Joanna Newsom

S.M.B. · 01-03-2010 1:14am

I've only listened to the album once in it's entirety. I've just focused on Disc 1 which I adore already.

I find it a really nice blend between Y's and MEM.

Aridstarling · 06-03-2010 2:27am

Keep coming back to this, have set my mind on buying the vinyl pack as soon as possible. Spent an hour reading the lyrics while listening to it with friends last night and I honestly think it might be the finest collection of lyrics written in recent memory, probably since Dylan at his peak, better, indeed, in many ways. There are endless examples of sheer poetic ability on all three disks. I think the way she has focused since Ys is astounding, I believe she as stepped up her lyric writing (which have always been fascinating) and brought it to the next level of intensity, craftsmanship and beauty.

Really, I can't gather coherent thoughts on the brilliance of it yet, I need to distance myself a little, I could fly from example to example all night. But I will just finish with one quote, the last four lines on the album, a story told in just those lines. Her ability to capture mood, setting and narrative in so few words really, to me, shows the hand of a master. From Does Not Suffice:

The tap of hangers swaying in the closet--
unburdened hooks and empty drawers--
and everywhere I tried to love you
is yours again, and only yours.

lordgoat · 06-03-2010 12:43pm

Aridstarling wrote: »

Keep coming back to this, have set my mind on buying the vinyl pack as soon as possible. Spent an hour reading the lyrics while listening to it with friends last night and I honestly think it might be the finest collection of lyrics written in recent memory, probably since Dylan at his peak, better, indeed, in many ways. There are endless examples of sheer poetic ability on all three disks. I think the way she has focused since Ys is astounding, I believe she as stepped up her lyric writing (which have always been fascinating) and brought it to the next level of intensity, craftsmanship and beauty.

Really, I can't gather coherent thoughts on the brilliance of it yet, I need to distance myself a little, I could fly from example to example all night. But I will just finish with one quote, the last four lines on the album, a story told in just those lines. Her ability to capture mood, setting and narrative in so few words really, to me, shows the hand of a master. From Does Not Suffice:

The tap of hangers swaying in the closet--
unburdened hooks and empty drawers--
and everywhere I tried to love you
is yours again, and only yours.

good point on the lyrics i think she has always had a great way with words. (Your skin is something that i stir into my tea / i am blue and unwell stopped me when i heard them first) But this album it's liek she has combined great lyrcs throughout all of her songs making it hard to take single lines as if you do you somehow lose the overall message.

jk86 · 08-03-2010 12:55am

Great performance of Soft as Chalk on Jimmy Fallon. Love the facial expressions :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV0PfHemuvs

Aridstarling · 08-03-2010 2:14pm

Great performance, the faces are funny alright! Wonder who she was nodding to?

johnny_ultimate · 08-03-2010 5:42pm

Heh she is totally into that (fantastic) performance alright

Yet another firm reminder that youtube comments are better left ignored ("she looks and sings like an old lady" - erm.. no).

Rabbit_Heart · 09-03-2010 12:58am

Only discovered her recently enough and have to say love her already, Have One On Me is an amazing album so far....

and by the way long time boards lingerer, first time poster so be nice

lordgoat · 09-03-2010 9:18am

Rabbit_Heart wrote: »

Only discovered her recently enough and have to say love her already, Have One On Me is an amazing album so far....

and by the way long time boards lingerer, first time poster so be nice

Welcome aboard! your day now has less time in it.

TwoBirds · 12-03-2010 2:15am

Joanna Newsom is great! I discovered her by accident on Jools Holland a few years ago. Don't listen to her often enough, actually.

DapperGent · 18-03-2010 3:12am

For myself listening to Joanna Newsom's music is notably joyful and affecting. It was kind of funny as a thirty year old buying the new album the soonest instant it was available, having not anticipated music in that way since I was a teenager rushing home to listen to The Bends or Mellon Collie.

I've never used the word genius to describe anyone alive and working except Joanna Newson. I don't know how anyone could listen to Only Skin or Sadie or Monkey & Bear or Easy and not feel something special, real genius going on. She's terribly special.

Personally I tend not to gush basically ever but I don't get why she's not just drowned in adulation. Musically, vocally and especially lyrically her songs are just astonishing. Simply a genius in the real sense of the word.

lily4 · 23-03-2010 12:10am

Her voice drives me up the proverbial wall !!

krankykitty · 23-03-2010 7:15pm

Her voice drove me up the wall when I first heard it (from the youtube linked on this thread), I thought it was awful caterwauling! However, after listening to Have One on Me a couple of times, her voice really suits the whole effect. You stop noticing her voice and it just becomes part of the beauty of the songs, even though it wouldn't be to my taste on it's own! Well worth trying to persevere...

Slogger Jogger · 02-04-2010 1:38pm

I'm in the pro camp. From a music and looks department she has it all going for her. Voice-wise the marmite comment is probably very accurate. I find she can sing brilliantly at times and theres definitely shades of Kate Bush and Victoria Williams in there, but other times the voice does become a tad difficult to listen to. The latest album is a grower though and with it spanning 3 CDs theres lots there to listen to.

ojwhite · 03-04-2010 4:23pm

I absolutely love Joanna Newsom. Have One On Me is simply tremendous. I really hope she gets announced for Primavera in Barcelona.

djenzio · 06-05-2010 5:35pm

i saw that Mariee Sioux was mentioned earlier.

she is indeed worth checking out for Newsom fans.

and I see she is playing in Anseo on March 23rd.

and its only a fiver

here is the info:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119049874778706&ref=ts

Spiritoftheseventies · 08-05-2010 12:08am

Watching her on Jools her now. Very interesting. Not what I expected at at all but pleasantly suprised.

djenzio · 08-05-2010 1:03pm

yeah i really like her.

you gonna head to the gig?

Spiritoftheseventies · 08-05-2010 1:14pm

Haven't been to a gig in ages. Getting lazy in my old age. Last one I was at was Arcade Fire when they played Oxegen.

hamonrye · 09-05-2010 4:05pm

is she coming here anytime soon?

lordgoat · 09-05-2010 5:04pm

http://www.dragcity.com/artists/joanna-newsom

tourdates

NapoleonInRags · 09-05-2010 6:02pm

lordgoat wrote: »

http://www.dragcity.com/artists/joanna-newsom

tourdates

No Irish dates - boo!

Saw her in the Olympia on her Ys tour - it was truly a wonderful experience to see a true genius at work. Hopefully she might squeeze in an Irish gig..

johnny_ultimate · 10-05-2010 2:33am

It is endlessly upsetting to me that Joanna Newsom is currently an hours flight away and yet she will not come over here

Particularly distressing is that she is playing the fantastic sounding All Tomorrows Parties curated by Matt Groening (was this weekend I think), along with She & Him. Zooey Deschanel and Joanna Newsom in the same place? Swoonage.

Spiritoftheseventies · 10-05-2010 7:36am

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

It is endlessly upsetting to me that Joanna Newsom is currently an hours flight away and yet she will not come over here Particularly distressing is that she is playing the fantastic sounding All Tomorrows Parties curated by Matt Groening (was this weekend I think), along with She & Him. Zooey Deschanel and Joanna Newsom in the same place? Swoonage.

So whats the deal with that. Did she get a bad deal over here the last time?

thesultan · 10-05-2010 2:31pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-qrh2dTX2Q

She only played one song on Jools last week. Surely she should have gotten another. I know she hadn't a band with here. I would have thought that Jools could have played on 'Easy' or if she had her band with her she could have played 'In California'.

S.M.B. · 10-05-2010 2:38pm

Tomorrow can't come soon enough!

Also got to see She & Him on Friday.

AnonoBoy · 10-05-2010 3:24pm

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

So whats the deal with that. Did she get a bad deal over here the last time?

As far as I remember she sold out two nights in the Olympia and went down a treat.

S.M.B. · 10-05-2010 3:36pm

I guess it's not a full European tour, just a few dates that line up withh her apperance at ATP.

I imagine there'l be an Irish date when she returns.

johnny_ultimate · 10-05-2010 5:15pm

S.M.B. wrote: »

Tomorrow can't come soon enough!

Also got to see She & Him on Friday.

Just to let you know that I hate you :pac:

It is a full European tour as far as I know, plenty of gigs over the rest of May. Honestly don't know why she isn't coming over here, but it is a damn shame.

pickarooney · 10-05-2010 8:30pm

I tried listening to her today for the first time. I don't get it; she sounds like she's five!
Irritated the hell out of me but I suppose you can't please everyone.

S.M.B. · 13-05-2010 9:46am

Wow, this girl really can do no wrong. What a show and best of all, completely different to the last time I caught her live.

Had perfect seats, sitting front row directly in front of her.

Couldn't be happier with the setlist too.

Jackrabbits
Have One On Me
Easy
Soft as Chalk
The Book of Right On
In California
Inflammatory Writ
Good Intentions Paving Company
No Provenance
Emily
Peach, Plum, Pear

Baby Birch

I also got a nice little wave from her as she was leaving the stage after I was the last one to throw my flowers at her. Delighted.

Spiritoftheseventies · 13-05-2010 11:38am

Does she ever perform with a backing band or it just her and the harp. What are the acoustics at her gigs like?

NapoleonInRags · 13-05-2010 12:42pm

Spiritoftheseventies wrote: »

Does she ever perform with a backing band or it just her and the harp. What are the acoustics at her gigs like?

She had a small backing band at the Olympia (guitarist, bassist, percussionist) -the sound was amazing, as was the whole atmosphere and rapport between Joanna and the crowd. She even told a joke at one stage ' 'how many hippies does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Hippies don't screw in lightbulbs, they screw in dirty sleeping bags!'

S.M.B. · 13-05-2010 1:31pm

This recording of her gig at The First Unitarian Church Sanctuary, Philadelphia will give you an idea of what she's like live. I'd recommend trying to get your hands on a high quality version of this gig. It's a cracking watch.

Google Video

Each tour has a slightly different set up resulting in slightly different song arrangements. Currenty she's touring with a band consisting of 2 violins, a trombone, a percussionist and Ryan Francesconi who plays a range of instruments.

donfers · 13-05-2010 3:23pm

I got her latest album after all the gushing recommendations but not really my thing to be honest, squeaky voice and very twee, delicate stuff. I can't really make out what's she's saying and if her lyrics are that good well I'd appreciate being able to make them out. Maybe I'm just a philistine but it's a bit crap really

Spiritoftheseventies · 13-05-2010 5:31pm

Jack Rabbits an absolutely stunning effort.

lordgoat · 13-05-2010 5:53pm

donfers wrote: »

I got her latest album after all the gushing recommendations but not really my thing to be honest, squeaky voice and very twee, delicate stuff. I can't really make out what's she's saying and if her lyrics are that good well I'd appreciate being able to make them out. Maybe I'm just a philistine but it's a bit crap really

Maybe you should write to her asking her to sing more clearly? I think it's only fair after all.

Spiritoftheseventies · 13-05-2010 6:01pm

Yes of the female artists that have appeared on Jools this series, Newsome comes out ontop. Will be putting up Jack Rabbit in my song of month poll and Im sure it will poll very well. Again a stunning effort.

donfers · 13-05-2010 6:17pm

lordgoat wrote: »

Maybe you should write to her asking her to sing more clearly? I think it's only fair after all.

ya but how am I going to get here to change her voice....mission doomed to failure I'm afraid

Spiritoftheseventies · 13-05-2010 9:24pm

donfers wrote: »

ya but how am I going to get here to change her voice....mission doomed to failure I'm afraid

You do know LG was joking with you don't you?

S.M.B. · 14-05-2010 9:11am

Her voice has definitely lost some of its harshness after her operation. It's quite evident when you hear her sing some of her older material.

I think it's made her a little more accessible as friends I have really enjoyed her vocal performance on Jools when I wasn't expecting them to at all.

donfers · 14-05-2010 2:50pm

S.M.B. wrote: »

Her voice has definitely lost some of its harshness after her operation. It's quite evident when you hear her sing some of her older material.

I think it's made her a little more accessible as friends I have really enjoyed her vocal performance on Jools when I wasn't expecting them to at all.

orgies while watching jools :eek::eek::eek: tut tut

what's your address?

S.M.B. · 26-05-2010 1:28pm

* 9/14/10
* Dublin
(Grand Canal Theatre)

* 9/16/10
* Bristol

* 9/17/10
* Birmingham

* 9/18/10
* Manchester

* 9/20/10
* Glasgow

* 9/21/10
* Gateshead

There ye go!!!

Kold · 26-05-2010 1:44pm

God I hate Americanised dates. What f*ck came up with that sh*t?

Miguel_Sanchez · 26-05-2010 2:03pm

Kold wrote: »

God I hate Americanised dates. What f*ck came up with that sh*t?

Some American no doubt.

Aridstarling · 26-05-2010 3:04pm

I'm not one to get excited but in this case:

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!

....Ahem.

The Pontiac · 26-05-2010 3:10pm

S.M.B. wrote: »

* 9/14/10
* Dublin
(Grand Canal Theatre)

Kold wrote: »

God I hate Americanised dates. What f*ck came up with that sh*t?

At least "Theatre" is spelt (or spelled across the pond) correctly, and it isn't Theater.
I hate this Americanized crap too.

I was in a fairly rural pub a few weeks ago and they were playing the Ys cd. I couldn't believe my ears. I reckon this will sell out fast as her popularity is steadily growing. Pity there's no Cork date.

johnny_ultimate · 27-05-2010 12:27pm

S.M.B. wrote: »

* 9/14/10
* Dublin
(Grand Canal Theatre)

There ye go!!!

If I could uber-thank you, I would.

ColmDawson · 27-05-2010 2:01pm

I am tingling all over!

meenmore · 27-05-2010 3:17pm

<SNIP>

Please use toutless.com or adverts.ie for ticket swaps and selling

lordgoat · 27-05-2010 4:02pm

Tickets for Dublin go on sale tomorrow.

Joanna Newsom

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