#205

The milk eyed mender definitely has the most straightforward folk/pop songs on, the others have far more ambitious sprawling compositions but if I were to start with her it’d definitely be the earlier stuff. Apologies if already posted-

2 Likes
#206

I think this is always the hardest thing about recommending her to newbies. TMEM definitely has her most immediate songs on it, but it’s also where her voice is at its most, erm… rawest. Subsequent albums her voice seems to soften and warm up a bit. I could never play TMEM at work without someone making mewling cat noises over the top.

1 Like
#207

Probably my favourite song of hers. I just love that early period of her career with the Walnut Whales and Yarn and Glue eps and The Milk Eyed Mender. For me that was her peak, pre-throat operation when her voice was at its idiosyncratic best. Discovering her at the time she sounded so fresh, so unique. Remember seeing her at The Queen Elizabeth Hall back in 2004 and it was simply electric. Travelled out to Stockholm on the Have One on Me tour - that’s how much I’m willing to travel for her.

It’s a 5.

#208

Such a massive FIVE. She’s fantastic. Was lucky enough to see her do Ys start to finish at the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and it was the best thing ever.

Can’t wait for her next record. Always feels like a proper event.

2 Likes
#209

She’s gonna knock Aretha ‘right off their fucking perch’, isn’t she?

1 Like
#210

No chance, far fewer people voting 1 for Aretha. Her voice had far wider appeal.

3 Likes
#212

I still think about the version of Bridges & Balloons from the Divers tour, absolutely incredible.

Almost the same with those gigs too - seen her twice properly (and once a bit steamin’ in the pouring rain at EOTR), both those shows at the Royal Concert Hall, didn’t know an awful lot going in to the first one and was blown away.

I can’t really disassociate Divers with real life stuff at that time, find it a pretty difficult but beautiful listen - even thinking of Time As A Symptom makes me want to greet a bit. Very easy 5

2 Likes
#213

I’ve only heard Divers but that’s enough for me to give her a 5, love it. I really should get round to the other albums some time.

#214

Give her a 1 you coward!

8 Likes
#215

YOU AGAIN

7 Likes
#216

I am currently listening to Joanna Newsom for the very first time.

5 Likes
#217

What have you started with Funkhouser?

#218

Ys. Partly because it’s winning the poll and partly because at the time loads of people told me I’d love it and should listen to it, which is why I never did.

1 Like
#219

Respect.

#220

Good starting point IMHO. I’d be interested to know how you get on with it.

1 Like
#221

Halfway through track 2. Thinking about voting her a 5 already tbh.

18 Likes
#222

Spoiler alert but Ys gets better later on (if you have 16 minutes to kill)

1 Like
#223

Not sure I could give someone a 5 unless I’d been a fan for hmm 2 years probably

Once again, fav part of these for me is hearing everyone’s different scoring thresholds and rationales

2 Likes
#224

Just bunged all of Joanna Newsom’s albums on my phone. Two hours of driving a day gives me ample time to reacquaint myself with her later work. There’s a strong chance I’ll be upgrading my score to a 5 before the polls close.

1 Like
#225

I’m quite trigger happy with the 5s usually. And the 1s, obviously.

1 Like