Most if not all of my music-loving pals can’t stand Joanna Newsom. Seriously, I can’t even mention the name to some of them without getting a reaction of either immediate chagrin or nausea. I just don’t understand. I mean, I can see exactly why I’m such a huge fan: the wordiness of her lyrics, I love weird voices, she plays an unusual and demanding instrument (the harp, in case you didn’t know). But I think her songs are all generally spectacular on any level, so it’s weird to have to defend her more vigorously and with more exhaustion than even the many Bob Dylan arguments I’ve allowed myself to fall into over the years.
So I’ve given up trying to convince others. I enjoy her music way too much to care.
So it’s with near panicking excitement to find out that a new Joanna Newsom album is on the make.
Apparently Joanna played a very secretive show consisting of mainly new material in somewhere called Big Sur in California, as reported by Naturalismo (who write a very good blog, btw). No word yet as to when an album will be released, but this is a very good sign that I’ll soon be eliciting groans and rolled eyes from my distinguished collection of friends when I freak out about how good this album will surely be.
Still with me, people? Then you get to watch this. As reported by Pitchfork, turns out that Joanna Newsom has sold 14 seconds of “Sprout and the Bean” to Victoria’s Secret.
When we started this blog nearly 3 years ago, I never would’ve thought that we’d post a Victoria’s Secret commercial.
Which means we finally made it!
More Joanna news(om) t/k.
Sprout and the Bean from The Milk-Eyed Mender
More Joanna Newsom:
A new article in Paper Magazine (ironically, available online) titled “The Woodnymph, The Harp, and the Wardrobe”
I haven’t read it yet, but I’m assuming it’s great.
6 Comments
I sympathize with your frustrations regarding others disapproval of Joanna Newsom. Feel privileged that you “get” her music and can enjoy it for what its worth. I have been on the other end of the spectrum where I don’t quite grasp the greatness of a particular artist. It feels better to be on the side that “gets it”. I like when you describe “near panicking excitement”. Any word on when the new album will be released?
I like her quite a bit. Her show at the Duck Room in STL was well worth seeing. OT: Where’s your STL Morrissey review?
I had to miss Moz in STL due to prior obligations, unfortunately. But Scotter’s review of his Detroit stop last week is well worth reading! It sounds like that show was much more positive than what reportedly went down at the Pageant…
I’m taking a ‘wait & see’ approach with any new Newsom.
I think she’s great as well.
I adore JN and I almost died/cried when I heard Sprout and Bean on the Victoria Secret commerical. Thanks for the news on her new album. I’ve been wondering when/if that was going to happen.
i went to fmylife.com as soon as i saw her name