Have One On Me
by Joanna Newsom

This album right here. Heard it the first time today, thinking previously that Ys was her undisputed masterpiece. Ys sure feels sporadic and magical, but this album is focused, down to earth, human, and felt like much more of a statement. The quality of the album is so consistant, it baffles me how someone could write that much content that's all so fantastic. An instant favourite of mine. Literally can't wait to give it another spin.

From Freddie55 TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/20/2010 06:26 | #9894 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Might be the best (quality) album of the year. After two spins though I don't want to listen to it or her anymore. It's like going to a fine steakhouse. The 10, 12 and even 16 ounce steaks are great. The 48 ounce steak is too much and if you eat it all you'll get sick!!!

I get why people don't like Joanna Newsom. Her voice is jarring, her songs are long, and filled with overly pretentious lyrics. I get it. I've heard all these complaints every time I've tried to make my friends listen to her, or read anything on the internet about her.

But unlike a lot of people I think who grew to enjoy her music, I never went through a period of hating Joanna Newsom. I loved Peach Plum Pair the first time I heard it. I'm not trying to portray myself as some cool original fan, but more disclose that I was just never going to not like this album. Or any of her albums. I like her voice, I like her long complex songs, I like her pretentious lyrics.

This album, though, does hold a special place in my heart. There is something so emotionally raw about songs like Baby Birch and In California that really gets to me. '81 is a good song of hers to listen to if her voice annoyed you in her previous albums - it's particularly clear on this song, and more obviously melodic than at other points on the album. Perhaps her best vocal performance on the album in my opinion though is in Does Not Suffice (another nearly 7 minute long heartache, complete with a lovely refrain from In California that feels particularly emotionally satisfying). It's also more straightforward lyrically than something like Have One On Me. The album moves well from really rich arrangements, to more intimate harp pieces.

These are some of my favourite bits ! I love it all to be honest.

"I don't belong to anyone
My heart is heavy as an oil drum
And I don't want to be alone
My heart is yellow as an ear of corn
And I have torn my soul apart, from
Pulling artlessly with fool commands"

"It does not suffice to merely lie beside each other
As those who love each other do"

"Wolf-spider, crouch in your funnel nest,
If I knew you, once
Now I know you less
In the sinking sand
Where we've come to rest,
Have I had a hand in your loneliness?"

<3333

Wow so good...considering how many artists / bands struggle to fill a double album with worthy material it's so impressive how she fills a triple album without any filler. Probably the most talented female songwriter since Joni Mitchell.

Also would like to add that the perfect way to listen to this is either on vinyl or CD as it breaks the album into 3 delicious discs each with 6 songs on. I have the vinyl box and the packaging and artwork is stunning.

No doubt, Ms. Newsome's music is a unique sound. It just wasn't for me. Too slow, and I did not like her voice (though it did not seem as grating as it was on her album, "The Milk-Eyed Mender". Not the kind of songs you're going to start singing after a few listens. This was a challenging listen, and it was too much for me.