Let's get the white elephant out of the room right away - yes, Joanna Newsom plays the harp. However, that's only one of the more eclectic aspects of her music. With a vocal style that swirls together Appalachian folk phrasing with Bjork's more avant-garde sound, Joanna Newsom accomplishes a minor miracle in the music world - she stands out in a crowd. On her first album, The Milk-Eyed Mender, Newsom weaves an enchanted spell with her fairytale-like folk songs. While it's true that there's something a little scary about Newsom's voice - more wicked witch than princess, she still captivates.
A harp player since the age of seven, Newsom manages to get a sound from her primary instrument that is closer to the classical guitar than the lofty notes you would hear in stuffy symphony halls. Journey into Joanna's world of innocent, child-like musings begin on tracks such as "Bridges and Balloons" and "Sprout and the Bean" which celebrate the simple pleasures found in life and nature. All in all, Newsom's songs act as a small personal snapshot of her inner psyche which hovers somewhere between righteous naivety and world weary wisdom. Track "Three Little Babes" is perhaps the most representative of this style. Song starts in the style of a typical folk ballad - complete with a knight and lady - and then takes a darker tune as tale tackles abandonment and finally, a homecoming that is joyful, but still tinged with memories of suffering.
While at first listen, Newsom might resemble your kooky next door neighbor or the fairy-tale character that lives alone deep, deep in the forest, don't be put off. She can easily be understood if we remember to celebrate the highly individual sense of purpose that drives an artist like this. Take a chance and step into Joanna Newsom's world - it's a trip unlike any other. |