New Joanna Newsom Album "Ys" Due Nov 14

I hope there's something there I'll discover in forthcoming listens, but at the moment: WTF?

This is an album of really gorgeous moments (so far, still percolating) but I'm still quite dubious of her whole damn thing really.

there's definitely a sort of blandness to the actual sounds though, despite how well they move here.

It's so gorgeous..."and all those lonely nights down by the RIIIVERRR"

The movement between parts reminds me of the randomizing systems used by Eno in "Three Variations on Canon in D," except that here there seems to be an element of mutual inspiration between the words and the music. None of the songs ever achieve resolution, but simply peter out when the time is right.

The whole thing is pretty syrupy and smooth, but I think that her poetry is strong enought to overcome the lack of edges. And it's full of absolutely gorgeous melodies.

If you wanted it to sound like Rufus Wainwright... then yeah, I guess.

... maybe, but the fact that it's the first track on the most famous HARP album in modern folk music is surely no coincidence

The first sign of the apocalypse?

http://www.bumpershine.com/2006/09/01/joanna-newsom-ys-a-closer-look.html

I've been listening to it all weekend. I have some thoughts but no time to organize them.

she's shown admirable restraint in keeping this under 3 discs of material I guess.

as opposed to Sufjan "bank! bank! bank now!" Stevens...

-- Ned Raggett (ne...), September 5th, 2006. (Ned) (link)

Haha. Indeed.

-My beautiful and astute wife, reacting to my praise of this record as it played on our long car trip this afternoon

Much like the time she challenged me to defend the Minutemen's "slap bass parts," I was at a loss.

She's becoming the Andy Rooney of indie rock, that one.

My opinion on YS is unchanged, however - a meticulous, dense and beautiful record I will definitely be coming back to often. Reminds me of Astral Weeks in places. Anyone else?

But her latest output is watered-down grocery store music, I'll give you that.

-- Wand Milius

Yup. Also In the Aeroplane Over the Sea.

I think I'm waiting until its release to finally listen to Ys. My only regret is that her publicity shot couldn't have been the album cover. Don't labels care about record sales anymore?

Ha, that's the only one they pretty much didn't do anything to. It's still just harp and voice.

"Cosmia" is relatively short and snappy and it has a killer Joni Mitchell-ish hook. Well, it's 7 minutes long but that's as close as you're gonna get.

Anyway:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Three_female_druids.jpg/727px-Three_female_druids.jpg

-- M. V. (m...), September 5th, 2006.

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Oh, please.

-- Owen Pallett (opallet...), September 3rd, 2006. (Owen Pallett) (link)

a) That comparison doesnt make any sense whatsoever. VDP predates Fairport Convention. Also, he sounds nothing like FC.

b) Rihm? C'mon, man. Typical 20th century classical garbage. Super heavy emo 12 tone stuff and whatnot.

c) Jon Brion is a sub par Brian Wilson wanna-be.

Personally, I think VDP is the perfect foil to Joanna's quirky americana song cycle broadway musical tunes.

she's got a litte kristin hersh

I looked at The Milk Eyed Mender in my cd pile last night and suddenly felt quite fond and nostalgic...

I think I hate this album. and for gods sake do NOT listen to it stoned, it doesn't 'open up' as much as it becomes completely ridiculous and annoying.

On second thought I'd describe Parks' arrangement style as somewhat similar to Shooby Taylor. Melodic scatting over otherwise finished songs.

His work on this album kills. Totally the best.

their vocal tone, at times, is exactly the same. that's all. You're right about Kristin Hersh having more fire, more stream-of-conciousness.

i think i don't like this either. otm about smoking up w/ this.