whats her best album to start with?
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seteebos — 19 years ago(April 26, 2006 09:32 AM)
Jamie Z, I like your overview. She has done so much and evolved over the years, I would start with one of the early albums, I think each album has a personality of it's own and should be enjoyed as a whole at first so I would get a best of collection as second choice. I don't hear "Court and Spark" as one of the jazzie group but do agree it marked a change and is one of my favorites. I tend to like the jazzie albums the least but it's all great.
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wildcatso — 20 years ago(August 25, 2005 01:21 AM)
The first album I got was Night Ride Home it doesn't have one song that I don't like. It's her masterpiece!
I'd say that Chalk mark in a rainstorm is excellent, almost as good as Night ride home.
I listen to Ladies of the canyon now and then, not only for her standards but also because it's really, really good.
I often discover a "new" song of JM I hadn't noticed before. Both sides now is one of them. It's on Clouds. -
paintyourapt — 19 years ago(February 02, 2007 05:59 PM)
Start at the beginning with her first album and go from there. That way you'll be able to chart her growth and maturation as an artist in a linear way, in the way it really went. Anyone telling you to start with this album or that album is putting too much of their own subjective opinion into your question. The first album has lovely songs like Cactus Tree, Sistotowbell Lane, I Had a King, and more.
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beresfordjd — 19 years ago(April 09, 2007 12:34 PM)
Every album is great, but some take many listens before you "get" it. My favourites incl. For The Roses, Hissing of Summer Lawns, Dog Eat Dog, Blue, Don Juans Reckless Daughter and Ladies of the Canyon also the live albums are superb.
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PatchouliAndPearls — 16 years ago(July 23, 2009 02:17 PM)
Good point made above by beresfordjd. My entire life, I didn't "get" Joni. I thought she was supremely overratedquelle horreur! It was only in the last year that I've come to truly appreciate and love her work, and I'm 34. I think it's from repeated listenings; it's like the albums just eventually "take" in your soul. My current favorites are Blue and Court and Spark.
Currently Reading: The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid -
csmsplce-1 — 16 years ago(August 01, 2009 08:33 PM)
I started with "Ladies of the Canyon" (a housemate had a copy that we'd play sometimes at dinner) which is very pretty, seductive and melodic. It's a great introduction to Joni. "Court and Spark" has a pop-jazz feel, and contains musical elements that pave the way for her later, more experimental musical styles. "Blue" isn't nearly as heavy-going (and potentially depressing) as the cover art suggests it might be. In terms of Joni's later work, "Turbulent Indigo" is brilliant and accessible.
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beresfordjd — 16 years ago(January 04, 2010 04:12 AM)
Thanks for agreeing. As much as I love JM though, I would avoid Mingus and Wild Things Run Fast as starters as I think they are her weakest albums. It took me years to listen to Mingus as it is so JAZZ. Wild Things just does not reach her usual high standards though some people like it a lot.
There is something in all her output to admire and I listen to something of Joni's every week at least and still have the shivers go down my spine after 40+ years. I would love to hear that Dog Eat Dog bootleg.
She is one of the greatest influences on all kinds of modern songwriters worth anything. Guy Garvey from Elbow credits her, as did Elvis Costello and Janet Jackson, Kate Bush and countless others. A friend of mine from the old days, Robert Plant (yes that one ) loved Joni too and she influenced his more sensitive side I am sure.
Buy anything of Joni Mitchell's and you cannot go far wrong. She is the best. -
rycki1138 — 16 years ago(August 13, 2009 02:20 AM)
Hits
would be a good place to start since it is a compilation of some of her best.
Misses
also has a lot of good songs that just didn't do as well on the charts.
I go online sometimes, but everyone's spelling is really bad. It'sdepressing.