1014. Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006)

Track Listing

1. Emily
2. Monkey & Bear
3. Sawdust & Diamonds
4. Only Skin
5. Cosmia

Review

While not the best album since the invention of the potato chip, no matter what they've told you, Ys is indeed a very great album. Consisting of only 5 tracks there is still a lot of variety to be had here, of course it is variety within a minimalist folk-harp style, but it never gets boring.

Newsom constructs ever shifting musical suites with some great lyric writing and non-traditional song-structures... there's not a chorus, bridge or guitar solo to be had here, but do not let that put you off... in fact that is exactly what should turn you on.

She definitely has a distinct vocal style, somewhat reminiscing of Björk without the silly accent or schizophrenia but with a drawl. All in all this is one of the great albums of new folk music, a very rewarding musical style indeed full of complexities and which rewards repeated listenings.

Track Highlights

1. Monkey and Bear
2. Only Skin

Final Grade

10/10

Trivia

From Wikipedia:

The album, particularly the length of the songs and orchestral arrangements, was inspired by the 1971 Roy Harper album Stormcock.

Monkey and Bear: