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I love it you give the 8 first albums all S, because they are indeed one clean sweep of masterpieces, 8 in a row. Hejira is also my favorite. I would probably differentiate her debut, Blue, C&S and Hejira as S and give the other 4 an A. Basically I drop all next albums a level with respect to yours, because I want a relative tier list to her repertoire not to other artists. I like Mingus much less and Chalk Mark a little more, but here I'm biased because it was the first album of hers I listened to. S - Debut, Blue, C&S, Hejira A - Clouds, Ladies, Roses, Hissing B - Mingus, Night ride home, Travelogue C - Don Juan, Wild things, Chalk Mark, Turbulent, Shine D - Dog eat dog, Taming
I was glad to hear that Night Ride Home strikes a chord for you 'cause it was the first Joni Mitchell's album I got the chance to listen to back in 1991 on the local radio station. I had never heard of any of her work prior to that, and I was instantly hooked by her songs. Simply love the woman and her craft.
Years late to the party, but enjoyed this ranking very much. Glad to hear from someone who appreciated the Court and Spark, Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira trifecta as much as I do. Also agree that Night Ride Home was far superior to Turbulent Indigo. If the academy was going to give away token Grammy Awards, Night Ride Home was really the one Joni should have been recognized for. I hope you have been able to enjoy the release of Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975). There is so much buried treasure in that package, I know you will love it.
19. Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm 18. Travelogue 17. Dog Eat Dog 16. Shine 15. Both Sides Now 13. Turbulent Indigo 12. Night Ride Home 11. Wild Things Run Fast 10. Song to a Seagull 9. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter 8. Mingus 7. Clouds 6. Ladies of the Canyon 5. For the Roses 4. Hissing of the Summer Lawns 3. Court and Spark 2. Hejira 1. Blue
As for me, at the top for sure are Court & Spark and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, but then the difficulties begin because I don't want to hurt any album xD For sure Blue, For The Roses, Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and Mingus are God-tier. I would like to put Miles of Aisles somewhere in top 7 at least because it's fan-bloody-tastic (and underrated, unfortunately). Turbulent Indigo would also be high. I have absolutely no idea where to put Song to a Seagull, Clouds and Ladies of the Canyon. They're not my absolute top, but they're great albums. I listened to Taming the tiger, Shine and Night Ride Home too few times to rank them honestly. My least favorites at the moment are Dog eat dog, Both sides now, Travelogue and Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm (but they all have great moments). Wild Things Run Fast is somewhere in the middle of the ranking. Joni is my favourite musician of all-time and I don't think anyone has come close to her in the amount of masterpieces
The high point for me was the jazz period between Court and Spark thru Don Juan. Her voice is so wonderful, the lyrics so interesting and the music so engaging. She seemed so alive and with it. Early stuff before then was beautiful but way too sentimental for me. I haven't found much use for it, since it tends to brings me down. Mingus seems like junk. Later albums have a smattering of interesting tunes. I don't enjoy the roughness in her voice though the arrow of time. One tune that is amazing is Man From Mars on the Taming the Tiger album. I find the music and lyrics absolutely chilling, the feeling of desolation after a breakup. It kind of scares me. I think it is brilliant. The last couple of albums seem like a tired old genius croaking out a sentimental review of her stuff to excessive orchestration. I have no use for that.
Excellent analysis as always, Mike! I need to check some of the later 80s and 90s albums, but I’m a huge fan of all of the “S” albums. I’ve had 2-3 month stretches on separate occasions where I listen to nothing but “Hejira” and “Court and Spark”. I’d put her bands with Larry Carlton and/or Jaco against some of the best supergroups any day.
I’ve been listening to Hejira for years now and didn’t know Jaco played in it lol Now it all makes sense. Its also my favorite one and some of its songs were beautifully played live in the Shadows and Light live album.
I'd tend to give a double 'S' to Hejira and Mingus - simply because of this jazzy vibe. Then all those hidden singular songs where jazz masters adding some flow, mainly Jaco nad Wayne. And i think Shine deserves more.
I think Dog Eat Dog deserves a little more love. I've always found it very listenable, the songs you mentioned plus Empty, Try Another is fun. I was disappointed with Wild Things (but loved Chinese Cafe) and was pleasantly surprised with Dog. So.. agree with most of what you have done here but would put Dog Eat Dog in the A frame.
Hejira is my favourite as well, and I'm also very fond of Mingus, being a jazz nerd more than anything. I would argue putting Don Juan in A and Shine in S, but all subjective. Landing almost as many albums in the S tier as in all the other tiers combined speaks heaps about Joni's great musicianship imo. Cool vid
I definitely need to keep listening to Don Juan and see if it grows on me. I know a lot of people love that album, I feel like there’s something I’m missing that will come over time
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I love it you give the 8 first albums all S, because they are indeed one clean sweep of masterpieces, 8 in a row.
Hejira is also my favorite. I would probably differentiate her debut, Blue, C&S and Hejira as S and give the other 4 an A. Basically I drop all next albums a level with respect to yours, because I want a relative tier list to her repertoire not to other artists. I like Mingus much less and Chalk Mark a little more, but here I'm biased because it was the first album of hers I listened to.
S - Debut, Blue, C&S, Hejira
A - Clouds, Ladies, Roses, Hissing
B - Mingus, Night ride home, Travelogue
C - Don Juan, Wild things, Chalk Mark, Turbulent, Shine
D - Dog eat dog, Taming
I was glad to hear that Night Ride Home strikes a chord for you 'cause it was the first Joni Mitchell's album I got the chance to listen to back in 1991 on the local radio station. I had never heard of any of her work prior to that, and I was instantly hooked by her songs. Simply love the woman and her craft.
Yeah man I’ve always loved that album. Easily my favorite of the Geffen releases
@@MikeGodetteMusic I've just subscribed to your channel, and let me tell you your rendition to Ravel's piece was breathtaking. Well done!
Years late to the party, but enjoyed this ranking very much. Glad to hear from someone who appreciated the Court and Spark, Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira trifecta as much as I do. Also agree that Night Ride Home was far superior to Turbulent Indigo. If the academy was going to give away token Grammy Awards, Night Ride Home was really the one Joni should have been recognized for. I hope you have been able to enjoy the release of Joni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975). There is so much buried treasure in that package, I know you will love it.
for me Blue to Hejira there's not a note spared nor a note wasted, pure genius.
19. Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm
18. Travelogue
17. Dog Eat Dog
16. Shine
15. Both Sides Now
13. Turbulent Indigo
12. Night Ride Home
11. Wild Things Run Fast
10. Song to a Seagull
9. Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
8. Mingus
7. Clouds
6. Ladies of the Canyon
5. For the Roses
4. Hissing of the Summer Lawns
3. Court and Spark
2. Hejira
1. Blue
As for me, at the top for sure are Court & Spark and The Hissing of Summer Lawns, but then the difficulties begin because I don't want to hurt any album xD For sure Blue, For The Roses, Hejira, Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and Mingus are God-tier. I would like to put Miles of Aisles somewhere in top 7 at least because it's fan-bloody-tastic (and underrated, unfortunately). Turbulent Indigo would also be high.
I have absolutely no idea where to put Song to a Seagull, Clouds and Ladies of the Canyon. They're not my absolute top, but they're great albums.
I listened to Taming the tiger, Shine and Night Ride Home too few times to rank them honestly.
My least favorites at the moment are Dog eat dog, Both sides now, Travelogue and Chalk Mark in a Rain Storm (but they all have great moments). Wild Things Run Fast is somewhere in the middle of the ranking.
Joni is my favourite musician of all-time and I don't think anyone has come close to her in the amount of masterpieces
The high point for me was the jazz period between Court and Spark thru Don Juan. Her voice is so wonderful, the lyrics so interesting and the music so engaging. She seemed so alive and with it. Early stuff before then was beautiful but way too sentimental for me. I haven't found much use for it, since it tends to brings me down. Mingus seems like junk. Later albums have a smattering of interesting tunes. I don't enjoy the roughness in her voice though the arrow of time. One tune that is amazing is Man From Mars on the Taming the Tiger album. I find the music and lyrics absolutely chilling, the feeling of desolation after a breakup. It kind of scares me. I think it is brilliant. The last couple of albums seem like a tired old genius croaking out a sentimental review of her stuff to excessive orchestration. I have no use for that.
Blue, Court and Spark, The Hissing of Summer Lawns and Hejira are all 10/10 albums. Flawless and genius in every way
Loved this!!! Would absolutely love for your to do a tier ranking on her SONGS!!!!!!
Okay I know that's super broad... let me narrow it down and say I'd love for a tier ranking of songs from FOR THE ROSES!!!! :)
Excellent analysis as always, Mike! I need to check some of the later 80s and 90s albums, but I’m a huge fan of all of the “S” albums. I’ve had 2-3 month stretches on separate occasions where I listen to nothing but “Hejira” and “Court and Spark”. I’d put her bands with Larry Carlton and/or Jaco against some of the best supergroups any day.
I agree with most of your comments except for Turbulent Indigos is a masterpiece in my book and it definitely belongs on the top tier.
Love that song "Lucky Girl" ... is that a skip over track for you?
I’ve been listening to Hejira for years now and didn’t know Jaco played in it lol Now it all makes sense. Its also my favorite one and some of its songs were beautifully played live in the Shadows and Light live album.
I'd tend to give a double 'S' to Hejira and Mingus - simply because of this jazzy vibe. Then all those hidden singular songs where jazz masters adding some flow, mainly Jaco nad Wayne. And i think Shine deserves more.
I think Dog Eat Dog deserves a little more love. I've always found it very listenable, the songs you mentioned plus Empty, Try Another is fun. I was disappointed with Wild Things (but loved Chinese Cafe) and was pleasantly surprised with Dog. So.. agree with most of what you have done here but would put Dog Eat Dog in the A frame.
Need to include the live album with the stellar band
Hejira is my favourite as well, and I'm also very fond of Mingus, being a jazz nerd more than anything. I would argue putting Don Juan in A and Shine in S, but all subjective.
Landing almost as many albums in the S tier as in all the other tiers combined speaks heaps about Joni's great musicianship imo. Cool vid
I definitely need to keep listening to Don Juan and see if it grows on me. I know a lot of people love that album, I feel like there’s something I’m missing that will come over time
Refuge of the Road, not Refugee
Wow good call haha sorry about that
You know your Joni but it's Refuge on the roads. Not refugee.