemian music journos in their Brooklyn studio apartments. Anyway, the albums alright, I guess.
Not my cup of tea, although I will give it a try soon
Same as her other work: brilliant songwriting but I find the album boring. It’s just not something I’m ever going to seek out to listen to.
Website is spazzing out Album was diabolically overrated but still decent
Gotta love Joni Mitchell. Not sure what to say about this one though. I personally prefer tapestry by Carole King
i actually liked this
I get it…lyrically it’s deep but not a big folksy person. The more upbeat songs are pleasant but nothing I would go out of my way to listen to. It’s the basis for every coffee house genre. A little goes a long way
My third Joni Mitchell album I think. It is good and I appreciate the writing. Just not really my cup of tea.
I don't know what it is about Joni Mitchell, but her voice grates on my nerves. Aside from that, this is a lovely album.
Just okay good not totally my thing
Good.
I appreciate this album. Her powerful, soulful voice…but it dates quickly for me.
Is this the oldest album I've reviewed so far? Early 70s, and it SOUNDS like it! But I don't necessarily hate it. Feels like the soundtrack to a period piece set in the early 70s. But it probably wasn't used in contemporary movies at the time. I get the feeling this album is very influential to a lot of folk acts, especially some of the earlier and later Decemberists stuff. Carey is a standout track. California is good too! I've definitely heard that song before. A Case of You has strong Crane Wife 3 vibes at the start. Or, I guess I should say CW3 has strong ACoY vibes at the start Another album I can recognize is pretty good (and influential in its spaces) but not one I could find myself listening to if I didn't listen to it back in the day and build those life/nostalgia connections.
This was nice. Pleasant vocals, lyrics felt raw and honest. I have to be in the mood for folk and this would be one that I could see myself listening to again and again
Det är väldigt stämningsfullt och vacker röst. Men det här är en typ av musik som inte klickar för mig (vilket möjligen är konstigt, för jag gillar "skör" musik - men det måste vara på rätt sätt). Det är bara stillsam sång och inte så melodiskt. Kajsa älskar denna skiva dock - smaken är som baken!
I love Joni Mitchell but I do not love her albums. I like my melancholy in small doses.
Really enjoyed first six tracks, didn't connect with the last four as much
Muy diferente a todo lo que suelo escuchar, me ha gustado. Todas las canciones hacen referencias al mar
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The album started off as something that would mirror an earlier Bob Dylan album, with it being quite inoffensive but also not necessarily too engaging. However, as the album proceeded I felt like the composition of the instruments against her raw vocals started getting the brain active trying to catch the intricacies of matching melodies as well as where both were "competing" against each other. Some highlight songs were for sure the titular song "Blue" as well as "River" which leverage the tones and chords from the Christmas Song "Jingle Bells". However the seemingly intentional omittance and skipping of certain notes made the listener in a palce where they would be awarded for recognizing the patterns without paying the price of it sounding the exactly same throughout. This will get 3.5/5 but will be bumped to a 3 as it didn't quite have as many of those standout songs to push it to 4 but still quite a good and pleasant listen as an album.
Pleasant album to listen to. This album felt really personal with a melancholic theme throughout which reminded me of Blood on the Tracks (esp "Tangled Up in Blue"). The album felt really cohesive and I liked the different compositions she was able to come up with. I'm not sure if it's the greatest album ever recorded by a female artist but I can understand why it was seen as unique and groundbreaking at the time. 3.5/5 Fav tracks: California, A case of you
I found myself feeling very polarized by this album. I would start to like a song then she would go into the super high almost operatic notes and I did not like that same song. I guess overall I have to put it somewhere in the middle, it’s okay, but not life changing for me.
First time hearing this album. It's not bad, but I'd have to give it several listens to really see if it is for me or not. Saw lots of complaints about Joni's voice and that didn't bother me at all.
Something about Mitchell's vocals that keep me from totally falling in love with her music.
idk if this is a hot take but it was just a tiiinnnyyy bit sappy for me
singer songwriter, jazz, 1971 -> 3
I can appreciate the writing but overall wasn’t for me
It’s ok to listen to this album once. Maybe I’ll come back next year and give it another chance. In the meantime I will listen to music I actually enjoy.
Light, airy, pleasant to listen to but nothing blew me away
Joni, please no Christmas music in the middle of the album
This was quite beautiful.
Good
It was fine.
I want to like this, but after two songs her voice just grates on me. Fine in isolation, but not a full record.
Nice for a Saturday morning
Fine album.
So I've been told this is one of the greats and it very well may be. But its just not for me. Its too subtle and too laid back in its approach. Its good but it doesn't hit that hard for me. Its not to the level I have been told about. She has a powerful voice and I appreciate that alot.
-finallyyy, here’s one I’ve been waiting to listen to for such a long time -absolutely beautiful songwriting, i felt hypnotized by some of these songs. it’s a bit harder for me to get into folk music just in general, still preventing me from giving it a higher rating just out of preference ig. love her voice though -Favorites are My Old Man, Carey, and River
not bad but didn't really stand out to me either. the lyrics are good but the music is pretty unremarkable
Fine
Appreciate that Joni broke the ground for so many of the other artists I love.
3 stars out of respect for Joni. She’s just not my jam
351/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Good, enjoyed it
pretty voice but idk how much i would revisit
https://rateyourmusic.com/music-review/JesseOverPessi/joni-mitchell/blue/255385572
Yeah, A Case of You is on here and I love the bit about drawing a map of Canada.
Very personal, very pretty. I like California a lot. Some of the lyrics were pretty silly in 2025... "You're a mean old daddy", lol. The last time I saw Richard is a definitive non-favorite. I know it's a classic but I can't exactly say I love it personally. The back half is a lot stronger than the start
The Big Yellow Taxi lady. Hadn't heard much else from her so it was nice to hear more from her. Beautiful voice, and they don't write lyrics like this anymore. However, this album is just too depressing for me to rank any higher than 3. "A Case of You" was nice and will go on the 1001 playlist.
Good her voice threw me off on some songs
A case of you is a great song, probably because I'm so far from when this record was new, that it ends up sounding like all the other folk artists of the era. Which is a shame, I get that Joni was a masterful and influential artist. So much so that all the derivative music of her work, makes her own work less revolutionary.
Carey and this flight tonight were highlights. A case of you deserves an honourable mention. Not really the sort of thing I'd put on of my own accord but this for what it is.
It’s interesting as a product of its time and there are some really good ideas here that have been built upon by others. But having my first listen in 2025, I feel like it hasn’t aged well at least for me.
Extremely talented. Just not my taste.
Classic folksy album, beautiful as a whole but individual tracks didn't necessarily stick out to me the way I expected
Korkeammalta kuin odotin
definitivamente tristão! preferi o que veio antes, mas é bem bonito. a voz dela é chique demais e ela realmente tava chateada com as coisa né.
I liked the stripped down nature of this album. This is either guitar or piano which makes the songwriting feel more intimate. I'm not going to lie I get distracted by her high notes in the first listen but it didn't bother me in the 2nd listen and I could focus on the songwriting. It was unique but not reaching or trying too hard. I enjoyed the song ""My Old Man"" in particular. "
Alright for one song but the way she keeps going high in her voice pisses me off a bit sorry. Specific rating -3.1 Fav song - little green Least fav- last time I saw richard
A nice vibe, but not my favorite style of music
This album was actually pretty good, I'm not the biggest Joni Mitchell fan but it was good and I didn't hate it lol she just isn't my favorite artist but I was actually pleasantly surprised by the album!
Right in there with the rest of the singer/songwriter albums. Not bad, but not for me.
This took a couple of listens, and I'm still not 100% sure what I think. On first listen it just left me cold. Second listen at a slightly higher volume was more rewarding, but still not great. Pros: You can see why it's on this list. Mitchell is objectively a great songwriter, with a virtuoso falsetto voice, interesting chord choices and progressions, and some interesting use of imagery. Some parts really did hit home. Cons: It regularly just left me cold. Beautiful melodies were ruined by acrobatic squeaks. Some of the lyrics and imagery didn't feel anywhere near as deep as they thought they were. The mix was very odd - the voice is front and centre but the guitars were almost inaudible. Maybe more a headphone listen? I'm very glad I listened to it and I may come back. There's a reason so many reviews are either 5s or 1s. I would recommend people listen to it and I may find other JM albums enjoyable, but personally I'm more likely to go for Fiona Apple / Gillian Welch / PJ Harvey than listen to this again.
Undecided between 3 and 4 stars. 3 because it was a bit downbeat. But ultimately really lovely
Who hurt you, Joni?
I had liked a case of you.
Overrated
It's okay. I can hear a few, more current albums in this one. 3/5.
Kinda the original Taylor Swift only more folksy. Good song writer and musician but not my style.
Ok
The thing is that I like Joni Mitchell. I love how she just uses her voice as an instrument, but more importantly, she sings stories. She is ultimately a story-teller and that, to me, is pure gold. Okee Dokee... Now... the thing is that because it is all her all the time, each song, while different stories being told, sound more or less similar. So the sound part, the song part, can get a bit redundant. From what I do hear the songs have super deep and good meaning and are lovely. Yet... asch... sometimes I can't understand what she is saying. With her it happens a lot actually. So sometimes I miss stuff. Important stuff no doubt. So... I really like her, and I love story-tellers and folk style music. Yet I don't always understand her actual words, and sometimes musically it feels a bit sort of backgroundish after a while. Now, with THAT said, I love her road music most and this is ... OK but not my favorite of her work, so ... there it is.
My boss asked me what I was listening to. "Blue, by Joni Mitchell" I responded. He chuckled. "I thought so. I felt like sitting under a tree and plucking flowers."
Bisschen duselig, entspannte Stimmung
A really nice album, even if Joni Mitchell generally isn’t my taste.
She has a wonderful voice, and this album clearly deserves to be on the list, but this just doesn't do it for me.
Classic '70s folk music
Bueno
Ja ist nett, don't get the hype
it was good but I can’t unsee the black face
It’s alright. Very distinct instrumentation with droning, open guitar strumming in what sounds like various tunings. Complex, yet flowing piano chords. Breathy, floaty voice which I enjoyed when it opened up and projected more volume. Overall, I would probably only relisten on sunny days outside if I was feeling hippie-ish.
Mellow, nice
Overall: 2.7/5 Favorite song: California
Beautiful voice. Nice and sad lyrics. Pretty melodías. I think this is my favorite album of her so far on this list.
Peaceful, pleasant and gentle album. Joni Mitchell has a beautiful voice and there's some great songs here. I kind of prefer other Joni Mitchell albums but this one was nice enough, if not that memorable for me, even after multiple listens. California is probably my favorite song here.
Actually quite good. Interesting melodies and captivating lyrics. However, I can't get to grips with Joni's singing style. I cringe at every cascade of higher and higher notes.
It's a Joni Mitchell album all right. She has a lovely voice (with sometimes what seems like too much pitch range) but she does the thing that rarely every works - slamming 100 words in to a sentence that should be 25 words, tops. The songwriting is interesting, it's not just major chords and basic progressions. There are plenty of good transitions and structures, especially in the beginning of the album. Towards the end it becomes more and more classic folk/pop, which is not a bad thing. It's honestly a bit more listenable because she keeps the word salad throughout, and it's easier to deal with it when the song structure is basic. Not really my kind of music, but I can appreciate it all the same.
Not my vibe. I get it though. This was well done, and well written. It just isn’t for me.
The Rolling Stone Magazine has this ranked in the top ten best albums of all time. I wouldn't go that far, but it's the best Joni Mitchell album I've heard. Favorite Track: "River".
I don't prefer soft female vocals, I feel it sounds repulsive not my style but also conceptually and objectively not that great
I really wanted to like this. I've had another one of her albums with Jaco on bass Fell flat to me even after 3 listens. I'm not much into lyrics and the voice wandering everywhere was more frustrating than enjoyable. Musically though it's still nice.
Not my usual listening but pleasant - she does have an amazing voice
"Do you wanna take a chance on maybe finding some sweet romance with me?" "I wanna talk to you / I wanna shampoo you". Those unnecessary bursts of falsetto singing. People over 50 getting weepy-eyed at the mention of her name, to whom of course she is just "Joni". There are lots of reasons to make fun of, or at the very least not have Joni Mitchell not be your thing. I always think that like a true musical artist, she is her own category. You can't easily say "oh I like "RXRX" and she sounds kind of like RXRX so I can get into this". Sure, "singer-songwriter" applies here. But no others would construct a melody like the weird chromatic movement in "My Old Man". Nobody sings quite like her, writes lyrics like her, puts songs together quite like her. She does come from a time when LYRICS ACTUALLY MATTERED. It's got to be hard to be a newcomer, inoculated on today's music largely devoid of poetry, diving into introspective 70's music and knowing what to make of it. Who wants to pretend to be an English major and analyze poetry? I took a look at the reviews. Some idiot wrote this was "menopause-core". WTF? Mitchell was in her 20s when she made this album. Someone else says she doesn't rhyme. Here's some rhymes from Carey: "home, cologne." "down, town". "room, moon." Or Blue" "pin, in, skin". Little Green: "cancer, answer", "fade her, made her" and dozens of other examples. Yeah it's tough on these kids today. When I was 20 I thought Joni Mitchell was "chick music", so I kind of get it. But I probably wouldn't have been open to exploring 1001 records I might not have heard, either. I already knew everything then. Now I don't know jack. Eventually I did a deep dive into her first 8 albums and found stuff to like on the first 6 or so. If I remember correctly, "Court & Spark" was my favorite with the most songs I could enjoy, "Clouds" was also solid, everything else I could cherry pick a few tracks out of to make a "my favorites" compilation. "Blue" is supposed to be one of her best, and one of THE best, and I think it is more of a winner based on its far-above-the-crowd lyrics, rather than on great memorable songs that stay with you. "Oh, I could drink a case of you, darling And I would still be on my feet" is still a better couplet than in any dissolving relationship song these days.
Yeah, I like Joni. Having never listened to her before this list and this now being my third of her albums, I like her. I still think I preferred Hejira as an overall record but this one had a lot of good songs on it, including River which I didn't realise was a Joni Mitchell song but is an underrated Christmas banger
I'm just gonna copy and paste my review from the last Joni Mitchell album, Court and Spark: "The songwriting is good. The instrumentals all sound the same for each song, but they nail that 70s soft rocky sound. Mitchell has a great voice. All in all, though, this music ain't for me."
Would give it a second listen, not my cup of tea. Too slow.
Świetny album w swojej kategorii. I choć nie jest to kategoria, do której sam bym zaglądał, to z każdym przesłuchaniem ten album stawał mi się coraz bliższy. Mimo to nie sądzę, żebym za nim zatęsknił i go słuchał. Chyba, że w ramach randomowego przypomnienia sobie płyt, które uciekły z głowy. Wciąż górna skala trójki. 3,5/5.
Pleasant but forgettable.
I should love this album but don't
Es un disco muy lindo, muy tranqui. La viola acústica suena que se te contra caga.
Honestly pretty good but a little bit repetitive. Could’ve been a lot better she seems like a great singer
6.5/10
Me gusta como me suele gustar todo lo del género, pero no me apasiona del todo. No me despierta muchas emociones. Canción destacada: A Case of You
Joni Mitchell has a distinct sound. Really well done album with some good songs.
Light and lyrical. Not my thing, but she's good.
Pretty raw emotions on display
absolut coasted uf dem I am sailing, I am sailing Home again 'cross the sea I am sailing stormy waters To be near you, to be free aber wasi mich dra chan erinnere sind schöni erinnerige ah öppert wo ganz viel über städt gsunge hett sozege wie öppert wo grad ferie plant aber ih album form
Enjoyable but didn't rock my world
27/01/25 Nothing on this album stands out for me.
An sich ganz gut, aber Joni Mitchell Stimme ist ganz schön piepsig.
Good enough, I must be missing something since this one is very well regarded. Will I listen to again: 50%
Heard "Blue" some eighteen-month-ago. I don't remember anything other than the album being overly underwhelming. Ironic, considering critics hail it as intensely personal and brimming with raw heartbreak and loneliness. Since "Blue" is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, I’ll give it a re-listen and see if it changes my initial 3-star impression. ── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ── Here’s my take: For something to be truly "emotional" and "heart-wrenching," it needs a few key elements — 1) Powerful, raw vocals (think "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out" by The Smiths) 2) Heartfelt arrangements (like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond, Parts I-V" by Pink Floyd) 3) Poetic and wistful verses (see "Lover, You Should've Come Over" by Jeff Buckley); 4) A dramatic, harrowing crescendo or drop (e.g. "I Don’t Love" by Have A Nice Life or "Exit Music (For A Film)" by Radiohead) "Blue" doesn’t meet any of these standards. To start, Joni Mitchell is no Kate Bush. From track 1 ("All I Want"), her voice comes across as overly shrill, and she practically yodels through the album. The unnecessary trills, paired with the weak harmonizing on tracks like "Carey", makes the album unaccessible to most listeners right off the bat. Y'all call Mariah Carey over-the-top for her vocal deliveries when Joni Mitchell is the original exhibitionist. Even if Mitchell’s lyrics were as heavy as Shakespearean tragedy, it wouldn’t matter because I can barely understand what she’s singing. As for the album itself, calling it "melancholy" or "heartbreaking" doesn’t feel right. Sure, there are some somber moments (like "Little Green"), but the general atmosphere is more upbeat. Hell, Mitchell even sings about California in one song. If you want to hear depressing folk, go listen to Sufjan Stevens. The songwriting and arrangements are decent but simple and, at times, boring. There’s no actual passion — just Mitchell yodelling and rambling on. Honestly, I feel misled by Rolling Stone’s praise (But, then again, they've always been full of crap.) In conclusion, "Blue" definitely doesn’t live up to its "greatest album of all time" status. If I had to sum it up in one sentence, it sounds more like an indie folk demo where the singer is trying a bit too hard — and failing hilariously — to be introspective. If you're going through a tough time and you want to support woman musicians, skip Joni and listen to "Dummy" by Portishead instead.
I liked California and a few other songs. It wasn’t bad.
Joni Mitchell is a very talented singer. This isn’t an album I’d come back and listen to again, but if I saw it for like two bucks at a record shop I’d pick it up. The songs here are quite calming and beautiful, but not something I’d listen to in my free time.
Beautiful vocals from Mitchell are the highlight of the album. Incredible vocal control especially given the high register at which she sings. This is not to call it an a capella album, of course. The piano and guitar throughout are pleasant sounding but ultimately fade into the background as they should for a vocal performance like this. Favorite track: Carey Least favorite track: My Old Man
Can’t go wrong with Joni Mitchell. Fantastic songwriting, but I wish her voice wasn’t quite so grating on some tracks.
Ahhh Joni...I always thought Emma Thompson was so ungrateful in Love Actually when your husband bought you one of your CDs for Christmas and your husband's secretary only ended up with just a meagre necklace.
I found this album to be quite lovely, familiar in the sense that I can easily glean her influence from a single listen. I added the song "Little Green" to my Likes for revisiting.
Great album, amazing work by Joni, probably one of the greatest folk albums of all time. Spectacular voice, important and brave lyrics. Only problem? I didn't like it. Other than that, it's pretty good!
Hmmm, I have a feeling Mitchell is going to fall into the same camp as Dylan for me: I like her songs, but I’m just not sure I like them when she sings them as much as I do cover versions. There’s just something that doesn’t quite do it for me, even for an album with California on it. I can’t quite put my finger on it.
I understand is ranked as a favorite of hers but not for me i
Great Faith No More
People love this, cool but not for me really
Classic 60s Folk. What a voice
Niet slecht maar niet mijn ding
Don’t love her style but can appreciate it
Meh…?
Some great vocals and folk softness while singing about some heavy subject matter. I like ‘The bed is too big and the frying pan too wide’. I liked the range of experiences in the songs - she was looking for a good time a lot of the time. Her voice is nice - but I think for me in small doses.
the first song is really slow but I did end up rly liking the album i thought that the lyrics were well written too and it’s def a well prorogued album just not my music taste. If you like slower music you’d probably like this album more
3/5
Fine
It was okay. It's very mellow, very simple. It's not really my thing, but I can appreciate the artistry.
Veer between loving this album, and then absolutely disliking her voice, then back again…. like Gleason and Farrell disagreeing about Bruge I can’t decide…
What do you rate an album that you think is excellent, but when you also think that it’s unlikely that you’ll revisit? This kind of album just isn’t for me, but I do recognize that it is a beautifully written and recorded album. The lyricism, the voice, it’s all there. Except for drums. I crave drums.
Filler
Niet mijn ding, 5/10.
I think I’m just not a Joni Mitchell fan <gasp>
I recognize that Joni Mitchell was hugely inspirational to so many. There would be no Susan Vega, Fiona Apple, Sara Bareilles, or Billie Eillish had it not been for her. This album is well made and beautifully sung with key songs Blue and California. This is a headspace album, though, and I think she was writing for a specific demographic or generation which I don’t fit. No regrets, all respect, but few repeats.
I want to like this so much. But I find it just alright. Listened to this twice in a row and only perked up when I heard California. I want to “get” Joni because it seems like she brings so many people so much joy. I’ll keep trying. I do like “River” as well from my many viewings of Love Actually.
As an album, I liked it a lot. No songs jumped out at me as great though, and I wouldn’t say I /had/ to listen to this before I die
That was my introduction into Joni Mitchell. I actually didn't mind the album but I probably won't be rushing to play it again anytime soon. Incredible voice, just not my taste at all
Just didn't do it for me.
This is probably her best album. It does lack some of the jazzier and more inventive elements of her later albums, but this crop of songs is generally stronger. Key tracks: All I Want River A Case of You
Yeah this was fine. I didn’t love her though.
A classic
Songs are good but the voice is way too high for my ears.
I liked the other Joni Mitchell I had earlier more than this (“Court and Spark”). Much more energy on that record. This was perfectly fine folk. Her songwriting skill, again, are excellent. Her voice is beautiful when it isn’t sometimes grating (and it can be grating, at least to me, on those high notes). She’s an icon for a reason. But I dunno. Felt like a perfectly good 70’s folk album to me. I probably missed something here. Three stars. Standout Tracks: My Old Man, Little Green, California, This Flight Tonight
Pretty good. The songs themselves are fairly strong it's just that I have some issues with her singing voice at times. Far too often her singing style sinks an otherwise good song.
Enjoyable, if a little slow for my personal test. Nice palate cleanser compared to Muse yesterday. Gotta love “River” I don’t imagine this is an album I will be revisiting.
She paved the way for female singer-song writers. and was indeed a very talented lady. and although I wouldn't go out of my way to avoid listening to her. I, equally, wouldn't do the same to listen to her either. she's ok, just not my bag, man. I'm going to take her worth to music in general into account and up grade my score from 2 to 3 as I think it needs to be.
Enjoyed this one more than Hejira, but I have the same complaints again Joni has such a beautiful voice but it feels like she's singing a different tune/rhythm to the music. Makes it very difficult to get into these songs 3 ⭐️
Really good voice and really good lyrics but the actual music I’m just not a big fan of
👍
I've always kind of struggled with Joni Mitchell. I think she's a good musician and a reasonably good songwriter, but I don't like the way she sings at all. I don't like the constant shifting between her lower register and higher register. I just find it totally irritating. I think River and A Case of You are good songs in spite of the vocal stylings, but I don't think I can do more than 3 stars.
Very samey, very repetitive, very idealized sentiments, but with a strong foundation, reminds me a bit of unpolished Imogen Heap Best track: Little Green
Kind of the opposite of what it's supposed to be. It's trying to act so smart but the writing just feels childish. Great singing though
gave "carey" jimmy solidarity vibes i think im liking this more than the other album of hers that popped up, hejira don't love the christmas song overall i think the first half of the album was interesting and i liked listening to it, and the second half was more meh. richard's was good tho i think. maybe just confusing
The songwriting on this album is rich, personal, and brilliant in some ways. But musically this one doesn’t quite do it for me beyond a couple of tracks (Carey and River being the standouts). Maybe I’ll like Hejira more when I get to it.
Good lyrics, voice gets annoying, though.
Akustista folkkia, kappaleet ihan ok. Ilmeisesti silti aika arvostettu levy. Parani loppua päin, silti ihan ok. Parhaat: River, Blue, A Case Of You
Very beautiful and heartfelt.
I haven't listened to much of Joni Mitchell's work, but I know many of her songs. Especially those that are covered by other artists. I am also aware of this album's reputation, which has always been discussed in audiophile groups and the title has been re-released on many audiophile labels. The first time listening to this for me. I find that it is very good but not really my go-to type of music. To be fair I listened to it twice. I give it a 3.5.
It’s fine. Like I said for a different album of hers on this list, her music never really grabbed me. That might have something to do with me not really paying attention to lyrics.
I liked this one significantly more than the last Joni Mitchell album we got. It was pretty. I might put it on again when I am in a melancholy mood.
I read up on Joni during my listen and really got to understand her through her songs about navigating alcoholism and her love life.
Decent vibes. Joni was bad back in her day
A chill background listen
Okay. Folk music isn’t really my jam. But pretty lyrics and stripped-down music.
Another of those albums that needs more than 24 hours. She has a lovely, delicate delivery. But these are songs that need to seep into your bones.
Interesting
Never listened to Joni Mitchell before, but it seems people love her a lot. However, I couldn't really get into her music. Her voice is distinct, but not my kind of thing, almost a bit too screechy at points. The melodies are nice, but they get a bit dull and repetitive. It feels quite average to me.
New Girl is my favorite show. IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW
I recognize the talent and the significance and importance she had in the music industry, but her style just isn't my bag. This was fine for a one-time listen through.
Mellow
3 Stars
3.4
The first thing i noticed about joni is that excellent voice. Really nice. The album itself seems to start off on a level and remains on the same level throughout. I like the acoustic drive throughout the record. Makes it more of a chilled out album to me. Overall, a decent album, probably a 3.5 for me. Didnt really hit any high points though. Good songs - case of you, california and river.
I'm not really sure what to say about this album. I'm not sure I really understand why it's considered _so_ good, maybe I just didn't listen intently enough. I find the vocal mildly unpleasant, but nothing that ruins anything. Standouts Carey California 3/5
Teilweise gute Nummern.
Solid, but a bit much at times.
the hissing of summer yawns
I understand why this is rated so highly by critics. But, the songwriting style (storytelling, minute details) just aren't for me. Her voice is divine at times, but the high falsetto gets a little jarring. "River" was a standout, and "A Case of You" is better with James' Taylor's guitar. 3/5
It wasn't anything too special
I liked this. Joni Mitchell is great. I don't love her singing style all the time, but I was in the mood for it today 3.5
It's OK. Musically it's nice, vocally it's nice, but I'm afraid that 'nice' just doesn't really butter my parsnips.
# 300 : Keeping it real, nice voice and nice instrumentation (what ever it's called), not sure it’s the 3rd best album in the world (Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of all time), but it's nice and sweet. Very beautiful and heartfelt. Favourite Track : Carey Listened : 16/08/2024
Only listened to first half. Joni's voice sounds nice but the timbre of the songs is a little too light and airy for me. Pleasant background music for a nice morning.
Not my cup of tea. What I expected from a Joni Mitchell album. Probably one of those albums you needed to be 15 for when it came out.
Pleasant enough to have warbling away in the background, but that’s about it for me.
Not usually the kind of album I go out of my way to listen to, but I’m glad I did. Lyrically it’s a really solid LP, and Joni’s voice sounds great; her voice is technically great, yet still has a raw honest edge to it. I just feel the overall album is a bit of a slog to get through. It’s a very somber record. But from a musicality standpoint it sort of loses its momentum with me as it goes on. I like variety in my LP’s, and very few genres can hold my interest unless there’s a bunch of different flavours thrown in the mix. I give this album a 3 - but it’s a high 3.
I can see why critics are so high on it. Her voice is pretty incredible and an amazing instrument that is well-used on the entirety of the album. The piano work is engaging and, for me, leads a pretty good musical effort. The problem was I was just bored with all the songs. I kept thinking, "Oh man, there is some potential here and I can't wait for the next song to catch my interest. It happened precisely once on "River." Most other times, the lyrics just felt a bit too artsy and forced into a cadence that rejected them. I understand the reverence for this the same way I may appreciate a painting I don't particularly want to look at for long.
May become one that I looks back on and wonder why I gave it a mid rating. The flow of the vocals don't work for me too well and although it started to grow on me, it is taking a lot of effort.
I appreciate its place in music history, but I've tried to enjoy this album more than a few times over the years, and something about it just doesn't quite click with me. I go back and forth on whether I enjoy her voice or not, but I definitely think it's too loud in the mix.
(listened feb 5 2024) its fine i guess highlights: all i want, california
Great stuff
On one hand, you can feel how much influence this album has had on so much music that came after it. On the other hand, not really my style.
Gets better as it goes.
I think maybe I’m just not enlightened enough yet for Joni Mitchell. I’m one of those plebs who doesn’t like the style and it makes me sad bc she’s obviously very talented
Didn't know "River" as Joni's originally. Always love that song - even when it's not Christmas.
Top three were carey, california, and this flight tonight I appreciate the tenderness in her songwriting, very honest. Some of it was just a little too old folk-y for me
God oplevelse. Ikke lige min genre. Synger underligt men behagelig oplevelse
Decent
new kind of music for me, but a good album. maybe need to grow on me a little
Better than the last Joni Mitchell album, which was too jazzy for me. Some of these songs are quite beautiful-sounding but it's hard for me to imagine wanting to listen to them frequently
Nice background music
She is very good and a very particular flavor.
Ok. Beautiful voice but not a fan of her sound.
Yeah idk
it was ok. some of the songs were good but this album is not quite my style
One more admires this record than enjoys or closely relates to it, and definitely prefers the Hissing of Summer Lawns. The pure and raw vulnerability of the voice – almost shaky at times – is what comes through most clearly, with collateral damage of seeming ragged, sloppy or overly confessional (or tedious in the case of Richard buying his ballet dancer girlfriend a dishwasher). Indeed, she's probably to be held to account for allowing so much confessionality (confessionalism) into pop music, of which we 've had entirely too much down the years. The lack of musical adornment grates after a time. “River” and “A Case of You” are the top tracks, though overall this is pretty squarely in overrated territory – and way overrated in that Rolling Stones' Best 500 Albums of all time has this inside the top 10 and maybe even top 5.
Great voice but not overly my kind of thing.
Liked this a lot more than her 70s folk contemporaries
6/10 Hi Joni? This is HR. Are you OK? We keep hearing this wailing from your bathroom. I want you to know you are a valued member of this team and we are just concerned for your well being. 6-27-2024
не лучше пммл. слишком тоненько поёт для моего удовольствия и слишком рождественские мелодии в той одной песне
Not m'y favorite JM album
Blue has conjured up such a mythos that has become quite impossible to downplay or dispute. Its stature from dismissed musings of the Laurel Canyon scene and its inhabitants to a vaunted masterwork of a woman approaching her peak in creativity has become something to behold and admire in recent memory. That didn't stop me, however, from coming away from this feeling blue because Blue made me cold. The majority of the record was essentially fitted in one ear only to pop out of the other. It felt monotonous at times. I didn't hate it but I didn't overtly love it like I wanted to, either. I respect its status in this day and age but it's not for me. Favorites; My Old Man, Little Green, California, This Flight Tonight, River.
Sad girl. Save for a specific mood.
“Boring. Yawning. Sloppy.” -Abby Lee Miller
Beautiful voice, gentle folk piano accompaniment
I liked the first track All I Want and I get the autobiographical nature of it, and it's amazing she was so young to write something so accomplished and cohesive but it just didn't hold my attention – I kind of felt like it all sounded a bit the same after a while.
I can see why this album would be listed in the top 1001 of all time, but I can't say that it's my style, per say. It wasn't bad listening to this first thing in the morning while I was working- it definitely fit the mood. Overall, I just find this album repetitive and a little boring.
To be honest, I am just not a big fan of Joni Mitchell. I've tried repeatedly to listen to her and just don't enjoy most of her music.
already listened
Not terrible but I really dislike when her voice hits that upper register. And she does that a lot.
Decent album, but nothing mindblowing. Carey is probably the best track here
Sure Joni, now let's get you to bed
Her best album, but I still don't get it.
I have tried multiple times to love this album and I can't bring myself any further than just liking it. I think what is missing is either a set of striking melodies, or alternatively some more creative instrumentation.