Classically trained harpist Joanna Newsom uses her appreciation of Appalachian folk and bluegrass for an oddly alluring set of indie rock melodies.
Milk-Eyed Mender, which follows her homemade EP releases Walnut Whales and Yarn and Glue, is rich in harvest colors.
Newsom's childlike voice brings an unstudied grace to an innocent setting of songs, and such quirkiness is hard to find among most guitar-driven indie acts.
From the more whimsical moments of "Peach, Plum, Pear" and "Inflammatory Writ" to the dovelike ballad "This Side of the Blue," Newsom welcomes the listener to sink into its imagination.
Delicate harp arrangements are nicely sprinkled among specks of pianos, organs, and a harpsichord, only adding to the fascination that is Milk-Eyed Mender.
Some may find the album to be overly sweet in spots due to Newsom's girlish voice; however, the fairytale-like appeal of Milk-Eyed Mender is far too intriguing to dismiss.
Newsom exists in several musical spheres, one being a member of the Pleased, while not forgetting how wonderful it is to live in a warm place that leaves you bright-eyed and hopeful for only what is good in life.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridges and BalloonsJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 03:42 | 0 MB | 16 MB |
| 2 | Sprout and the BeanJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 04:32 | 0 MB | 20 MB |
| 3 | The Book of Right-OnJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 04:29 | 0 MB | 20 MB |
| 4 | SadieJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 06:02 | 0 MB | 30 MB |
| 5 | Inflammatory WritJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 02:50 | 0 MB | 15 MB |
| 6 | This Side of the BlueJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 05:21 | 0 MB | 21 MB |
| 7 | "En Gallop"Joanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 05:07 | 0 MB | 22 MB |
| 8 | CassiopeiaJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 03:20 | 0 MB | 16 MB |
| 9 | Peach, Plum, PearJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 03:33 | 0 MB | 25 MB |
| 10 | SwanseaJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 05:05 | 0 MB | 22 MB |
| 11 | Three Little BabesJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 03:42 | 0 MB | 15 MB |
| 12 | Clam, Crab, Cockle, CowrieJoanna Newsom | Joanna Newsom | Play | 04:21 | 0 MB | 20 MB |
| 0 mins | 0 MB | |||||
| 52 mins | 248 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alisa Anderson | Photography |
| 2 | Noah Georgeson | Engineer, Producer |
| 3 | Joanna Newsom | Composer, Harp, Harpsichord, Primary Artist, Wurlitzer |
| 4 | Emily Prince | Cover Art, Design |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |