I realize that art is subjective and all, but...
 

what the fuck is wrong with Joanna Newsom's fans? Seriously. :(

Come on, I don't like her, but that's like saying "what's with Tom Waits' fans" (I love Tom Waits).
Voices are not everything, she still has beautiful music.

I enjoy Tom Waits as well.

I'm sure I would enjoy her tunes if they literally took her voice out of the music.

i feel the same way about Robert Plant, I'm sure that Led Zeppelin would have been fantastic if they just took out Robert Plant's voice.

I can actually see where you're coming from ^

Joanna Newsom is fucking fantastic. You're the void of taste.

I love her voice!

I think generic voices are worse than anything.

Umm...people say the same thing about Kim.

Haha, it is more true of Kim that it is of Joanna Newsom.

It isn't Newsom's voice that puts me off her music. In fact, her singing at times reminds me of Kristin Hersh (whom I am a big fan of).

Instead, I'm just not a fan of folk that has no message and no rock or blues influence. It bores me. Like something I would listen to for the sake of a girlfriend or something and tell her that I love it just so I could get some action.

Anyway, is it just me or is there some vocal pitch modification at the beginning of Sawdust & Diamonds?

The new album is so beautiful and full of heart. Sawdust and Diamonds could make you cry. I saw her live and it was one of the best shows I've seen.

i can't hear any pitch correction on any of the album. she is a story teller lyricist like nick cave but she is more in the vain of jethro tull. she is my favourite musical artist at this point in time, i think she is brilliant.

Now that I think about it, it isn't the music that is rubbing me the wrong way. The vocals and the harp are beautiful it's just... the lyrics. The fairy tale-esque storytelling lyrics test my patience like if it were a prog rock album. Also, there is just too much of it. Any and all chances for a beautifully epic harp solo is cut short.

Green, I'm not sure I get it. Are you criticizing her fans, or her?

I think he's going after both of them.

Which came first?

egg

:)!

Hahaha. Mike Patton is such a douche.

yes he is

yeah but that clip on youtube where he lays into wolfmother is hilarious, you can really feel his pain.

that youtube clip is great. would rep if i could.

You're all insane.

Joanna Newsom is like Tiny Tim for a new generation. Cute, quirky; but not to be taken seriously.

And for the record, it's not that I feel Newsom "can't sing" (unlike Kim Gordon and Neil Young who are in fact poor singers). She just sings like a deranged 11 year old. Very forced and nonsensical. I dare someone to look me in the eye and tell me that they honestly believe that that is her REAL honest to goodness singing voice and not some put on for all of her fans looking for something weird and "honest".

I don't think it is a put on at all. Why the fuck would she do that? I don't think you can choose to sing like that because 1) it'd be hard too do, and 2) it is too radical to try to get fans that want something weird and "honest".

I mean, I don't like it because it is 'weird' or 'honest'. It took me a while to grow to love it.

i got into Newsom by accident before the release of Milk Eyed
and the early version of the song Bridges and Balloons was amazing to me.
sure, her voice is high pitched and odd and not usual at all, but her harp and her lyrics
(which is the main and most beautiful thing that sticks out for me when listening to her) gave me that good feeling i get with exceptional music.
that song and "Sadie" still remain my favorite songs of hers
and they're beautiful songs.
take or leave it.
leave it.

Whats the big deal if it's not her 'real' singing voice? In my opinion it sounds good, and thats all that matters.

Oh you rascals. I was just being an asshole with this thread. I fully understand that art IS subjective, and there will be people who like anything. After all, Nickelback has fans.

If you all sincerely enjoy the sound of a parrot being sodomized against the strings of a harp, more power to you! :P

Joanna Newsom sounds like the CocoRosie sisters being gang-raped by unicorns in a barn. I love her.

Coco Rosie were the only ones to top Ms. Newsom for making me apoplectic with rage by having to endure one of their live sets. They both had that effect on me, but CocoRosie were still ahead in the end.

I'm pretty sure that if you play Newsom to young children, they will wind up with speech impediments.
She's a very skilled harpist, though.

The kids would love it since she sings like a widdle widdle baby.

You're not supposed to talk down to children once they reach the "speaking years"... Ms. Newsom would seriously stunt their development unfortunately :(

Cocorosie are amazing, way better than Newsom, when i saw them open for Antony they peppered the stage with wild flowers and lit incense before their set started. I still have a daisy from that night.

They also covered "Hardcore" era Lil Kim that same night, I was in heaven.

I saw her backed by the London Symphony Orchestra last january. One of the best gigs this year by far.

I realize that art isn't subjective and all, but......nevermind.

hmm conumdrum... this posits 1. that she always had fans 2. that she sung in a different way before creating a fan base 3. that she changed the way she sings to appease her fan base

not to mention, 1. she is a brilliant harpist 2. the string arrangements on YS are very good 3. her song writing is also fantastic