Joanna newsom ys lyrics full#

As the album unfolds, it seems like Newsom can't get more ambitious (and more importantly, pull it off), but with each song, she does.

Joanna newsom ys lyrics full#

On 'Only Skin' alone, Newsom goes from rhyming 'fishin' poles' with 'swimmin' holes' to 'heartbroken, inchoate.' These songs are so full of words and plot twists that sometimes it feels more like you're reading them instead of listening to them, and indeed, actually reading the lyrics in the book-like liner notes reveals that Ys has a library's worth of children's stories, myths, romances, and of course, fairy tales woven into its words. Ys' daring, plentiful wordplay makes it even more of a rarity: an extremely musically accomplished album with lyrics to match. She has more nuance and control, particularly over the keening edge of her voice, which is recorded so clearly that when it cracks, it tears the air like a tangible exclamation point. Along with the beautifully filigreed arrangements and melodies, which mingle strings, jew's-harps, and spaghetti Western horns with Appalachian, Celtic, and even Asian influences, the album shows Newsom's development as a singer.