I have no problem with Newsom's voice, and I really enjoyed Milk-Eyed Mender, but I'm not yet convinced by Ys. At first listen, the songs meander without really going anywhere. The arrangements are lovely, but there's not enough movement in the songs to maintain my interest.

Of course, I think Devandra is the Emporer's New Clothes.

t on edit after reading further

But Newsom has a deeper purpose here. She's told interviewers that Ys is a kind of confessional-allegorical epic, a "shadow world," whose every lyric corresponds to events in her personal life. It's startling to think that this torrent of imagery—all those swooping birds and stableboys and livestock and "felten and grey" mountains—is part of an elaborate personal mythology, and I'm sure that in the coming months and years the Internet will crackle with efforts to break the code.

See, I don't buy it. I think at best, she's embellishing her craft; at worst, she's making shit up after the fact.

Have you guys heard of Juana Molina? A friend of mine was telling me about her but I had never heard her or heard of her.

I haven't heard Ys. yet, but I'm looking forward to it.

Of course, I think Devandra is the Emporer's New Clothes

See, I loved Cripple Crow a lot for being a lovely blend of tropicalia and American folk music.

Edit - Sumi, nope.

Nice Slate article on Joanna Newsom's new album.

It's funny you should mention it, because I just ran into a friend this afternoon who was listening to this on her iPod, and I had never heard of her.

Like Jon and a few other people here (I remember that Tina put one of her songs on a mix), I liked The Milk-Eyed Mender, too, but it took me a little while to get past that voice.

I remember that Tina put one of her songs on a mix

Not this Tina, CI. (Edit: Btw,nice Hight Hat, dude!) I have never been able to get past her voice despite all the uber-hipsters at my Lawrence record store being giddy as school girls about her.

I am working on my Top Ten of 06.

Here is what I've got so far.

1. the hold steady • boys and girls in america
2. the decemberists • the crane wife
3. the thermals • the body, the blood, the machine
4. yo la tengo • i am not afraid of you and i will beat your ass
5. drakkar sauna • jabraham lincoln
6. tapes n tapes • the loon (this was released in 05 and re-released in 06)
7. cold war kids • robbers and cowards
8. tv on the radio • return to cookie mountain
9. calexico - garden ruin
10. belle and sebastian • the life pursuit

might still make the cut:
built to spill • you in reverse
richard buckner • meadow
m. ward • post-war
kind of like spitting • the thrill of the hunt
destroyer • destroyer's rubies
arctic monkeys • whatever people say i am, that's what i am not
bruce • we shall overcome: seeger sessions

meh:
bobby bare jr. • the longest meow
mountain goats • get lonely (much as it pains me to say it)
justin timberlake • futuresex/lovesounds (somebody break that guy's heart again!)

I feel like I am forgetting something big....

Wow! I haven't even started a list yet.

Not this Tina, CI.

I could have sworn it was you. Between this and me mistaking a Boucher comment for a buddha one on another thread, this is officially my week to get imaginary friends confused.

(Edit: Btw,nice Hight Hat, dude!)

Thanks! You should submit something to our next issue.

And, by the by, since we haven't seen much of you lately, how's things going?

Wow! I haven't even started a list yet.

Not this Tina, CI.

I could have sworn it was you. Between this and me mistaking a Boucher comment for a buddha one on another thread, this is officially my week to get imaginary friends confused.

(Edit: Btw,nice Hight Hat, dude!)

Thanks! You should submit something to our next issue.

And, by the by, since we haven't seen much of you lately, how's things going?

Have you guys heard of Juana Molina?

I have! She's coming through here soon. I keep meaning to check out her music more, though.

m. ward • post-war

Definitely in my top ten. Definitely. It's such a freaking good album.

justin timberlake • futuresex/lovesounds (somebody break that guy's heart again!)

No. Kidding.

Oh, shit. Ruth Brown died.

Major R&B vocalist in the 40s and 50s for Atlantic. Many great songs, but my favorite is "Wild Wild Young Men." Huge pipes, tons of sass.

She played Motormouth in the original Hairspray.