SCORE: PERFECT - 100/100
Joanna Newsom’s ‘Have One on me’,
her third studio album produced entirely by herself. Running in at over 120 minutes in length and containing 3 discs of music, it is her longest album to date.
I knew that this would be one of those albums that takes a lot to digest, each lyric has meaning - which meant that I would need to go through the tracks and their meanings extensively because how could I not.
Joanna’s music has really grown on me recently, and she is becoming one of my favorite artists of all time. Her artistry is truly unmatched and she is such an incredible songwriter, singer, and harpist. Her talent is immeasurable and listening to her music makes me feel things no other music can make me feel.
I’ll admit, I was intimidated by this album looking at it - seeing all of the information and the length, I was intimidated and not even really sure if I would listen to the project. I didn’t listen to her albums in order, so this is the last one I have of her studio albums.
But my worries were melted away as soon as the first track played. ‘Easy’ is such a beautiful track, and Joanna’s playing style is just mesmerizing here. I think she sounds her best here, the playing is so polished and well put together, and her singing is just gorgeous.
This is a big one and a lot to unpack, and I would consider Joanna to be an artist that I have a lot of passion for. Her music really touches me in a way no other music can and the feeling her songs give me is just indescribable.
This review does have some sad content matters such as failed relationships & pregnancy troubles. There is nothing explicit/graphic in this review but these topics may be sad to read about for some.
The way her music sounds so serene is like something from a fairytale, and you really feel that while you listen to her. Her lyrics are so much more than what meets the eye, and this might just be the most complex album I have ever listened to.
Joanna’s lyrics are so deeply poetic and beautiful. Her imagery is truly like no others and she does things that no other artists can on her albums.
And of course along with the deep lyrics, there are countless layers to the instrumentals - the album has an orchestral sound that is truly unlike anything of Joanna’s that I have heard. All of her albums are so beautifully different, her discography is so interesting to go through - her artistry and creativity are truly on another level entirely.
Like her discography is, this album is incredibly diverse in sounds. There are so many layers to unfold and unpack, and it truly is a thing of beauty.
Joanna had damaged her voice during the sessions for this album - meaning she had to alter her singing style for the album, but you wouldn’t even guess this with how incredible she sounds.
Details about the album were kept under wraps for the most part - but the album ended up being leaked just days before the album would be released. Her previous album, ‘Ys’ was also leaked months before it was released due to it being unprotected on servers owned by Pitchfork.
There’s so many instruments used on this project, almost too many to count. Joanna plays both the harp and piano, and other instrumentalists are featured on the melodies of this album. There are various different vocalists on the album as well to add depth to the vocal work on the tracks.
THE INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALISTS:
(Information according to Wikipedia)
There were so many people enlisted to work with various instruments on this album - so many different instruments are used, I don’t even know what some of them are.
Joanna Newsom: harp, piano, vocals
Alex Camphouse: horn
Dan Cantrell: piano, hammond organ, pump organ, harpsichord, accordion
Patrick Cress: bass clarinet
Ryan Francesconi: Bulgarian tambura, kaval, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, electric bass, banjo, mandolin, soprano recorder
Sascha Groschang: cello
Djenia Haruta: viola
Shawn Jones: bassoon
Shira Kammen: vielle, rebec
Dan Koretzky: timpani
Katie Kresek: violin
Judith Linsenberg: alto, tenor, and bass recorder
Kane Mathis: kora
Greg Moore: backing vocals
Thom Moore: backing vocals’
Neal Morgan: drum set, percussion, timpani, backing vocals
David Morris: viola da Gamba
Yeolim Nam: violin
Eric Oberthaler: trumpet, cornet
Philip Payton: violin
Laura Reynolds: oboe
Andrew Roitstein: double bass
Phaedon Sinis: flute, tarhu, kemence
Lily Storm: backing vocals
Andrew Strain: trombone
I feel like just this section alone has taught me a lot about music. I didn’t even know there were that many instruments possible to use on just one album - some of the instruments listed are things I have never even heard of before writing this.
Another thing I have learnt about this album that I somehow didn’t know is that Joanna is actually on the cover art. I somehow did not see her at all - and it’s really quite the complex and intricate cover design. Everything that Joanna puts together is so detailed and gorgeous.
To do this album justice, this will be a track by track review. I had to do so much reading, thinking, and listening to put this together. This might be one of my hardest reviews yet - and this will be one of my longest reviews, possibly even the longest.
Just like her other albums, ‘Have One on me’ is an incredibly acclaimed album by critics and people alike - and it gained her even more recognition and comparisons to singers such as Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell.
I have always found her to be somewhat similar to Kate Bush - I think that if you like Kate, you will like Joanna.
During the early recording sessions for the album it was discovered that Joanna had lost her voice. This led to the recording of vocals being paused for the time being, but Joanna continued to record all of the piano and harp tracks.
And just like the crypticness of this album, the way it was announced was cryptic too. An entry titled “@!?*(%$#!!” was posted to the Drag City website - it contained a link leading to a comic strip with the album title and release date as the strip title. It was later announced that this was the release date and title for the upcoming album.
Joanna described this album as a mix of her previous two albums* - her debut and ‘Ys’ - the complexity and long-form style is used on this album while mixing it with some of the sounds of her debut - all while using new sounds in the process.
(But it was also said that none of the quotes in the interview this was from should be linked to Joanna, which is really weird but?? Even if it wasn’t her who said that or if it was and they just didn’t want that information out yet I agree with the point)*
Have One on me has been described as Joanna’s magnum opus, and it’s easy to see why.
DISC 1:
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 1: 𝓔𝓪𝓼𝔂
Love, love, love. Joanna paints a stunning and artistic portrait of love on this beautiful six-minute track. Her vocals are soft and smooth and the melody builds and grows more and more layers throughout the duration of the track.
The violins build and build and we get this thumping, pulsing drum as well as piano chords that just create this absolutely stunning atmosphere.
And just like everything on this album, Joanna wrote and produced the track herself. She plays both the harp and piano on the album, and her talent just overflows on all of her music.
What a stunning way to open an album. ‘Easy’ is a very lyrically complex song with such a beautiful melody. It’s really like something from the score of a movie. The way the track is composed just evokes so many feelings and it’s such a beautiful thing.
The beginning of this track has this sense of calmness and content, it’s like Joanna would be so comfortable just staying where she was forever. She’s completely content and at ease with her relationship and how it is going and it’s such a beautiful thing to listen to. The way her feelings just pour out into every word and how her music is so deeply personal and touching.
But, this ease is taken in just the second line, feelings of anxiety start to show through - showing that the relationship may be vulnerable. There’s different ways to interpret the lines below:
“We are tested and pained by what’s beyond our bed
We’re Blessed and sustained by what is not said”
On one side of the line, you could think that the two lovers are content in bed together - but that wouldn’t be it, would it? If they’re pained by what’s beyond their bed, there is clearly a patch of rockiness that neither of them want to face. There are problems that they are possibly shutting away and pained by.
The second line - “We’re Blessed and sustained by what is not said”, is a really potent one. There’s one side of it which could be that the two don’t need to say everything because they understand each other so deeply, a sweet sentiment and a detail on how the relationship is going.
The two could have a deep understanding of each other and could communicate without saying anything at all,
or, the two may have issues with communicating to each other. Maybe one, the other, or even both are not comfortable with discussing everything that needs to be said, maybe that trust isn’t there.
This is a track with many layers, the lyrics are packed full of meaning, and the emotions are beautifully all over the place.
There is a sense of worry on this track, a sense of precaution, almost as if she doesn’t know how to feel in these moments.
“No one knows what is coming” is another line that displays how unsure she may be - it is a description of how the unusual and unexpected can sometimes come at you. Her future can not be predicted, and she makes that clear on this line that packs a big punch for just six words.
Joanna feels that she is dumbing herself down and becoming dull for the sake of the relationship this song is about. It might not necessarily be about an actual experience she has had - but it also very well could be.
The “No one knows” continues in the next few lines. No one knows that Joanna has been “dulling and dumbing” for the relationship. This could be directed at the partner in question, or about the people who cannot see deeply into the relationship and the layers it holds.
And this song isn’t solely about Joanna, it might not even be about her at all.
This is a call out to all women who feel they need to change themselves for their relationship, for those who feel they need to hide parts of themselves, who feel they need to act “dumb”, for those who feel reduced to just the girlfriend or wife of their partner without having a full sense of self.
Those who feel reduced to just the girlfriend or wife may feel held back from their activities or personal achievements. They may not be getting recognition for their accomplishments or work - letting all of the glory go to the man in the relationship.
“In the service of the heart alone” implies that Joanna will put this relationship above anything and everything else. This would make her feel the need to dull herself and her voice just to benefit the relationship.
It takes “do anything for love” to a new extreme and it shows it in a way that I have never seen or heard be shown in any piece of media.
Me referring to Joanna while talking about the track is not entirely correct - there is no specific character in this track, but it is clear that the song is not about her. It’s a story that might not be about anyone in specific - just a bittersweet and honestly tragic love story with more layers than you might think.
The amount of layers this track has is really striking - and it makes me think of it like this:
The relationship has more layers than what meets the eye too. The couple, specifically Joanna in this situation is struggling - and people do not know what is going on behind the scenes.
People do not know where this relationship is going to go - and neither does the couple.
“Or how I am worn to the bone by the river
And, in the river made of light
I'm your little life-giver
I will give my life”
These lines once again show Joanna’s willingness to sacrifice herself for this relationship - she is willing to go to great lengths for this relationship in every way possible. She has been weakened by this relationship and her struggle is showing greatly here - a song that started off as a romantic sentiment has become a song full of anxiety and weariness.
We go back to the sweetness with the lines
“I was born to love
And I intend to love you”
Joanna declares her undying love for her partner - showing that she will love them through thick and thin, and that she intends to love them forever (note how the word intends may show the more bitter side of this line if you look further).
While this might be a sweet proclamation of her love - it also has some undertones that make it slightly bitter when you look into it deeper.
She “intends” to love this partner - she did not say that she does love them, to intend to do something is to have a plan to do so.
This may mean that things really aren’t working out at all - this seems to be an incredibly rocky relationship with many flaws, it is clear that Joanna is the one putting in the work, and she feels lessened by the relationship and the way it’s going.
And in the lines after these ones about the game “he loves me, he loves me not”, Joanna starts to show more paranoia, worry, and jealousy.
She will pick all of the daisies clean of their petals “‘Til only I may love you” - this may sound sweet, but there is a jealous undertone. She is worried that other women will fall for her partner.
Everything isn’t as easy as the song title suggests, Joanna is going through severe emotions and it is clear that the relationship in this song is not at all healthy.
Joanna feels frozen - her emotions are so intense and severe here, and not in any of the good ways.
And those lines suggesting that there are communication issues in the earlier part of the song? Well that issue is touched on again in a less shadowed way - everything is coming to light as the lyrics progress further.
“I am easy, easy to keep
Honey, you please me, even in your sleep
But my arms want to carry, my heart wants to hold
Tell me your worries. I want to be told”
She loves her partner dearly - but she feels as if she is not being told the things she should be told. She wants to do more than just be “kept”, she wants to be talked to, she wants to talk to them, to comfort them, to listen to them and everything they are feeling.
She wants to be able to talk to her partner about their worries and her worries, she wants to solve problems with her partner and talk them out rather than just sitting and soaking in these negative feelings and the problems that they are facing.
Joanna describes herself as a “life-giver”, and she later pleads for her partner to give her life too. She wants her partner to give the same amount of love and life to her that she gives to them.
She wants to receive the same amount of love from her partner as the amount that she gives to them - asking them why they think that they deserve her love. She has given so much to them - and it is clear that she is getting tired of how one sided this care has become.
Questions flood her, will her partner give the same amount that she is giving? Do they even deserve her love? Do they even want her love? When will they put in the effort that she is giving?
She desperately wants this relationship to work out, but she knows that it takes two to make a relationship work out, and that the two of them are in control of their own fates. She cannot carry the weight of both of them in the relationship, and she is growing tired of the one-sidedness of the relationship.
Her partner is barely there for her, yet Joanna feels she is the one who is “barely there”. She says this meaning that she will not be bothersome to her partner, and she can leave them alone if they want her to, if they need time alone - but just hearing her name will make her come to them whenever they want her to.
And yet, this may be unwanted by her partner. It is clear that the love is almost one sided, and Joanna is the only one who is longing in the relationship. She is devoting more effort to the relationship while her partner is not putting in almost any effort at all.
It isn’t that her partner is the problem - both of them seem to be the problem in this case. It is clear that they do not work out, and that the relationship isn’t going to go the way it should. She may think that she is easy to love in this scenario, but in this case - it just isn’t wanted by her partner.
She is longing for a calmer relationship - something that isn’t so complicated, something she can be content in. The song title fits this perfectly, and what made me think of this was the brief description for the song on Last.fm which I found very insightful:
“The opening track to Have One on Me is a declaration of loyalty to a lover, in longing for an “easy” relationship.”
Joanna’s music may sound tender and beautiful on the outside, but this song shows that her lyrics are more than what might meet the eye. There is a deep sense of struggle on this track and Joanna paints a very vivid story with each line.
This isn’t the love story you would think it is on first listen, it is a deeply tragic and potent track with so many raw and complex emotions packed into it.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section and the sections above (although I was having some scrobbling issues since I have to use Deezer or YouTube to listen to anything by Joanna): 13
Over an hour was spent on this track description and the sections above, and at this point in the review, it is 3,213 words.
It’s really breathtaking listening to Joanna’s music, it may be overwhelming or even hard to digest sometimes - but getting into her is something I am so grateful for. Her songs are so long but yet it almost feels like they need to be, like the length adds depth and character. Important depth and character that helps to build her music up to what it is.
And after over an hour, we make our way to the second track of the album.
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 2: 𝓗𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓷 𝓜𝓮
“I’m obviously identifying her story with my story to some extent,”
“To be a woman and to be a performer at that time meant something very different than it does now, but I’m also interested in what the similarities are. I was interested in the fact that she was constantly traveling and constantly having to start over and make a new life for herself. And her connection to this town is very important to me.”
This track has a clear someone that it is about - it is about Lola Montez, who is also known as Eliza Rosanna Gilbert, Countess of Landsfeld.
She was an Irish dancer who rose to fame as a Spanish dancer despite being Irish. She has been used as a reference in countless pieces of media - and became notorious due to her relationship with King Louis I of Bavaria (Ludwig I). She had a hectic love life and she had a career as a dancer in the mid 1800s.
This track is narrated from her perspective, and it uses more vivid imagery and descriptions to help build the story. Joanna could be an author of some gorgeous stories if she wasn’t a musician, but her songs tell just as much as a book could.
The very first lines describe an attempt at taking the king's life - witnessed from afar by Lola. Joanna sings with sadness in her voice - her vocals soft and almost shaky while still having a sense of calm in them.
Lola fled the country and went to Bavaria in March of 1948, and the second verse is written in the format that a letter would be written in. It is addressed to King Louis I, and describes how she left due to pressure - she was not well liked by the people living in Munich.
She was a resident of Nevada County - the highest peak is named after her, as well two of the lakes in the area.
Nevada County is Joanna’s home country, showing the meaning that Lola Montez has to her. The impact that she had on where Joanna is from is clearly very strong, and Joanna paints a vivid portrait of her through this song.
Joanna becomes the characters in her songs so beautifully, and her songs play out like a storybook would. Her writing and imagery are so vivid - and her storytelling is like no other artists.
There are many mentions of types of spiders in this song, a reference to Lola’s “spider dance” that she was famous for.
The sixth verse may be told from the perspective of Louis, the tone shifts and Lola is addressed by her name in the bridge - which would mean that it is not from her perspective anymore unless she is referring to herself in the third person.
It is most likely that it is told from the perspective of Louis because of the way the lines are phrased. This shift really shows off how well Joanna can use characters in her music and her wonderful creativity.
Joanna really did her research on Lola for this track, and it is so impressive how much information this song holds. It really paints such a clear picture of her story and it is beautifully done.
So not only did this album give me a little more information on music and instruments, it also gave me a history lesson.
I didn’t “get” this one as much as the first track - but it is so wonderfully done. It’s such a complex track with so much to unpack, and Joanna’s storytelling is out of this world.
The instrumental work on this track is just stunning too - the instruments all come together beautifully and the way the song shifts and changes throughout keeps it interesting, an 11 minute song has never felt so short to me.
The harp mixed with Joanna’s soft vocals at the beginning and end of the song is so gorgeous. It’s really something so special to listen to. There will never be another album that comes even close to this one from any artist, and I believe that no one can do what Joanna can do with her music.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 3
Of course, there are artists that might be somewhat similar to Joanna, but no one will ever sound just like she does. No artist will ever be able to write in the way that she does, or arrange their tracks and albums in the way that she does.
She is a creative mastermind and one of the most wonderfully unique artists I have ever listened to. Each one of her songs are put together with so much precision and expertise, it’s mesmerizing to listen to and read about.
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 3: '81
A shorter track after two very long tracks, ‘‘81’ is a soft track with beautiful strums of the harp layered with other instruments that give the track so much depth.
There is a soft and very pleasant instrumental to this song, and Joanna’s soft vocals are just stunning here. I love the way she sings on this track and the gentle harp instrumental is breathtaking to listen to.
The harp is such a beautiful instrument and Joanna has really taught me to appreciate it. I don’t normally love soft music - but Joanna’s music is a special kind of soft unlike any other music I have heard before. I might compare her to other artists but there is really no one that sounds quite like she does.
This is such a pretty song, that’s one of the words I can use to describe the sound of Joanna’s songs - they’re just pretty. It might seem like a word that doesn’t tell much, but it really, really does.
This track is a bit vague, the Genius page* says so and there isn’t a ton of information about who/what it is about, it talks about the garden of Eden and the sound of the instrumental really does give off that feeling beautifully.
(I have used both Genius and Wikipedia for my information for this review - I have to read the lyrics and their annotations to describe them and I typically build off of those and form my thoughts around them. Reading this information helps me to grasp the lyrics and their meaning for reviews like this one)*
It’s so interesting to me how her songs sound so happy yet bittersweet to me - and they really do sound like these pretty love songs at first, but then you look at the lyrics and you’re just crushed by reading them.
There is a feeling of forgiveness in this track - Joanna is forgiving someone and inviting them into her garden of Eden.
“The unending amends you've made
Are enough for one life, be done
Joanna believes that there is good in everyone, and she believes that anyone can start again and come back up from mistakes or rough patches. The lines above are just gorgeous and so beyond well put, it’s a beautiful statement - and being able to see the beauty in people is a wonderful trait for a person to have.
This is another track I had a hard time wrapping my head around, I grasped the first track quite well - but maybe writing so much has made me a little tired since this is a HUGE review. It’s a big album to unpack.
In this track, she could be talking to a lover, the listener, or really anyone in her life. It might not even be directed at anyone in particular - there might not even be any characters on this track.
Upon researching a bit more, it appears that ‘81, could really mean AD 1, as in the first year after the birth of Christ. This would fit into the theme of the garden of Eden and the innocence portrayed. The pronunciation of the two years are very similar, and it appears that this is what Joanna was going for.
How deeply poetic and intricate Joanna’s music is is really breathtaking. It’s amazing seeing each layer and grasping each song the more you read. This album has been a lot to digest, and I already found a 2 hour album crazy - but it’s taken me more than 2 hours just to get to the third track because of how deeply detailed the lyrics are.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section (and the little section below): 7
As you can tell, some track descriptions will be more detailed than others - I was feeling a bit worried about this at first but I think it’s fair for something like this, not all songs are as easy to understand, and some I will have more to say about than others.
All of the song descriptions have as much detail as I can really give - and as I’m writing this part it’s a bit late at night and I’ve been writing for over 2 hours. Of course I would love to finish this whole review in one night but this is my biggest project and longest album I have reviewed, so it’s a pretty crazy process!
It’s so cool being able to write a review like this, and I really feel a lot of passion for this project and Joanna’s music. Being able to share my opinions with like-minded and sweet people on Album of the Year is a thing I am so grateful for.
Also, a little thing I'm surprised by is that Joanna has never been on Saturday Night Live. I haven’t seen any artists like her on the show of course, but it would’ve been a really cool thing to see her as a musical guest.
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 4: 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓘𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓟𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓒𝓸.
This song starts out very differently from the others, the instrumental has a much different pace and the overall energy is much different here. It is almost a more bouncy sound and I love the way the instrumental sounds, it stands out so much from the other tracks and the change in pace keeps the album very interesting.
The layered vocals along with the instruments used as they build up and more layers form is really such a beautiful thing. The way the track progresses is stunning and this is another masterfully put together album.
This is another track about a relationship, it’s about that bit of good in a relationship that is about to crumble to the ground. This album is full of sad undertones with themes of breakups - so yeah, not the album I was expecting it to be* but in the best way possible.
(I was expecting more lovey dovey songs about her current relationship but this is not the case for this album at all, it may be a personal album but in a way that is rather cryptic and still detached from her real life, in a more poetic way)*
The song starts out with lines about being in a new state of love, being happy and doing well in the relationship - but it progresses to the crumbling of the relationship and how it isn’t working out.
Joanna is wondering if she should stay or go, if she should tough it out or leave because of the things that aren’t working. She’s wondering if she and her lover can agree on anything, making it clear that the two of them are fighting and the relationship is becoming rocky.
This conflict is something she feels she can not avoid - like she’s stuck in this situation and there’s nothing she can do about it.
Joanna reflects on having regrets, possibly about even getting into this relationship in the first place. She feels helplessly in love and yet the red flags are right there in front of her.
The title reflects on how there are good intentions with this relationship - but yet it will not stop the relationship from tumbling over. It’s clear that the relationship described in this track was not meant to be, and that these two are not fit for each other.
It’s possible that one of the problems in this relationship was with pregnancy - this is because of the line “This is blindness beyond all conceiving”, which may not mean this, but it is possible that the usage of the word conceiving is in relation to becoming pregnant - in this case it would be a struggle to become pregnant.
It is also possible that Joanna and her partner in this song have had troubles with commitment - she wants her partner to show her love since they’ve been sticking around - but there are some underlying problems that you can find beneath the surface.
And in between loving lyrics about an undying love and affection, the crumbling of the relationship is described.
“And no amount of talking is going to soften the fall” details how no matter how much they talk it out, the fallout is going to hurt just as bad regardless.
There’s a feeling of uncertainty throughout the lyrics, and the way the track progresses also shows the relationship progressing and in this case falling apart.
Joanna knows that this relationship isn’t right - that they aren’t meant to be, and she finally breaks up with this partner instead of continuing to try and fix something that can’t work.
She is overwhelmed and tired of the fight she has been through in this relationship - she wants to be held and comforted, even if it is just for a short while. She is tired of trying to patch up what can not be patched up.
Joanna sings about how even if you’ve been hurt, you have to open yourself back up and get back out there. You have to rise from the fall, and you have to grow from what has happened in the past.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 5
It surprises me how deeply tragic some of these lyrics are since it seems Joanna has been in very healthy relationships from what I know. I don’t know about the relationship she was previously in but her current relationship is beautifully sweet.
I think that this might end up being one of my favorites from the album - I love the feel of this song and the change in pace is really fun to listen to. It’s a beautifully complex track that is so compelling to listen to while having a seemingly fun atmosphere to it.
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 5: 𝓝𝓸 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮
A day later, I return back to ‘Have One on Me’. I spent like all night writing and had to take a break of course but I'm back with slightly more energy I think!
This track contains some more biblical references like ‘‘81’ does. It opens with “Allelu” repeated twice, a word that stems from “Hallelujah”.
Instrumentally, this is a softer track that includes soft strums and plucks of the harp along with Joanna’s soft vocals. Her singing is soft and slightly quiet on this track which gives it a very mellow and emotional feel overall.
And just like some of the other tracks on this album, this track represents the calm before a relationship unravels. There is a sense of ignorance as Joanna ignores all of the problems in this relationship - enjoying the physical contact without letting her emotions come into play.
There are multiple references to different fairy tales which adds so much to the way I think Joanna’s music sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale.
Another side to this song is that it could be about a failed pregnancy. Joanna isn’t one to shy away from heavy topics in her music - and this album shows that.
You can really look at the song either way, there are often multiple times to interpret Joanna’s songs which makes them that much more interesting to listen to and look into.
There is also the possibility about this song being more religious, being about the spiritual relationship that one can have with Jesus or any other religious figure - but I'm not sure that I really see it this way.
This is one of the tracks I have a bit of a hard time with - and the same can be said for others online. It’s hard for me to find any sources on what the track is really about, and what I am reading is really mixed in terms of interpretation.
The warning signs show, but Joanna stays in this relationship - toughing it out before it eventually crumbles apart.
The pale horse referenced in the track can either be a metaphor for the falling out of the relationship, or the loss of a child depending on which way you look at this track - this could also be one of the troubles of the relationship or one of the reasons it is not working for the couple.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 3
This is really quite the album to understand. It isn’t an easy album to digest and I am writing this as I listen, read, and try to take in the music. I don’t really hear/understand the lyrics until I look through them and their annotations, so there has been a whole lot of research while I’ve been writing this review. I find my information and it gets written down.
Joanna is a lyrical mastermind - her lyrics are so rich with meaning and her words are truly like poetry, they might be hard to unpack but there’s something so interesting in how each track comes together.
I’ve never heard anything quite like any of these songs before - there’s so much to be said about every single track and it’s just such a beautiful album. All of the sonic elements of the album are just stunning and the way it is arranged is so well thought out and well done.
This album really just feels so well put together, everything fits together like pieces of a puzzle.
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 6: 𝓑𝓪𝓫𝔂 𝓑𝓲𝓻𝓬𝓱
The last track of disc one is a very, very emotional one.
There is immediately a sorrow filled atmosphere when this track starts - and it’s honestly a hard one to hear because the emotion is so raw.
It is mostly assumed that this track is about the loss of a child due to a failed pregnancy - not the first time this album touches on this topic depending on how you look at the lyrics on some of the songs, but this is the track that faces this topic outright.
Joanna has described this track as a “nine minute ache” which could not be any more accurate. The sound of this track is just hauntingly sorrowful and Joanna’s vocals almost sound pained with her quiet and soft vocals.
This song has a very sad tone to it overall, and it is one of the most emotionally complex tracks I have ever heard. It’s easy to come across a sad song - but not one like this.
‘Baby Birch’ could really be referring to a lost child of any kind, one put up for adoption, one from a failed pregnancy, or even one lost due to an abortion. But the central theme is clear despite this detail not being upfront.
Joanna has not made any statements on who this track is about, but she has said that this album does draw inspiration from her life and experiences she has had.
Her voice breaks at one point in the song and it is just such a raw thing to hear. This is such an emotionally potent track and it’s a beautifully crafted track despite how tragic it is.
The way the track progresses and more instrumental layers are added later into the duration is just beautifully done, the drums add so much depth and there’s even a layer of guitar which is so interesting to hear in a Joanna Newsom album.
It is thought that one of the tracks on ‘Ys’ deals with the topic of abortion - so this could be another song in relation to that experience. I think that this could be the meaning of the song as a whole.
Birch trees are white - a colour associated with purity and innocence. This is a carefully written song title and line that has so much depth to it. The usage of colour subtly adds to the feeling and the theme which was so well done here.
“'Cause you know I hated to close the door on you” - this line makes a terminated pregnancy seem even more likely. The circumstances were not right for Joanna to have this baby, but she still wishes that she has.
This track is Joanna mourning her loss and it’s tragically full of hurt and sorrow. This is such an emotionally potent track with so much meaning and such a heavy feeling to it.
There are references to her album ‘Ys’ scattered throughout this track - making this like a track that continues some of the stories from that album.
I believe that no one but Joanna can make a song that has this much emotion in it. The way she writes so poetically manages to be cryptic yet so clear - she doesn’t give you all of the details, and you have to really look to see them sometimes.
Her music is like reading a long story all about different people and their experiences. It's incredible how she manages to make her music so full of depth and layers in so many different ways. How you can interpret these songs so differently with how the lyrics are written.
I have never seen songs written in the way that Joanna writes. Each line is picked with such precision and it’s such an incredible thing to look at and listen to.
There are more references to religious pieces on this track as well, and Joanna’s allusion to this incident is so tragically done - it’s so touching and so heartbreaking.
Joanna may have had to have her pregnancy terminated, a heartbreaking tragedy spilled out into a nine and a half minute track that will hit you so hard. The lyrics are so well crafted and the way Joanna spills out her feelings and struggles is so sad to listen to.
There is such intense emotion all throughout this track, and it’s such an impactful song in every way possible, this is one of the highlights of the album in terms of emotion and writing.
There is a deep feeling of regret on this track that is hauntingly sad. Everything about this track is just completely tragic in every way possible.
It’s clear that she wants to leave the past and this tragedy is clawing at her, her emotions are still ripe and she is still aching.
‘Baby Birch’ might just be the most tragic song I have ever heard. It’s gut wrenchingly sad and Joanna tackles this heavy topic in a way that is very well done.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 4
Total album plays after writing for disc 1: 37
This is an incredibly ambitious album that has so much going on throughout - it isn’t something you can sit and listen to casually, it’s an album you really have to take in.
Disc 1 alone has been a wild ride, and there’s even more to come in the second disc out of the three. It’s clear to see that this is Joanna’s magnum opus, each element is beautiful sonically and the album is incredibly put together.
Just writing for the first disc has taken me hours upon hours, but having this review come together like this is something I'm really, really proud of myself for.
If I could pick two artists to compare Joanna to, they would be Kate Bush and Björk - two incredibly acclaimed and creative artists. I think those two are really the only people I could compare Joanna to.
I think that the progression of some of the tracks as well as Joanna’s singing style sound somewhat similar to some of Kate’s music.
Joanna does not tie herself to any music scene and I really think this could be one of many reasons as to why her music sounds so ambitious. She doesn’t feel tied down to one genre and she has her own unique style that really can not be replicated.
When I first heard her music I wasn’t a huge fan of her vocals, but listening to this album and getting more into her music her voice has grown on me a whole lot. She has a wonderfully unique style of singing - but her style is a bit more changed up on this album.
The change in vocal style on this album is because of her developing vocal cord nodules. She was unable to sing or even speak for two long months, but this did not stop her from recording some of the instrumentals for this album during her recovery.
Her vocal injury occurred in the spring of 2009, and it changed her voice. Her high pitched voice was her natural voice and her preferred musical style at the time before the injury - but she has a softer singing voice on this album that I think really compliments the overall style of the album. Her voice fits the instrumentals very well and everything sounds so incredibly well put together.
She could've gotten surgery for the nodules on her vocal cords, but she had heard horror stories on how you could lose the ability to sing after being operated on, so she went on vocal rest instead just to be safe.
The injury stemmed from her touring without proper vocal training. She communicated with a dry-erase board and she now does extensive vocal exercises before shows, rehearsals, and sound checks
And a little fun fact about Joanna is that she’s actually a hip-hop fan! Her and Andy Samberg walked out to ‘Public Service Announcement’ by Jay-Z after their wedding ceremony which I think is super cool.
Joanna really highlights her experiences as a woman on this album and her songwriting is beyond incredible. She is truly a remarkable artist, and it’s crazy to think this isn’t even the halfway point of the album.
Joanna’s style is complex and has so many layers, and everything she does is done with so much grace and talent.
She’s a very down to earth woman which makes me respect her as an artist even more. I love when artists are down to earth and behave like normal human beings would - and Joanna does just that. Reading a bit of an interview she did when this album was still new just made me realize how great of a person she is outside of her music. She seems so genuinely sweet.
Joanna learned how to play the piano at just 4 years old, and she learnt how to play the harp when she was only 8. She’s been incredibly talented from the very start and it’s clear that she was destined to become a star and shine so incredibly bright.
“[the album] refers to a kind of self-sacrifice that is a theme in a lot of the songs. It's a very feminine thing… This constant wandering and diminishment of the self through the giving of the self… The way women were, and the way women are in that sense, is fundamental.”
This is such a vulnerable album with so much to listen for and read into. And now, I make my way to the second of the three discs.
DISC 2:
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 1: 𝓞𝓷 𝓐 𝓖𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓓𝓪𝔂
The first track of disc two is actually the shortest on the album - running in at only a minute and 48 seconds, which seems so incredibly short for a Joanna Newsom song since the rest of the tracks on this album are long for the most part.
This is a refreshing little breather after how intense the first disc was, the instrumental and overall sound is very soft and gentle, the track is almost delicate while Joanna sings beautifully and is backed by the gentle plucks of the harp.
The first line stating “the end is near” may be a reference to the relationship she has been narrating finally coming to an end. All of the struggle of that relationship may finally be coming to a close, and the song almost has a sense of peacefulness to it - I find that a lot of Joanna’s music has this feeling to it.
‘On A Good Day’ may be reflecting on how the relationship is ending, and how she feels relief because of this. There are also more allusions to the pregnancy discussed on the previous track ‘Baby Birch’.
“And I had begun to fill in all the lines
Right down to what we'd name her”
Even though this song does have a slightly calm feel to it, there is still that sense of ache and tragedy throughout its short runtime.
Joanna uses the image of a frozen creek to represent how the relationship has come to an end. The relationship has frozen just like the water of the creek.
At the end of this track, there is a more positive statement, this could be directed at a new, happier relationship - or the relationship has been rekindled and they are back together.
The creek metaphor used could also mean that the ice has melted at the end of the song and they have rekindled their love for one another. They may be going through a rough patch that has eventually gone back to good again.
There is also the viewpoint that this track could be about the loss of a baby like the previous track from disc one.
I think that this song fits more into being about a relationship and that relationship ending, but there are typically multiple sides to Joanna’s songs from what I am finding.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 7
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 2: 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓜𝓮, 𝓑𝓮𝓼𝓼
Joanna’s vocals are immediately striking on this track. Her voice stands out even more than usual and her singing is just ethereally beautiful.
Along with her beautiful vocals, the instrumental starts off so simple yet so elegant - sometimes the most simple of instrumentals on her tracks aren’t really all that simple at all, her music is so delicately crafted and is really a thing of beauty.
This is another track about a historical figure, this time it is Dick Turpin and his horse Black Bess.
But, just like the title track - this track does still relate back to Joanna and her personal experiences. It touches more on the tragic events detailed throughout the album, and there is a feeling of sorrow lingering throughout the song the more you look into it.
Joanna makes long songs seem like normal length tracks, the way the instrumentals progress and the amount of layers in each track just makes for so much variety and it keeps my interest so high up. No one but her can make music quite like this.
There are horns used on the track as well as the harp and other instruments which gives it such an interesting feel. The instrumental on this track is just breathtaking all throughout.
The melodies present on this album are so enchanting to listen to - and this is a track I think stands out more in terms of sound than lyrics to me personally.
This is another track I had a bit of a hard time wrapping my head around, some of these tracks have been harder to understand and get information than others, and this was one of them.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 2
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 3: 𝓘𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓪
“That one is a little bit about the strange, sad inner fission that arises from a wonky and vacillating homing instinct, like two warring magnetic fields operating on the same compass. It’s kind of a love song to Northern California, of course, and the place where I was born. I was thinking about what makes a place hard to leave, and what makes a place impossible to remain in.”
I’m back another day later to continue this review! It’s already taken me days and I’m just about halfway through the album now. Crazy to see how many pages this has become and how many words - I’ve really poured my heart and soul into this review.
This song has a very mellow feel to it much like the album as a whole. Joanna’s vocals are beautifully soft and she shows off a nice range while being backed by a beautiful instrumental track.
Continuing on with a general theme present on the album - this track touches more on sacrificing yourself, your aspirations, or anything about yourself for your lover. Joanna narrates a story where she is putting her lover before herself, letting herself be a being below them and showing an unfair and unhealthy dynamic.
The repetition of the word “cuckoo” throughout this track may be a reference to the time of this relationship being up entirely, and it can also be a reference to this relationship driving Joanna crazy.
The build before Joanna sings out “cuckoo” again and again is just beautiful, the instrumental reaches its peak here and slowly goes back into the calm again, the whole track before that moment was really just the calm before the storm, the calm before it all fell apart.
There are also more references to the pregnancy loss in the start of this track - it is a possibility that the opening lines of the track may be referring to this topic. There is a tightly packed metaphor about the feeling of emptiness, like something is missing within her - this could either be more on the pregnancy topic, or it could be about a relationship coming to a close.
Joanna starts this track with reminiscing before she metaphorically returns to her home in the lyrics. The first lines of the track are a different part and time than the rest of the track - despite the sound being unchanged for the first while of the song, there is a change in narrative present here.
Throughout this album there have been plenty of references to literature, historical figures, and other media - this track contains a reference to a poem by Lewis Carroll titled ‘Jabberwocky’.
“Home” in this track can really be a more spiritual metaphor if you look at it. Some people describe home as more of a feeling rather than a place, and I think that this is a true thing - sometimes places just feel like home, even when they aren’t.
Joanna is in a rather gloomy state on this track, and it seems that she is longing for home.
“But when you come and see me in California
She is comparing her heart to a real place with a border around it - her heart is a place that needs special entry and it’s clear that throughout her narrative on the album - her heart hasn’t been getting the treatment she needs. This album is so full of sorrow and tragedy, but not in a way that it makes me want to cry, not in a way that makes me too sad to listen to it, but rather in a beautifully done way - the songs seem so serene in tone if you don’t look deep into the lyrics which is something so interesting about Joanna’s music.
In her narrative, Joanna is dependent on others. She is more willing to see her partner thrive - even if it means she doesn’t get to thrive in the way that she needs to.
Joanna is continuing to grow in her narrative here, but it is clear that there is still a sense of worry, discomfort, and sorrow deep within her.
She is starting to realize her mistakes, and she is beginning to grow from them, beginning to move on and change her ways.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section + making some edits to my grammar throughout the review since I’ve been using quotation marks for titles, something I have been doing for a long time now that is not grammatically correct: 4
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 4: 𝓙𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓻𝓪𝓫𝓫𝓲𝓽𝓼
And after realizing her mistakes and moving on from the person she was with, she breaks down and goes right back to where she was.
This song sounds almost sweet when you first listen to it - but as soon as I started reading the lyrics that sweet feeling was replaced instantaneously.
Joanna wants to try and make the relationship work despite all of the hardships and how things have consistently gone sour, but she has a sense of hope here despite the clear future of it not working out once more.
She wants to move on from her problems, leave them in the past, and start this relationship back up once again. She loves them - but it’s clear that it isn’t good for her.
There are more biblical references scattered throughout this shorter than average track*, and it seems to imply that Joanna was drunk while deciding that she wanted to run back to her previous lover.
The time apart from this lover was not very long, and it’s clear that Joanna is incredibly vulnerable. She needs someone to lean on - and this lover, despite the hurt from the relationship, is who she runs to.
(This track only runs in at 4 minutes and 22 seconds which is really quite short compared to a lot of the other tracks on the album)*
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 2
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 5: 𝓖𝓸 𝓛𝓸𝓷𝓰
Joanna retells the tale of Bluebeard on this cinematic storybook of a track.
Bluebeard tries to kill his wife in this tale, and this could be an allusion to the state of the relationship that Joanna is narrating - she had her chance to leave, and she should’ve taken it, because all this relationship has brought is hurt and conflict.
“Who made you this way, who made you this way?
Who is going to bear your beautiful children?
Do you think you can just stop when you're ready for a change?
Who will take care of you when you're old and dying?”
Joanna questions her lover, wondering if things will ever really change, and wondering why they are treating her in the way she is constantly being treated. She is starting to see the relationship more clearly - she isn’t just ignoring the red flags anymore, she sees exactly what is going on and she begins to question her lover.
There is a section at the ending of the track where the tone shifts and the instrumental changes and it’s such a beautiful thing to listen to. The way Joanna shifts the sound of her tracks during their runtime makes them feel like multiple chapters to a story - and her long songs don’t even feel long to me anymore.
And despite all of this - Joanna still has a side of her that wants to care for them, she wants to protect and take care of this lover still despite the harm they have caused throughout this narrative.
She calls out this lover for not even seeing the pain they have caused her, and it’s clear that this relationship isn’t going to work out for her no matter how much she tries to save it.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 2
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 6: 𝓞𝓬𝓬𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽
The relationship has come to a close here.
Joanna has finally truly realized that she needed to leave - but a part of her still aches, she still longs for them, and she misses them deeply. They were a big part of her life - and having that removed left a big mark on her.
There isn’t a lot of information about this track at all, so it’s hard to say exactly what this track means - but it may be the final end to the relationship once and for all.
After such a long time in the relationship, Joanna can’t help but feel upset about the end of it - but she is going to move on to better things.
I saw someone say that this song may be about being in love with a traveling man, and this may be the case. Joanna is so tired of waiting on her lover, waiting for them to give her the love that she gives to them, waiting for them to work things out once and for all - but this relationship has come to an end, and so has the second disc of the album.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 1
Total album plays after writing for disc 2: 56
Disc 2 was another wild ride - and now it’s time for the third and final disc of the album.
I’m truly blown away by the artist that Joanna is - I always thought she was great, but this album is without a doubt her magnum opus in every way possible.
DISC 3:
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 1: 𝓢𝓸𝓯𝓽 𝓪𝓼 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓴
“The beginning of the end”.
The beginning of disc 3 also seems to be the final end to this relationship that has run its course throughout the album.
I could see in the first lines that this was Joanna finally saying goodbye to this lover. She is reminiscing on the relationship - and getting more and more fiery and intense while doing so.
The sound of this track just builds and builds into such an intense bundle of emotions and instruments, there is a fiery sound here, something you can imagine someone running away to in a scene from a movie.
She calls out all of the flaws and cries out in emotion while highlighting everything that was wrong with this relationship. She finally sees her worth shining through, and she runs to what is best from her - she runs away from this relationship.
Some of the lyrics on this track hint towards there being domestic abuse throughout the course of the relationship - this relationship has been hurting her in every way possible.
Joanna still hopes that her lover can change, but she is starting to see the red flags more clearly. She is ready to take a step back and she is beginning to realize fully just how toxic this relationship was.
Joanna feels unsafe in this relationship, and she finally sees it crystal clear here. She’s ready to run far, far away.
In terms of progression, this might just be my favorite track on the album. The way the instrumental just explodes after building and building is so breathtakingly attention grabbing.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 3
I’d like to mention now that I ordered the CD during the days I’ve been writing this review, yes, it’s been days and HOURS of writing, but so, so, SO worth it.
Today is day three - I started this review on the 13th of March, and it is now the 16th.
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 2: 𝓔𝓼𝓶𝓮
At first glance, I thought this was another track about a relationship - but upon looking into it, I found out that this song may once again be about children, this time it’s about the people around her having children.
Joanna is still missing that piece of her, she still wants a child of her own - but she finds solace in the experiences that her friends are having by welcoming new life into the world.
She feels a little left out - but she sees the beauty in things.
The lyrics highlight the sadness that she is feeling, but she finds peace in interacting with either a friend's baby or a relative, she is nurturing at heart and finds temporary sweetness in these interactions.
She starts to see things more positively, and it is clear that she is starting to recover on this disc of the album. This album really shows different stages of things through each disc which is such an interesting and beautiful thing. Joanna is a true visionary.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 1
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 3: 𝓐𝓾𝓽𝓾𝓶𝓷
This track has such a gloomy, almost empty feeling to it. The atmosphere created as soon as the track starts is just so sad.
Joanna continues to wait on this relationship, until she doesn’t.
I think this track is her finally saying goodbye to this lover she has held on to for no good reason, she is finally walking away and truly realizing everything - ‘Soft as Chalk’ was the start of her realization - but this track is the final realization.
She is returning to her hometown, and seemingly finally taking that full step away from this relationship. The story she is narrating is starting to come to its conclusion.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 1
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 4: 𝓡𝓲𝓫𝓫𝓸𝓷 𝓑𝓸𝔀𝓼
Here, she starts her true road to recovery.
She is nearly broken, but she is finding ways to mend herself back together, finding opportunities to grow and thrive despite her hardships.
And what does she find to lead her to her path of healing? A dog. She bonds with this stray dog and forms a strong relationship with it. She grows incredibly attached to her new pet.
She seeks for comfort in this dog - but her problems still chip away at her. She is trying plenty of different ways to comfort herself - but she’s still struggling. Her road to recovery is here, but it’s a rocky one.
She is seeking guidance, and still very upset by everything that has happened - but good things may be ahead for her.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 1
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 5: 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓯𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓮𝓻
And at last, she is starting to find more peace.
She is reminiscing, looking back at the good, the bad, and the ugly. There are lyrics that describe both peace and terror - this could be how she is feeling now, or how she was feeling during the relationship.
There may have been moments of both sweetness and sourness throughout the relationship, and that could be what Joanna is looking back on and singing about in this track.
She still seeks love, but she is scared deep down inside of being hurt again. She has been through it all, and she is scared that the cycle will continue to repeat.
“Whose is the hand that I will hold?
Whose is the face I will see?
Whose is the name that I will call
When I am called to meet thee?”
She wonders who she will meet now, who she will cling to - she is codependent and looking for another lover, one who will care for her, one who will be there for her through it all, one who will listen to her, one who will love her.
There are more references to God on this album, and there are clear ties to religion throughout this track.
This track almost feels like the calm after the storm, not before, but after. Everything has come to a close, and this track is just before the conclusion of the album.
It seems that now, she is not missing the previous lover like she had been before. She is moving on, looking for a relationship that is right for her. She still wants another relationship, but she also has a fear of being hurt once again.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 2
𝓣𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓴 6: 𝓓𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓢𝓾𝓯𝓯𝓲𝓬𝓮
And here we are, the conclusion, the final track. It’s almost crazy that I'm finally finishing the album as well as the review. I’m so impressed and honestly amazed with myself for writing something of this size - I was intimidated by this album, but I had no reason to be.
Finally, in this track, she finds herself moving on.
She is packing her bags and moving on, she could finally be moving out of her past lover's house to somewhere nearby, or moving to a new town, city, or country entirely.
There are callbacks to other tracks from the album, and the fact this album concludes with her finally moving and finding herself is just so satisfying. What a way to end an album.
I think that this is a concept album - I haven’t seen it called that but I think it really has to be. The way the stages of this relationship are sung about throughout the discs and individual tracks is such a beautifully done thing, and such a creative thing as well.
It is implied that this previous partner knows all of the harm they have done to her, but they still deny the magnitude of hurt it has caused her. She points out everything that was wrong, and she finally moves on once and for all.
“It does not suffice for you to say I am a sweet girl
Or to say you hate to see me sad because of you
It does not suffice to merely lie beside each other
As those who love each other do”
Joanna finally calls out the fact that she has been lied to. The true feelings that should be there are not present - they behave like lovers, but there isn’t that true connection there - in reality, Joanna had been in a world of pain because of this lover and his behavior.
She knows that this partner will not be as upset by her by this breakup, and she has come to terms with this. She is ready to move on, and nothing is stopping her anymore. She is not going to try to wait for the relationship to be rekindled anymore.
There isn’t a pretty finish to this relationship, but Joanna is leaving and moving on. She’s moving to a new place without this lover.
She finally stopped seeing things through rose coloured lenses, and the red flags became clear to her.
Joanna had a lot of love to give, but this partner did not
- and finally, their time together is done entirely. Joanna is moving on, and so will her past partner. She will no longer be hurt by him, and she is off to brand new beginnings, she is on the road to finding herself even more than she was before.
Times I listened to the track while writing this section: 2
Disc three was a tough one for me - not every track had any clear information, and I was finding my descriptions for the tracks to be a bit shorter than some of my other ones. Despite that, I am still quite impressed with myself and how much I wrote for this album - long album, long review.
Joanna’s music has to be some of the most beautiful, well thought out, and well arranged I have ever heard. Some of her songs have a medieval feel with the instrumentals which is such an interesting and beautiful sound for music.
I’m not the type to listen to a ton of folk music, but I think that Joanna is the best in the genre. No one can make music quite like this - the raw emotion, beautifully poetic writing, and phenomenal instrumentals all make for the perfect album.
If I could give this a score higher than 100, I absolutely would.
I wholeheartedly think that this is my best work, I poured hours upon hours into this review, and I honestly had a pretty good time doing it. It got tiring of course, but it came together wonderfully.
I was so excited to finally share this and complete it, and I can’t wait to hear people’s thoughts on it! I of course promoted this best as I could to get the word out because this was such an exciting one for me!
This was a tough one to write, and I had a bit of trouble with some of the tracks, but I wrote so much for each and every one of them, it was tiring, but I loved working on something this big. It’s honestly quite rewarding.
I think my favorite track overall is ‘Good Intentions Paving Company’. I love the instrumental and tone of the track so much, and it reminds me a bit of the style on her debut album.
Every single element of this album is just incredible, and I hope my review did it justice. This was quite the journey, and the Google Doc I have been working on is 29 pages long. If you haven’t listened to Joanna Newsom before - I recommend her so, so much. She is such a wonderful artist and a kind soul, and her music is some of, if not the most beautiful I have ever heard.
Thank you to everyone who reads this, interacts with it, or even shares it! I am so excited to be sharing this with everyone! 🧡
Wow very well written!