Joanna Newsom - The Milk-Eyed Mender

Quick Info:
-Originally released March 23, 2004
-Debut full-length from northern California harpist
-Sounds like: quirky harp-driven songs of poetry fronted by an unmistakably unique voice
-Lyrics about dirigibles, mollusks, peaches, plums, and pears
-RIYL Texas Gladden, Devendra Banhart, White Magic

Highlights: Sprout And The Bean, Sadie, Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie



*Full album YSI available on request.

i hoped people had forgotten about her

Could never convince myself that I liked this album. But I'd still want to hear her next release.

I think she's good. I am just curious to know when we're gonna get a follow-up. I would say that half of the album is flawless made perfectly average by the utter boredom one may experience from the other half.

I originally heard this fall. But haven't heard anything recently.

It is being arranged by Van Dyke Parks, though.

I enjoy a bunch of it, but if I'm listening to it at work, I pause it anytime someone comes into my office rather than have to explain what I'm listening to and why I would want to listen to it.

Or I'll cue up "Peach, Plum, Pear" and say "You wanna hear a woman who sings exactly like Alfalfa?"

Also heard that it was to be an hour long and only five songs. But Van Dyke Parks, oh!

Love the "Milk Eyed Mender" with abandon. If my dad can embrace her voice, so can you pussies.

Still love this album.

No kidding. The only album that I used to put on at my old work and would always get comments on. The amount of scoffing remarks I got for this one album outnumbered all the Bjorks, Daniel Johnstons, and anything else combined.

I did have somebody ask me to pause whatever ambient CD I was listening to so he could figure out which part was the music and which was the air conditioning hum.

For some reason the term "milk-eyed mender" really bothers me. The name alone is stopping me from actively listening to this.

It just makes me think of the Cocteau Twins' song "Suckling the Mender" and their album Milk and Kisses.

Update:

New album tentatively due in November and tentatively titled Ys.

The music alone is gorgeous, I really have the obvious problem here- the voice. God knows I tried and one of my friends had a convincing comparison to Blue by Joni Mitchell and told me that Dylan's voice is jsut as jarring, but the fact that I've had decades to get used to it makes it seem not as bad.

I just don't have decades for Joanna, but I will give her next record a listen to see if I like it better. Props to those who can get past it.

Can I get a decent "Album of the day" up in here?

Challah...

Can I get a decent "Album of the day" up in here?

Challah...

Could you post that one more time? I still don't get it.

I thought they were supposed to be turds, but now it appears like it's some kind of food.

Challah bread. The point? Who can say.