| | Full Review | Ratings (908) |
Give your Rating |
| 5.0 classic | La Revolucion | November 20th 06 |
Me - Hey Joanna what are you doing?
Joanna - Oh I'm writing music.
Me - Well gee it sounds really good, the orchestration really adds to the fullness of the sound, and your voice is one of the most interesting sounding things I've ever heard.
Joanna - Yeah I know.
Me - Well you don't have to be such a jerk about it.
Joanna - Go away.
Me - 
11 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.0 poor | Iai EMERITUS | January 2nd 07 |
Honestly, I don't know how to respond to this. By all accounts and all objective standards, it outright sucks. The songs are about nothing tangible, the lyrics have no sense of flow or meter (some say they're 'poetry' - they need to be exposed to better poetry), and frankly, they often scan like something a class of amateur songwriters would come up with if asked to write a psychedelia album in 30 minutes. The songs go on for ages, with any sort of development and dynamic contrast avoided at all costs. For an album recorded by Steve Albini and Jim O'Rourke, it sounds as weedy as hell. And the arrangments (from Van Dyke Parks) are often all too stereotypical and quite boring. But somehow, it hangs together well enough to work more often than it falls apart into dreary, pretentious slush. Newsom's voice, though slightly annoying, does at least display the fact that she's sensitive to the needs of the words and the music - her nuance and sensitivity does much to help the album flow. And, in a bizarre way, the fact that the entire project seems geared towards being as fey as possible actually makes it believable - although I still find it hard to imagine that anyone will enjoy this album as much more than a novelty, the charm of it is undeniable. Just good enough for a generous 2.5.
8 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | br3ad_man | February 19th 07 |
Joanna Newsom is truly an artist like no other. Existing in the realm of "freak folk" alongside artists like Devendra Banhart, Newsom's choice to use the harp as her main instrument (not to mention her unique vocal style) sets her apart completely. Ys is the follow-up to 2004's The Milk Eyed Mender and shows an enormous leap in terms of songwriting and arrangement. While her first record consisted of short folk songs, Ys' songs all approach (and sometimes exceed) the 10 minute mark. Featuring orchestration by Van Dyke Parks on 4 of its 5 songs, Ys shows enormous progression that even Newsom's most loyal fans could never have anticipated.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | butcherboy | August 10th 17 |
a constipation of unbearably self-serious cuteness..
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | Friday13th | July 28th 14 |
It's okay. While a similar singer Bjork gives her voice a rest and lets the music breathe,
Joanna on the other hand continues to meander through a whole lot of samey passages. Some
parts are really good, but I think she could have improved greatly if she cut the fat off
and let lines sink in.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Polymath | July 26th 11 |
Who says women with big ass can't make music. Forget the music, what about that ass guys?
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 1.0 awful | platttt | March 25th 24 |
Nope. Just nope. Sitting through this once was enough. Instrumentals cool, voice + lyrics are dogshit.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | TheManMachine | January 23rd 17 |
Controversial negative critiques upon the original release make fair points: overlong songs tormenting, string supplements rambling, antiquated ambition oppressive compared to her earlier amateur lo-fi whimsy. And during the slow-2-start inaugural "Emily", it may be tempting to adopt those qualities as predominant veracity -- then marches in the significant+spellbinding yarn about an insecure monkey's exploitation of a fellow-escapee bear and a sparse-n-stunning diamond-dust centerpiece for the ages, which steady out the shtick oh-so satisfactorily. This back to back also showcases well all that sells Ys as a whole: storytelling and surreality a la unfuckwithable poetry, potent as hell performances a la Newsom, full-on commitment to a fanciful wonder-world that's too challenging for cutesy and too poignant for eye-rolls. And if words and scenes start to run dry, outright wailing in the name of desire always does the trick.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | ElviGemini | January 5th 16 |
this album has quickly amazed me with its intricate arrangements, theres so much details to get lost in these 5 songs. a modern classic !
Bump |
| 3.5 great | BtwntheAKIRAndMe | December 6th 15 |
Low 8 out of 10: This is a really pretty LP. Gets a little odd to me at times, but the talent behind it is undeniable.
Bump |
| 0.0 | Mookid | January 14th 13 |
I can't believe how some people can remotely enjoy this, because I certainly can't. The songs are simply too long and drag on seemingly forever, with little to no hooks/catchy moments/emotional moments. They are well...I'm not quite sure, they are just songs simply about nothing..nothing interesting or engaging. Her voice is surprisingly desirable; her voice sails along through the album without her sounding like a freight train or dreadful. Music wise, as I said, it's very bland and possibly improvised. I'm sure she's done better than this, but Ys is not it.
Bump |
| 0.0 | Xaulb | July 18th 12 |
Probably one of the most feel-inducing albums of the last decade.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | acedrums | September 1st 09 |
One of the greatest albums of all time as far as I am concerned. Totally unique, musically faultless and lyrically mind-blowing. She makes most music seem bland.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | RevengeSoldier | May 31st 09 |
Pretty good, I have to say. Her voice is unique and often really compelling, but other times... just eugh. Other than that, it's obvious that Joanna is confident in her harp playing and manages to catch plenty of attention, despite Van Dyke Park's orchesteral arrangements taking up large portions of the album (which, trust me, is a good thing).
For me (and I'm sure many others) the album pushes the idea of folk and creates this truly epic sound that I'm sure Joanna will be able to build on even more in the future.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Matty CONTRIBUTOR | July 9th 25 |
| 4.7 superb | Ryan P STAFF | December 6th 24 |
| 4.6 superb | DadKungFu EMERITUS | September 25th 24 |
| 5.0 classic | Aids | June 4th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Toolock | January 23rd 24 |
| 4.2 excellent | A.R.O. EMERITUS | January 23rd 24 |
| 4.5 superb | doofy | January 7th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Krelkin | December 24th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Rumpo | October 4th 23 |
| 3.5 great | Maxx | August 9th 23 |
| 5.0 classic | jhop | June 12th 23 |
| 2.0 poor | MAB | March 23rd 23 |
| 4.5 superb | olisz | November 14th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Oobaloo | October 10th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Gleam | August 3rd 22 |
| 5.0 classic | lurxy | June 22nd 22 |
| 4.5 superb | Rowdy | June 15th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | KaiDare | April 20th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Josh | November 4th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | gilly | October 28th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Lucman | September 27th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Polvo | August 13th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | Roidv | August 3rd 21 |
| 5.0 classic | SaneTBP | February 26th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | TMTrates | February 25th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | bmelt | February 3rd 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Mike01 | January 24th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | MmJj | January 9th 21 |
| 4.5 superb | Affe95 | December 4th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | slaterr | October 9th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Geomi | September 24th 20 |
| 3.5 great | zschab | September 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Risodo | September 2nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | dosia | April 18th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | Brabiz | December 26th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | CPCP | November 6th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | FakeOne | September 17th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | xxm | May 20th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Onater | April 26th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Djang0 | April 10th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | evolve9 | February 23rd 19 |
| 5.0 classic | jsounnd | December 27th 18 |
| 3.5 great | Grzka | December 6th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Corney | October 9th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Vyrisus | September 7th 18 |
| 2.5 average | bharry | August 26th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Djezhda | August 24th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | xuewen | July 5th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | Gmsod | June 2nd 18 |
| 5.0 classic | Juca89 | May 5th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | scrappy | February 26th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | kb3984 | February 22nd 18 |
| 5.0 classic | ds44445 | January 15th 18 |
| 2.5 average | Elynna | January 12th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | December 26th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Alex61 | December 7th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | RAGG | December 2nd 17 |
| 5.0 classic | NateMa | November 27th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | DJTommy | November 18th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | YayoG1 | September 1st 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Gueero | August 25th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | KevinMM | August 25th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Jan555 | August 21st 17 |
| 5.0 classic | PaabL | August 16th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Juanpa | August 7th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Alexxx | August 3rd 17 |
| 5.0 classic | YeeHaw | July 11th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | aqui | April 21st 17 |
| 3.0 good | deslad | March 21st 17 |
| 3.0 good | 2ool | February 25th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | mrbown | January 27th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Doeme | December 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smelty | November 7th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | lumucc | October 4th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | pnh1088 | September 29th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | stromz | August 8th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | helti | August 4th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Lanas | July 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | p4p | June 15th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | ylfsmj | May 25th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Henry | April 20th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | dtcgb | April 17th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | seifer | April 16th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | jmh886 | February 10th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | rjk | January 7th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | N2B3J | January 6th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | sncold | December 16th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | December 5th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Velcro | November 21st 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Muikuli | November 13th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | loulou | November 13th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | igg20 | November 11th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Matski | October 28th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | elch21 | October 28th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Caelum | October 27th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Archaic | October 23rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZBJE | October 22nd 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Tom R. EMERITUS | October 21st 15 |
| 4.5 superb | tjare | October 15th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Pels0 | October 12th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Sine | October 11th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | iveau | August 26th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | hamid95 | August 18th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Tulten | August 18th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Collis | July 27th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Aruji | July 24th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | spur55 | July 6th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Karluk | March 29th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | Asterix | February 23rd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Runeii | February 16th 15 |
| 5.0 classic | takiwa | January 28th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | artine | November 19th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | manosg EMERITUS | October 8th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Veldin | August 29th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | sje45 | August 5th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Feels | July 8th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | whaka | June 6th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | ethos | April 27th 14 |
| 2.5 average | porch | April 13th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | kocoum | April 7th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | dre458 | March 21st 14 |
| 3.0 good | SMK | January 17th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | unkle | November 12th 13 |
| 3.5 great | Greem | October 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zephir | October 10th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Meruem | October 8th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ashn0ted | September 23rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | TheDMV | August 23rd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Diachy | August 14th 13 |
| 3.0 good | DUIF | May 21st 13 |
| 5.0 classic | GFW | May 11th 13 |
| 3.5 great | miaow | May 10th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | APJ90 | April 2nd 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Xefon | March 7th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | dogteal | February 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | junyi15 | December 11th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | dwejkk | November 20th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | leycec | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | krkat | August 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lought | April 28th 12 |
| 3.0 good | ILJ | March 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac! | January 24th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Sumire | January 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Eons | January 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dan19 | December 30th 11 |
| 3.0 good | iSkane | December 30th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | fog | December 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | gosk8n | December 29th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | JPaller | December 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wael | December 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | vivapo | December 12th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | WBalls | December 11th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | PieRye | November 29th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | itldob | November 26th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | GGI | November 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Mandais | November 20th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Cells | November 4th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | bnard | October 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | awf170 | September 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Knave | August 26th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | T0rr35 | August 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Aecial | August 17th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | utred | July 28th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Muzix | May 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MJongo | May 16th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | stompo | May 1st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | nkbr | April 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | adjeco | April 2nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | BiOZed | March 28th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Wza | March 12th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | doqtor | January 8th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | bjorkil | January 7th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | bab808 | October 23rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Shadow17 | September 27th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Kenos | September 25th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | EPacK | September 10th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | cvrcmrc | August 31st 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Lakes. | August 10th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | cuki92 | July 19th 10 |
| 2.0 poor | Thor | June 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | McP3000 | February 25th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | conradtao EMERITUS | January 30th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Enotron | January 29th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | DonDijk | January 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | blabony | December 9th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | splurge | December 2nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | alt | November 9th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Gelade | September 1st 09 |
| 3.0 good | JoRos | August 8th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | RedSky | June 18th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Lions | June 10th 09 |
| 2.0 poor | mvdu | June 8th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Tjeerd | May 11th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | barns | May 11th 09 |
| 3.0 good | trm989 | March 21st 09 |
| 3.5 great | Bleak | February 19th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | leyrbpw | December 9th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Shadius | November 18th 08 |
| 3.0 good | Mikesn EMERITUS | October 19th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Pieguz | May 20th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | lewser | April 17th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Isak | April 16th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | natey | February 19th 08 |
| 3.0 good | Saetia | January 30th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Steeed | January 18th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Montana | December 21st 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kodan | December 20th 07 |
| 3.5 great | donovr | December 12th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrKite | July 31st 07 |
| |
Give Your Opinion on Ys
|
|
