Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me (RIP blogs)

http://curvature.files.wordpress.com/2007/04/fiona-4.jpg

What is she doing, that is 'wrong' and improvable?

The stranglulated nasal whine that was putting a ton of forced stress on her vocal chords is what gave her nodes; the new way she is singing is freer, more open and healthier. You can tell that entirely from the timbre of her voice on older records vs that new song Iposted.

btw weren't you supposed to be banned from ILX until you finished grad school?

this thread needed LJ, grad school be damned

http://jhstrega7.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/the-killing-of-the-unicorn.jpg

Cheers Dan, that's a pretty good explanation, although it's more of a technical point than a criticism of her art (although I appreciate that for you it's that too).

I uh...got the batsignal, what can I say. Plus I figured that a forced ILX ban wasn't something I needed; it's a bit like an admission of defeat, and an unnecessary measure. I just need to edit myself from now on. Keep it low-key. Done with great success thus far, I'd say.

http://www.silverlocusts.com/Graphics/dandelion_book_cover.jpg

hey, am i really liking about 1/2 of this album!

the other 1/2 does not offend me. have no idea why her voice offends. irritates, i guess. offends?

reflexive diatribes against "ivy league"/"privilege" (however they might apply to J.N.) = some straight up B.S.

did you play the clip of one of her old songs with her old way of singing?

mills college is sort of a west coast seven sisters i guess

The stranglulated nasal whine that was putting a ton of forced stress on her vocal chords is what gave her nodes;

was wondering about whether or not this was the case

She was probably singing from her throat rather than her diaphragm, a common mistake made by untrained singers that can easily lead to thin, reedy tone and jacked up vocal cords.

When I saw her perform on the Ys tour, she seemed to have this under much better control, but I guess it was too little too late.

bob dylan's larynx must look like a craggy mountain range at this point

Indeed, indeed, everywhere one goes these days, one risks hearing another of these hillbillies or jass singers braying and squawking from a neighbor's gramophone.

who's responsible for this http://huggingthenewjoannanewsomalbum.tumblr.com/

BOOK DEAL

None of those people are really hugging the record though. The first dude almost is, I guess.

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ky97tpjLzi1qzxv7po1_400.jpg

Which one of you is this?

;)

i knew it was you!

then why did u ask

http://cdn1.libsyn.com/dsco/Having_One_on_Her.jpg?nvb=20100224212639&nva=20100225213639&t=068740464a68973e866a0

http://fuckyeahjoannanewsom.tumblr.com/

Heaven has no words for the way you and your friends have treated poor Louis.

lol I did come in a bit brashly with the off-topic feminist mudslinging, even if it was to illustrate a defence of JN whom up until yesterday I was pretty sure I didn't like much

That was a line from the title track, LJ. :P

clearly that's her take on the whole LJ-ILX debacle

Ha! Well as JD said, she's totally hopped on my bandwagon; lyrical dedications are the least I expect. I may have to give this record a listen at some stage - I'm not bursting at the collar to do so but I've completely made my peace with JN. May she fulfil her vision. Like I said amid the sound and fury, Ys should have been indexed, marketed and released as a single piece, and I'm a little hesitant to deal with an album of hers that contains so many discrete bits of music. I can't imagine listening to the individual songs of Ys.

Sawdust & Diamonds and maybe Cosmia work pretty well by themselves imo. But then I'm one of those people who think the rest was dragged down by VDP's orchestral muck.

Laurie & I got this new one on LP this past Monday but haven't really listened, I think we will tonight.

it will change your life

http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kyblvkt2Tq1qzclhao1_400.jpg

appears to be both sleeping and drinking champagne in the back of a car - 1st class WKIW material.

I have listened to this album and I like it. Won't be sure how much it's changed the world till I listen to it in my magical hidden cave, tho.

(as one of the crazy overenthusiastic fans I can't work out how much I mean that.)

@tylerw @ksh @Mr. Que

It was me, loves! Mwah! (Re: http://huggingthenewjoannanewsomalbum.tumblr.com/)

Hahaha! So great. And I'm quoted next to Stereogum, The Village Voice, and Carles under the title. Thanks!

I fear the parody blogs.

http://huggingnedraggett.tumblr.com ?

Everyone should fear that.

Oh wow, sweet: Mike Powell reviewed the record!

http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-02-23/music/joanna-newsom-somewhat-simplified

My only thing about the hugging-the-record Tumblr is that none of the people on it are actually hugging the record, except for maybe on guy but it's hard to tell.

*one

all of those "huggers" need professional help

ok...so i've listened to this 3 times through//and the only song i'm not really feeling as yet is Ribbon Bows

Is that second hugger Mike White?

hey, that village voice article isn't terrible!

although i think maybe he gets some lyrics wrong and consequently understates their weirdness.

I don't want to be flip about this, because I do think Newsom is someone who rewards a patient and curious ear, but I've listened to the album twice now and I'm still waiting for it to click with me. Lots of people seem to be welcoming her new, mellower, more rounded voice; me, I never had a problem with the old one, and I miss its raw spark. More than that, though, I'm just not finding a lot to latch onto. There's something to be said for giving the songs more space, but I *liked* that Ys seemed to breathlessly spiral from one dynamic melody to the next. "Good Intentions Paving Company" is the only one so far that's made my ears perk up. But again: she's not someone I write off easily, so I'll be digging in further.

@ksh There will be more huggy/makey-outy ones to come.

stoked

can you wear a daisy-chain and ride a pony in the next one? it would do her music justice :)

Maybe most importantly, her lyrics are easier to follow and harder to tune out.

"Easier to follow" I get, "harder to tune out" I don't. Newsom's first two records were filled with this marvelously dense poetry bubbling with polysyllables and sung so up-front and eagerly, it was almost impossible to tune it out. And I'm someone who tunes out lyrics as a matter of course. I guess his point is that all of that relentless thorniness was wearying; maybe my point is that that's what it takes for someone like me to pay attention to words.

some of these reviews are making it sound like I would really dig this record tbh

think I'll listen to old mercyful fate records instead tho

J0hn, have you heard any of her older stuff?

you're joking right? I was a pretty big stan for Milk-Eyed Mender actually, as I've said multiple times on this thread I think she's a pretty great lyricist. but the joys of her music are mere appetizers for the full banquet spread of making fun of people who like her music.

unless you mean pre-MEM in which case no I haven't