Joanna Newsom

wiredharbor22 said:I actually liked the harpsichord the most.

Yeah, maybe that's where my issue with this whole genre lies, since honestly, I don't even know what a harpsichord actually is. 😳.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been hooked on pop-rock, and pretty much everything I've listened to or felt like I understood falls somewhere under that big umbrella.

Don't get me wrong, it doesn't always have to be just guitars and catchy hooks.

Besides, I'm pretty sure even The Beatles used a harpsichord in at least one track, but once the harpsichord takes center stage—or a harp, which I think I recognize, though I'm probably wrong, is a harp just a lyre? I'm totally lost here—that's when things start getting complicated for me. 🤷

The absolute best moments in her discography...

Peach, Plum, Pear — specifically that "I am Blue, and unwell" stretch
Emily — that whole part about the meteorite
Only Skin — when she goes "all my bones they are gone, gone, gone" and everything that follows

With this new stuff, I’m really digging how she mentions being "in the Garden" (of Eden)😁

Edit: Totally blanked on these...

"Can you hear me? will you listen?
don't come near me, don't go missing
in the lissome light of evening
help me, Cosmia, I'm grieving"

driftingeagle27 said:...

The harpsichord served as a precursor to the piano, much like the lyre paved the way for the harp; the true distinction lies within the mechanics, the technical execution, and the resulting timbre of the instruments.
In practice, Joanna Newsom manages to blend those ancient, classical textures with contemporary pop music in a remarkably successful and inventive manner—all without descending into the more predictable territory of artists like Vanessa Mae or Yanni.

hiddenhound3 said:Honestly, Joanna does a pretty killer job blending those vintage, classic instruments with modern pop sounds.

Sure, that’s fine, and I get that’s basically the whole point... more or less. But on one hand, there isn't enough actual pop here, and on the other, all this heavy seriousness doesn't feel particularly convincing or even real to me... or maybe I just can't stand that specific poetic vibe. When you put it all together, the whole thing feels incredibly pretentious, and with all that intense, colorful layering—which isn't really my thing—it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth; if I'm being honest, it actually kind of grates on my nerves.

Like I said, maybe I'm just missing something. But that shouldn't be a reason to get wiped, blacklisted, or banned, or for people to start throwing insults around.

Look, if someone thinks they can actually explain it to me or help me see where they're coming from, cool; I guess that's what a forum is for. If not, that's fine too, though I'm just the type of person who, when I think something is great, likes to occasionally explain to someone who hates it why they're wrong.

I'm just saying, you shouldn't have to be a die-hard Joanna Newsom fan just to be treated like a decent person to talk to, or at least to be tolerated.

driftingeagle27 said:That’s fine, and I get that it’s intended to be that way... more or less. But on one hand, there just isn't enough pop for me, and on the other, all that heavy seriousness doesn't feel particularly convincing... or maybe I just don't resonate with that kind of poetic style. It all comes across as incredibly pretentious to me, and with all that intense color everywhere (which isn't my thing), it leaves me with a pretty bad impression; honestly, it actually irritates me.

Again, it's possible I just don't get it. But surely that shouldn't be a reason to get erased, blacklisted, or banned, or for people to use profanity toward me...

Look, if someone thinks they can—or should—explain it to me or at least help me see their side, then cool; I suppose that's what this forum is for. If not, that's fine too, though I'm just the type of person who, when I think something is great, occasionally wants to explain to someone who hates it why they might be wrong.

I mean, you shouldn't necessarily have to be a fan of Joanna Newsom to be accepted as a conversationalist here, or at least tolerated.

Well, see, I love the color. 😁 With PPP, I remember being in a bit of a funk for no particular reason, and a friend messaged me on AIM to send it over. As soon as it started, I fell in love with it, 😍, 🙂 every single part of it. Love happened and survived the questioning. And now, whenever I play it, I get a little rush. 😁

I don't understand what you're after. You didn't like it, but I did. I can't force my emotions onto you. This clearly isn't something you would ever enjoy, and I don't see why you need us to explain why we like it.🤷

wiredharbor22 said:I don't get why you need us to spell out exactly why we dig it. 🤷

Why not? 😕 So what, if someone likes it, that’s an axiom, and if they don't, that's just another axiom, so what, we gonna open two separate threads now?

I can't even begin to process this first one.

I'm actually a huge fan of Joanna Newsom.

Same here.

Same here.

I'm a fan too.

Second:

Newsomov really gets on my nerves.

Man, tell me about it. Same here.

Same here, honestly...

Whatever.

And now they’re actually coming after me for not laying out a formal argument like they wanted. 🤷

Why wouldn't we? They were just talking. So, what's the deal with Joanna Newsom?

Hm, take a look at what others have actually been posting. They weren't just raising their hands to say they're fans; they were sharing what they actually enjoy about the music. You’re just stuck on how much you dislike it. Fine, if it's bad to you... so what? It feels like you're desperate to love Joanna and you're begging us to give you a reason to. You don't need one. It's okay, there's plenty of other music out there... 🤷

I'm listening through some albums right now and it's hitting the spot. It's quite soothing for a lazy afternoon. I don't really have the focus for deep listening at the moment, so it's more like pleasant background noise...

wiredharbor22 said:Look, if you actually bother to read what people were posting, they weren't just raising their hands when asked if there were fans, they were actually sharing what they liked about the music.

Yeah, sure, but most of them only started talking after I showed up.😉.

driftingeagle27 said:That’s true, but mostly because I was the one who spoke up first 😉.

Since you were the one who jumped in right at the start... 🙏

wiredharbor22 said:It's just because you were one of the first people to jump in on this thread. 🙏

Look, let's not get ahead of ourselves here, I'm not the main attraction, Joanna Newsom is.

Anyway, it's about time this thread actually had some substance worth reading 🙂.

driftingeagle27 said:...

It is hardly a major issue. One either enjoys something or one does not, and while we have concluded that this is merely a matter of taste, I have no intention of attempting to sway anyone else; I perfectly understand that certain people simply may not grasp the specific brand of poetics that appeals to me. Joanna Newsom is an idiosyncratic artist, and I find it quite logical why you might perceive her as pretentious. However, that particular brand of exaggeration does not leave a negative impression on me; quite simply, I enjoy it. I find great pleasure in that vibrant spectrum of both sonic and visual aesthetics, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with being intentionally flamboyant. You actually mentioned Banhart yourself, who I believe belongs to this same category, alongside artists like Baby Dee, Antony and Johnsons, David Tibet, and several others. 🙂

hiddenhound3 said:Big deal. Either you dig it or you don't, and once we decide it's all just a matter of taste, I'm not about to try and change anyone's mind because I totally get that some people just aren't going to vibe with the kind of poetry that hits for me.

Look, it’s not all just subjective preference; quality actually exists, 😉period.

Btw Antony is easily the most grating guy out of that whole colorful mess; compared to him, JN is almost likable.

Look, just so driftingeagle27 doesn't end up looking like the lone rebel here, I figured I'd jump into the fray myself.

It feels to me like even if we can't fully pin down the exact reason why we gravitate toward certain music, we can certainly get close. There’s a massive spectrum of things out there—from music to theater to literature—that didn't click for me at first, but eventually won me over through sheer experience, or simply because I learned something about them by talking to someone who actually gets it. Passion for a particular sound can be contagious. Besides, music isn't some binary experience where it either hits you or it doesn't.

On that note, I’m not exactly feeling this "cosmia" thing I just clicked on either. To my ears, it feels like the result of blending those soft, mellow instruments with a voice that's just a bit too flowery and sweet. Call me crazy, but I find that truly compelling art usually carries a hint of ugliness within it; I just don't buy into this concept of "absolute beauty," and it fails to grab me. Does Joanna possess that edge of something provocative or slightly off-putting, or do we just have fundamentally different aesthetics? I'm not sure if I've articulated my position perfectly—I feel like I'm lacking the right vocabulary here—but honestly, I’d much rather listen to, say, a slightly fuzzy electric guitar than a harp tinkling away.

ruggedjackal46 said:Does Joanna also possess that spark of being provocative or slightly repulsive, or do we simply have a different aesthetic preference?

No, she is pure beauty 😍

By the way, there is something to be said for that tiny speck of ugliness—those raspy voices that carry the scent of cigarette smoke, or a melody that feels imperfectly tuned as a stylistic choice, much like that hysterical vibrato you hear in 😁 Banhart. For me personally, expression and individuality are what truly matter.

ruggedjackal46 said:I don't think we can ever fully pinpoint exactly why certain music resonates with us... but perhaps we can get close. There are so many things—from certain songs to plays or books—that didn't click for me at first, yet eventually grew on me through experience and what I became... Learned... I was just speaking with someone who lives and breathes this kind of music. Passion like that can be contagious... It’s more than just an experience you have... It either lands, or it doesn't...

I actually do. Sometimes I find myself enjoying something I’d normally dislike, just because seeing someone else's genuine passion for it is infectious... provided I haven't already formed a bad impression of it before.

I think there’s a season for everything. You might find Cosmia unappealing or even terrible right now, but one day you might find yourself revisiting it... without knowing why, you'll press play and realize how much has changed...

I just finished listening to Ys for the first time. I can't find the right words yet, other than to say it was beautiful. Truly... 😁

ruggedjackal46 said:To stay on topic, I find myself equally unimpressed by this "Cosmia" I just listened to. To my ears, it feels like a mere marriage of saccharine instrumentation and an overly sweet vocal delivery—pleasant enough, perhaps, but ultimately superficial. Call me cynical if you must, but I have always found that truly compelling art requires a certain element of ugliness; I simply cannot find any substance in this supposed "absolute beauty," nor does it hold my interest. Does Joanna possess that necessary edge of provocation or repulsion, or do we simply operate under different aesthetic frameworks? I am uncertain if I have articulated my position clearly, as I struggle to find the precise vocabulary, but I would much rather listen to a slightly distorted electric guitar than the tinkling of a harp.

You explained it well, though I must admit, I have never once experienced her music as being purely beautiful.
If I were forced to choose a defining descriptor, I would select: melancholic.
Melancholy can never be "absolutely beautiful" to me, and therein lies that touch of ugliness—that specific contrast or authenticity that you seem to be searching for.
Of course, to truly grasp this, one likely needs to pay closer attention to the lyrics.
They function, in many places, as pure poetry. For instance:

the hills are groaning with excess,
like a table ceaselessly being set

to me, that is exquisite.

Call me crazy, but I feel like those songs would just play on a loop in my head, and I'd simply be reading along to the lyrics...😁

driftingeagle27 said:Can you actually back that up? Like, why? What makes it so great to you?

Music is basically just an emotional experience at its core. Whatever you happen to vibe with—whether it’s death metal, jazz, Britney Spears, or Joanna Newsom—it hits because it triggers these specific associations, feelings, and memories that belong solely to you. No one else can see the world through your eyes, no matter how hard they try...

That’s why you "don't see how it could relate to your life." Because it doesn't have to. Why would it? Most of us feel that way about pretty much any music we don't listen to, so it's really nothing out of the ordinary...

Though I doubt you'll be satisfied with my answer (since you seem to be looking for someone to win an argument with, which is impossible), since you're pushing so hard, I'll try to explain why I dig Joanna Newsom...

First off, it's her voice and that singing technique, which is just so unique and incredibly gutsy. On one hand, she breaks every single rule in the book and sings in a way that would probably give a vocal coach a literal heart attack. But on the other hand, she nails every single note, she's got perfect pitch, and her vocal cords hit these insanely pure frequencies. Plus, while she's singing, she's essentially acting. She can channel so many different moods and personas—humor, sarcasm, being two-faced, nostalgia, euphoria, anxiety, defiance... she communicates all of that through her tone rather than just the lyrics. That's a rare skill, and honestly, not many singers have that kind of instinct...

The second thing for me is the harp, which is easily one of my favorite instruments, right up there with the cello. I can't really "argue" why I love it, though. It's just the texture of the sound; it can feel warm and soft one second, then sharp and cold the next. I love how those rapid-fire notes cascade down almost all at once, like a bunch of pearls spilling onto the floor. That's just how it looks in my head. Maybe that means nothing to you, but I process music quite visually, so my explanations might not make total sense to everyone...

Thirdly, it's the songwriting. She could publish her lyrics as books and they'd still be incredible. I love the contrast between that unconventional, almost childlike voice and those archaic, old-school verses. Her songs feel like epic poems; it's hard to believe someone so young wrote them. There's so much depth there. She can inhabit different characters within a song, playing all of them plus the narrator. Sometimes it feels less like listening to a track and more like watching a play. Honestly, I always picture her as a character in some stage production, and I really like that persona because she has such this intriguing, magnetic charisma...

So yeah, that's why I'm into Joanna Newsom.

Happy now? 🙂

Brenda Scott14 said:I get what you're saying, but honestly, I’ve just never been able to experience her music as something purely beautiful...
If I had to pick one word for it, I’d go with: melancholy.
To me, that sense of melancholy can't ever feel "absolutely beautiful," and that's where that seed of ugliness comes in, or maybe it's just that raw authenticity you're looking for...
Of course, to really catch that vibe, you probably need to pay closer attention to the lyrics.
Which, in some places, are basically straight-up poetry. Like:

the hills are groaning with excess,
like a table ceaselessly being set

And that part is stunning to me...

I know EXACTLY what you mean! I actually got Ys as a gift, maybe for Christmas or a birthday a few years back. Even though I’d heard one song by Joanna Newsom before and liked it (Book of Right On), I just couldn't get through Ys because it was exactly that—way too melancholy. For the longest time. But then one day it just hit me, and I listened to it again and it finally clicked. From there, I slowly started diving into the rest of her discography. How you perceive melancholy really just depends on your mood, or even just whatever phase of life you're going through at the moment...

It's just like what she said...

wiredharbor22 said:Again, I think there's a time for everything. Maybe Cosmia feels totally mid or even gross to you right now, but maybe one day you'll find yourself remembering it and listening to it without even knowing why, and you won't even realize how much your perspective shifted...

Exactly that...
🙂

Emily Parker32 said:The third reason lies within her lyricism. Honestly, she could publish those lyrics as standalone books and still leave us all thoroughly impressed. There is this striking contrast between her unconventional, almost childlike vocal delivery and those archaic, old-fashioned verses she weaves. Her songs function more like epic poems; is it even possible to believe someone so young could compose such works? They possess an incredible depth of maturity. She has this unique ability to inhabit various characters within a single song, effectively playing every role alongside the narrator. At times, does one even feel as though they are listening to a track, or are they actually witnessing a full-scale theatrical production?

I couldn't agree more. There is something truly captivating about how she seamlessly weaves those sweeping, epic mythological themes together with such painstaking attention to the most trivial, minute details—you know the type? It is nothing short of mesmerizing.

Emily Parker32 said:Is the perception of melancholy merely a byproduct of one's current mood, or perhaps even a reflection of a specific phase in one's life?

For years now, I have existed in a state of persistent melancholy. 🙏