Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me (RIP blogs)

You guys shouldn't be mean to her. She's just shy.

Morday slam dunking it!

Fuck. Mordy. You know what I mean. Apologies dude.

the roots track that samples book of right on is kind of rad imo

this album has not grown on me

listened to the whole thing in the car over the last two days coming down out of stunning Cascade mountain beauty, it should have been an ideal soundtrack. and the good parts were great, but a lot of this record just meanders both lyrically and melodically.

Friend of mine sent me Youtube links to two HOOM tracks. Baby Birch was lovely but ruined a bit by its last minute. Good Intentions Paving Company was flat-out awesome. I'll link my liveblogs if you like...

Baby Birch: Right, she does a mantra for three and a half minutes, which is nice, then snaps into something a bit more vigorous. Where's this going? It retreats. Then returns with a really spare, Talk Talk esque electric guitar! Lovely. Then some percussion. Wow, this shit has taken OFF. The song's disparate elements are meshing with an energy that far exceeds their modest sum. I'm not sure it has to go Oriental at the end, though. I'd have preferred it if the jammy guitar/multi-part harmony had gone on longer.

Good Intentions Paving Company: Piano balladry! But with some really interesting vocal harmonies again. This is probably the biggest change these songs are displaying from Ys - increased harmony, also perhaps a reduction in surreal or abstract narrative. Not that this narrative is straightforward - like Baby Birch, there are imperceptible advances and retreats in the music's intensity that defy simple categorisation. Use of percussion is sly - I think it perhaps gives an illusion of more order than there is, while itself moving in and out of focus. I like the increased instrumentation! Especially when you have the craft to involve such delicately gorgeous organ sounds. This middle bit is wonderful! Like, so good I had to stop typing. The jauntier bit just started again. I hope she doesn't ruin THIS one with another silly ending. Oh good, she doesn't.

plz do liveblog.

listened to this album all the way (+ ys) through at work the other day, i fucking adore it so much.

"But with some really interesting vocal harmonies again. This is probably the biggest change these songs are displaying from Ys - increased harmony"

er

am not liveblogging the whole album btw

there seem to be more moments where JN overdubs vocal harmonies onto her lead lines! correct me if I am wrong

no ok that is far more accurate

Newsom performed to a sold out Orpheum audience that rivaled Justin Bieber fans in their ardor. The singer had to spend an inordinate amount of time between songs affectionately swatting away random hollered compliments. A male fan raced to the stage and tossed her a bouquet, and a woman was intercepted by a security guard near the front row as she made a beeline for the musician. “We love you, Joanna!” was the richest insight the crowd had to offer when she queried her fans on their collective mood.

Such devotion is understandable in a 2010 pop, hip hop and rock world in which mimicry and perfectly-curated musical influence is the norm. In contrast, Newsom has crafted a body of work that sounds like none other, with willfully oblique structures and meandering, lyrical snapshots that would be ripe for parody were they not so exquisitely rendered. “Autumn” begins with the scene-setting couplet: “Driven through by her own sword/summer died last night, alone.”

The singer writes songs that seem like they could have been composed in any decade of the last 80 years (and some, earlier centuries), music that exists not because of, but despite, rock ‘n roll and pop music. Pieces such as “Easy,” “Autumn,” and “Peach, Plum, Pear,” draw on parlor tunes, baroque-tinged old-time numbers, British and American folk music, mid-century showtunes, barrelhouse blues, Vaudeville stompers and Brechtian story-songs. Newsom's lyrics seem more inspired by William Wordsworth and Robert Browning than Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan, though an affection for iconoclastic forebearers Billie Holiday, Joni Mitchell and Karen Dalton is evident.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/08/live-review-joanna-newsom-at-orpheum-theatre-.html

still never made it through the entirety of the second two discs more than once . . . and that "once" occurred on the day the record was released

did listen to a lot of the songs on disc one a fair amount though

weird. I saw her in a tiny bar in Berkeley six years ago or something (starry plough, opening for Smog), I never would have expected that kind of fervor later on.

Anyway the first six songs on this are still great but I can't sit through the entire thing.

She's singing about daddy longlegs and I can't stop laughing. I hate all of you.

― ksh, Tuesday, February 23, 2010 10:05 PM (5 months ago)

Such hatred is understandable in a 2010 pop, hip hop and rock world in which mimicry and perfectly-curated musical influence is the norm.

Whatever that "Garden Party" song is that opened a concert that All Songs Considered carried, I love it. Not about decoration, really clear in its occasion and purpose and sad and bright as hell.

going to see her day after tommorow. still haven't heard a single song off either of the last two records.

Going to see her tonight in Oakland. Turf dancing with daddy longlegs??

Eazy, that was probably "'81" (about the Garden of Eden -- A.D. 1, geddit?) How was she, contenderizer and Macallan? Seeing her in Vancouver tomorrow.

she was alright. maybe better than alright, hard to tell cuz we had thee worst seats in the house and it was SWELTERING. concentrated mostly on not passing out. through the environmental distractions, i thought the music itself was wonderful and now plan to listen to at least a single song off each of her last two records.

couple other thoughts on newsom:

she's got a very comfortable stage presence, relaxed and unpretentious. seemed to be enjoying herself and inviting you to do the same, which helped minimize the gap between audience and stage. in that sense, i can see why she attracts such a devoted following. i vacillated between liking the simpler solo performer moments and the wildly elaborate full band arrangements of which the show was mostly comprised, and wound up unable to choose between the two approaches. her songs are most beautiful and affecting when unaccompanied, but it's nice to see such ambitious, demanding material presented in so generous a manner. also, was a great show for costume-watching - a much more attractive and well-dressed crowd than at most i attend.

Nice, tks. I've been immersing myself in all three albums over the last few days, and it's been an odd experience. Her music is a complete world, hermetically sealed and yet, paradoxically, not insular if that makes any sense at all. Maybe she achieves this through a combination of that musical generosity and personal poise you mention. Kind of psyched now.

great thoughts, lostandfound, but it IS insular, to me anyway.
At least the live show felt that way.

* she brought out barefooted family to do some coke bottle tapping along to good intentions paving company
* commented that she "normally didnt read reviews" but felt very self conscious about staring at her drummer, referred to it multiple times
* mentioned inception offhandedly, an insecure-sounding girl in the crowd asked if she liked it, she said yes. audible relief applause from the audience.
* her voice and technique on piano and harp are crazy good. still cant get over how great she sounded with the 5 piece band.

i enjoyed the show despite being firmly in the nosebleeds of the third level.

The most insular (yet good! actually, way better than good) show I ever saw was the Cocteau Twins at London's Royal Festival Hall. It was an unforgettable experience, but every single person in that audience was in his/her own little bubble, it was really strange but kind of moving. More psyched than ever now, thanks Macallan.

photos and words about her show at the fox

The songs from Have One On Me were much better live, I could understand them better, feel their layers open out or something. Which (magically) translated to listening to the album itself, which I now appreciate more than her other two (if I had to choose). I was not a stan before this monster thread, a casual fan at best, but this has made me love her music across the board... "this" being this very entertaining thread, as well as the experience of seeing her perform live. Which reminds me, did any of you who saw her on this tour think the overall sound was exceptional, I mean really fucking exceptional? The clarity, etc? Dude who uploaded this comments on it too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSf1oMsuXJs

This was my experience too. Saw her live in Montreal a couple months ago, and having never really gotten into Milk-Eyed or Ys, the live show really gave me an entry point to her oeuvre.

Granted, my favourite album is now probably Ys, but the tracks from Have One On Me that I love are probably my favourite Joanna tracks, so...

Yeah, don't get me wrong, the tracks she played from Ys were also amazing in that 6-piece format, sans orchestra -- she played "Monkey & Bear" and "Cosmia", which were standouts. On any given day, if truth be told, I'll probably have a different favourite JN album.

The other thing I wanted to say, though, was how much the piano-driven songs from HOOM also thrived in a live setting -- "Good Intentions Paving Company" and "Soft as Chalk" were captivating.

More random thoughts:

* It was also hot in Vancouver and she called this the "sweatiest tour ever". No idea why they don't set up fans on stage though. Maybe the harp would go out of tune easier, although the harp going out of tune seems to be a constant anyway!
*She did look at her drummer a lot and I lolled inwardly.
*She asked if Vancouver had a nickname, a few people muttered "Wankouver" and shit, so she suggested one: The Couve, then said "you're welcome". I'm no fanboi, but in tribute, Van is now "The Couve" to me.
*contenderizer OTM: this was generous-sounding music, comfortable in demeanour if expansive in sound.
*I know I'm posting a lot here, but it was actually one of the best shows I've seen in a long, long time.
*That's enough now.

She needs a carbon-fibre harp

I read somewhere she was coveting a $50,000 harp! Apparently, she rents them for both the studio and for touring, and she plays at home with some battered but beloved instrument she's played since the 8th Grade or something (I may have mangled that story), but Ówen, what is the advantage of a carbon-fibre harp?*

*Apologies if I've missed a really obvious joek.

*She asked if Vancouver had a nickname, a few people muttered "Wankouver" and shit, so she suggested one: The Couve, then said "you're welcome". I'm no fanboi, but in tribute, Van is now "The Couve" to me.

I was at a pharcyde show at the commodore a few years ago and they busted out the same nickname!

No, I don't think carbon fibre harps exist. But if they did, they'd be light and easy to tune, sound fantastic, and most harpers incl Joanna would probably hate them.

Ha, sym, that's funny. In my head, I always call Vancouver "Vansterdam" (drugs, liberalism, lots of water), but that's admittedly unwieldy. Kind of like a harp (tks for clarifying, Ówen).

i havent kept up with this thread for the past two days or so, but all i have to say is i am glad i play guitar and not harp because i cant imagine what a pain it is to lug that thing around or take care of it

"the couv" is pretty catchy! I tried to get friends saying it but it didn't really take : (

Hmm, donut bitch, once of these parts, said that Seattle people called Vancouver, BC just that, Vancouver, while Vancouver, WA, near Portland, was the one given 'the couv' appellation.

A carbon fibre harp, costs 5 grand.

http://www.heartlandharps.com/img/pinfinity1-full.jpg

They're not uncommon. I found a couple other manufacturers via GIS.

save 5k and use midi harp soundz imo

Those ain't pedal harps.

pt 2 in my bay pride posting for today...haven't much opinion on JN, but do want to shout out to Andy Strain (trombone) and Emily Packard (violin), who are part of her touring band. east bay all stars!!!

(about the Garden of Eden -- A.D. 1, geddit?)

This doesn't make sense

This one is the concert I was alluding to earlier.

"Hipster" as pejorative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtrWJe4xgFI

Best thread ever. Ridiculously long, but still great. Also love this performance of soft as chalk

Mmm, not sure why i hyperlinked instead of just Youtubing. Lesson learnt.