Joanna Newsom - Good Intentions Paving Company

[bimberandbigos]

Absolutely stunning album! There is something captivating about her...she is one one my all time favorite!

[afterthefox]

this song summons you...

[afterthefox]

this girl is seriously talented...savant-like...

[ReelMan729]

The way she sings "the will to remain for the duration" is so awesome

[NichtNacht]

"And, I did not mean to shout. Just drive. Just get us out, dead or alive"

Perfect.

[qwecjc]

she perfected the sound of every word and instrumental change in this song.

[ittspitts]

this can mean so much to so many people on a subject that thet feel dear to them.

I feel it.

[kozmo99]

Best Kate Bush song in years! :)

[smithhedgehog]

@kozmo99 I think she's more similar to joni mitchell

[inmyfruitcup]

@smithhedgehog I agree, I was just thinking that today. I know the harp is her thing, but I wish she did more piano based tunes. I like her Joni side.

[tonygrie]

I just love the way she sings the line "Like a bump on a bump on a log, baby"

[webstercat]

Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.

Frank Zappa

[deejayhart]

And if anyone is new to her, do try (wbb) dot djh-graphics dot  com slash haveone - I made a sampler which I think can be the only way to get people into this amazing triple album...

methinks BrxSmith is a pompous asshole.

[deejayhart]

I adore this song, and so much of what she has produced. I regard the written lyrics as poetry. And also find that this new album is too much of a good thing. Some sensational moments, far surpassing anyone I can think of.

[deejayhart]

This song is simply her best. I never thought her first two albums could be topped but this song does it.

[cuttooth11]

i am so excited she released something new!!! I have been waiting for this all my life.

[wolfadeus]

so awesome

[moniquemetzing]

awsome singing voice!!! and cool front cover

[the1musiclad]

You've got to admire not just Joanna here but also Drag City. They, unlike most record companies (e.g. Atlantic), saw a genuine, unique MUSICAL talent and gave her full creative control over her work and didn't suffocate her and force her into commercial obscurity.

Brilliant album btw.

[tracehazarrrrd]

@the1musiclad I actually think she could have used a few more looks over her shoulder...but oh well, such is life.

[sterbus79]

I love how she delivers the Crosby Stills Nash tipical triple harmony - and chords -all alone, with a Mitchell feel... Anyway I find all the work very personal, and very beautiful.

[abcbamzz]

i hear it now, daniel johnson.

he must be an influence.

[abcbamzz]

how does she do those harmonies,in the hooks.

love song.

[analogthought]

kate bush is the vibe i get off of this... but i love joni, kate and joanna... so it's fine by me.

[davividly]

If you're gonna completely imitate someone, you could do a lot worse than Joni Mitchell. This is pretty darn good and even somewhat original in spite of its blatant copying of Joni's approach to voice, lyrics, piano, melody, mood, etc.

[LBanchio]

Joni Mitchell? No way. No way. Both are great artits, and both have developed their own style. And I tell you more, Joanna is by far more original than Joni.

[BrxSmith]

@LBanchio

You're right that you cannot compare Joanna to Joni, but way off base when you declare Joanna to be "more original." Joanna is a fabulous (and original) talent, but if you study tonal vocabularies, you'll find that she uses only traditional tonality; she just uses interesting settings and writes great lyrics and has a wonderfully colorful voice.

Joni, however, is one of the true geniuses of popular music. Appreciation for all she's done takes years of study.

[retread01]

@BrxSmith I think you've over thought things a bit and seem to be setting yourself up in a position of superiority which is a form of a pride. And pride doesn't work.

[BrxSmith]

@retread01 No; do you think analyzing music is "overthinking" it? Thousands of music theorists and students must be wrong, then. Hmmm.

[BrxSmith]

@retread01: I'm sorry you see "superiority" in the analysis; it's not there. What is there is a wish for a people to put effort into a deeper understanding of certain songwriters before making knee-jerk comments on them - comments that do injustice to the subjects. They deserve better. Interesting that you see that as about me, when it's not.

[NyghtwalkingMonkey]

artits? what the hell are those?

[timmythetoolshed]

@davividly

Nice! "Somewhat Original"

gonna put that in your review for the times?

[BrxSmith]

@davividly

It's bizarre that you even compare this to Joni Mitchell. I suggest you listen to more Joni - and listen more closely.

[BrxSmith]

@davividly

This has more in common with Freddie Mercury's theatrical Queen songs than Joni Mitchell. All three - Joni, Joanna, and Freddie - are truly brilliant songwriters. You do Joanna a disservice by claiming she "imitates" Joni. I don't doubt that Joni's one of Joanna's influences; I know she is mine.

[axwapples]

this song made me cry

true story its just that good

[smellslikechildren1]

There's just something so depressing about the contrast of the music and lyrics.

[weapingwildabeast]

i love the upbeatness and happiness expressed in the rythmes and harmonnies of this song

fantastic!

[eb0nikz]

this is magic, i wanna marry joanna. =]

[ellieaus]

mmmm i think it is very beautiful! especially i like how each of the albums are different... in their feelings. i love how this one is full. thank you!!! also i love the song easy alot!!!

[philipsmog]

my problem with this song is the second half doesn't stand up to the first half. why not write shorter song?

[ckazee2007]

I'm seeing her in Columbus next month, Lanlost. I just recently started to expose myself to her. Do you think she is someone to watch out for?? And who else do you like, just out of curiosity?

[longbluefingers]

"how i said to you, honey 'just open your heart',

when I've got trouble even opening a honey jar"

:)

[horrorosinio]

her voice now is just perfect, little  better than all

[longbluefingers]

i am so greatful to this woman right now ;)

[RockBottomRiser21]

5 stars, any other rating is wrong.

[boredsilly3]

its an absolutely beautiful song... full of rhytm. i feel like dancing

[MaLizGa]

Jesus Christ, Joanna - you're a genius!

[Joao3s]

nossa, que musica !!

muito boa mesmo

[fiachraodoherty]

Love Joanna Newsom! Lots of Joni Mitchel influence in this sone which is a good thing!

[stillcountingsheep]

the audio quality is a bit off but oh my god. a triple album. my music blahs will be at an end soon. i don't know if i can wait...

[LanIost]

@stillcountingsheep:

"My music blahs will be at end soon."

I can't think of any better way to put it. Seriously, I've been listening to podcasts exclusively for the last two years. As pretentious as YS was, it was pretentious in a good way if that makes any sense.

I will never forget my first experience with YS and Milk Eyed Mender. My linux mp3 transfer software overwrote my MP3 player and my newly downloaded YS/Milk Eyed Mender download was the only thing on it. I was half way to driving

[LanIost]

I was half way to driving a state away for work when I realized that I only had two albums on my entire mp3 player.

I played YS only to think "WTF is this? This is the most pretentious thing I've ever heard." This is coming from someone who other people think has pretentious music tastes. I don't agree with this as I LOVE pop music as well. I love good music in general. I don't care if it's mainstream or as far away from that as possible.

The thing I can to people who think YS was pretentious

[LanIost]

The only thing I can say to people who think YS is pretentious is that..

It may be, but behind the pretentiousness is ACTUALLY amazingly written songs. Possibly the greatest album in the entire 2000's... and by a large margin. Even IF it's pretentious, if you listen to it for a month straight, even if it were the most painful thing in the world.. all of a sudden you will feel it creeping into you and you will thank whomever it was who made you listen to it for the rest of your life.

[LanIost]

I went out and bought YS and Milk Eyed Mender on CD AND on vinyl (for the large cover) the next day.

Ever since then, everything has seemed blah in comparison. Every once in a while I will get a nice pop song on the radio as a quick heroin-esque fix for music but.. I can't express how excited I am about this album coming out.

This album will answer the question.. has this been a fluke or is Joanna really one of those rare musical geniuses only seen every few decades?

[LanIost]

Sorry for the comment spamming. My last question is:

Anyone else seeing her in Columbus next month?

[ckazee2007]

Yes! I am!!

[numbersnmumbless]

song is OK.

[ClownFallsDown]

love, love, love

[baroquepopfan]

Awesome!