Yeah, it's been two weeks since we've posted, and it's been pretty busy. The first week's absence was due to a grad school exam (we're the worst) that ended up being about as hard as the tests I used to write for my students. The second week was spent going to football games (LSU vs. UGA and Colorado vs. UT), concerts (Andrew Bird w/ St. Vincent and Dodos w/ Megafaun), watching TV (all of it), and eating (ditto). But since one of our only readers has threatened both Audra and me in the past week, I think it's time to get back to business. Sorry for interruption, we'll try our best to not let it happen again (although let's be honest... it's gonna happen again).As far as I know, pretty much everyone has experienced the change to Fall temperatures in the past few weeks. And nothing makes me think of cool weather and dark skies more than Joanna Newsom's Ys. Which is pretty odd, considering that most of the record is filled with a delicate voice atop delicate strings. Still, this intricate record, filled with more allusions and literary devices than your typical short story, always comes out when the temperature drops.
Newsom's voice has always been a target for detractors, but on Ys, her characteristics yelps and trebly warble are more polished. The music is both technically impressive and sonically pleasing, with time signature and key changes sprinkled throughout, often in the same song. That shouldn't be surprising, though, as this five-track EP doesn't feature a song under 7 minutes. Yes, it's a challenging listen, and it demands attention to catch the subtleties embedded within the lyrics. But if you stick with it (and it took me at least 4 full plays), your initial misgivings will likely give way to adulation and respect.
No comments:
Post a Comment