If you're the sort of person who likes 'X-factor' Joanna Newsom very unlikely to 'rock your boat'.
On the other hand, like me, you despise everything the TV reality show stands for, appreciating the offbeat and quirky, this could be right down your street.
I first heard Newsom around a week ago on Radio Three, I was driving the car and wasn't really paying a great deal of attention, but found myself trying to remember the tune until I eventually looked up the track listing on the BBC website.
A quick search on GOOGLE revealed a number of sites offering streaming content of this, and other works - for someone so relatively unknown she seems to have a highly supportive fan base.
Newsom doesn't so much write the sort of catchy ditties that everyone can sing along to after four bars, but manages to create what the Germans call an Ohrwurm, literally 'ear worm'
Whilst I'd want to fall into the easy trap of trying to describe her in terms of simple comparisons, if you took Bjork, a bit of Kate Bush (without the shrillness) and mixed in a bit of Macy Gray, you wouldn't be that far off.
Ys (pronounced 'ees') is Newsom's second album, and is a rather more lavish production from her debut 'The Milk-Eyed Mender'.
She plays harp, in a slightly unconventional, but nonetheless pleasing manner, and sings her own highly obscure lyrics with an equally quirky voice.
The words (which frankly don't make much sense) are published in a lavish 32 page insert - Ys is a mixture of folky solo and sophisticated orchestrated tracks - the production of the album is absolutely superb.
The outer cardboard sleeve features a reproduction of a (somewhat flattering) acrylic portrait in Renaissance style, heaped with allegorical symbolism - to me it resembles a mirror image parody of Albrecht Durer's 1498 self portrait - but I'm probably being too clever for my own good there!
Newsom herself, in real life, could be best described as 'elfen' - and at times looks like she'd just walked off the set of 'lord of the rings'.
The inside if the album is made to look like an 1870's embossed book cover in red leather and gold detailing.
At around eight quid, I find it hard to believe anyone will be making any money on this album, but perhaps the record company's in it for the 'long haul' and are concentrating on producing quality over hype.
If you were brought up with the 1970's prog-rock / folk 'concept album' then this will seem very familiar territory - there's almost certainly a message in there, doubtless the arty types would claim to know all about what it's about, personally I couldn't care less it just sounds cool to me!
Unless she's especially lucky, this is unlikely to make it into the top 20 albums, especially being released in the run up to crimbo 2006 - I suspect, however, it'll be one of those 'slow burners' which will find it's way into a lot of CD collections and get played when nothing else quite matches your mood.
Newsom is an undeniably talented woman, unconventional enough to make a mark, but probably lacking the mass appeal that would make the public want to forget her in a couple of years.
To sum up Ys in two words I would suggest; 'compulsively intriguing'
Don't try to make any sense of the album, just enjoy the originality.
Pictures of Ys - Joanna Newsom
Cover
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
My mate turned me onto this, because he knew I liked Kate Bush, and yeah, it's quite interesting. Good review!
Lofnorsk 23.01.2007 17:55
Interesting read. I've just heard of this artist and would have preferred more details on the music and the tracks as although you mention her instruments and the genre it still leaves questions unanswered. However i like the comparisons you've made to prog etc and agree that this will appeal to those who like something that falls by the wayside of the Top 40.
torie1234 11.01.2007 16:01
I really like Joanna Newsom after hearing the "This side of the blue" track at the cimena in the Orange advert about the New York blackout. I nearly bought the CD but what i don't think you mentioned in your review is that there aren't actually very many tracks on in...only 5 i think. I didn't realise that the cover slip was so lavish and i agree that due to this the record company's profits may not be huge but i think that if spend £7 on an album (and it is selling at £10 some place) you should be getting a bit more music for your money. x
If the debut album from Joanna Newsom, 2004'sThe Milk-Eyed Mender, suggested there was ... more
no-one in music quite like this elfin San Franciscan harpist, its follow-upYssees that gulf of difference become a universe of possibilities. Recorded by veteran eng...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
If the debut album from Joanna Newsom, 2004's The Milk-Eyed Mender, suggested there was ... more
no-one in music quite like this elfin San Franciscan harpist, its follow-up Ys sees that gulf of difference become a universe of possibilities. Recorded by veteran ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
If the debut album from Joanna Newsom, 2004'sThe Milk-Eyed Mender, suggested there was ... more
no-one in music quite like this elfin San Franciscan harpist, its follow-upYssees that gulf of difference become a universe of possibilities. Recorded by veteran eng...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Beautiful sounds, beautiful lyrics and a much needed rest from over-produced pop music Disadvantages: Newsom's voice may not be appealing to all listeners
iamamy 04.06.2007 (04.06.2007)
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Review of Ys - Joanna Newsom
Advantages: Beautiful sounds, beautiful lyrics and a much needed rest from over-produced pop music Disadvantages: Newsom's voice may not be appealing to all listeners
iamamy 04.06.2007 (04.06.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
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