The Album Review Club - End of Round #9 Break (page 1904)

Bill Walker said:
Hejira is the Arabic word for departure. She wrote the songs on a series of road trips apparently.

This one takes Joni in new direction again. The music flows endlessly, driven by the fretless bass of Jaco Pastorius who's a great companion on this record. Her voice sounds more mature and the lyrics are phenomenal.

I've always loved the vibe of this album, even the album cover is sublime.
Of course Joni is a master of lyrics, like Bob Dylan she meanders into otherworldliness and her melodies do seemingly the same.
Lovely poignant songs like "Amelia" ....Mitchell has commented on the origins of the song: "I was thinking of Amelia Earhart and addressing it from one solo pilot to another... sort of reflecting on the cost of being a woman and having something you must do."

Joni Mitchell complained to a friend that she disliked the bass players she’d tried to record with to date, describing them as placing “white picket fences” through her music, leading to her sometimes erasing them from her recordings.

She’s accompanied by Weather Report bass player Jaco Pastorius, who’s a notable new collaborator – his busy lines would be an important part of her output in the second half of the 1970s.
Taking the Jazz feeling further not so long after Hejira she would add that other Jazz virtuoso guitarist Pat Metheny to her band. Pity he wasn't on this album.
Jaco's fretless playing on the title track is sublime. As on "Black Crow" where he adds a funk touch, mixing genre's (nothing wrong with that).

Blue Motel Room is a nice intro to smooth Jazz for anyone who's not familiar. It swings, slowly.
Enough talk, just listen and soak in that wonderful poetic laid back vibe.

As mentioned before I give it 10/10. A true work of art.
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Larry Carlton plays guitar on the album; he's no slouch.
 
I haven't really listened to Joni Mitchell before and hope I never do again (unless this isn't representative of her usual music). I have listened and listened and really tried to like it but for whatever reason it just does absolutely nothing for me.

I really wish that I could hear what others can hear that makes her so special but I just can't. There is often music that I'm not overly keen on but at least makes pleasing background music but I can't even say that about it. It just grated on me and the more I listened, the worse it got.

I have no idea why but just really couldn't find anything appealing at all. Not one track would I ever wish to hear again.

It's difficult to score as I would probably give it a 1 but that feels unfair as so many have scored it highly and it is no doubt my failing, rather than that of the music. So I'll go with a 3. Sorry.

Having said all of that, I'm still glad it was chosen as it gave me the chance to listen to an artist that I haven't listened to before, even if it wasn't to my taste.
 
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BlueHammer85 said:
Just out of interest …
Does everyone on here have Spotify and able to create your own playlist?
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Yes and why?

Have you got some cunning plan to import the the album to Spotify (which you can do) and share it (which I’m not sure you can).
 
Disappointing. The album opener Coyote I'm familiar with, was it a single? I think it's a great track and had me hopeful for the album. I've listened several times and I get that the musicians involved are good and add to the sound and mood of the album. I don't know if the comparison to Astral Weeks is valid in respect of an ensemble brought together to help realise a vision but whereas that album entrances I found this meandering and aimless.

I'm not quite with @KnaresboroughBlue but not far off. I've listened to this, really listened, several times but Coyote apart just can't get anything from it. I imagine, from what others have said, that there are different types of Joni Mitchell albums that might appeal to me more. This one though, nah sorry. It's a 5
 
BlueHammer85 said:
Just out of interest …
Does everyone on here have Spotify and able to create your own playlist?
Click to expand...
I quit during the Josh Rogan episode with people like Neil Young, Joni Mitchell leaving the platform. So no I won't be having it again. I won't support anti-vax or racism.
 
threespires said:
This album signposts where she was off to musically for a few years which I think pissed off some of her fanbase but I quite liked the direction (I might be the only person I know who is happy to the listen to the Mingus album). So it's a winner for me. 9/10.
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No you're not, I love the Mingus album. :)
 
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