Chalk Mark In A Rain Storm and Night Ride Home were the first two Joni albums I got to know, so I've got a real soft spot for them (Dancin' Clown ASIDE).
They're quite glossy, but the bite is still there behind is the sheen.
I love the 70s imperial phase. I only have Wild Things Run Fast from the 80s and Turbulent Indigo from the 90s. I feel like I was waiting for Suedey to cover these decades in a guide thread.
@BoysForSeles I would definitely recommend checking out Chalk Stain… and Night Ride Home. Like Christian said they’re quite glossy but there’s some really good in there.
Dog Eat Dog is another 80s one too that I think is great.
You can't really go wrong with any of her albums, they're all enjoyable. It's fair to say that some are more "difficult" than others though.
Hejira is my favourite of the 70s albums, written as she drove on her own from Canada to California. "Amelia" is an absolute gem and one of the best things she's done.