ALBUM REACTION: Joni Mitchell - Blue

[@Mark.mp3]

I love how there's been a huge resurgence of love and admiration for Joni Mitchell lately, it's about time she's given her flowers

[@zackzallie8735]

Probably cuz pop stars today cited Joni's work as a major influence due to the pandemic toned down their musical styles into more folk pop music like Taylor Swift, Lana del Rey and Billie Eilish.

[@calipidgious]

Blue has a spot in my heart forever. It was on my stereo a lot when I went through a divorce as a young woman. I will say that I really think that some of her later stuff is much more interesting because her voice changed, got deeper, raspier and - well, she sounds more wise. And her lyrics have just gotten sharper and more whip smart about society. Turbulent Indigo and Taming the Tiger are both fantastic. Listening to her song Both Sides Now when she was in her 20s and then much later in life is a revelation.

[@kevtruth]

Always liked this album. Its cohesive and the lyrics are good. I'd say keep going with her. Court And Spark is another essential one

[@michaelz9892]

Last Time I Saw Richard is genius.

[@MojoPin1983]

Much better than The First Time I Saw Dick. I’m still haunted by the sight of that naked man in my gym locker room.

[@bgfd1]

This album is a masterpiece amd stood the test of time.

[@vahauser51]

I grew up in the 1960s. I owned every Joni album and played them often. Back in those days I thought Court and Spark was her best. Today, 50 years later, I think Blue is her best. When I listen to music, the most important thing is how does the music make me feel. I don't care too much about technical details. For me, if music hits my soul, then that's what I want to hear. Joni hits my soul. For example, Nina Simone and Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix all hit my soul. So does Joni, especially with Blue.

[@alanaltimont9007]

Blue is getting a lot of love now, true, but I think there are good reasons for that, and I am glad you enjoyed it for the most part. You say at the start that you like folk, and presumably the singer-songwriters coming out of that tradition, but other than admitting a couple of these lyrics are pretty good, you basically have nothing instructive or interesting to say about lyrics, which are pretty central to singer-songwriters. Mitchell was much more prominent even in England by at least 1970. If Nick Drake had heard her, say on her 1970 BBC performance, he learned very little from her, and she is by far and away the superior lyricist of the two. His lyrics are like a lot of stoner poetry, stuck in his fantasies, with little or no narrative backbone, capable of the occasional paradox but often trite. He's read his William Blake but doesn't have vision. So, in terms of lyrics, which are surely a feature of a vibe, you are way off the mark here. His guitar work is decent, but his compositions get into a groove and rarely depart. Compare two brief pieces: "Blue," a lyric title whose several meanings are clearly and feelingly explored in a few brief verses; and "Pink Moon," a lyric that starts with a striking image and takes it nowhere. I love Drake's composition and playing on that admired piece, but the lyric communicates exhaustion. Given his sad spiral down, there is a kind of truth there, but there's no insight.

[@drimblewedge2789]

That’s Joni showing the up-and-coming singer-song writers how to do it!

[@unarcobalenointornoalsole6782]

Her voice is a BLUE horizon where I have to say I leave myself flying away 💙

[@annedunne4526]

I've loved Joni Mitchell since " Big Yellow taxi" in 1970 but the album " blue " is special. The two men you mentioned, that is Graham Nash and James Taylor are also wonderful singer/ songwriters and you should check them out. Those were great times for music.

[@shanadellos6034]

Keep diving into all her albums. You will be changed for the better and discover modes genres and incredible life moments !

[@Blue-qr7qe]

I'm pleased for you that you've found her. I think you'll enjoy FOR THE ROSES, as well -

[@italoblu]

I had to turn this off after a few songs. There’s something just wrong about some guy with 11k followers describing one of the most heartbreaking, uplifting, and stunning albums of all time as “nice”, “sweet”, or “not bad” (!) with a dead-eyed stare, no matter how hot he is. Edit: Fastforwarded to the end and he called A Case of You “fine”. Wtf lol.

[@AlexHaitz]

Consider checking out the follow-up to it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGbHiputncuta6M I make these 2-4 weeks after I listen to the album and can let the music settle in my head a bit.

[@italoblu]

@@AlexHaitz Not really. You’re not worshipping the goddess near enough. Thanks for writing back, though.

[@kristiankasamoen8854]

All I Want is really beautiful:) I know you just reacted to a Sweet Trip project, but You Will Never Know Why is a must-listen, sooo catchy

[@AlexHaitz]

YWNKW will be my next live reaction, next time I get a chance to stream. Will probably do their new record that way as well.

[@kristiankasamoen8854]

@@AlexHaitz looking forward to it!

[@JoshuaJSain]

So are you not reacting to the rest of the modest mouse catalogue? Just curious I was stoked for it

[@AlexHaitz]

Every 2-3 albums I interject a "poll" album, which is where my Patreon subscribers choose from 4 random albums. Next reaction will be the next MM album.

[@JoshuaJSain]

@@AlexHaitz sweet thanks for letting me know 🤙

[@Don2Boxeo]

Great great album

[@LukasPrimeEdition]

an actual classic

[@moog67]

OMG what a change-up for you!

[@yagzgulay7498]

Next album should be "Your Funeral My Trial" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. I think the best album of them and that decade...

[@Malady]

Bert Jansch is another very influential folk guitarist, hailed by Jimmy Page and Johnny Marr.

[@gzucc]

Nick heard Joni. Full stop.

[@y2kPunk]

New subscriber here, great content man don’t stop. Have you listened to The Mars Volta album DeLoused?? If not you definitely should.

[@AlexHaitz]

Haven't done any Mars Volta yet, but I'm sure it'll happen at some point. Thanks for hopping on!

[@lyallbenjamin1045]

5 sec songs congrats facile to a whole new level.

[@davidburgess3882]

Hejira!!

[@aldersleysteven]

I had never heard this before. I am glad you liked it. She has a great voice, but it's not really something I would listen to. I prefer people who can't sing.

[@11celtics11]

How do you not know Nash from Crosby,Stills, and Nash

[@AlexHaitz]

I realized that after the fact and felt like a fool, totally didn't make the connection!

[@11celtics11]

@@AlexHaitz yeah, I was a bit surprised lol. Great video, my friend.

[@annefrankenberry7914]

21:29 Is that an MST3k "Prince of Space" reference?

[@AlexHaitz]

I contemplated putting a clip of the episode on the screen as I said it, but decided to leave it for people who know it. Good catch!

[@Baile_an_Locha]

Regarding your "I think Graham Nash was a musician" comment, you've listened to Crosby, Stills and *Nash* right?

[@AlexHaitz]

I realized that after I recorded. I didn't even make that connection.

[@davidherringgo]

If also The Hollies named after Buddy Holly in England one of my favorite musicians Graham Nash singer and songwriter

[@gerhardlegeland4523]

Does this masterpeace need a reaction like this? Everybody who made it to the end of this video should be paid 10 € or £ or $ for a waist of time.

[@62CDN]

Thanks for your thoughts. Unfortunately you are wrong. Joni is far above all others.

[@jori1]

Decent album, but her later jazz-pop work is much more interesting in songwriting and execution both.

[@UncleErnie71]

If this album is "decent" what's your opinion of the Sistine Chapel?

[@maruad7577]

Give the Nazareth cover of "This Flight Tonight" a try. When Joni played London she said she was doing a cover of a Nazareth song before playing her version.

[@JDigber]

fix the audio. it keeps skipping. Un listenacble.

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

I feel like a jerk or an alien, but I've never understood the great reverence for Joni. It's good, but for me it's not great, and I can only take her in small doses.

[@vahauser51]

When talking about classics like Joni, the consensus is the guide. NOBODY is 100% loved. For me, Joni is a creative genius whose work influenced LOTS of artists. Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, are some of the greats of the 1960s. When people say they don't like some of my favorites, like Joni, it makes me sad that they don't hear what I hear. 30 years ago I didn't like the blues, but today I can't live without the blues. People change.

[@anitas5817]

This has been my favorite album of all time , every song, every note, since I was 11 years old in 1970. I’ve always understood that it’s not going to touch everyone the way it does me. I’m sure you have your own favorite that gets under your skin into your soul. I still can get lost in this album today at 64yo.

[@georgefantano4396]

mediocre album , btw what happens to the albums that lose in the patreon pole, do you ever bring them up again?

[@AlexHaitz]

They often make re-appearances. It depends on the poll as to what gets picked. But I have an ongoing list of albums to react to. Any that I do a video of just get removed from the list, but the rest stay.