Joanna Newsom

Great Harp playing, shame about the voice..........

No worries about here voice here, i've listened to almost all of the album now, it's magnificent, truely.

I've listened to the first CD three times to acclimatise to the new sound (e.g. her voice sounds more conventional now). I'm with Bluetorric. The passion, artistic vision, and boundless creativity of this woman is simply breathtaking. She is an artist for the ages, and I predict she will produce a body of work as significant as Kate Bush (the obvious point of comparison, and also dismissed as mad when she broke on the scene with "Wuthering Heights") or even Saint Joni. Sure, her sound is awkward, and hard to get - I hated her the first time I saw her on Jools Holland years ago - but a little effort brings fabulous rewards. The hope of discovering someone like Joanna keeps me buying CDs by new artists. Finding music like this is what I live for.

I better stop before I *really* start to gush!
Nigel

OK Nigel, you have convinced me with those impassioned words. I will pick it up tomorrow.

I've listened to clips and have been alternately fascinated and repelled! Your enthusiasm has convinced me too, she deserves more than a judgement on soundbites I think.

Ahem! Good luck guys...

I'm not alone in my opinion:
Metacritic Reviews

Can't wait to see her live in London on 11th May.

I have 'Y's' but couldn't get into to it.........will give it another try..would be intrigued to see her live

but ordered the new one anyway

It is being streamed complete at good old NPR All Songs Considered.

I'm still just not sure....

I've listened to the first two CDs of the new one so far. Very good, songs much more normal (though still not exactly straight) and her voice less quirky.

I can't see it being as good as YS, which I think is a genuine modern-day classic - song-structures with hints of Incerdible String Band and Beefheart, with those gorgeous Van Dyke Parks arrangements and her idiosyncratic voice. Though I can see why many would find the voice hard to come to terms with.

Oh, and nice legs too!

Somebody having a laugh?

It's a lot more listenable than Ys (which was great in its way), though basically she's turned into Kate Bush.

Not got the new triple LP yet but I will do. I rate very highly her previous 2 LP's. Seen her live twice. Stunning!!!! Going to RFH to see her again on May. Can't wait plus Roy Harper to boot. Happy Days!!!

quote:

Originally posted by rupert bear:
It's a lot more listenable than Ys (which was great in its way), though basically she's turned into Kate Bush.

Nope, Kate could sing...........

quote:

Nope, Kate could sing...........

I agree!

Yes to me, this young ladies voice seems akin to the sound of a graduate of the Melanie school of screeching..........

quote:

Originally posted by Bruce Woodhouse:
I've listened to clips and have been alternately fascinated and repelled! Your enthusiasm has convinced me too, she deserves more than a judgement on soundbites I think.

I know exactly where you're coming from when you say you're both fascinated and repelled. The first time I saw her on telly I was simply repelled. It all seemed terribly self-conscious - weirdness for the sake of it. A couple of years later a friend was playing "Milk Eyed Mender", her first CD, and I found myself drawn in, while still repelled by the vocal mannerisms. LAter, I bought "Ys", her second CD, on the strength of rave reviews, and began to adjust to her soundworld. What sealed the deal for me wasseeing her perform that album in its entirety (with orchestral backing) at The Barbican - a magical concert that told me all I needed to know about her talent and integrity. The latest triple(!) CD is her most accessible, and emotionally direct, and would be a good place to start if you fancied a challenge.

Regards
Nigel

I'm with the gushers on this one. I enjoyed Ys but found it pretty dense listening. The arrangements on Have One For Me are much more varied. This album really rewards repeat listening. There are so many beautiful, sad, funny moments. I also think this album works well on vinyl as there are three songs on each of the six sides and they really feel like they belong together as a set. Best of all, she does not squeak on this one. And just think, how many other albums can you play air harp to?

Gets my vote for triple album of the year so far