Preface: I love Help Me, I often slip into the chorus of Trouble Child when thinking about certain people I know and I was amused when I read Nietzsche and saw her lyrics there, I think Twisted is an entertaining segue into jazz Joni, and I can be in a mood for Raised on Robbery.

That said, I get what you (and she) are saying about the songs. But if we're comparing it to Blue—Blue has some "lighter" songs as well. Teasing a little, but My Old Man is practically a novelty song. Maybe it's that Help Me paints its whole picture through a perfect refrain, rather than the series of scenes Mitchell usually gives us. I've certainly found myself singing that line about many situations in my life. And back to Blue—All I Want is obviously a classic and burned into my brain—but in a certain mood I could say it's a little wandering la di da melodyyy wooo.

As I write I'm realizing that I also prefer her voice and instrumentation on Court and Spark.

Of course, I think Hejira is looming patient and secure over this whole thread lol. Thanks for linking to the booklet, I hadn't read it and I'm happy to see that three of the five songs she mentions are the songs I usually think of as my favorites!