I've had so much on my mind that I've wanted to write about, but for some reason I couldn't make my fingers type the words. After writing a couple letters to people, though, I think I'm past the block.
I'm really enjoying Joanna Newsom's new album, though it's different than her other releases, confirming a pattern. I think that's wonderful, actually. People can only make the same record so many times. I'm getting used to it; I'm only on my 3rd listen, and it's two hours long. My favorite song so far is "Good Intentions Paving Company." It seems to be the most poppy of the album. Some songs have a somewhat medieval feel to them, while some have a '70s prog rock sound. Newsom had surgery to remove vocal chord nodules a year ago; the result is a voice that's a bit smoother, sometimes sounding like Kate Bush.
I'm glad that this record came out when it did. I actually received it yesterday, a day before its release, because I pre-ordered it from her record label, Drag City. So I've had a head start. I've been feeling depressed the last couple weeks which seems to deepen with each day. It's nice to have something new to distract myself. Newsom's songs are so rich in their lyrics and musical arrangement that it's easy to get sucked into it.
I've been using good old-fashioned sleep, Dave Chappelle stand up performances, and movies to distract myself. I've also been volunteering at the stable I ride at, feeding the horses. There's around 60 horses there, so feeding takes a LONG time. It's hard but rewarding work. Thus I was disappointed when I slept through all my alarms and missed going, waking up at 3:45 pm. I've been on Facebook most of the afternoon and listening to Have One on Me. I've been feeling a bit ill from my medication. I'd like to watch a movie, but nothing seems appealing. I might put on Ang Lee's Sense and Sensibility. I should go to bed soon so I can hopefully get up tomorrow.
Can I have her legs, please?
what's your source for the information about newsom having vocal chord surgery?
ReplyDeleteFrom Times Online (UK):
ReplyDelete"What the album does contain is more than two hours of exquisitely beautiful songs over three discs, performed with a new singing voice after the old one quite literally disappeared.
Newsom developed vocal cord nodes in spring 2009, and all that came out when she opened her mouth “was like the hiss on opening a Coke can”. For two months she went around with a notebook, forbidden from singing, speaking or even crying. “In fact crying was the absolutely worst thing I could do to my voice. So I was constantly telling myself, don’t feel, don’t feel, don’t feel.” On recovering, she mourned when she realised that her old voice was never coming back, though she says she must give “full disclosure” and admit that further vocal modifications have been deliberate."
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article7032768.ece
Also, from NPR:
"Those vocals are the friendliest and most welcoming I've heard from her: Her voice sounds richer, more restrained and relaxed — perhaps the result of adjustments she's made after developing vocal-cord nodules in early 2009."
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123981491&sc=fb&cc=fp
Sad.