Reviews (page 5 of 7)
So sublime I can’t possibly do it justice in a single review or a collection of tomes. Ys is exquisite epic poetry for our day and the greatest musical contribution of any Californian, living or dead. These tunes flowed throughout the Sierra Nevada for millennia before Joanna captured them in her harp. No songwriter has ever captured familial love, memory, independence, partnership, and awe with such tenderness or reverence. I’m still “dumbstruck with the sweetness of being” ten years after hearing this for the first time on Nic’s audiotechnica. It is a flawless album, and my favorite record of all time.
Only 5 song - cool, wait none are shorter than 7 minutes. Well ok, OMG that voice, Please stop!
best listened to in a witch's circle somewhere in the deep dark woods.Very medieval and kinda spooky? Nice strings, but the vocals annoy more than please. Also very poetic and lyrically heavy. Sawdust and Diamonds is probably the best and worst example. warbling voices, nice backing melody, attempt at thoughtful lyrics, witchy, etc. Its all there if you want it!
This album is the AI prompt “Bjork makes a Disney movie where all the princesses get together and just vibe in the woods”
Lots of hate for this but you know what it's 10-minute harp-led folk with a woman's very unusual voice. A great listen, tho only on youtube.
Like Kate Bush with a harp singing cryptic fairy tales. Unlike anything else I've listened to, great stuff
Bjork in the middle ages
3.5/5
It’s not on Spotify
I don’t get it.
een nobele onbekende... werd een onnobele bekende
I initially found this pretty off-putting the way that some Bjork and also some Joni Mitchell turns me off - rambly half-sensical poetry over rambly go-nowhere melodies, among some other hang ups... but this intrigued me in a weird way and I wanted to listen again. I felt sort of like "I didn't like that exactly, but I couldn't explain why so let me listen again" and by the end of the second listen I was kinda hooked. This is totally weird and whacky and quite unique, wonderful in its own weird whacky unique way. I would absolutely listen to this one again. This record was a big surprise for me both because I had never heard of it before and also because I was surprised at myself for liking it. .
What was this? It was interesting and weird for sure but not something I'd ever put on or subject anyone too. Gets a 2nd star for the sheer ambitious weirdness
This is a weird album. I've been putting it off for over a decade now because it's not really my jam but I'm glad I listened to it once. I don't think I'll be listening to it again anytime soon especially since it's not on Spotify.
Didn't know how to feel about this album at first, but it really grew on me as I listened. I'd never listened to Joanna Newsom before, and she's definitely not for everyone, but I came to really love this. There was something beautiful yet sad about it, which I adored. "Emily" and "Only Skin" were stunning, and "Cosmia" made a big impression on me as I recently lost my mom, and I could feel her loss and grief of her friend in the lyrics. Didn't care much for "Monkey & Bear," but even then there was a certain charm to not. I wouldn't be surprised if this album continued to grow on me the more time I spend with it. I find the albums from the 2000s to be very hit or miss on this list, but Ys definitely deserves its place here.
Very innovative album. Really great song structures. A 3,5.
This album got incredible reviews on release and I bought it on the strength of these. I can honestly say I have listened to it a dozen times in 19 years. It has something, I’m just not sure what it is. It’s intense, strangely so for an album that is largely harp and voice with chamber music accompaniment. Joanna’s voice is childlike and can grate at times. The lyrics are hallucinatory and there are no recognisable verse/chorus structures. Ys is intriguing, I find something interesting in it when I do listen. But it is a demanding listen, not something you necessarily do for pleasure, hence the number of times I have put it on.
I listened to this is a dark room with headphones and it sucked me in. The detail in the scoring, the asynchronous rhythms and her ethereal voice all painted an incredible soundscape that i got lost in. Plus the strings, the brass and the lyrics were great. I want more of this please
2.5
2.6
Twenty odd years ago, I thought that this was precious. (Actually, I framed this thought in the form of an obscenity that I’m still proud of.) I still think it’s precious. But I can admire the craft that shaped it now, particularly in utterly transcendent moments like when Smog’s voice kicks in a bit more than halfway through Only Skin
4.5
I really like the musical ideas she was going with. And her sounding pretty much like a modern day Melanie helped. Still some of the songs are way too long, especially "New Skin" I may have to revisit this at sometime and see if it grows with age. 7.65/10 ★★★½
Usually hate her voice, but think it fits here. Lovely orchestration! 4.5 stars
I heard this back in 2006 when it was all the rage, and it didn't quite click with me. Listening again this morning, there's some elements of it I do like. A lot of it has an anachronistic, almost Tom Waitsian quality to it where it feels like it was unearthed from many decades ago. I don't mind Joanna's voice, which seems to be the primary sticking point for a lot of people. It has some interesting character to it. I think the big problem for me is the songs kind of outstay their welcome. I don't think any of these really warrants being over 5 minutes, but the shortest track is 7 minutes and a couple surpass the 10 minute mark. Standouts for me are "Emily" and "Monkey & Bear" I think tighter songwriting might get me to 4 stars as I think it is pretty cool over all, but as it stands, I'm gonna go 3 stars.
If the music matched the quality of the gorgeous renaissancey artwork then this would be an easy 5. Unfortunately the singing sounds like it’s coming from some whiny mewling cartoon donkey gorgon. Or maybe the old lady from the Simpsons that Bart does a load of chores for and gets paid 2 quarters and an inhumane amount of iodine treatment (if she also turned into a donkey gorgon). Though the harp playing can feel pretty lush at times, the songs themselves are interminable and just loft around without ever going anywhere interesting. Plus the orchestral accompaniment is so swampy, pretentious and overbearing that it just adds to an already torturous mix. Out of the 5 songs present on this album, Sawdust And Diamonds is a little lighter, less squealing and punishing and so nabs the award for the one less likely to be used at Abu Grahib.
Great if you live Bjork, harps, Setters of Catan, and the lyrics of Yes
Very bjork
I try to be open and objective for every album I get. I try not to be harsh and give every album a chance. That lasted five seconds here. Holy fuck, I couldn’t stand her voice. There’s a weird country twang in it and she fucking squeaks in some parts. I literally cringed through 90% of this album. And I know calling things cringe is such an internet cliche, but I’m serious. This literally made me squirm. And the lyrics… when there are not pretentious, they’re repetitive. And you can bet they’re annoying as shit when Joanna belts them. And the song lengths… Jesus Christ. But the worst part is there’s no breathing room. No harp solos or a chance for the other instruments to play. Joanna’s got practically every inch of this album with her vocals. There are no breaks, and you will be in constant agony. There might be a few positives in here. The orchestra behind her is really good, and the concept of this medieval-ish album that tell stories (at least I think they were stories, I couldn’t tell, my ears wanted to die) but I couldn’t bear this one. I might go as far to say, this was the worst album I gotten so far. And I’ve gotten Limp Bizkit, which I gave a 3. I think Fred Durst is a better singer than Joanna Newsom. What the fuck man? “””””Favorite”””””” track: Cosmia (It’s the shortest song. And the last) Other hits: just make the tracks instrumentals and maybe I’ll list them hear. Other than that lol nope.
Целые эпические поэмы. Мне понравилось. И мяукающий голос и хитрые аранжировки. Обложка почти хороша, если бы сделать чуть менее мультяшной.
I remember when this came out and was getting rave reviews, and I just could not get into it or even understand the appeal at all. Revisiting now, I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. It's complex but unfortunately not so listenable, and her voice can be really grating.
324/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
There is a poetic quality to the lyrics which is nice But I didn’t like them most of the time I also wasn’t a fan of the singing for the most part I ended up not listening to everything but i read all The lyrics and listened to multiple parts of the ones i skipped I think for me the biggest flaw in this album is that the lyrics seem stupid to me and it makes it harder to appraise the rest of it and on second thought the singing itself is also really grating and unpleasant most of the time, i didnt want to put this in the same category as "since i left you" by the avalanches but putting it in the same category as non stop erotic cabaret and the stooges would probably be a disservice to both of those and since i wasnt able to listen to the entire thing that probably should warrant a 1/5 rating
Beautiful instrumentation, extremely unique voice. Felt like it belonged to a medieval times. Not perfect, but its not possible to give something 4.5 Stars so it gets 5 from me
over long but great voice i just dont like long tracks. plus not on spotify
I feel like this is one of those albums that I’m supposed to like, but I just can’t get into it.
I'm not always sure about Joanna Newsom, but you should listen to this album.
Amazing vocals and instrumental. Not sure what the overarching story was about...
Sometimes it sounds like Dexter from Dexter's Laboratory is singing (this is not a bad thing)
It sounds fantastic, but I cant stand Joanna's voice at times.
I love this album so much i wish i could live in it.
dance Gavin, dance.
8/10 An album I can’t quite grasp completely now that I’ve fully heard it for the first time. I used to not really be into Joana based off of my newbie ears listening to her back then and being annoyed by her voice, it certainly still is odd now but I think I’ve been able to understand it much more as a needed eccentricity for the setting of this record. The instrumentation is unbelievable, you’re sitting through these extensive and sprawling Folk soundscapes that feel intricately designed to provide such a striking image in such a contained space. Not only are the performances great, but Joana’s harp playing in particular is jaw dropping, serving to amplify her words with every track. That brings me to the main selling point which is the songwriting, which I cannot describe to you, because holy shit these are insanely intricate and detailed lyrics that I am too stupid to encapsulate in a review, but let it be known that there’s a lot to digest and I’m very interested in what that amounts to with future listens. Can’t wait for the comeback collab album with the Lonely Island.
Oh dear god why!!
Really good but hard to pay attention
Sounded liking howling.
It feels like Joanna was trying way too hard to have every song be some long, epic tale. Unfortunately, it is often true that using fewer words to say more is a valuable skill, one that is sorely lacking on this album.
Hoo boy, that was a tough one.
Nope
I want my ears back
I really dislike this style of female singer/songwriter, though I know others like it.
My God I hated this album. I honestly can’t think of one positive about it.
this was a very unique album. it was obviously singing but it almost feels more like poetry set to music. and it works well some of the time!! i think it’s kinda disjointed at some points though too but that’s mainly because i didn’t love her voice or singing style
This was pretty adorable. It sounded like Bjork reading a children's story with orchestral accompaniment. Cute as hell.
Really cool
First reaction; ...the lyrics are a bit odd, but it's pretty pleasant listening. Each song is really long. I kinda had to check if I'd had a stroke at some point, as the lyrics are so whimsy and nonsensical. I don't think the song writer was sober when they wrote this. 3,5/5
This is such a magical listen and reason number one as to why I do this list. I wouldn't believe you if you told me there was a singing harpist playing indie music. Or now that I think of it… Anyways… Joanna Newsom's voice is serene and the opening track 'Emily' is a gutwrencher. 4/5
Different
Who am I to criticize a mystical harp faerie woodnymph 🧚
spare me
This was a challenge for me, and I appreciate the artistry but doubt I’ll seek it out again. Rating: 3.5
I find this album fascinating. The songs are long, and Joanna Newsom packs them with dense lyrics. I noticed a lot of nature imagery, though I’m not sure I followed much beyond that. But I still enjoyed the music. She sounds a little like Björk. But her sound and style are very much her own too. I guess what I find cool about this is that Joanna Newsom doesn’t sound like she compromised her vision at all. This feels like exactly the album she dreamt up in her mind. But man, these songs really are long. I was a little exhausted by the end of this. I’ve been enjoying harp music lately. There’s a new artist Mary Lattimore who I listen to when I’m anxious and having trouble sleeping. Her music is beautiful and soothing, and it leans toward ambient music. And recently I started listening to Dorothy Ashby, a jazz harpist from the 50s and 60s who has a very upbeat and bright style. And now I hear Joanna Newsom using harp as the lead instrument for long, melancholy folk songs. I think it’s cool that the instrument is so versatile. I wouldn’t have thought that a few years ago.
Joanna Newsom must be one of the originators of the "millennial female singing in script" style that pops up in younger generations memes (the Halsey accent?). She has that voice that is "cutesy" and reserved, with little accentuated flourishes and over-embellishments that come and go with the flow of whatever song it's in. It was so overdone around this time period that I cringe a little when I hear it now. Listening now, I can tell that there's depth here. This baroque pop style is very interesting to me and normally something I would want to dive deeper in, but unfortunately I don't feel pulled in. I feel like I'm at an open mic event and there's a singer songwriter bard who is crafting a tale of some medieval event with way too much poetic nuance for a 16 minute epic for an open mic. I think I'll have to listen again because this isn't clicking with me when I think it normally would.
There's something about certain modern singers over the past 20 years where they do this weird accent/pronunciation thing where they curl their voice to make them sound like - well, an annoying child. JN does this and it is an instant turn off.
Like harp music old and shit but strangely engaging. Got bored after a bit.
Intriguing, great lyrics and arrangement but the vocals sometimes stray into irritating levels of out-Björking Björk. Glad it's on the list though, well worth a listen.
Really enjoyable, harp-led eccentric whimsy.
On the surface, there's much to dislike with this album, but it unexpectedly turned out to be an incredibly absurd and beautiful album!
p912. 2006. 1 star. I am sure all of us have wondered what the songs from a failed off-Broadway musical with discarded lyrics by Highway 61 era Bob Dylan, sung by an American Bjork and with orchestration by Andrew Lloyd Webber would sound like. It's fucking awful. Whoever nominated this for essential listening needs to taken outside and given a good kicking. Twice.
Bjork with a harp
This album is truly unique and unusual. Maybe because of this or maybe in spite of this, it is one of my favourite albums. It needs time because it is a challenging listen but once it gets under your skin you appreciate all the layers which make up each song and there is something new there to hear on every listen. I came across the album by chance one late Saturday evening. Bob Harris played a track from the album on his late night BBC 2 programme. I was laid in bed totally captivated by whichever track he played. I had missed the introduction and start and when the track ended I didn’t quite hear Bob’s announcement of the artist and album name. I was in the dark so could only mentally make a note of this but the next day I began searching for an album called Yes by Jo Newsholme. With this wrong information and because in 2006 streaming sites and Google searching were not as they are now it took a while to identify the album. But so determined and captivated by the music I eventually did unite with the album and there began the journey to unwrap its delights which is still continuing to this day. Musically and lyrically a true one off and difficult to pigeonhole. There should be a genre just called Joanna Newsom. 5/5 5/3/25
Did not enjoy. 2/5
Enchanting
Not on Spotify
0.5 - Please Kill Me
Album wasn't available
Wish-Björk.
Phenomenal
Palloso, non tremendo
Emily Sawdust & Diamonds
not on spotify did not listen thorughly
ok, not fantastic, just ok
I have nothing nice to say, so I'll keep my mouth shut 1 ⭐️
There are elements that are quite beautiful but her voice is a bit yelpy over the course of an album
Eine echte Überraschung. Sehr melodisch, spannende Texte, schöne Stimme. 4/5
cool concept. well executed
слишком фолк с переливами, не нравится такое
Proof that the ability to play an instrument doesn't mean you should sing and write music as well. 2 stars for the harp, but I really want to give it one.
I suspect there are people that really enjoy this. I am not one of them, though. Her voice grated on my nerves so hard. And there rarely seemed to be any enjoyable melody, or beat. Lots of harp, though. Yay.
I can definitely see this one growing on me in the future, but until that day comes I think it's just ok. Her voice will definitely take some getting used to, but on the whole it still showed off some cool ideas.
5/10…Singer-Songwriter / Folk
Never connected with a song so quickly as I did with Emily. Emily is an astrophysicist, Emily is a sister, she is depicted reverently, lovingly, even as she is at the center of the singer’s conflict. She is central, also, to the resolution.
Not bad
Finally got around to listening on YT as it wasn't on Spotify, but I won't hold that against her...looked this one up and the list of genres suggested didn't really prepare me for it. The striking, almost childlike vocals have a fairy-like quality, backed by romantic strings and harp. In the absence of any traditional percussion, it's like listening to a music box. I fall under its spell as Emily unfolds. It's hard to choose between any of the lengthy pieces but Sawdust & Diamonds is even more mesmerizing, an urgency now from the delicately picked, quicker melodies. Cosmia is the shortest track at 7 minutes, darker at times and still thoroughly magical, building to a final peak. I get folk elements, post-rock (the vocals make me think of Múm), ambient, orchestral, soundtrack, whatever...but I think nothing really sounds quite like it. Bravo.
When it comes to acquired tastes, Joanna Newsom occupies her own landscape. On Ys, the harpist with the voice that is paradoxically sweet and abrasive weaves tapestries that range from five to twelve minutes and leaves no corner untouched along the way. One may not have to love how she approaches her music but respect must be given for there are hardly any imitators and no duplicators. Favorites: Emily, Sawdust & Diamonds, Only Skin.
spooky folky medieval absolutely awesome
bittersweet, something i'll listen to again
This album is a tricky one to rate because I think that in order to enjoy it I'd have to give it several dedicated listens. Newsom's voice reminds me a bit of a blend of Bjork and Regina Spektor. I enjoyed this album, but ultimately had to go with a 3 because I don't anticipate myself listening to this one much.
Boring
Lord knows I tried, but I just didn't have the fortitude to make it through this one. Beyond Joanna's frequently excruciating and insufferable vocals, the pretension and boredom factor of these ridiculously long songs is off the charts, unlike her somewhat tolerable first album. Unlistenable, self-indulgent wank.
I preferred the rare moments without vocals.
Meh. Somewhat enjoyable but also ran together and sounded the same for the whole hour.
I think this was a bit of a screeching reverse from the previous album that I just couldn't get on board.
Challenging record to say the least but I will buy into it...
# Album Name: Ys # Artist: Joanna Newsom # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Some very interesting sounds in each track. But its like in one of those movies when they are running from the bad guy. You run so fast and come to a junction. Which way do you go? Is it left or right. You go the wrong way and get slaughtered. Well this album goes down the wrong path often imo. I would have liked some of the melodies to go on a tad longer or to be explored further. But the song almost melts into a new track. I guess thats the idea. Overall, its quite an original album. Vocals are decent. Arrangements are quite. funky/weird in some aspects but i feel thats all part of the artists persona. Not for the mass population. Couple of decent tracks id come back to. I feel those may grow on me. It would take a few listens. But for now it wasnt too bad of a first listen. Im on the fence with this one. I'll come back to it. # Top Tunes: Emily / Sawdust & Diamonds # Would I listen to it again? Yes
I enjoyed the instrumental arrangements even if they were overly long and meandering, but to listening to her voice was very challenging for me. While the lyrics may irritate, I'm familiar with the Medieval ballad structure that Joanna is using to frame her songs. It is not disturbed Disney, as I have read some call it. Medieval ballads were not the love songs that we refer to when we use the term ballad in the modern parlance. They are stories, often epic ones, told in song that often don't use a rhyming structure we would recognize today. When I was young, I read a ton of the Robin Hood medieval ballads that were structured this way. While I am sympathetic to her process, and commend her for the effort, I don't find the quirky result charming. I think if these were edited down into the most potent bits and sang by someone else I would probably enjoy it more. Her singing often feels unintentionally disconnected from her subject matter. I love me some unique voices, often to the point I have convince others to give them a chance, but this is a bridge too far.
not my thing but i liked it
Jesus christ this is effing terrible. I wish I could give negative stars.
3,5
What is this? It's got a baroque, renaissance vibe and sounds like it could be a soundtrack to something. The singer's voice is teetering on the edge of annoying and it's a bit hard to get past. This album is very unique and kind of weird. Part of me finds it kind of interesting from a sense of curiosity but it's not something that I enjoyed or would ever want to hear again.
Ys, the element Ysium. Reminds me of when Houmous and Chutney created K Pop. Massively took off in Korea which surprised us all. They all thought it meant Korean pop. It was actually Potassium Rock and involved far more bananas than the current interpretation of K Pop. 4.1
This average rating here is criminal, do you people just not like music? One of the most original and beautiful hour of music you'll hear in your life right here. 'Sawdust & Diamonds' and 'Cosmia' are like an out of body experience every time.
Vocals aren't my cup of tea. Intriguing though
Pretty nice. Chill and relaxing listen.
5/10
An interesting, moving album that would be much better served by a gentler voice. Someone like Annie Clark would do wonders for this one. Still, the fact that this was able to get to me like this merits 4 stars in and of itself.
Wow, this is one of those albums that has such a timeless sound that I was shocked to learn it was released in 2006. Joanna Newsom’s vocal style is haunting, entrancing, and really quite beautiful. It’s also the only part of this album that’s almost as strange and puzzling as the lyrics. Musically this one is stellar, there’s such a vast array of orchestration throughout. Everything feels composed in such a natural way, and the production is truly top tier. Every individual instrument, of which their are numerous, comes through in the mix beautifully, while never overshadowing or crowding the vocals. It’s really a masterclass in orchestral audio engineering. All these elements come together to make a really fun experience, one akin to wandering through an enchanted forest. 4.5*
Hell yeah. I love Joanna Newsom, her music is so weird and pretty, it's like a fantasy novel for your ears. This is her first album that feels like a fully realized form of her style of music, and it's just remarkable in scope, in ambition, in quality. The lyrics to each song stand alone perfectly well as poems. One would have to pore over them studiously, thoroughly, and thoughtfully to get a grasp on their meaning. My favorite of them is "Emily", probably in no small part because it's the one I feel I understand best. It is so tender and vivid and sweet. To listen to this album is to travel to another universe. Beautiful and mysterious. 10/10
Renaissance prog, perd une etoile car devient un peu usant
Not on Spotify
It's beautiful but it feels like, musically, it's sort of motif heavy. That's a way of calling it repetitive but technically savvy. I won't fault her for it anymore than I fault kraftwerk which I ranked significantly higher than most. I don't really care for her voice? Feels like a bit wilder bjork but over the harp it seems jarring. Really well done lyricism.
It's not available on Spotify, but I found it on YouTube Music. I couldn't get through two tracks. I don't think it was specifically her vocals or the music separately, but the combination of the two was horrendous.
ethereal
yikes
It's a 3. If I had to listen to it more than once that score might go down. Ebbs and flows between beautiful, haunting, and grating.
Nope.
This was hard to get through because I was so bored
I hated this the first time I listened to it, but honestly the optimal time to listen to it is when cleaning your flat like mad before visitors come and you need something to both calm you down and make you feel chaotic at the same time to keep up the pace. That is this EP.
Can’t tell if this is really good or really bad, but I’ve decided to be a glass half-full guy today.
pretentious, artsy nonsense
Sometimes when using this list or website, you may come across an album that you listen to but find it hard to articulate your thoughts about it. After a second or third listen, you might even click 'didn't listen' because you feel you need to revisit the album later. This was one of them. Initially, I was quite skeptical about it. While "The Milk-Eyed Mender" was undeniably beautiful, I worried that the addition of orchestration would cause Joanna's music to devolve into annoying bombast. Fortunately, that concern turned out to be unfounded. The orchestration is not only subtle but also very powerful. It adds significant value to the album, which I had nearly dismissed as a possibility beforehand. Joanna has clearly evolved, and with this album, she successfully steps outside the 'freak-folk' genre. The entire album is filled with beautiful music, and many of the compositions seem almost perfect. And this is normally completely not my style. But I loved it
She definitely has a very unique voice and vocal style albeit it can be annoying and overpowering. Her voice takes away something from the song’s quality that is hard to replace or ignore. Hard to listen to.
I’m not 100% sure I listened to it all, but Bjork-style music utilizing harpsichord is a sure-fire win in my book!
I appreciated how unique and singular this is, and some of the harp arrangements were really cool, but the vocals were a little grating to me by the end.
this shit is just so beautiful that’s all i have to say about it
This album has eluded me for almost two decades now. I have "meant" to listen to it for years and years and just never have for whatever reason. Holy shit I've been missing out, this blew me away. I have been on the brink of switching from Spotify to Apple Music for a few months now, and my desire to have easy access to this album might be the catalyst to finally get me to switch. Might go ahead and grab this on vinyl as well. What an incredibly unique aural adventure. I can't wait to listen again and am stoked to check out her other albums.
This is a very dense album with a lot to take in lyrically. I found it quite enjoyable and it kind of had a baroque, kind of old bard feel.
A bit odd. Not bad, per se, but weird and not really for me.
wasn't worth finding on YouTube....
Bij de eerste tonen van dit album schieten de tranen bijna in m'n ogen. Ik zit nog half in m'n woeste Dylan rant en de eerste tonen van dit album lieten me heel even voelen alsof ik na een vervelende dag op de crèche een warme, veilige knuffel van m'n moeder kreeg. Kom maar menneke, Bob is gewoon een rotjong, wij gaan lekker een tosti eten en daarna zetten we de video van Fievel in het Wilde Westen aan. Dat effect is wel van korte duur overigens. Ze klinkt als een mengeling van Duffy en Björk en vooral dat Duffy stukje vind ik vaak wat lastig. Het schelle. De muziek is soort van sfeervol, dromerig, middeleeuws en daardoor vind ik het wel tof, maar de zang is, hoewel zeker niet onzuiver, wel een beetje kattengejank. En misschien is het omdat ik er nu op let, maar er lijken ook weinig momenten te zijn dat ze even niet zingt en de instrumenten hun werk laat doen, want tering wat heeft ze een hoop te vertellen zeg. Met een net wat lievere, warmere stem had dit bij mij heel hoog kunnen scoren, want zo'n harp in combinatie met wat strijkers en een voorzichtig klarinetje is wel genieten. Ik geef desondanks 3 sterren. Het is echt irritant, maar tegelijk is het af en toe ook heel mooi en daardoor vind ik 2 sterren net wat te streng. En het is wel weer een keer iets anders. Een instrumentale versie zou 5 sterren krijgen.
Someone here said she's Wish.com Bjork and now I can't unsee/unhear it. Good god "Y" did this make the list? Horrid singing and just droning on and on about nothing. 2/10.
I feel like I should like this more than I do, but the songs are too long and too...twee. I'm sure I'd enjoy it more if I relistened and really focused on the lyrics, but it didn't draw me in for a second spin.
Not to be confused with the series of RPGs with the same name, Ys is a pretty alright album. Like a couple of albums i have done here, the lyrics in this album seem like they are telling some kind of story and in these albums, the lyrics are most often the best part and that does apply here. Joanna's voice was pretty good despite taking me a bit of time to get used to and the music was a little long-winded but fit well with the songs and was something i liked. I do believe that this album would be a fairly difficult one to get into but i did end up liking what i heard. Honestly, not a bad way to start off 2025. Best Song: Only Skin Worst Song: Sawdust and Diamonds
I tried so hard. More than most of these albums. It just feels like there are zero entry points to get into this for anyone except a very niche audience. I mean she married her biggest fan, so there's clearly an audience for this. It just doesn't include me.
Newsom earned her place as one of the tentpoles of the aughts folky indie movement. This album is everything you'd want out of something like this. It's epic, but also intimate and personal. Emotive, but also intricate and technical.
I listened to this entire thing, and I have no idea what's going on. Other than I think she's Bjork's hippie grandmother.
It’s not available anywhere so probably not great.
Not on Spotify
This is music that is OK to date, but you'd never want to marry.
OMG! The first singing notes caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand up, and not in a good way. MAKE IT STOP!
Wasn’t available on Spotify
This album is not on Spotify but I found the full album on YouTube. An interesting mixture of musical styles - Wikipedia gives the genre as Progressive Folk / Indie Folk / Baroque Pop / Avant-Pop / Indie Rock! Not bad, but I don't like her quirky vocal style and find it annoying.
If a whiny Alvin the chipmunk had tried to record an arthouse album. Zero stars. This is just bad luck that this album came a day after I had to sit through a Joni Mitchell crap-fest.
I think I need a few more listens to fully understand and appreciate this one, but it’s exactly the kind of album I wanted to find on this list. Unique, beautiful, a little eccentric and poetic, but regardless very well done.
Unbelievably whimsical and beautiful, Newsom manages to tell a story on every single song, this is the album you would get if a bard from the forgotten realms was transported to modern day earth. People were complaining about the length but ITS BECAUSE SHE’S TELLING A STORY! THE SONG ONLY ENDS WHEN THE STORY IS DONE!! Plus it’s not like it’s just the same verse chorus verse, she puts a lot of effort in making the music follow the story. Maybe it’s just cause I’m a nerd, but this is a ten out of ten
This was a fairly annoying listen, not least of which is that it’s not on Spotify. Besides that, her voice is extremely annoying, despite good music and lyrics.
Pretty intense stuff here. I felt vibes of Bjork when she has orchestrated material and it's the rare case of wanting to investigate the lyrical content. Each track is a lovely story shared and I'm not just saying that because I'm impressed that she is Andy Samberg's wife. I would probably revisit this and I am surprised while typing that--upon first listen I was not enthused.
It was listenable which is more that I thought I would say given the bravery of the experimentation and the genre I don't seek out.
A different sound. Kind of a mix of broadway ballads and Etta James tunes.
Weird. like a cross between Bjork (on a good day), Enya, and Kate Bush. Not for me, but it was growing on me.
Folk barroco. Ni fu ni fa.
Sentimientos encontrados.
Insanely good for some strange reason.
Oh I don't know It's really good, it's also really bad Just when you start liking it it smacks you in the ear with a rubbish section Songs are too long which may be the tipping point for me into not listening to it again
I wanted to hate this, but I didn't. She falls somewhere between Kate Bush and Tori Amos with a touch of Björk. I wouldn't rush to this again, but I wouldn't mind if it were playing in the background.
Vocals range from “charming” to “annoying,” often during the same line. Instrumentation is not for everyone, including me. I tried liking this, but just couldn’t.
Dadaist lyrics, which is too bad, as she had a lovely voice.
I found Joanna's singing to be disagreeable. Not a fan.
Beautiful.
Why is there not more harp based music on the 1001 i asked myself the other day. Lo and behold, what pops up but Ms Newsom. This is going to be tough listen, don't worry…it’s only 5 tracks…oh jeez
Þessa plötuvar erfitt að finna en ég náði að grafa hana upp á YouTube. Fyrsta hugsunin mín var: "Vó hvað þetta er skrítið. Hvað er ég eiginlega að hlusta á?" Svo bara vandist ég henni og fílaði hvað hún var kvörkí undir lokin. Hefði fengið 4 stjörnur ef hún hefði verið aðeins aðgengilegri
0.5 couldnt make it through but i gave it some credit for creativity. Her voice was just too grating
4/5. I remember hearing a lot about this album when I was younger and so I checked it out. Terrible choice to listen to in high school. After about 10 years later, it's a crazy, beautiful album. Layered and so mesmerizing. With experience and many albums under my belt, it's easy to understand the impressiveness of this album. Despite the length of the songs, there is not a moment I lost attention. Progressive classical-jazz-folk is the best way I can describe it. Love albums that provide an original and unique experience that keeps me coming back because of its individuality. Glad it came back up in my life, great stuff. And yet despite these praises, it cannot be a masterpiece because I am not always in the mood. Once I finished the album, I realized this. Best Song: Emily, Cosmia, Monkey & Bear
Really fucking weird but not necessarily in a bad way, I like that it’s something different
Weird
Joanna Newsom's singing reminds me of Björk, unpleasantly mannered. It was immediately obvious to me that this wasn't to my taste. There didn't seem to be much connection between the phrasing of the vocals with the quite lush instrumentation - it's as if this is a recitation of words that just happens to have music in the background. Each track is quite long and they feel interminable to me.
4.75
I don’t know. This is literally split between ones and fives. Some moments were like Björk-lite, and some were how I wish Björk sounded.
I don't know why everyone is hating on this album? I like it. I also want to know how they got a picture of me for the album cover. 4/5
Really did not know anything about this or her. But Drag City, recorded by Steve Albini, mixed by Jim O'Rourke? A real who's who of Chicago heavy hitters. This also seems like it was super well regarded. The orchestral baroque pop doesn't do a ton for me, and though this is obviously a singular and interesting work, it's not really for me. I'm sure it's endlessly rewarding with each subsequent listen.
Goodness sakes what a horrible album. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a worst vocalist. This album seemed like a mashup the chipmunks & other cartoon characters singing.
Lo sufrí mucho. No es que sea el peor disco que he escuchado en esta lista, de hecho la música y arreglos orquestales están muy padres, pero hijole, la voz de la dama es muy irritante. Lo mejor fue leer los reviews de los usuarios aquí y morirme de la risa. Pero la verdad no es un disco al que jamás vaya a volver y ruego porque sea el único de la señora en la lista.
Fav: Cosmia Least Fav: Monkey & Bear It’s a Ys from me
Wow. Had never heard of Joanna Newsom before this, but I loved it instantly. I love how the songs just kind of meander through different melodies, the tempo ebbs and flows, and accompaniment varies from just punctuation and countermelody from her harp to a full Elfman-inspired orchestra and the occasional jaw harp or guitar, all vibrato'd out. It's like a fey fever-dream, and even though the songs are 11 minutes long on average, I never got tired of listening.
Listened to this for another list. It's very very good. 4/5
I never really got the hype for Joanna Newsom, she’s an even more shrill and less impressive Björk imo. I appreciate her harp skills but not much else. C-
wow. It's not fair at all to use Bjork in any comparison to Joanna. This is just.... just
I had no idea what I was getting into here. I had heard the name before and knew she was highly acclaimed but I wasn’t expecting such a whimsical, theatrical performance. The orchestra backs Newsom’s unique vocals wonderfully, I’ve never really heard anything quite like this. On Only Skin a familiar voice shows up, oh shit that’s Bill Callahan, love that guys work. Callahan’s deep dry delivery compliments Newsom’s quirkyness well, makes for a solid track. I wasn’t convinced right away but Ys won me over in the end. 4 stars
This worked for me. Fiona Apple mixed with Björk mixed with the forests and meadows. Would love to give it a deeper listen.
Not for me. Didn't care enough to finish.
Strange and not for me.
Hard to figure out why this is so highly rated by critics (9.4/10 on Pitchfork for instance). It is a musically pretty and complex album but suffers from extreme song length, way-too-wordy stream of consciousness lyrics, and ridiculous baby-voice singing. The harp is lovely and Van Dyke Park’s string arrangements are wonderful and would make great instrumentals on their own. Probably would need to listen a few more times to get much out of the lyrics but the singing makes this a chore to listen to. 3 / 5 just for the beautiful arrangements which I appreciate.
God help me…I liked it. Like, a lot. Ren fair bullshit usually annoys the piss out of me and, honestly, it does with this album as well. But if I ignore the unforgivably stupid lyrics, it’s an outstanding album. I don't think I can quite give it a 4 because I think it's listenability is HEAVILY dependent on mood, but it's a strong 3.5.
The lyrics and melodies are mostly good, but overshadowed by the vocals
Interesting
I liked the music. The lyrics and vocals were pretty weird.
I'll give it one star for the cover art and one star for the bloke on YouTube who said this saved him from committing suicide. It already had a star to begin with but that isn't much.
Now this was a unique album. The harp was beautiful, but I wasn’t a huge fan of her voice. Parts I liked but others reminded me too much of Bjork. Either way, a welcome addition to this list.
Really awesome album. I've heard about this one, and Joanna, for quite some time but never dove in. All I really knew is that she's married to Andy Samberg, which is really cool. She's a bit of an American Bjork, in a way that I really enjoy. Very intricate, folksy songwriting and unpredictable melodies, like the songs are just unfolding and not even Joanna knows where they'r going. Just a few long songs and I dug almost all of them. This is definitely a keeper. Favorite tracks: Emily, Sawdust & Diamonds, Only SKin, Cosmia. Album art: Great cover, Renaissance-style painting of Joanna. Crow on the sill, sickle and butterly, the painting is about as detailed and as intricate at the music. I love that. 4.5/5
4.0
Very interesting very different, had it been a little less repetitive it would have been a 5 star
A jumble of shiny things found in a magpie's nest: some rubbish, but some jewels too. The vocal style wore thin, I have to say. But I appreciate the harpestry. Not sure if that is a word ... but you get what I mean. Imagine a harp being your instrument?! An extra star for that.
Would be greatly improved were it fully instrumental or sung by someone else! I like all kinds of voices, many unconventional, but hers really grates on me. This somehow made me think of Mary Margaret O'Hara so I listened to 'Miss America', now there's an album.
This just doesn’t click with me. There is potential and artistic vision, but I hit a bit of a Tom Waits-type wall when trying to listen to this. Not for me, but not devoid of interesting ideas.
Björk meets Tones and I? Ys is an intriguing and conflicting album. The strings arrangements are quite lovely. It’s trying to sound much older than it is, which it sort of achieves, but suffers from her irritating goo-goo baby voice. She’s like a millennial bard. Artistically there’s something there, and the lyrics are quite ambitious and vivid in imagery, but I can’t get on board with it. After a few minutes I was annoyed. I’d like this a lot more if it was an instrumental.
Makes me emotional, can't use that right now, but props when they are due
Uuuuuuuh…umh…okay allora Ho dibattuto per settimane su che voto dare per diversi motivi. Innanzitutto non mi è piaciuto tanto e la cosa mi rattrista molto. Intanto è un artista femminile che mi piacerebbe fossero più apprezzate in sta lista ma a parte quello si vede che ha fatto una scelta creativa coraggiosa e fuori dagli schemi. La voce è quella che è, non mi ha fatto impazzire, non so nemmeno perché. È strana ma Björk non è da meno. Comunque anche risentendolo non clicca, quindi non posso che dare 2
Absolutely love this album, although I admit it did take me quite a few listens to come around to it. Her voice is definitely an acquired taste, but her harp playing is fantastic and the lyrics are so detailed and meaningful. I think I first heard it around 2014/2015, then got really into it when her new album Divers came out, which I also love. If I could make every boomer who thinks all modern music is terrible listen to this 3 times, I would. Honestly much better than at least 50% of the folk rock in this book so far.
Harp and orchestral, fairy tale feeling
I opened the album on Spotify yesterday and now it's gone. I am not sure why it loaded yesterday because Joanna Newsom hasn't had her music on Spotify for a long time but I am just confused as to why it loaded yesterday. I listened to the album on Youtube but overall, it wasn't too exciting. Nothing too great happened and just overall a bit meh. It alright as a background listen though. It was released in 2006 but it had this Broadway vibe but the old-school early 2000s vibe.
Sad that this isn't on Spotify, not where I live at least. Hearing this I feel like the most accurate description I can come up with is "cute". The cover art matches the music well, which have a bit of a fantasy or medieval feel to it. Definitely different for sure, so I believe the spot on this list is deserved! The album contains a few songs with interesting small stories, focusing heavily on the lyrics, which admittedly is not my favourite part of songs usually, but it works well. She seems to be playing the harp as her main instrument, which is not anything you see that often, cool! Overall, I found it a quite interesting album, but not anything I would really see myself listen to. I also find her voice quite annoying to listen to after a while, unfortunately. Still, fun with something different for once! This could actually deserve a better rating, but for me this is a strong 3.
The album cover made me worried that I was in for a bad time but this album surprised me! Once I was got over the slightly odd singing style, I really enjoyed it! The orchestration with the harp made it sound interesting and fresh. A bit of Regina Spector but with harp instead of piano. I was really hooked from the start with the beautiful melody of "Emelie", and it kept my interest the whole way through. The lyrics are interesting and they paint very vivid stories. It was a long time since I liked an album this much the first listen. Too bad that it isn't on Spotify which shouldn't be as much of a problem as it is. 5 surprised stars!
Sadly I found it a hard listen - clearly musically adept but too self indulgent
Todays album gave me a sense of magic and wonder. I hadn’t heard of Joanna Newsom before, but these 5 tracks which total around 55 minutes felt somewhat fantastical. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was to find out that she also writes film scores as well as her own music. This album felt like a journey, and I really quite enjoyed the places it took me to. This was a nice surprise today.
I think I’d rather her her husband rapping with the Pontiac bandit for an hour straight than this 1/5
This fucking rules. It's so maudlin that a lesser artist would have made this feel like it ventures into Disney girl territory but it's so fucking perfect that it never manages to toe that line. Real weird girl hours who the fuck is up
This is just... not my jam. A warbly Bjork type voice, and the lyrics are kinda meh and drag on and on.
These aren't songs. It's like random music without melody and lyrics made up on the spot. And why so long? This is a half an hour album with a half an hour of padding.
Good: I really enjoyed the lush harp and orchestral arrangements with their odd progressions and timing. Mixed: The lyrics are written in a beautiful but dense poetic style that makes it hard to follow without paying full attention. Bad: I did not enjoy the unevenly paced, baby-voice singing. And to make things worse, she drops in the occasional squeal that kept me on edge the whole time. I get the feeling this might be the kind of acquired taste that turns into a 5/5 after a few more listens but for now I'm moving on.
I hope this album was somehow meaningfully therapeutic for Ms. Newsom. For me, it was just 55 minutes that I'll never get back.
Not for me. I found this too artsy and difficult to listen to. I'm also not really into her voice, I kind of get Bjork vibes.
Honestly wtf. I couldn’t
I honestly find Joanna Newsom's voice extremely grating and annoying, I don't know what it is, sorry. The instrumentality is undoubtly great, I just can't deal with her voice, it's like if they tried to make American Bjork but it doesn't work
I did not enjoy her wailing tone and interminable same-sounding instrumentation. I could see this being an acquired taste, but I don’t think I’ll put the effort in to acquiring it
I liked this more than I expected to! I find her voice really grating but can appreciate the lyrics and beautiful harp.
This was lovely all around — I suspect it was in medium-to-large part due to Van Dyke Park’s producing/arranging/orchestration. He worked with Brian Wilson for Good Vibrations and later songs for The Beach Boys. I still have his Song Cycle album for sale on Amazon. This reminds me of Bjork…
This is my third-favorite album by her, but it’s the one most beloved by critics and the fanbase. I think she’s the best lyricist working today. Emily: a chorus? Weird. M&B: Monkey’s speech reminds me of Donald Trump. His love for his followers is just and earnest. They just need to unlearn their allegiance to this life of service and follow him. And as long as they keep their fancy clothes on for a little while longer and dance appropriately, the reward of the bountiful hills will be theirs. S&D: The idea of a lost baby (miscarriage? abortion?) waiting for you in the afterlife is heartbreaking. The “I wasn’t born of a thistle” part, so good. “Enough of this terror, we deserve to know light.” Only Skin: I know it’s not the point of the song, I know it’s not a love song (or at least not an unambiguous love song like we’re used to in pop music), but “I’m starving and freezing in my measly old bed / I’ll crawl cross the salt flats to stroke your sweet head” is a lovely phrase. Actually the whole part with Bill Callahan is amazing. Cosmia: the one I’ve spent the least time with, this just means it’ll be my favorite five years from now. An album that rewards repeat listens. Instrumentation and lyrics on point. Some people don’t like her voice but they are wrong.
nicht hörbar
I loved it. So odd and so sublime.
Great Bjork-like album, with some mystique and elegant melodies played on lyre or harp, which was making me feel a bit nauseous the longer it went on. Every 15 minutes or so I was feeling more fed up with this record, even though my first impression was very positive. I just decided to stop listening to it, before it will become unbearable. Still, it's hard to give it a bad rating, it has something magical that makes me come back for more. Maybe it will grow on me a little bit more in the future?
An interesting one!! The first few tracks I'm thinking wtaf is this. Then towards the end I'm starting to like her voice - having initially found it quite alarming - it's becoming reminiscent of Florence & the Machine who I like & on a second listen it's starting to grow on me. I've given it 3 stars but I wonder if that will seem harsh in a few weeks time.
If you want boring music, odd rambling lyrics, and annoying vocals this is the album for you. 1 star or F.
#377. Yo, what the fuck is that? 1/5: no Song added to playlist: None, it thankfully is not on Spotify I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Incredible album, felt fully immersed in the world the music wove together
What is this? Almost an hour long and just 5 tracks. Every song feels like some long winded medieval storytelling accompanied by bardcore instruments. Am I too dumb to get the appeal? I really don't wanna listen to it again.
Her voice sounds like a female Adam Sandler doing a smarmy song.
The troubadour connection seems clear. It would be interesting to listen to the orchestration sans lyrics, and read the lyrics sans music. If I have to listen to Leonard Cohen and fucking Nick Cave so many times, then this is fair game. It's 100% better than godforsaken Pere Ubu. Definitely hear the Fiona Apple & Bjork in there.
I was in college when this came out and I knew a lot of people who loved it, including my roommate. I did not. My musical tastes have evolved over the years and was kind of excited to listen to it with fresh ears. I still did not like it. Fun fact, I saw her and her harp perform when she played at my college. She showed up over an hour late because she was having such a wonderful time at dinner she lost track of the time.
It's like Bjork at a renaissance fair. This is like cranking bjorks shittiness up to 11.
Pretty dreadful. I can't stand her baby voice.
This is a polarizing album! Count me on the "love it" side of the equation. Yes, Newsom has a bizarre voice, but it fits the material really well. Strong four.
I listened to this a number of times. Not sure why but it must have hit something inside me.
Not on Spotify, found on YouTube, it was a folky delight
Seriously?! This is horrible!
I cannot express how much I adore this album: every moment of every track means so much.
I heard this when it came out and liked it, and I left her set at Latitude 2005 halfway through because I had to go and start the absolute worst job I’ve ever had in my life, but apart from that I wasn’t very familiar. Listened to it repeatedly since it came up on here, it’s amazing, one of the best albums made.
Very grating.
Interesting. I've never heard of her before
Beautiful album, wish it was on Spotify. I struggle to describe it.
This was a tough one. To me this obviously art, but it doesn't seem to ring my bell. I hate to resign to the "she has an abrasive voice" trope, but I am having a hard time putting my finger on something more substantial.
Well, fuck me that was difficult. Absolutely, and I do mean absolutely, abysmal.
Great
Seems like musically this is pretty good but it's just not something that I enjoy. Her voice is kind of annoying and I had to turn down the volume. I'm sure it's super poetic and all that but it's just not for me.
Not my style of music, but sounds good and sure is innovative.
At first I found this uninteresting, but it soon became actually irritating. Like she's trying to be Kate Bush but without Bush's sublime vocal talent.
really wished i liked this! the instrumentals were nice, but i don’t think i care for her voice that much. it reminds me of björk’s voice, who i love, so i’m not sure why i don’t connect with joanna’s? maybe in time i’d warm up to this, but i don’t see myself returning to it any time soon.
hate
This album was a bit much. It has a folk/fairytale kind of vibe. I could appreciate the direction of where this album was going but the vocals were a bit over the top. Also felt the album was a little longer than it needed to be. The sound got to be a little repetitive by the end.
Couldnt find the album so couldnt listen to it.
There is something interesting about this album but I'm not a fan of 16 min songs, no refrains, long windy vocals, modern folk - which this album is and has in droves. Moments of musical brilliance do shine out though, and the fact that it has Steve Albini's paws on it makes me a little warmer towards it - but sitting through it's length it feels like a slog.
While I enjoy and am more familiar with Joanna Newsom's fantastic first album, I think the songs on "Ys" take her unique, twee artistry to a higher, finer level. These long songs are arduous and uncompromising, but they are the sophisticated visions of an awesome artist.
Ys (/ˈiːs/ EESS) is the second studio album by American musician Joanna Newsom, originally released in 2006. This record consists of 5 tracks, ranging in length from 7 mins to 17 mins. Those who have a hard time digesting log-form songs will not like this album. I generally prefer long-form jams over longer folky songs, as I generally have a hard time keeping track of all the lyrical content that is thrown at me. That is precisely the problem I had with this record. Joanna Newsom is obviously a very talented songwriter, and I kinda feel bad that I'm unable to develop deeper connections to these lyrics. I also feel as though her voice wasn't super appealing to me on first listen, but I feel like it would be good in a live setting. As for the good - the album artwork is stunning. The detail, colors, etc. really fit the vibe of this album. I've seen it occasionally in record shops and it has always caught my eye. The instrumentation was also great. It really fits the renaissance-era vibe. Newsom's harp playing was entrancing and the background orchestration really aided in the album's feeling. I'll give it a 3 for now but it warrants further listens.
I would've been obsessed with this in my early 20s... I still really liked it, just not very accessible
Passou bem despercebida.
Joanna squeaks and yips out some of the most majestic indie folks tunes of the aughts.
Too many medieval vibes for me but I did like bits
Kan godt se den er polariserende men jeg er kæmpe fan, selv hvis jeg ikke var ville jeg stadig synes den skulle på listen bare for at være så unik. 5 stjerner for arrangementerne alene Nu vil jeg håbe for Claus’ skyld at vi slipper for Regina Spektor på listen
Tidsløst. Emily er nok en top 10 sang of all time.
Björk and Fiona Apple mashup. I don't care much for the harp..
Lovely music, not a fan of the voice. What's with the squeaking. It may be just beyond my understanding
Although not on Spotify I managed to listen to her songs on you tube. What a great surprise. I loved her voice and harp playing and unusual inflections. I really liked Emily and Cosmia (from another album I think)
I’m picturing drowning in the titanic to this album. In fact, that would actually put me out of my misery listening to this. Another album where 5 star reviewers will tell you that you don’t respect art for disliking. This album grinds my ears. It’s boring. It’s hour runtime being a 5 song record is a stain to my brain. God help me.
Emily song lord have mercy I can not escape it. This is very reminiscent of Bjork yet the instrumentation feels so all over the place you cant catch onto anything but that is the point the lyrics and the story are just taking this massive stew of music and love. You can feel the weight of the memories being told and I like it. I want to listen again with more intent because I think something really artistic is happening here
she does her own particular genre
No such album exists, zero stars
Strange, wild, fever dream where every song was WAY too long. Music and lyrics were interesting for the most part. Found her voice annoying in parts. Glad I listened but if I'm honest it will probably be the only time
Just an annoying voice.
Its like Amy Winehouse baby talking through medieval music. If Bjork was an American teenager who could play the harp. I will never understand this singing/style of making it sound like you have shoved a bunch of nuts in your cheeks and then sucked all the helium out of a balloon. Was that a smoke detector? The instrumentals in the first song not only didn’t match the singing style, they didn’t even match the tempo of the singing. At points I actually thought I was hearing one of my dogs squeaky toys but no it was her hitting notes that were to say, unhuman. Each song was waaaay too long, I know she is telling nonsensical stories but sheesh. If she is playing the harp and singing that’s impressive but that’s just about the only compliment I can give. This would have been great as an instrumental album. It does remind me a bit of bands like Alt-J and Bombay Bicycle Club but I would just rather listen to them over this. 5/10
Thought I would like but not for me Clive
This feels like if Bjork made a folk album, and I love that.
Day253 - apparently big with the indie crowd it sounds like something you would hear if you were visiting castles in westeros
I loved the harps and the storytelling was top tier...but my overall enjoyment of this album suffered mostly because of her singing style. Maybe I would have been able to ignore it if this album wasn't so voice-driven; the singer is the main focus and it really takes me out of the experience. It's a shame, 'cause the vibe is almost magical. 2.5 stars
I can’t say I loved this… or even liked the whole thing. But it had some extremely beautiful passages and it’s also incredibly daring and unique. I appreciate the songwriting and musicianship and I’m here for things I’d never listen to otherwise instead of the 28th Elvis Costello album (although he sure does have some bangers.)
Reminds me of Bjork, not for me!!
Yea......so my coworker walks in for some information, hears this and asks if I'm listening to cartoons. I wish I was. This is not for me. Quite a tough listen. Best part of the album is seeing the song titled Emily. We love Emily and can't wait to be introduced to her first child soon. Shout out to Emily and Aaron. All I got for for this.
1.5 I really try to be mindful and open to new music that’s very much outside of my normal wheelhouse… but Jesus, what was this? Yoko Ono presents Snow White? As someone who has never been to a ren faire before, this may have single-handedly convinced me to keep it that way. Ok, this album admittedly has a lot of lush instrumentation to it and is produced incredibly well. Hell, if it was an instrumental album, I actually may have mildly enjoyed it (how often do you hear me say that?) - but holy cow, I find Joanna’s vocals unbearable. Look, I’m normally one of the first pretentious a-holes to praise unconventional vocalists - I genuinely think there’s a unique sense of beauty and identity in imperfection - but my God, this made me want to pour bleach down my ears. Before anyone writes me off as having not given this a proper chance, I listened to this four times, each time dreading the next listen more than last. I’ll give credit to this album for certainly being a unique release for 2006 and for the sense of tranquilness to its instrumentation, but it ain’t for me - feels more like a thing for theatre kids. Or Andy Samberg I guess.
As this wasn’t available on my preferred streaming platform, I’m unable to comment or rate this (therefore will go with a 2) but sometimes I think that’s maybe a blessing in disguise?
I enjoyed this. Wasn’t expecting it and found it entertaining
It’s ok. But some of the screeches literally made me jump. 3
This was interesting. There is clearly storytelling in the music, but, I found it not really my overall vibe.
I guess this isn't on Spotify because it sucks?
Took me a few days to realise this was on Amazon music, then I quickly realised this wasn’t for me.
Joanna Newsom puts her harp artistry to use by surrounding it with flowery and memorable orchestration set to her undeniably unique folk songwriting. The wistful whimsy of Newsom's poetry dances to life as gentle strings sooth the sting of everyday life. If there ever was an album that was imbued with the majesty of nature itself, it would be Ys. I guarantee it has already been said already, but Newsom's singing voice adds a unique tonal quality to the songs that can either detract or enhance the experience of Ys. While I am not necessarily a fan, I found the vocals to be a significant factor in making Ys a memorable and enjoyable album overall. Everything else about the album is basically perfect.
I like the harps and her voice. Sounds like fairy land music.
Beautiful
I'm sorry, I can't. I got through two of the tracks before I had to tap out. I respect the creativity and the originality, but it's just not for me. Her voice is like listening to Ruth from "Ozark" getting high on her boss's supply and telling unhinged stream of consciousness bedtime stories. There are so many words, and the melodies (if you can call them that) meander so much that my eyes started glazing over and I could not focus no matter how hard I tried. 1/5 I feel bad rating it this low, but I think it might be the only album I couldn't get through so far.
***An ok album. Most tracks sound alike
If Jeff mangum was a midevil peasant woman
Love Joanna Newsom . Wish it was on Spotify
I can understand how talented she is but it’s Not for me.