Joan Shelley

Absolutely. Phantastic. Reminds me a little of Gillian Welch with a grain of Margo Timmins. Bluegrass as I like it.

It's so great. Not sure if it'll surpass Over and Even for me but it's right there.

yeah over and even is tough to beat. i think they made the right decision to keep things pretty sparse -- there's probably the temptation to add bells n whistles but you really don't need a lot when it comes to that voice, these songs.

the right decision on the new one, that is ...

The right soundtrack to the not-quite-spring weather.

xpost: agree, i feel like Tweedy's best decision on this was to stay out of the way and let the songs do their thing.

BUT if you look in the promotional stuff (like the graphs on Joan's Bandcamp) she essentially says "Tweedy protected the songs by stopping us from doing too much."

whatever, it worked.

for me, Over and Even currently wins out *maybe* on overall strength, but the thing is ... Over and Even has its title track, Not Over By Half and Subtle Love. those three songs are beautiful and affecting and *perfect* -- as good as anything anyone has done in recent years. and i feel like the s/t might be as strong as O&E ... it might even have a song or two that competes with those three ... but i just can't imagine it overcoming the way I feel about those three songs in particular.

time will tell, of course.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz9tZIV6ckY

Tyler your living room is huge!

haha, yes we've also upped our light show game

she is playing in the berghain tonight. i'll be there.

The concert was phantastic. Her voice is incredibly pure. Besides Margo Timmins it reminded me of Sandy Denny. She can hit very high registers without warbling. The songs were mostly from her last s/t record. Most of them instant classics. Usually very soothing and calming. They are grounded very deep in the earth. Often they are short pastiches with simple but beautiful tunes which seem to end in the middle. She was accompanied by Nathan Salsburg who is a guitar virtuoso. Her in between song banter was great, she is such a warm person. There were only about 50 people in the canteen of the Berghain, maybe also because it was Monday. If she is in your town go and see her, she is stunning.

Yeah she's great esp w Salsberg
Did Jake Xerexes Fussel open up?

Just listened to Over and Even tonight actually, I think I slightly prefer it to the new one but it's close

No, the opener was Emma Elisabeth. She was great too.

This record is so beautiful

and there's a new covers EP https://joanshelley.bandcamp.com/album/rivers-and-vessels

A covers record with no songwriting credits, just "all songs arranged by joan shelley." That's...odd.

Beautiful new tender song, album will come out late August.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95WaiDfPwu8

you guys

the new album

it's even better than Over And Even and the s/t

i did not think that was possible

this is officially an all-time three-record run

I was disappointed that I didn't love the s/t as much as Over & Even but she's really back with this one. Beautiful stuff.

The s/t kind of passed me by but this is really lovely. I know this was recorded in Reykjavik but this feels very 'home'. I've been reading lots of John Jeremiah Sullivan and have felt the Kentucky pull; this has come at the right time and intensified that tug.

I was disappointed that I didn't love the s/t as much as Over & Even
my introduction to her was the s/t, i love it to pieces. i saw her on the subsequent tour and she was stunning to say the least. this new one is slowly sinking in, over and even i haven't listened to seriously. for the time being the s/t is still my fave. which actually says nothing as it is the only one i really know.

she's playing at my house again next week! crazy. if you're in colorado and want to come, get in touch tywilc at gmail.

!

That's awesome Tyler, if I was anywhere near Colorado I'd reach out. Enjoy! Any chance it is being taped?

not sure, but maybe?

Do you have many people play at your house or just Joan Shelley?

just joan shelley

(actually, after the last time, I was like "we should do this all the time!" but we haven't done it since.)

Was surprised to pull up Wtf on the podcast app just now and see Joan as the interview.

Yikes, this is the most clearly out of his element he's been in a long time.

This recent live album is fantastic so far, I somehow had missed last year's album but "Coming Down For You" is a highlight.

Yes the live album is so good! The version of "The Fading" on there damn near made me cry the first time I heard it, and that's a song I thought I had worn out from constant replaying.

the latest studio album was great

didn't know there was a live record

having seen her I can't imagine it's not wonderful

the line from "Like a River to the Sea" - "to tear apart Summer's stuffy and stale rooms/with fresh air and wind and waves" really tugs at my heart in quarantine

Joan and Nathan had a baby! Yay!

Ginko and Electric Ursa are being reissued: https://joanshelley.bandcamp.com/merch

Bill Callahan collaboration out
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eAR8pFpjIU

gorgeous

who is better at this than Joan right now?

no one?

i have forever blues, when the light is dying, and fawn on repeat

Love her

She's great. I'm kind of guilty with the new one of being like, "Oh, another really good Joan Shelley album," as if that's something to take for granted.

same. she has spoiled us.

new digital live album is fantastic: https://joanshelley.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-the-chapel-of-st-phillip-neri