Indie Picks: Joanna Newsom
NOVEMBER 11, 2006 Listen to this Story
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Joanna Newsom: She of the fairy-inspired songs, childlike voice, and sweetly plucked harp has a new album out. It's called "Ys" (rhymes with niece), and Mark Wheat of the Minneapolis-St. Paul station, "The Current," shares his review.
Mark Wheat, host at The Current pitches in his thoughts on Joanna Newsom's newest release, "Ys."
Mark says of the album: "Hopefully it speaks to younger artists working in the new folk tradition, striving to make something that is precious (in the best sense of the word). This isn't an album made up of songs you can just download, listen to and go. It forces you to concentrate. The internet has changed [our] way of thinking by giving away so much music, which has in turn de-valued music. People have to find a way to justify having something, owning the physical album."
The packaging is a piece of art in itself. There's an embossed slipcase and a 29-page, gold-leaf booklet that comes along with the disc.
Mark considers "Ys" to be somewhat of an instant legend due to the heavy hitters Newsom enlisted in making the record. In addition to arrangements by Van Dyke Parks, Newsom had help recording the initial tracks from Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies, Cheap Trick). And, the record was mixed by indie-legend, Jim Oa€™Rourke (Sonic Youth, Wilco, Tortoise). Bill Calahan (aka Smog) also makes an appearance on "Only Skin." Keep listening--he doesn't appear until minute 13 of the epic 17-minute song.
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