| Joanna Newsom Have One on Me |
|  |
 | Tracklist:
1.1 Easy
1.2 Have One on Me
1.3 '81
1.4 Good Intentions Paving Company
1.5 No Provenance
1.6 Baby Birch
2.1 On a Good Day
2.2 You and Me, Bess
2.3 In California
2.4 Jackrabbits
2.5 Go Long
2.6 Occident
3.1 Soft as Chalk
3.2 Esme
3.3 Autumn
3.4 Ribbon Bows
3.5 Kingfisher
3.6 Does Not Suffice
Release Date: 02/23/2010 | |
| | other reviews | jeremologyy (4.5)
This is a beautiful piece of art by one of the most talented musicians of the current century.... | Channing Freeman STAFF (4.5)
Have One On Me is the best hug you'll ever receive.... | Mika DeLoach (1.5)
All in all, I would suggest to anyone who desires a method of torture for small animals do not liste... |
On 41 Lists
|
| Summary: A great album is hidden in here somewhere. |
Well, credit where credit is due - Have One on Me is an absolutely gigantic leap forward from Ys; large chunks of Have One on Me feel like Newsom has had a good look at herself and whipped herself into shape. Gone are the airy-fairy whimsies; she no longer spends all of her time with her head in the clouds. That's surely closely tied to the fact that these songs bear much more of her influences than anything she's done yet, from the obvious (songs like "Easy" are pure peak-period Kate Bush), to the slightly unexpected ones that makes sense (Regina Spektor's vocal quirks appear here almost as regularly as Bjork's did on the last album, and touches of Joni Mitchell in the '70s abound), to the completely leftfield ("You and Me, Bess" takes great chunks of its melody from "The Old Main Drag" by The Pogues). That's definitely not a criticism; she's taking some very good influences and putting them to very good use, and she stays well away from simply stealing. What's more, that open-ness to external influences means grounding herself - which is EXACTLY what she needed to do. Really, it's a miracle this album sounds the way it does, given the circumstances; she must be the only musician in history to dump Steve Albini and somehow become less pretentious.
And yet, there are 3 CDs of this.
What. The. Hell.
I don't understand how any songwriter can identify their major flaw and correct it as acutely as Newsom does here, only to immediately throw it all out of the window by making such a stupid judgement call. There is just no avoiding the reality that Have One on Me is 60 minutes of music stretched over 125 - there is just no reason for "In California" to be 8 and a half minutes rather than 4, or "Esme" to be 8 rather than 3. Of the longer songs here (let's say all the ones over seven minutes, for argument's sake), around two-thirds of them are utterly bloated for no discernible reason.
It's a shame, because she occasionally reveals herself to be an artist that only truly excels when given space. Look no further than "Autumn" for that - it's stark, arresting, beautiful, vulnerable, and it's unquestionably her finest song yet. The fact that it falls where it does (right in the middle of the third disc) is a Godsend, and is surely the only reason why listening to this album in one sitting is even possible.
Yet, while she generally plays to her strengths, she's guilty of allowing her weaknesses to be exposed too often for this to be a great album. I guess that's what defines Joanna Newsom's career up to this point; of all the virtues a musician could possibly exhibit, she proudly displays all the over-rated ones (invention, idiosyncrasy, independence) and resolutely refuses to show any of the under-rated ones (brevity, subtlety, restraint). It's no wonder she's such a critic's darling, but it's also no mystery why she'll never truly cross over to a mass audience like some of her most obvious contemporaries have. As an aside related to both of those points, it also needs to be said that Newsom isn't anywhere near as good a singer as she thinks she is; far too often she closes her eyes and pretends she's Celine Dion going for the Hollywood vocal, when she'd do better to open them and realise that her fans spend their free time in student unions, not casinos.
So three CDs of what material, and to what end? Hard to say, really; it's clearly her best album, but it's also her most frustrating, because it really drives home her potential and hints at so much greatness without ever truly delivering it. At least it offers up a vision of her next album, one that's genuinely worth all the hype. I'm happy to take that.
|
| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3
I don't think this review's particularly great, but a couple of people asked me to post it, so.
Digging: Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III of IV) | | | Album Rating: 3
It's scary how closely this review mirrors my thoughts on this album
It's no wonder she's such a critic's darling, but it's also no mystery why she'll never truly
cross over to a mass audience like some of her most obvious contemporaries have. As an aside related
to both of those points, it also needs to be said that Newsom isn't anywhere near as good a singer as
she thinks she is; far too often she closes her eyes and pretends she's Celine Dion going for the
Hollywood vocal, when she'd do better to open them and realise that her fans spend their free time in
student unions, not casinos.
And this is the best thing I've ever heard someone say about her everevereverever
Digging: Minus the Bear - Planet of Ice | | | Album Rating: 4
nicholas butler, i'm surprised at you!
Digging: 90 Day Men - To Everybody | | | Album Rating: 4.5
this is too indie enough for nicky
also thank God she isn't Celine Dion
Digging: P.O.S. - Audition | | | Album Rating: 4.5
u spelled judgment wrong FAGGOT
Digging: Circa Survive - Blue Sky Noise | | | Album Rating: 3.5
agreeeeeeeeed
Digging: Wolf Parade - EXPO 86 | | |
review is wrong but that's expected of a nick butler review for something that is actually good
Digging: Ghastly City Sleep - Moondrifts
| | |
iai why are you still writing reviews
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I actually agree with a lot of your points. As it is nothing feels too long until I've simply had enough of Joanna Newsom, which doesn't happen often. When you mention her resolute refusal to show subtlety or brevity, I feel that those are great aspects about her music, they're just in service to a overall concept that amplifies them.
Digging: Menomena - Mines | | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
agree with lewis on all points made. really great review.
Digging: The Morning Benders - Big Echo | | |
loved reading this. the review had all the characteristics you wish the album did
Digging: The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America
| | |
Good review. Fight the power and rate it less than 4!
| | |
I agree with the review, but for me, it's closer to 3.5 than a 3 so far.
Digging: The Black Keys - Brothers
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
i think the longer ones have reason for their lenght. "in california" and "esme" are beautiful and slowly grow. i love them! and actually, autumn is my least favorite, its basically formless and plods along really slowly.
i respect your opinions, but disagree.
Digging: Zola Jesus - Stridulum EP | | |
Is this album about Rasputin?
Digging: Dolcim - We Carry the Fire
| | | Album Rating: 4
i love this
| | |
this review leans more towards my probable outlook for this album, but I still need to hear it.
Well written as Ive come to expect from you.
Digging: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Autumn is my least favorite on the album too, idk why you like it so much.
Digging: Sun Kil Moon - Admiral Fell Promises | | |
garbage review.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
The voice of impatience...
Digging: CEO - White Magic | | | |
|
|
Stumble
Digg
Twitter
Del.icio.us
