Ys

That was so interesting musically. The orchestral backing was fantastic and the overall vibe of the album sort of reminds me of some disney movies.

Damn, I really enjoyed this.

It's fine. I feel like she's making it up as she goes along.

I had originally written her off due to her vocal approach - couldn't stand it. But I made myself listen to this album a couple of times, and while it still is not my thing, I can hear what is behind it now

Pretentious

I can see why it's no longer available on Spotify. ..

Love love love 💕

If someone come out today singing like this, I don't she would make it...but for the time, this was pretty great. What an album. Really glad that this is here on the list. I think it is really nice. I heard it for the first time just before Christmas. Now, I know her name and was excited to see it come up today. Not sure if any one really stands out among the rest. Maybe Emily if I was forced to pick one. The entire album is an amazing journey or singing, orchestral music and wonder melodies. Her voice reminds me of that song that plays before each episode of "Weeds" (Tiny Boxes). Anyone else? 3.5/5

“Does that mean it’s more whimsical? Is it any more whimsical?” “Well, it’s one more whimsical, isn’t it? It’s not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten...Where can you go from there? Where?” “Why don’t you make ten a little more whimsical? Make that the top number and make that a little whimsier?” “These go to eleven.” But I fucking loved it.

Too weird for me and not on Spotify. VDP is a weird dude. Kind of interesting, but all weird.

Only could make it through the first marathon song. Folk needs something to pair with it. Folk country, folk rock…plain folk sounds like music from a Hobbit movie

It has some moments, but It is really boring.... 2/5

Well I've never heard of Joanna Newsom before, and the album artwork didn't really give me any clue what to expect. Even so I was surprised. The first listen through I was swinging between sorta liking it and being annoyed by her voice. After a few listens this has really grown on me. It's not perfect. but I like it a lot.

Weird

Listened on a different platform than Spotify and hated it. Whiney and repetitive

so good

I do like this album and her voice. Her voice is definitely a feature. But her voice can also grind a bit. Apart from her best songs I wouldn't put this album on regular rotation.

Pretty folk music with good string arrangements. However, Bjork-style singing slowly gets irritating. Songs are way too long. Whatever happened to 3-6 minute pieces? It wouldn’t be fair to give it less than 3 since there is talent involved (friends in high places judging by the producer, engineer, collaborators and arrangers!) and it sounds acceptable.

Yikes

I have been putting this off for literally 100 days because it wasn't on Spotify and based off of the album cover and song lengths/titles, I assumed it was fairy renaissance faire music with lots of lutes and harps, which I wasn't about to go above and beyond to listen to. But, Steve Albini died today, and I saw that he had produced this album, so in his honor I finally got around to listening to it. It is pretty much exactly what I expected. See above description. I wanted to like this but just didn't. I gave it an extra star for the Steve Albini hand in it but if the maker of this list felt the need to include this album, then the list better have Big Black's album Songs About Fucking, because that album rocks and is an industrial masterpiece and partially helped define the industrial genre. Steve Albini was a great influence on music and produced some great albums, including Pixies Surfer Rosa, Nirvana In Utero, and The Breeders Pod. Unfortunately, I wouldn't include this album in the pantheon of his best work and would recommend you go listen to anything else that he's worked on.

This was tough to get through.

Newsom expertly weaves imagery like brocade, bringing anecdote, metaphor, allegory, and literary allusion into her beautiful harp music, couching all her charming storytelling in a most excellent, educated diction that cannot help but delight the enlightened listener as she renders the mundane magical. If other music is homeless-by-choice people picking off crows in the barn for their supper, this music is a family in a warm house sitting down to a dinner of lamb.

not my style.....

Good examples of why this project is fun. Not that I want to listen to it again. Bjorkish voice, plus harp and strings.

Nope. Es decir, aprecio el arte, el talento y la visión de un disco como este, pero no lo disfruté. ¿5 canciones en casi una hora? No estoy de ánimo.

Not an easy album. Too many lyrics for my liking. Goes from full orchestration to single guitar seems a bit forced.

So over-rated it hurts

Musikaliskt gillar jag detta väldigt mycket. Riktigt bra! Hennes röst är bitvis vidrig. Hon sjunger ju fint men gnälligt på ett Björkaktigt sätt lite för ofta. Bäbisuttal, larvigt och sabbar. Hade hon sjungit normalt hade det blivit högre. Synd. Jag fastande för första låten omedelbart. Där sjunger hon mer normalt.

Käften

Det här är både lite jobbigt och lite bra samtidigt. Känns som att texterna är bärande här men jag hade tyvärr inte möjlighet att lyssna så intensivt och då vägde det icke-melodiösa/jobbiga tyngst i betyget.

Oh my god she never shuts up. 2/5

Very unique and beautiful music. Never heard of her until today and glad I did. Not something I would have seeked out on my own which makes this journey so fun. Her voice is nice and the music is quite whimsical. Not an album I would revisit since its not my style but I see the appeal here.

Joanna Newsom sounds like a Bollywood singer singing in English. This album blows my mind with the intricacy of its composition - how does she remember what she’s supposed to be singing during her 16 minute vocal barrages? Yes, she’s also Andy Samberg’s partner. Fun trivia.

Glad I judged an album by it's cover because that's exactly the sound I expect from what I saw. Joanna is able to take you through almost an hour of dreamy folk rock accompanied by an harps, banjos and mandolins. Best: Sawdust & Diamonds Worst: Emily Note: Spotify didn't have this album and I listened to it via YouTube Music.

This is really interesting but with some caveats; she has a nice voice but it's a bit grating over a long piece of work. The music behind it is delightful but in the context of the whole thing being quite reminiscent of musical theatre or a production of some kind. And that would be a pretty good vehicle for it, but I have no connection with it or a story to associate it with, so its impact is limited. Can only give it a 2 because I wouldn't listen again without something to give it meaning to.

Started out disliking this - one, it's not on Spotify, and two, she's got a voice that really rubs me up the wrong way. That doesn't change, the medieval kinda vibe also doesn't help. But there is something about it. Probably more her than it - I do quite like the wandering way in which it's put together, and there's something about her storytelling that I like too. Would be interested to hear a different album by her, but didn't so much like this one. 2/5.

Genre: Progressive folk, indie folk, baroque pop, avant-pop, indie rock First listen. Never heard of her or any of the songs. First impression: Wow. 3.5

Annoying that it’s not available on Spotify. She’s very talented. Really only know her song “The Sprout and the Bean” which is not on this. This album is a very specific mood. Ok. I appreciate her musicianship. This is a very unique piece of work. But I don’t see this as worthy of a list like this. Set aside the fact that I hate baby voice singing. There just isn’t enough here. It would have been better to put Dorothy Ashby in her place. Her work was far more influential and impressive. I’m not mad at Newsom. I’m fucking pissed at seeing more white nonsense when black excellence is right there. Abandoning this warbling renn faire shit and putting on Afro-Harping instead. This is where it’s at.

Another album not on Spotify!

Como suena el disco en general, y la banda me encantó. No es mi tipo de música, aún así entiendo que es un muy buen disco.

No. Just no.

Poetic, magic things

This first day I listened to this album, I ended up listening to Joanna Newsom’s entire discography. This album is absurdly beautiful. The instrumentation, arrangement, and Van Dyke Parks’ production is truly stunning. Newsom’s lyrics span mythology, allegory, and mythologized scenes from her life and childhood. Though this album is five songs and almost an hour long, the songs never overstay their welcome and are engaging to the end. Joanna Newsom is perhaps my favorite current songwriter and I find her talent staggering.

Truly enchanting, in the deepest sense of the word. I was so transfixed that when my headphones died mid-album it was genuinely jarring and upsetting. This is easily one of the best records that this list has introduced to me.

Wow. Kind of a celtic Folk Kate Bush or Björk. I love it.

I'd forgotten just how good this album is. I was a fan of "Milk-Eyed Mender", but this is at another level entirely.

Reminded me a LOT of Bjork. Sounds were very muted but the stories and language were interesting.

This was definitely a unique album. I found the modern baroque harp music to be interesting. Not quite sure how much I like it but it has elements that take you back to a different world. I’d say that alone is impressive. I don’t love the high tone of newsomes voice. Overall this album is good but I couldn’t listen to it more than a couple times. 5.4/10

Not really my kind of music and listening to her voice makes me somewhat uncomfortable. Won't go there again

It has interesting elements but it's a bit a manic for me

Not available on spotify, too lazy to look on ytb

Terrible. Had a bit of hope at first but man, Joanna Newsom has such an annoying voice. I did not enjoy this one bit. At least one song had a bit of Bill Callahan on it. That was nice. 2/10 Top 1: 1. Only Skin (thanks Bill)

Ä stimm wi usem Thurgau: überwindet mer di erste hürde, eröffnet sich eim uf eimal wundervolli welte. So tolli musig, dassi mit de joanna serstmal id nöchi devo cho bin, zerwäge dass musical vlt doch ned nur scheisse müsstet si.

Leland Sklar spielt Bass. Albini engineered. Emily. harfe und stricher? mega frei tempowechsel und so. s macht zf mittelalter? uuuh aber plötzlich mehrstimmig und dur. sehr cool. Banjo! mh oke Monkey & Bear. Wiso ischs so mittelalter core? ihri stimm git noh. blöser sind sehr schön. ok ch finds weird. sawdust & diamonds. sie quietscht viel und chunt ad grenze vo ihrere stimm. sber s isch mengmol sehr guet musikalisch. aber au afoch nöd spannend. only skin. ich ghör kein unterschied. leland sklar bass? mir hend bass. ich glaub sie passt s metrum am text ah was no interessant isch aber meh. AHA NOCH 3.5 MINUTE TÖNT EN SONG FERTIG AHA NAI ER ISCH 17 MINUTE ich ha nöd gern wie sie singt.

ok ersts lied sehr schön, ihri stimm erinnered mich ah öpper? 12 min ohhyeah WIESO MÜND ALLI ALBE SO LANG GAH ah stelle hetmers gfühl ihri stimm bricht d stricher findi iwie so naja, ihri stimm springt hie und her, sehr dynamisch jaa sie verzellt halt eifach ihri gschichtli mit echli harfe- und striicherundermalig äfflibaffi und bärli ich lieb 10 min folk und nachane elmex werbig JA ICH WETT SCHÖNI ZÄH ok es isch scho huere schön wiso chan ich nöd gad im mittelalter sii, um es für hocke und sie singt eus das eso vor, denn wärs perfekt ah und ich muss no iwo ines loch inneschisse und mit 30 sterbe han huere gern wenn ihri stimm überschlaht aber han perkussion halt schono gern puhh mega schwierig, ich hans eig würkli recht gnosse aber ich weiss, dass ich sie wohl nöd nomal wird lose

The most wonderful fever dream

I liked the concept but the actual sound grated a bit

I really liked it! Never heard of such orchestral folk music before, also think her voice is super unique and cool. Hehhe the was a bread roll.

Bjork meets Kate Bush and does folk. Didn't hate it.

I simply did not like this album

I listened on youtube. It is a complete mystery to me why this album is in the top 1,000. Baffling!

An astounding achievement in modern pop music: timeless, haunting, achingly beautiful, and evocatively poetic, Joanna Newsom is a force of nature. Like an angel with her harp, she sings of life and death and romance and the cosmos and the beauty and danger of the natural world, all the while surprising, delighting, and possibly even breaking the heart and piecing it back together again for the attentive, engaged listener. Like nothing I’ve ever heard, Newsom went for broke on this her second album and succeeds on ever level. An album to return to again and again, to marvel at, to bask in the glory of, and to dig through carefully to reveal its subtle secrets. 'When the bough breaks, what’ll you make for me? A little willow cabin to rest on your knee What’ll I do with a trinket such as this? Think of your woman, who’s gone to the west But I’m starving and freezing in my measly old bed! Then I’ll crawl across the salt flats, to stroke your sweet head Come across the desert with no shoes on! I love you truly Or I love no-one'

Didn’t connect with this one, the vocals were unenjoyable and the harp didn’t overcome it. 1/5.

It's not on Spotify, but it is on YouTube. I've never heard of this artist before. The level of talent on this album is massive. Probably the most different album I've heard in this list.

I'm all for unique vocal stylings. Joanna Newsom can tip me over the edge sometimes though. She is often mentioned as influential by artists I love, which makes her work more significant I guess.

Bjork with a harp. Only joking. It's genuinely great to encounter unique and interesting music I've never heard before, nearly 800 albums in.

Kate Bush and Bjork via California, almost timeless in its themes and sound. The average score for this is way too low and most of you should be ashamed of yourselves.

This. Is. A. Vibe. Gentle and touching and weird and whimsical. A beautiful record. Rating: 5/5 Playlist track: Cosmia Date listened: 30/11/23

I do not have time for this off-key, melody-less wailing. Absolutely not. Hard pass.

Wasn’t on Spotify :(

Really really cool. Bummer it's only on YouTube.

Very solid and unique.

Dear God, save me from this

If you look up “twee” on Wikipedia it should redirect you to this album. Falls firmly on the “this is not for me” side of the Weirdo Music Spectrum

Much more in the experimental instrumental camp as opposed to experimental vocals – it's clear Newsom can sing and write well, but these expansive Scarborough Fair-esque tracks need a lot more than some good poetry to hold attention for up to 17 minutes at a time. Found myself constantly slipping away and having to bring my attention back to the music given how utterly dull the instrumentals became near the end of several lengthier tracks.

Ok album, nice voice, quite repetitive.

Joanna's unique sound makes this album worth a relisten on a cool fall or winter's day. I think it goes a bit long though.

This is intense stuff. I found it hard going to be honest but that doesn't detract from whether it's any good or not. In fact I think it's so unusual and personal- lyrics and dainty that it is unlike much else i've heard. I really need to listen to this in small doses- it's a shame she's not on Spotify and I had to use Youtube.

Very strange, sounds like stream of consciousness lyrics over old-fashioned improvised backing music. Not my thing at all, but interesting in its own wee way.

Nope

So this is damn good, it sucks it is not on Spotify. The album has lyrics like Bob Dylan and a singer like Joan Baez. Clever metaphors and rhyme schemes wander over a relaxing musical background that you would expect in a Renaissance tavern. A real hidden gem that deserves more listens. Our skin was my favorite track

Stond niet op. Spotify

I'm gonna have to listen to this a few more times. I think I really liked it, but it's not quite like anything I listened to before. Definitely a unique work of art.

This is certainly something you don't hear every day. I'm not sure what it is or what to think about it, but it's certainly quite experimental and folksy. It hits the Ren-Faire feel for sure. It's not for me, but I can see the merits in it and can see what people like about it.

Interesting listen. Not for me. For somebody. Just not me.

Thoroughly uninterested.

....this was really really rough. Lyrically it's nonsense, vocally it's poor, the music sounds like it's played in a kings court during the tudor era but Henery VIII was mid way through decapitating the lute player. Its awful and I'm not sure I finished it (as not on spotify) and Frankly I don't care...

Great arrangements and I usually like weird stuff, but I found this irritating as hell. She sings like Bjork and Kate Bush in a joint constipation therapy session.

these songs are soooo amazing. and i actually always enjoyed her voice a lot... "emily" is just... wow. i do think it does get a bit hard to listen and engage with it for the full run of the album. but that would probably change if i got a bit more familiar with the songs. it's so good.

I’m so sorry the album was very nice and did what it wanted and the lyrics were good but MY GODDDDDD IT NEVER ENDED. BUT I’M FREE!!! I’M FREE!!!!! Maybe if she had a harmonica instead of a harp… the mouth harp if you will… I would’ve enjoyed it more. I’m so sorry Joanna.

Good album

no thanks!

Given my aversion for the harp, I enjoyed it more than I thought i would

TRes special, bon vibe, belle voix. originalité. 1hr un peu long. 4

It is only available on YouTube as opposed to Spotify so it hindered my ability to listen and do stuff. What I heard I liked

Ik vond het af en toe niet zo zuiver gezongen, tot soms wat vals. De folkmuziek was wel oké

You have to absolutely give it up for any album described as being ‘extremely difficult to listen to’

Wow great! Folky and lovely. I like the little squeak her voice does sometimes.

Yeah, she has a very interesting voice, and singing while playing the harp is :fire:

obscure. wouldn’t listen but musically it’s very respectable

Ehh ikke min stil. Smukt nok akkompagnement, men hvorfor handler sangene om villages osv når de er skrevet i 2006 af en amerikaner? Flexer også vokalen lige lovlig meget med falset konstant

Weird album. And not in a good way. 2/5

Naarmate het vorderde werd die stem steeds irritanter. Te arty-farty voor mijn smaak.

Mwa. Begon positief maar werd vervelend na verloop van tijd.

Did you know she's married to Andy Samberg

Great perform by Newsom. Highly recommend.

Sure, she's got a pretty voice. Not sure why she does what she does with it, other than that maybe she's heard Bjork before. Musically this is uneventful, and makes for reasonable listening if you're otherwise bored.

I don't mind a bit of baroque, and I didn't hate this, but there is a level of affectation here (particularly in the vocals) that is too much for me. Compounded by songs of a somewhat egregious length.

Strikingly unique voice but I cannot say really enjoy it.

This has "divisive" written all over it, but I'm happy to say I enjoyed this album throughout. I'm not sure what to identify this genre as, but the melodies here never got boring or repetitive. Joanna made some interesting vocal choices at times, but there was something deeply satisfying about the lyrics and their melody that drew me into the music. It's nothing that I would've ever searched out, but I am glad I stumbled onto it in this list. Highlight: Monkey & Bear Lowlight: Cosmia (especially the last 90 seconds or so) Surprise Hit: Emily

Intriging. Its American Bjork with a Harp

Amazing!!!

4/10. Yeah, another one where it's not really bad, but I don't like her singing much, especially for a full hour.

Instrumentation was pretty interesting and I could tell the lyrics were supposed to be good even if I wasn't paying enough attention to get anything out of them. Still, this was a pretty long and not very easily listenable album. 6/10

Weird. Will never listen to it again. And yet there is something there in the lyrics. In my mind I see a woman playing a harp at a wedding going free form and the congregation is trapped until she is done.

Bad. Weird. Muppets.

boring

I definitely didn't need to listen to this but it's not bad. Voice could be a little annoying at times, but seemed appropriate for this style of music. I guess if you're a fan of this genre (Renaissance folk?) you would like this but otherwise it's completely skippable.

I enjoyed it much more than I was expecting when it started. I'm not sure if I'll go to see other albums from her, but this one will stay with me for some time.

Great chamber and orchestral pop masterpiece

I thought I'd trodden on one of my cats!! If this passes for highly acclaimed mush then I'll pass.

Very very weird. Not bad but no slappers unlike Gaelynn Lea

Not on Spotify

Sometimes the line between genius and bad is pretty thin. I really didn't know what to make of this at first (and am still not sure I know exactly what to make of it to be honest). I think I really like it though? The album is very orchestral. There's lots of twinkling chimes and harps and things, so definitely a bit unconventional. It almost sounds like it should be the soundtrack for some sort of medieval period piece or something. The songwriting might be my favorite part of the album. The songs are beautiful and emotional and clever. In another era she might've been a great poet, but we got this instead. Newsom's voice is also really interesting. I'm reminded by the discussion of Nico's voice in a Velvet Underground podcast that I listened to, where they spent quite a long time discussing whether she's actually a good singer or not. I think Newsom's voice is probably great, but honestly I'm not 100% convinced it's even good. Newsom's voice is a bit squeaky almost, and it seems like she gets criticized for sounding child-like at times. I think it works though, she has great range and expresses incredible emotion in her singing. Anyway, I think it's really good, and I'm enjoying it even more on a second listen. Annoyingly it's not on Spotify (she REALLY doesn't like Spotify), but something about making me dig a bit harder for this seems on brand. I also think it's funny that she's married to Andy Samberg, they seem like they'd be a fun couple. Favorite song: Sawdust & Diamonds Other: Emily, Only Skin, Cosmia 10/26/23

Unique- talk singing poetry with harps

I don’t get it

She has a great folk, story-telling voice. It's just that the stories don't make any sense and are too long. She drew me in, just couldn't hold my attention.

Joanna sounds like a 9 year old trying to sound like a 90 year old imitating a 9 year old. If you think reading Ulysses is a good use of your time, you'd have a blast trying to decipher the meaning of the gibberish coming out of her mouth. But the ambition is admirable. 2 spiders’ ghosts hanging, soaked and dangling silently from all the blooming cherry trees out of 5 🕷🕷

Too weird will not revisit

Ys is a collection of five compositions more than it is an "album", but uses every modern technique to appeal and applies the natural rhyme everywhere it can. Newsom's choice there is captivating, and makes it easy to sink into the feeling of poems in traditional style. The album's world is not foreign, yet its colors bear the mark of elite creativity.

I love the concept. But her pronunciation just drove me nuts.

I'd listened before and not cared for it so I was shocked at how much I absolutely adored this album this time through. Just such stirring rises and falls of beautfilly orchestrated music accompanying such vivid yet cryptic poetry is just awesome. I get it now lol

Very weird bit I think that is the intention. Very powerful vocals with a sort of "witchy" feel. Enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

Very improvisational feel. I wish there was more backing her, singing like she was out in the open was very vulnerable, and it made it hard to listen. The songs being so long made it tough, too. I know I had to check the status bar to see how much was left on each song, and that's never good. Strangely enough, the longest song felt like it took the least amount of time. In the end, I did not like it, but I give her props for doing something more unique than I usually hear. It's a novel idea, but wore thin after the first few minutes.,

Newsom sounds like a cross between Bjork and Kate Bush, but she can play the harp. Her lyrics are strange as hell but I guess weird can be wonderful. Let's just not get carried away. I'm not about to go claiming this is the greatest album you'll ever hear or needs to go on the top X list of the 2000's. Still, as far as weird and different goes, it's worth being on a 1,001 list.

Bad

эээээ ну норм. Федя жду трехчасовой разбор лирики!

Ох ё... В прошлый раз так же непонятно было на нойз-роке. Но понятно тоже вроде стало, чуть позже. Вот это конечно басни под гусли... Сложная история для повседневного прослушивания, но в качестве эмбиент-саундтрека к чему-нибудь очень даже подойдёт.

Okay. This is kinda like the worst of Joni Mitchell meets the best of Kate Bush, and they drop acid while reading The Lord of The Rings out loud.

8/10 Fairytale music? Lit major songs? Ren Faire chamber pop? Music that tries to imagine a world where Bach never happened? I can see one medieval studies major saying "Finally! Someone is making music that caters to my exact tastes!" Sometimes she sings with hints of Bjork and Billie Holiday. Anyway, this is highly original, impeccably crafted, and maybe a little annoying-cutesy? She wields her significant vocabulary in a way that mostly isn't offputting. I think the word "twee" was thrown about indiscriminately regarding stuff like this. But this is too good for the label. Regardless, I like it very much, it's pretty awesome and who am I to judge music this much of itself? I am no one. I am overawed by its creator.

Whole album sounds like one song.

FUCKING TERRIBLE!!! If I could give a no star rating I would!

I'm sure there are people that this music works for. I am not one of them.

Definitely to her benefit that I put this on as cooking music rather than working or walking, but May It Please The Court, I enjoyed this a lot

Var ekki viss um þetta við fyrstu hlustun, en þetta vann á, sérstaklega lögin þar sem það er ekki bara Newsom með hörpuna að syngja. Þetta er strax við aðra hlustun ljómandi fallegt og skemmtilegt, og eftirminnilegt. Grænt ljós hér.

Old timey folky music a lil too slow and weird for me

I’m not even sure how to describe this, but I like it. Quite unlike just about anything else, but “freak folk” seems as good a description as any.

I totally understand why her sound is divisive, but I found a lot here to love. The folk sound with flecks of Bjork here and there is something I can definitely get behind. You do have to be in the right mood for it, mind.

A truly singular album. The only music really comparable is Joanna Newsoms other works. I will say that the album does get a bit monotonous. Not to make an outrageous claim like there not being a clear trajectory to the compositions, but at length it starts to feel something like a repetition of one musical idea. That is idea is a beautiful one, though.

Borde gilla det här men njae.

This is as bad as it gets.

A stunning record - ambitious, enchanting and magical. Something from the past, something from the now. The scale, the imagination. In a lane of its own, Ys transports the listener. Read the room, Caroline Saint-Jacques Renard.

Tedious. Hookless. Affected vocals. Please don't. I can't.

The people who suggest they like her apparently only do so in an attempt to appear interesting. They're not interesting. Neither is Joanna Newsom. We already have Björk, who's mastered whatever this genre is and has proved no one else should even try it. Not for nothing, but I'm sure that Icelandic Princess Björk and I would get along famously. Joanna Newsom seems like someone who wouldn't put up with any of my shit.

Not sure why, not sure how, but I am enjoying this. i probably would never listen again but, man, it is beautiful. Shes cringe for being anti-spotify like bro ur rich stfu, star off for tht she lowkey jacking bjork but its whatever iguess. BRO WHY DO I LIKE THIS WTF

I'd heard of Joanna Newsom and had high hopes. Imagine my surprise when the lush harp music was accompanied by what sounded like a drunken Bjork impression. The voice was distracting, with cadences ill-fitting to the rhythm of the words and music. Like she'd listened to Jane Siberry at her weirdest and said "hold my beer". I gave it two tries and I admire the album for being different and what she was trying to do, but can't say I enjoyed it.

A series of five beautiful tracks detailing mythical stories that employ descriptive imagery to picture the fairy tales she shares. The string arrangements and cover match the medieval bard mood and execute it better than nearly anyone else renovating the medieval folk sound. The strings are sparse and minimalist, often following a repeating motif and matching the emotions of the story alongside her expressive, sincere voice. The song lengths are in her favor, to get very deep into the story just like 70s prog. It's interactive and exciting, keeping the audience in anticipation with resolution in waves. Loved all the tracks, and it's super consistent.

I was kind of blown away by this. Really interesting and beautiful. Took me a bit to appreciate her voice. Sort of an American version of Bjork. I wish it was on Spotify, I would put it on frequent rotation. 4 stars.

A whole album of mainly harp and Kate Bush-like singing sounds intriguing. Joanna Newsom even sounds like the young Kate Bush, but unlike with Bush, here the songs aren't there. Well, it was a nice idea. 2.5/5

I really like the tone and feeling of the record, all the harp is entrancing and the harpist is fucking shredding the whole time. The lyrics are dense and I can't seem to penetrate them on this listen through. Cosmia I could see Katie covering.

Similar to an itch on the bottom of your foot that tickles when you scratch it. This album is unique and strong at the beginning. And, over time JNs voice and my love for it waned before it became bothersome and irritating. On the outside, a folksy singer with a high-pitched raspy and some whimsical voice singing extra long ballads with a harp sounds intriguing, yet in reality this album was an exercise in tolerance. I did make it through, but I am not going to listen to this again.

I remember Joanna Newsom being an absolute critical darling in the 00s, with "Ys" being the peak. But it is also very clear why this may not be a commercial hit. Despite the hype, I never listened. I mean, the 10 minute songs aren't really radio-friendly, so Newsom is one of those you have to seek out. Since I didn't take that initiative, I'll have to thank the 1001 for the exposure. I like progressive rock (though I'm learning not quite as much as I'd thought), and I like some folk, and the merger of the two makes for something interesting and unique. On the other hand, the way Newsom sings sometimes just comes off as Björk with a harp. A vocal style that could be really annoying... somehow works. Most of the time. Just like Björk. "Monkey & Bear" nearly lost me, but "Sawdust & Diamonds" was great and stood out as the best track. Apparently Newsom's first album, "Milk Eyed Mender," was more "twee," according to several reviews? I'm not totally sure what twee is, but I think more twee than "Ys" might be a turn-off? Though "Ys" may not push me to seek out more Joanna Newsom, it was a welcome listen that I would certainly revisit.

So Bjork-y. Sometimes it works and sometimes its just odd.

This is an album that all should listen to even if harp driven baroque folk is not their thing. I find a lot to enjoy on Ys. The instruments create a fantastical atmosphere. Joanna’s voice is good, but used in a somewhat unconventional way. I appreciate the album quite a bit. I would enjoy hearing it again. In the end, I think the baroqueness and a too much for me in that the album feels off kilter. I don’t know another way to describe it.

The strengths of this album (originality, ambition, storytelling, cool chamber music vibe, cohesion) are outweighed by the weaknesses (vocals, length of the songs, wandering song structure). It's interesting, I almost enjoyed it in places, and I can see a place for it on this list. But personally, overall, not for me.

This is an incredible album. The musicianship and songwriting is just on another level. I have always liked Joanna Newsom but hadn't listened to this album in a while. It got me hooked again. I listened to this one all the way through multiple times today and then moved on to listen to "Have One On Me" for the rest of my work day. I'll probably listen to "Divers" all day tomorrow. It's a 5/5. Standout Tracks: Emily, Monkey & Bear, Sawdust & Diamonds, Only Skin, Cosmia

Imposible opinar. No existe nada prácticamente en Spotify

I respect the authenticity, haven’t hear something like this yet, but it drags on to be something really exciting.

Very interesting album, mellow folk with some classical music influence. Not bad but ultimately a tad bit too long and repetitive

Album was not available 😪

dear god why

Just when you think each song is about to end... you get 6 more minutes of 2-star music.

Musically this is well made, if unremarkable. That vocal is dreadful though, and really does not work with this style of music. There are far worse albums, but there are also much better folk albums if this is what you're looking for. I have no interest in hearing this again. Fave Songs: None

i want to call this minge music, but i don't even think minges want to listen to this.

No

One of my favorites of all time

:(

not sure how to rated. besoin d'une 2e écoute. Tout de même pas mauvais à écouter. A revoir si ma note augmente ou descend 6.5/10

Friends are supposed to help keep you making a fool of yourself. This woman has no friends.

Folk. Melódico pero muy aburrido.

Reviewer said this was the most innovative vocalist since Tom Waits and I got excited. I found the album was more like spoken poetry. The singer has a beautiful voice, and also this habit of squeaking at the start of her words that I didn't like, but happened all the time. Overall, I'm neutral on this album. Maybe a 2.5.

Didn't think much of this

I really did not enjoy this. I just found it annoying

2 stars for the hits... the rest has dated, even if it was ahead of it's time back then.

Not really sure what I think of this album. The instrumentation is absolutely gorgeous and the sprawling folk tales are impressive, but Newson’s voice hasn’t grown on me just yet (though I feel like it will after a couple more listens). I’m giving this an optimistic 4

Did not get a chance to listen too (not listed on Spotify). Sorry Joanna. I did see her on the Muppet soundtrack so there is that.

Sounds SO much like Anais Mitchel. It's gorgeous. What wonderful sound.

Björk but good. Really good, god damn. I wasn't expecting to like this but I was completely enchanted. This sounds like something you'd hear a Disney princess singing. Seems like her voice is a bit controversial from reading the other reviews, but I like it. I get that the weird bird yelp she sometimes does can be kind of jarring at first though. Very talented! Glad I listened to this. Definitely doesn't deserve the low global rating (2.72 as of writing this review) - should be above a 3 at the very least!

There were a lot of factors conspiring to make me feel annoyed with this album, not the least of which is that Newsom's voice has some Björk-ish qualities, but once I settled in, it was quite an enjoyable experience, and there's no denying the poetry of the lyrics. Best track: Monkey & Bear

Not valid

Tedious. This was tedious. Every song sounds exactly the same. Pretty great harp player though.

Huh. I had always heard of Joanna Newsom being a bit polarizing, but this was my first time listening to her music. I can hear the Regina Spektor/Tori Amos influence, both types of artists that took a while to grow on me. Sometimes the vocals were a bit quirky? But for the most part, I enjoyed the picturesque, descriptive lyrics and I'm a sucker for harp, even if it reminds me of my fifth-grade Medieval Day celebration a bit too much. Or that Encarta game, Mindmaze. Thankfully, IMO, the first song is the worst, so it only got better from there.

det här var inte för mig

perfect for sampling pain to listen to. bla bla bla

Wish.com Bjork. Possibly the worst album I’ve ever heard.

Art for art's sake (or for people to be able to boast superior sophistication)

Not on spotify

This album is so awesome. I definitely think I'll listen to it again at some point, although I'm not sure what mood I'll be in that will drive me to it. It was the best kind of weird... Relatable but in a confusing way. Such strange music but as different as it was, it was all aesthetic and masterfully produced. Definitely a 5 out of 5.

This album is quite astounding. Very ambitious but she achieves what she aims for. I may even go so far as to call this album "visionary," which is a rare thing indeed. I am consistently disappointed by how the users on this 1001 generator website rate great, unorthodox albums; people here have an enormous bias against anything unconventional. I much prefer RYM users in this regard: even if they are more snobby, they are better able to appreciate the weird albums too.

Much better than I expected, looking at the other comments. Her voice is certainly unique but not at all annoying. Good stuff, too bad it wasn't on Spotify.

moom

Slow harp stuff. Not for me.

Not really for me 2 stars

not on Spotify, not going looking

Ok so the background music was awesome, but I could not do her voice. Whenever she hit a high shift and squeaked it actually hurt.

Incredibly unique. I'll probably need another listen while reading along with the lyrics to fully appreciate it. Orchestral folk, but I like the terms "prog folk" and "freak folk" to describe it. Not my cup o' tea musically, but maybe I'll give it another shot.

This was my introduction to Joanna Newsom. I think I need to spend a bit more time with it to fully absorb her music. I especially loved the orchestra arrangements with the marvelous harp. I was a little less enamored, but very much intrigued, by her vocals and wandering lyrics. Maybe a little Björk mixed with Blossom Dearie? I just can't say I loved this, but I really would like to try it again sometime.

This is a new artist and album for me and when it started I didn't think that I would enjoy this one. It took a few minutes, but then I became enchanted. I am not sure that I can ever really love this, because I cringe every time her voice makes that squeak. it was something special to listen to though!

"Come on home, the poppies are all grown knee-deep by now Blossoms all have fallen, and the pollen ruins the plow Peonies nod in the breeze and while they wetly bow with Hydrocephalitic listlessness ants mop up their brow" Maybe it's all the harps, but I'm pretty convinced that Joanna Newsom is an angel. No human person could fit the phrase "hydrocephalitic listlessness" into a musical phrase so beautifully. This music is sent from somewhere divine. A friend put Newsom's Peach, Plum, Pear from her first album on a mixed CD for me many years ago and I was entranced with its harpsichord and the first lines: "We speak in the store I'm a sensitive bore You seem markedly more And I'm oozing surprise." The Milk-Eyed Mender became one of my favorite albums, so lovely it nearly breaks my heart. Ys is a harder album to digest. Tracks are long. So are the words. Deep listening is rewarded again and again. This isn't music meant for the background. But still heart-achingly beautiful and holy.

I have never listened to nor recall ever hearing of Joanna Newsom - although later after reading about her harp skills I vaguely recall some past exposure to her - but not enough to have any current recognition. This is fascinating. Hints of late medieval instrumentation, dashes of Blossom Dearie & Björk and a whole lot of interesting song construction, lush arrangements, dense lyrics and harp blended into something I would never have expected. Although this journey is over quite uneven terrain it’s remarkable how smooth and soothing it is to me. enchanting intriguing unique great!

She reminded me of Victoria Williams in that she has a fragile voice that works well with story telling type tunes. It would take a few more listens than I had time for to have a POV for a story teller.

This is the type of music that feels important and that you should listen to, with its pages of lyrics and eclectic instrumentation. I listened to it a couple of year of years ago, when it was in Spotify, in preparation for the review but I’m no further ahead. the things I struggle with are the wild vocal swings and the length of the songs.

The naughts was a golden era for indie music and some of my favourite groups appeared during this period. There was also some really off the wall stuff with pretty freaky schreechy vocals, like Cocorosie, Neutral milk honey and Joanna Newsom. Newsom sounds very similar to Cocorosie but whereas I really like Cocorosie despite their quirky vocals Newsom just doesn’t do it for me. I couldn’t get into her music back then and I still can’t I’m afraid.

fake US folk, written by someone who no doubt considers coloured hair and walking barefoot kooky. Did have an open mind as quite like folk and some of the songs have a nice rhythm to them, but overall it's a no. 2

Well, that was avant garde. Modern though. My only issue is the tone of her voice at times was odd.

I am aware of her skillful and critically acclaimed qualities but it doesn’t touch me in any direct way. It‘s like listening to classic music which only the ones seem to fully enjoy who are classically trained musicians themselves. I lack the eye of this album‘s deeper beauty.

The way she sings is quite similar to Björk, and I really like Björk but in this instance I feel like it's detracting from the music immensely. I really like this project except for her vocals. It's a shame.

Unable to listen

Not sure how this is classified? Chamber pop, classical, Baroque, music from a different era? Regardless, she clearly is talented and this music obviously must have an audience, but it isn't music that appeals to me in the slightest. Interesting, but not enough to explore anymore.

Struck by the mystical, childlike qualities of this album. It plays like a storybook, but one that requires some decoding. Really stands out, between the harp, orchestration, lyrics and vocal delivery - clearly a unique artist.

After hearing her first album years ago, I kind of wrote her off and never tuned back in again. Her voice simply wasn't for me. Taking the time to listen to this though, all these years later, I can see why she has a strong and devoted following. Certainly an iconoclast with her own sound. Brave stuff. Reminds me in parts of Kate Bush, Bjork, and Fiona Apple, all of whom I'm a big fan of. I also really enjoyed the arrangements by Van Dyke Parks. But like Van Dyke Parks' solo records, again, it boils down to the vocals bringing down the whole experience for me. I can see perhaps one song like this working as the showcase/centerpiece of an album, but an entire album of it is exhausting.

Pretty unique folk with a unique voice and harp as the main instrument? Yeah not surprised they got big and have success. I like her voice but the arrangements aren't really jiving for me, feels a bit twee and I can imagine I would have been more into it in college or something. Nice stuff but not my thing.

I've given Joanna Newsom a listen before but didn't like it. Maybe that's changed, I dunno. Oh no, no, noooo. That voice is too much for me. She can sing really well but there's this horrid inflection in some words that makes me wince. Plus a lot of the time the singing had almost zero connection to what was going on behind it - no doubt the point, but no thanks. The music itself was like jazzy renaissance fair stuff, but with the voice added in it had an odd country flavour. This was a struggle. 2/5.

Fuck, I really like this, and I was not expecting that AT ALL. I mean, five songs all longer than what I consider casually listenable? Seems like something I'm destined to be annoyed or at least bored with, but I really adored this. Firstly, it's gorgeous both musically and lyrically, with the strings really meshing well with the weirder choices such as a mouth harp and banjo. In that way it reminds me of a Leonard Cohen album, but I'd say the lyrics are far more abstract than Cohen's works, but it still really works. I like that there s no regular song structure yet it returns to the same line every few minutes to bring the song into its own orbit and not let it stray too far outwards and become a mess. I don't know if I'll go out of my way to listen to most of these songs separately due to their length, but as a whole album this is certainly up there as something great. I will admit her vocals remind me a little bit of whoever sings "Dance Monkey", but not really annoyed at it here. Then again, I never found the vocals on that track too annoying either, so perhaps I'm the one broken. Any way, amazing album, truly unexpected.

One admires the effort and acute angle of originality – and the bringing the harp into the rock and role lexicon – far more than one enjoys the actual music, which is overly arty and strange, with annoying vocals in the Kate Bush- Laurie Anderson territory. One struggles, ultimately, to get into it, to like it as much one is inclined to. And so one concludes that this will be remembered mainly as an oddity, interesting but inaccessible and forbidding for some. Editors overpraise this – by patting themselves on the back for letting their preconceptions go – but the payoff just isn't here. Best bit might be Bill Callahan's appearance (speaking of unconventional oddities).

fuck dude, I reaaaally want to give this a 10/10 I love almost everything about this; the instrumental arrange is simply divine, and the songs are all so well written what’s really driving me crazy is her voice I am NOT a fan of how she sings it’s like if Bjork was a ukulele girl, it’s painfully annoying I was thinking of giving this an 8/10, but again, these songs are so damn good I’ll give it a 9/10 maybe on a relisten it’ll be a full 10/10, but for right now, those vocals are just driving me crazy

4.0 + "Emily" encapsulates all that is amazing on this record. Newsom's combination of harp and vaudeville-styled vocals are among the most unique in music, and the lyrics evoke images from nursery rhymes, ancient myths, as well as a childlike fascination with the cosmos. The rhythms and tones morph constantly, creating strange and exciting landscapes. This records offers up a feast for the senses, though perhaps one that's best consumed in small bites.

Mouse music

som bem elaborado, mas xaropao

By no means bad, but really didn't connect with me in any meaningful way. Her singing is pretty and the songs are fine, but the whole baroque pop schtick rarely does much to inspire. For me this is a light 3.

Her voice and the flow/cadence is really throwing me off. It feels like she is singing in a different time signature. I am interested in the fact that this is not a traditional song structure with choruses and verses, but is instead more freeform; like a poem or a story I think this album took some getting used to, but I really think it got better as it went along. That being said; it took me about 40 minutes to get to this point. The instrumental composition is great in this album. The lyrics and song structure are interesting. I don't love her voice and cadence, however. All in all, I was prepared to give this a 1 after the first song. Glad it got better, because it is fairly long. Another reason this album list is fun to go through, you get some genres you would never think of listening to.

I didn't listen to every single lyric which I feel is the point of that album. The harp was pretty cool throughout the entire thing. Her voice and singing cadence made me uncomfortable at times. When that guy started singing on Only Skin that was pretty much the only change in musical notes that I noticed in the whole album. Would definitely not listen to this album while on any sort of drug at all

I remember trying to listen to this awhile back because the only thing I know about this broad is she's married to Andy Samberg. Definitely not as funny as Andy Samberg. I can see how this would be for some people but it is not for me. Might be the voice because the background instrumentals are great.

Not cool.

I’m mad I had to listen to this

God help me, I tried for three tracks but I just can't. I'm not going to be mean about this. I'm not going to say there are parts where she sounds like Carol Kane impersonating Regina Spektor. I'm not going to say that the lyrics sound like a rough draft of Jewel's middle school poetry. I won't say this sounds like a bad acid trip at a small-town Renaissance Faire. I won't mention my confusion that her voice is so raspy yet high that it sounds like she's sucking helium through a lit cigarette. I tried, but I just can't make sense of this.

I bet Andy Sandberg is hony for harp music.

Interesting story telling but the individual songs are too long

Poetic. Straddling a folk sound and classical. Never quite what you expect with a voice that calls from long ago but echoes the sixties. A demanding album.

Típic disc que encanta a la crítica, per la seva valentia, el seu so, la seva imatge. I és cert: és un treball valent, amb només cinc llarg temes, amb l'arpa i la veu de Newsom com a protagonistes; amb un so diferent i molt propi, encerclat en la corrent de l'alt-folk que tan en boga estava en aquells anys. I amb una imatge exquisida, com una guapa joglar medieval recent aterrada en els nostres dies. El contingut, però, no està a l'alçada de tot el que l'envolta