The Milk-Eyed Mender was a striking debut that set Joanna Newsom apart from her indie folk contemporaries. Its simplicity and depth, and the way it sounded timeless and fresh, made her a singular figure in that scene. On her second album, Ys (pronounced "ease"), she continues to move in a very different direction than her peers, and even a different one than what her audience might expect. The Milk-Eyed Mender's 12 gentle vignettes sounded like they were basking in sunlight; Ys is epic, restless, and demanding, made up of five dazzling, shape-shifting songs that range from seven to 16 minutes long. Newsom embarks on this adventure of an album with help from talents as diverse as engineer Steve Albini, arranger Van Dyke Parks, and producer Jim O'Rourke (who, come to think of it, is the perfect meeting point between Albini and Parks). Ys' boldly intricate sound plays like an embellished, illuminated, expanded version of Newsom's previous work. Parks' lavish, but never intrusive, orchestral arrangements sometimes make the album feel -- in the best possible way -- like a Broadway musical based on The Milk-Eyed Mender, particularly on the album closer, "Cosmia." Crucially, though, Ys isn't any less "real" than Newsom's other music just because it's more polished. The nature and craft imagery in her lyrics, the transporting sense of wonder and the one-of-a-kind voice of The Milk-Eyed Mender are here too, just in a much more refined and ambitious form: Ys is a gilt-edged, bone china teacup to Mender's earthenware mug.
Along with the beautifully filigreed arrangements and melodies, which mingle strings, jew's-harps, and spaghetti Western horns with Appalachian, Celtic, and even Asian influences, the album shows Newsom's development as a singer. She has more nuance and control, particularly over the keening edge of her voice, which is recorded so clearly that when it cracks, it tears the air like a tangible exclamation point. Ys' daring, plentiful wordplay makes it even more of a rarity: an extremely musically accomplished album with lyrics to match. On "Only Skin" alone, Newsom goes from rhyming "fishin' poles" with "swimmin' holes" to "heartbroken, inchoate." These songs are so full of words and plot twists that sometimes it feels more like you're reading them instead of listening to them, and indeed, actually reading the lyrics in the book-like liner notes reveals that Ys has a library's worth of children's stories, myths, romances, and of course, fairy tales woven into its words. As the album unfolds, it seems like Newsom can't get more ambitious (and more importantly, pull it off), but with each song, she does. Two of the best moments: the darkly whimsical fable "Monkey & Bear," a forest romp that boasts some of the album's best storytelling and some of Parks' liveliest arrangements, and "Sawdust & Diamonds," which is surreally sensual and coltish, with surprisingly direct lyrics: "From the top of the flight/Of the wide, white stairs/For the rest of my life/Do you wait for me there?" Ys isn't exactly a reinvention of Newsom's music, but it's so impressive that it's like a reintroduction to what makes her talent so special. Its breathtaking scope makes it a sometimes bewildering embarrassment of riches, or as one of "The Monkey and the Bear"'s lyrics puts it, "a table ceaselessly being set." Yes, Ys is a demanding listen, but it's also a rewarding and inspiring one. Letting it unfold and absorbing more each time you hear it is a delight.
So I know that I'm way behind on this discovery, but I just got Ys and I figured in the 12 minutes of internet access I have, I would force anyone who happens to be looking at this to listen to it. I love it more than I've loved any album in a really long time. It's quirky and beautiful and epic, and I'm fine with the fact that I really cannot stop listening to it. Most people I've talked to di...
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My first thoughts upon listening to Joanna Newsom's Ys."What the hell is wrong with this girl's voice?"Halfway through the second song, I'm still sitting with rapt attention. Based on the reviews, I was all set to hate this harpist's album, but I'm finding it incredibly good.
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ok, all this blog, top 20 list stuff about YS...kind of got me interested to see what the hype is all about. maybe i'm late....milk-eyed mender (??...i know milk is in the title somewhere geez)...skipped that one as well. time to play catch-up.
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Saw her last night at The Parish, Austin, TX. Mesmerizing show, although her voice was giving out. The new album is five songs, all epic, verbose, orchestrated gothic ballads. Her voice has mellowed and the artistry is undeniable. peonies nod in the breeze and while they wetly bow, withhydrocephalitic listlessness ants mop up-a their browand everything with wings is restless, aimless, drunk ...
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So with around 3 weeks left in the year and only 1 release I am looking forward to(Mos Def), I figured I would chime in with the fellow MOGgers who are putting up their best of lists. Top 20 of 2006Joanna Newsom - YsAli Farka Toure - SavaneBob Dylan - Modern TimesTV on the Radio - Return to Cookie MountainNeil Young - Live at the FIllmore EastDecemberists - Crane WifeLoreena McKennit - An Ancie...
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This woman is just amazing....just this tiny gelfling of a girl and a HUGE harp...I heard the "Book of Right On" a while ago and it grew on me. It seemed to take root somewhere in the right brain, growing next to the Bjork and Fionna Apple songs that I can't live without. This song was strange and quirky, considering the source, and I took a keen liking to it.Then I checked out "Sprout and the ...
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Usually it takes longer, but almost every year, sometime after I've turned in my best of list to whatever editor is interested, I discover at least one more album that seismically shifts my whole year. Last year, I found Love Story in Blood Red on someone else's list and immediately fell in love (in blood red, obviously), the year before it might have been the Wrens...this year, I was congratu...
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I have come to the conclusion that I am the only person alive in the entire world who does not like Joanna Newsom. I'm sorry, I just don't. Part of this is because my ride to see The Decemberists in Columbus ditched me in order to go see her instead and I am bitter and I hold grudges. I hadn't heard much from her before so I decided to be fair and give her a try. I came upon a leak of her new a...
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On Sunday, November 5th, 2006, I saw the best concert I have ever seen. Of any type. If any of you are going to be by a place where Joanna Newsom is playing, do yourself a favor and go see her live. She played the entirety of Ys with the help of an impressive little backing band. Words cannot describe how awesome it was. Astounding.
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The first time I heard Joanna Newsom was from the Spunk! compilation — I know what you're thinking and stop those dirty thoughts — Spunk! is Newsoms' Australian distributor. At first, it sounded like Ralph Wiggum on harp and it was not until I saw her last year at Castlemaine along with Smog, I was incapacitated by her performance. Sawdust and Diamonds had everyone gasping, it is a song just u
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The lyrical Joanna Newsom is touring Australia for the second time performing her upcoming and long awaited album, Ys.For the Sydney Festival, she'll be singing about meteorite and meteoroid in the Spiegel tent. Then travelling down to the Forum in Melbourne and the Tivoli in Brisvegas accompanied by "very special guests".I'm crossing my fingers for Smog again, simply Only Skin would not be the...
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the reviews & interviews are pouring in:http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14932-2430030.html http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0645,kamps,74931,22.html http://www.nysun.com/article/43059http://www.soundslike.be/reviews/?reviewID=2179 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/11/04/nosplit/bmpop04.xmlhttp://www.nme.com/reviews/joanna-newsom/8070 http://www.thephoe...
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Wow, first post in awhile. Sorry y'all. Hard to keep up with school and everything. Been doing some more recording, some movie scoring, philosophizing, all that. Still doing radio; now I'm doing a prog rock show! Same time though, 2-4 PM PST on kzsc.orgIt's called "The Epic Battles of Past and Future." I'm proud of the title. Listen to it, I'm playing some seriously good shit!My inaugura...
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Now that I got mine, get yours...just announced- 2 nights of Joanna Newsom at the Great American Music Hall in SFDec. 19 & 20 2006 - on sale now "here":http://tickets.com/browseother.cgi?minpid=5876379
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Students for Barack Obama Present: JOANNA NEWSOMGet Out The Vote For CHANGEMonday, October 20Reno, Nevada Nightingale Concert HallUniversity of Nevada Reno campusdoors 7pm, show 8pmFree and open to Nevada voters with NV school ID or NV state driver's licenses.Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.VIP tickets are available 10am-6pm October 18 and 20 in front of the JCSU on UNR...
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"The film shows all of the artists playing their music live as well as much more intimate material of the artists on the road and their general tour antics. What's great is that all of them travel in just one, rather small van instead of an overblown, million dollar tour bus." The Family Jams will be have its public debut at The Sarasota Film Festival on April 2nd and 3rd. The Family Jams - Tra...
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Joanna Newsom will join the Brooklyn Philharmonic for a magical one-night-only performance on February 1st! For 2 hours, Newsom will sing with BP musicians and Music Director Michael Christie, opening the 2008 Spring Season for the Phil. The unique combo will perform her 2006 album Ys which will be followed by a set with her band. According to the "official info" that I found on HARP Mag:Fou...
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Fantastic news- Joanna Newsom is opening up for Bjork on 2 of her 8 U.S. appearances. in CO and right here in CA at Shoreline! On May 19, I will be in heaven seeing 2 of my favorite performers under one roof.A year ago Bjork came to see Joanna play in Iceland.
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Usually it takes longer, but almost every year, sometime after I've turned in my best of list to whatever editor is interested, I discover at least one more album that seismically shifts my whole year. Last year, I found Love Story in Blood Red on someone else's list and immediately fell in love (in blood red, obviously), the year before it might have been the Wrens...this year, I was congratu...
More >
Whilst working in my office, a sparrow flew into my window, quite hard. I went outside, and he was lying there, badly injured, fighting to breathe. I picked him up, and he just lay there in my hand. In the words of Joanna Newsom...--Last week our picture window produced a half-wordheavy and hollow, hit by a brown birdwe stood and watched her gape like a rattlesnakeand pant and labour over every...
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So with around 3 weeks left in the year and only 1 release I am looking forward to(Mos Def), I figured I would chime in with the fellow MOGgers who are putting up their best of lists. Top 20 of 2006Joanna Newsom - YsAli Farka Toure - SavaneBob Dylan - Modern TimesTV on the Radio - Return to Cookie MountainNeil Young - Live at the FIllmore EastDecemberists - Crane WifeLoreena McKennit - An Ancie...
More >
the reviews & interviews are pouring in:http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,14932-2430030.html http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0645,kamps,74931,22.html http://www.nysun.com/article/43059http://www.soundslike.be/reviews/?reviewID=2179 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/11/04/nosplit/bmpop04.xmlhttp://www.nme.com/reviews/joanna-newsom/8070 http://www.thephoe...
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Wow, this album is simply amazing. After a cursory listen, I've re-fallen in love for Joanna. The new arrangements sound like a Disney film soundtrack and, god damn, I love old Disney films. I mean, look at that album art: that should be enough to get this album. I thought that the songs would be too long, but there's no drag and the transitions are smooth and calculated. This album flows beaut...
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Now that I got mine, get yours...just announced- 2 nights of Joanna Newsom at the Great American Music Hall in SFDec. 19 & 20 2006 - on sale now "here":http://tickets.com/browseother.cgi?minpid=5876379
More >
Wow, first post in awhile. Sorry y'all. Hard to keep up with school and everything. Been doing some more recording, some movie scoring, philosophizing, all that. Still doing radio; now I'm doing a prog rock show! Same time though, 2-4 PM PST on kzsc.orgIt's called "The Epic Battles of Past and Future." I'm proud of the title. Listen to it, I'm playing some seriously good shit!My inaugura...
More >
I have come to the conclusion that I am the only person alive in the entire world who does not like Joanna Newsom. I'm sorry, I just don't. Part of this is because my ride to see The Decemberists in Columbus ditched me in order to go see her instead and I am bitter and I hold grudges. I hadn't heard much from her before so I decided to be fair and give her a try. I came upon a leak of her new a...
More >
The first time I heard Joanna Newsom was from the Spunk! compilation — I know what you're thinking and stop those dirty thoughts — Spunk! is Newsoms' Australian distributor. At first, it sounded like Ralph Wiggum on harp and it was not until I saw her last year at Castlemaine along with Smog, I was incapacitated by her performance. Sawdust and Diamonds had everyone gasping, it is a song just u
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Emily |
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| 2 Monkey & Bear |
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| 3 Sawdust & Diamonds |
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| 4 Only Skin |
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| 5 Cosmia |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Ys")
