The Milk-Eyed Mender

When I first ran across Joanna Newsom, I laughed. I laughed hard. There was something reminiscent between her on youtube and an old Syd Barrett Madcap Laughs performance that just struck a cord - like the artist was falling apart or not quiet up to the task of executing their own work.It's been commented many times that her voice is just so completely different from what a typical CD library would contain that it defies explanation. Is it childlike and ethereal? Is nasal and elderly? And for god's sake she plays the harp. Does anyone play the harp anymore outside formal weddings? I intended to go on surfing but found myself clicking through to another one of her performance and then another - until I had passed more than two hours with "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" on constant repeat. Joanna Newsom's work suddenly became an insistent earworm and I couldn't help becoming professionally unproductive while I looked up her lyrics and tried to decipher their elusive meaning. The next day I was salivating awaiting this CD in the mail.It could be called a revival of American folk music, whether intentional or not, Joanna harkens back to the traditions of the Carter Family and their ilk while pandering to that heady mystical side that very few singer / songwriters can achieve. She's incredibly intelligent, with a strong knowledge of old symbolism, a vast vocabulary and the ability to articulate poignant vignettes - but sometimes you're caught in maddeningly vague lyrics.It's not for everyone, and my growing love of her work is directly equivalent to the chagrin of my fiancé, but he plays Frank Zappa, so eat it!

Joanna Newsom I LOVE YOUR VOICE. Anyone who doesn't understand this is the exactly purrfect VOICE for YOUR MILK EYES must not be listening with their heart. And that is intended as a Helen Kane Kanepliment. I hope you record MORE SONGS with just your harp and VOICE, even if Van Dyke Parks does add merry-on-net strings. The Thankee... is one of my favorite Letterings, who does your Thankee Letteree anyway ? Inside this CD you will find the cover of Andy Partridge's XTC Apple Venus Cover ticklink her button although it is just a cut-out circle. Nothing Vicious Hear. Nice lines ::O my love it was a funny little thing to be the ones to've seen. talking to the tadpoles that's you Ronald Roller Wilson. The Book of Right On is Right On. exhume your pinecone my Sadie. Where is your Inflammatory Writ . re-loo re-loo which is all you can do this side of the blue. never draw so close to heat you forget to eat. CASSIOPEIA the WHOLE SONG, you could make a whole universe out of this little song. you've changed sum peach, plum, pear especially the multi-pawtrack VOICE OVERS. chew chew chew chew that part is for you choo-choo clam crab cockle cowrie O will you just look at me. BUY THIS CD NOW you will not be stumblepointed.

People will compare Joanna Newsom to Bjork and this is a good comparison. They don't sound alike, (Bjork is more siren, Joanna is more coal minor, and I mean that in the best way possible) although they both have amazing voices. This is not the reason for comparison. The reason they are comparable is that you will either love this music or hate it. It is revolutionary and beautiful new music or it is akin to cats howling in an alley. I love both of these artists and think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread (or maybe even the printing press). I would suggest you listen to the samples and if it catches you, buy the cd because you will not regret it. I have also seen her live (after I fell in love with the album) and it was a highly recommended experience.

I LOVE this album. Joanna Newsom has a ready wit, a large vocabulary, and seems completely unafraid of being labeled eccentric---her lyrics can only be described as "Gerard Manley Hopkins meets Dr. Seuss." Plus, she plays the harp.My only caveat is: LISTEN to a track or two before you buy. Her voice is something similar to Bjork or Carol Channing or Blossom Dearie. If you're put off by a squeaky/breathy vocal delivery (I personally find it charming) this is not for you.Edit: Ahem. The reviewer above who said they'd "read a lot of Camu" (sic) might be interested to know it's spelled "Camus." As they might've known if they'd actually read him.

My 9-year-old son was watching TV with me one evening and heard a snippet of "Bridges and Balloons" in the background of an LG commercial. I didn't even really notice the song but he immediately said "who sings that song?!" So we grabbed the remote controls and I replayed the commercial (love DVRs). My son, who is a pretty musical kid -- he picks up on all sorts of music from obscure moments in movies, etc -- laughed and said "Is it a kid? Is it a grownup? I like her voice, it's funny!" So we noted the few lyrics that we heard and looked them up to find Joanna Newsom's album. We listened to a few songs and I just watched my son smile and giggle and he wanted more. So I bought the album for him for Christmas (ssh, don't tell him; he doesn't have it yet).I described her as a mixture of Melanie, Bjork, and Yoko Ono. Maybe not the most appealing combo to some, but considering I own a lot of Melanie and Bjork and Yoko Ono (the latter by way of John Lennon's albums, of course) I guess she fits into my eclectic collection. Her music is actually kinda pretty, and the harp is soothing. So I kinda like it. Her voice is odd and almost childlike, but that's okay, it works well with her songs. Reminiscent of the Coraline soundtrack by French composer Bruno Coulais). It's good background music in the house. Cheerful enough to brighten an ordinary day, and unusual enough to keep your brain interested.So we're happy LG introduced her to us :)

Unusual but captivating. Talented and well versed. She’ll make you listen to her music and not your system.

Da época em que a Joanna Newsome tava tentando acabar com as cordas vocais dela. Mas gosto muito do trabalho da artista, e o disco chegou em perfeitas condições. Uma maravilha poder ouvir as histórias surrealistas que ela canta sem precisar de internet.

Świetne tłoczenie

Per molti Joanna Newsom è fondamentalmente l'autrice di "Ys" uno dei lavori più acclamati in ogni dove della nuova scena cantautorale americana. Nulla da dire, quell'album è immenso e resta la sua opera più compiuta. Ma proprio perchè capace di un opera tale la Newsom merita di essere approfondita. E i più vi consiglieranno il mastodontico "Have one on me" uscito quattro anni dopo "Ys" e anche qui poco da dire, album davvero molto interessante.Ma io vi propongo un passo indietro nel 2004 per conoscere l'esordio su lunga distanza di questa particolarissima interprete. "The milk eyed mender" merita la vostra attenzione.Ora, piccola premessa che però vale per tutti i lavori di questa artista.... La Newsom ha una voce particolarissima che lei usa in maniera estremamente versatile, modulandola a seconda delle emozioni che vuole trasmettere. La particolarità sta nel fatto che sembra la voce di una bambina capricciosa.... cosa che può anche infastidire...Altra caratteristica di questa bizzarra interprete è che suona l'arpa (ma anche piano, harpischord e il wurlitzer)... insomma una fuori dai soliti schemi, chiaro no?In questo gran bel disco la Newsom prende la sua arpa e la sua voce e allestisce 12 bozzetti ch attingono alla scuola del folk tradizionale senza rinunciare a una deliziosa patina pop rock. La bravura di questa artista sta nel non scivolare mai nel banale o nello zuccheroso, restando sempre, davvero sempre, dalla parte giusta della barricata. Se poi avrete la pazienza di tradurvi i testi troverete davvero un'autrice a dir poco fantasiosa per non dire strampalata.Io credo che in questo lavoro ci siano già belli pronti i semi che porteranno a "Ys", la stessa vena visionaria, la stessa malizia e la stessa cura degli arrangiamenti. Per cui direi che se siete rimasti colpiti da quel disco val la pena vedere da dove è partita. Se invece non conoscete Joanna Newsom allora io vi consiglio di partire da qui... e vedrete che i lavori successivi vi sembreranno ancor più prelibati.

this is one of the best albums of all time. i know almost all the words to clam crab cockle cowrie. bump this.

Joanna Newsom appartient à la nouvelle vague de folk féminine des années 2000 et qui va de paire avec une voix incomparable à qui que ce soit d'autre. Rarement l'envoûtement et l'enchantement auront été autant présents.