Joanna Newsom - Ys
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Free Music Notes for Ys
Free Music Review: Amazing album from a talented songstress
Hit: 5 Stars
What can I say about this album that hasn't already been said? The lyrics are as beautiful as they are epic, and the harp is out of this world. Joanna's voice reminds me of a young woman that was born in Ireland, but raised in the Appalachian Mountains.
If you can appreciate good music (which would never be played on the radio) then this is definitely worth a listen. This album deserves at least six stars.
Free Music Review: Interesting but.....
Hit: 3 Stars
...lacking depth
I do think that there are some good ideas on this album, but not enough to make it something really good. I used to be able to listen to it, but now every time it comes on random, I usually skip the track. It has a certain irritating quality which if not in the mood, can really get under your skin.
People talk about her poetic lyrics, and yes, they rhyme, and there sure are allot of them. But they're not about anything at all. I swear, Ice Cube makes more sense than this girl, and he spends most of his time saying "know what I'm saying?".
I think the music has some truly beautiful moments and there are some hooks in there, even with the weird and long song structure there are some memorable moments.
But it just seems like she makes the funny voice to make it seem more real, which seems to be a ploy to convince us of some non existent pain or emotion. All of it seems so contrived and methodical that it just comes off as not having any real depth.
I think that she is obviously intelligent, and is definitely original. Maybe it does have depth and meaning, but I just can't relate to it. For some reason it makes me feel poor to listen to, haha.
I don't think she sings like Bjork at all, I don't get that comparison. Bjork has an amazing voice with power, range and sensuality. I would not describe Newsome's that way, but it is unique.
Overall, its different(good), kind of annoying(bad), has long songs(can be good, but in this case bad), unique arrangements(good), squeaky voice(bad).
Free Music Review: not your normal CD
Hit: 4 Stars
Two things: This is not the CD for you if you want to sing along or memorize all the words or dance a jig. The music and lyrics are, on the other hand, beautiful and creative, with a feeling of bards from long ago. Basically it's great, but definitely should be previewed on youtube or elsewhere before purchased.Free Music Review: disappointing studio version
Hit: 1 Stars
I mainly bought this album because of the song "sawdust and diamonds" which i had only heard the beautiful "live version" on youtube. Turns out the studio version is a lesson on how you should NOT record a song.
The equalization of this song is appalling. You can barely hear the intricate harp playing during most of the song because the high-frequency signals are saturated while the low-frequency signals are muffled. All of this making the song a great big blur with shrieks.
I'm honestly truly disappointed.
Free Music Review: New album, new direction, but same great talent and sensibilities
Hit: 5 Stars
Joanna Newsom, as I should have expected, charts a new course for her impressive second full length album, Ys, from that of her also beautiful debut, The Milk Eyed Mender. Though very different, it is no less deeply felt, fresh, and memorable, and again, all together beautiful. Though her singing seems somewhat more controlled on this album (though no less sincere), the album is not really more accessible. I'd actually say it is less accessible. This is not easy listening, but it is very rewarding listening. It charts a grand, epic course in contrast to the folk-y, relatively minimal approach of her first album. Indeed, the songs are of epic storybook quality running 7 to 15 minutes, with many shifts and movements in the music and a myriad of words, word pictures, fairy tale stories, and mythologies revealed in the lyrics. I think it is worth reading the lyrics during a later listen as they are poetry bearing multiple and close readings. Though this album is grand and epic, it is nonetheless very human and emotive, qualitites reminiscent of Newsom's debut. Newsom's harp playing and vocal phrasing, Van Dyke Parks orchestral arrangements, and the poetry of the epic lyrics all contribute effectively to spread the table for a delightful musical and lyrical feast that is worth coming back to and reveling in again and again.