the redhead said you shred the... harp

Old Asian cat lady meets off key child in a Sunday School Christmas pageant? Mmm, maybe at first listen. But after the initial shock of her, needless to say, distinct voice, it’s impossible to shun the elf-like Miss Newsom: with story-book lyrics that border on absurd and reflective, it’s hard not to get hooked…or, in any case, extremely intrigued. Oh, and there’s also the fact that she’s basically the Hendrix of the harp. Yeah, the girl can seriously pluck you up.
On her sophomore album, Ys (actually pronounced "ees".... thank you, Nylon), the Newsom’s eclectic Renaissance style is back, this time with a full-on orchestra and mellower, haunting vocals. I have to admit that it took me a while to really get into Ys, as it has a completely different feel from her previous CD, the amazing The Milk-Eyed Mender. But, like Joanna herself, the album grows on you, and after seeing her in concert this past Monday, where she and her band played through the entirety of the new album to a hushed, awed crowd, I’ve basically been listening to it non-stop.
Unlike Mender, Ys only contains 5 songs, but with an average song length of 7 minutes (“Only Skin” takes the cake with a full 17), it’s like listening to a book on tape, minus the cheesy C-list celebrity narration, obviously. Though she still sings about mythical creatures and characters (“Monkey and Bear,” track 2) the lyrics seem so much more personal (basically the rest of the album, especially “Sawdust & Diamonds” and “Cosmia”). I could list some of my favorite lyrics, but then this post would be way too long, so I think you should check them out here:
http://www.alwaysontherun.net/joanna.htm
Though Milk-Eyed Mender is more accessible (songs are 5 mins. long at the most), to me Ys is definitely the next best step for Joanna. Though there’s so much going on at one time (musical saw, anyone?) everything just works. In conclusion, dear reader, get thee to the nearest record store and immerse yourself in harp happiness.

Myspace (dunno if this is her official one, but I think so)

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