It's been a while since we last hear from neo-folk singer, harpist, sometimes-model and girlfriend of SNL's Andy Samberg, Joanna Newsom. Her last album, the ambitious Ys (pronounced like ease) came out in 2006 and her first album, Milk Eyed Mender, which contains my fave Sprout and the Bean, came out in 2004. Both album are heavy on harp and Newsom's one-of-a-kind voice. Some are incredibly irritated by her voice, some find it to the the most brilliant of her instruments. One thing is for sure, Joanna Newsom is a risk taker. Her new three-disc CD, Have One On Me is worth the wait for sure. With songs ranging in length from 1:49 to 11:02 and everything in between, the 18 song set takes you on quite a ride. Joanna is using the piano much more than in her previous efforts and seems to be channelling Joni Mitchell quite a bit, especially on the intoxicating opening track Easy and the amazingly epic In California. As a matter of fact, there are a few more interesting instruments throughout, like the gentle brass that accompany the ah's of You and Me Bess, the gorgeous strings of Autumn, and the dreamy woodwinds of Kingfisher. Joanna takes her time with each song, not rushing to big choruses or trying to trick you with production, instead relying on songwriting and vocals to prove her place in the music world. Not a pop record as much as a folk opera, Have One On Me is still not short on catchy tunes: the juke-joint piano of Good Intentions Pavement Company, the lovely 81. Can't help but think the Fleet Foxes would kill for the folkiness of Jackrabbit and the title cut. Ms. Newsom is truly an original voice in music today and this, her latest effort, builds on her body of excellent work. Folky, moody, gentle and sweeping, this record in wholly satisfying. I'm giving Have One on Me an A+
Friday, February 26, 2010
REVIEW: JOANNA NEWSOM - HAVE ONE ON ME
It's been a while since we last hear from neo-folk singer, harpist, sometimes-model and girlfriend of SNL's Andy Samberg, Joanna Newsom. Her last album, the ambitious Ys (pronounced like ease) came out in 2006 and her first album, Milk Eyed Mender, which contains my fave Sprout and the Bean, came out in 2004. Both album are heavy on harp and Newsom's one-of-a-kind voice. Some are incredibly irritated by her voice, some find it to the the most brilliant of her instruments. One thing is for sure, Joanna Newsom is a risk taker. Her new three-disc CD, Have One On Me is worth the wait for sure. With songs ranging in length from 1:49 to 11:02 and everything in between, the 18 song set takes you on quite a ride. Joanna is using the piano much more than in her previous efforts and seems to be channelling Joni Mitchell quite a bit, especially on the intoxicating opening track Easy and the amazingly epic In California. As a matter of fact, there are a few more interesting instruments throughout, like the gentle brass that accompany the ah's of You and Me Bess, the gorgeous strings of Autumn, and the dreamy woodwinds of Kingfisher. Joanna takes her time with each song, not rushing to big choruses or trying to trick you with production, instead relying on songwriting and vocals to prove her place in the music world. Not a pop record as much as a folk opera, Have One On Me is still not short on catchy tunes: the juke-joint piano of Good Intentions Pavement Company, the lovely 81. Can't help but think the Fleet Foxes would kill for the folkiness of Jackrabbit and the title cut. Ms. Newsom is truly an original voice in music today and this, her latest effort, builds on her body of excellent work. Folky, moody, gentle and sweeping, this record in wholly satisfying. I'm giving Have One on Me an A+
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Thanks for the great review of "Have One On Me"! Perhaps your readers would like to know where they can order a copy of "Visions of Joanna Newsom" a just-published book about Ms. Newsom's work: www.roanpress.com/ourbooks.html or via Amazon.com
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