Joanna Newsom & the Ys Street Band - EP

Back in the day, rock & roll was defined by three things: driving guitars, thick beats, and charismatic front men. Loud guitars gave kids a way to rebel against their parents’ Lawrence Welk records, drums afforded them the opportunity to reject those dorky ballroom dancing lessons (and freak out their parents with over-the-top sexuality), and those ever-so-gorgeous front men embodied all that parents hated about this new genre of music (there’s that Elvis guy, for instance). While rock music eventually began to embrace the presence of women as lead singers (take Janis, Nico, Stevie, or Pat as salient examples), the formula rarely received any tweaking - the guitars still blared, the drums still shook, and the singers did their best to captivate their audiences with their energy and personality. Rock still rocked

But it seems that indie rock, no matter how you define the style, has recently been curious to see what might happen if you remove all of the old elements and invite in esoteric instrumentation. With 2005 finding Sufjan Stevens and his banjo capturing everyone’s hearts with Come on Feel the Illinoise, 2006 & 2007 might just be the years of the harp as Joanna Newsom has captivated critics and listeners with her deep, intense Shakespearean story-songs. November 2006 saw her release her highly acclaimed album Ys, complete with heavy contributions from Messrs. Jim O’Rourke, Steve Albini, & Van Dyke Parks, a powerful production triumvirate if ever there was one. Yet, the question that many reviewers asked was how Ms. Newsom might convey these rich stories and dense instrumentation into a live setting.

Well, with the release of the cheekily titled Joanna Newsom & The Ys Street Band, it seems that the talented songstress can quite capably take her harp out of the recording booth, place it firmly in the middle of a stage, and communicate her lovely odes to a crowd. While not recorded live in front of an audience, these three songs were recorded live in a studio with her touring band, aptly exhibiting how Joanna’s songs are displayed whilst on tour. While featuring the previously unreleased Irish-influenced track “Colleen,” the EP also contains new versions of “Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie” (from The Milk-Eyed Mender) and “Cosmia” (possibly my favorite track from Ys). The stand-out track here is “Cosmia,” as the band gives itself great space during the final two to three minutes of the song to engage in some freak-folk improvisation, showcasing the band’s talent and cohesion when performed live.

Do I wish there were more songs here? Absolutely, but I’m more than content to spin these three songs over and over again through my player. Am I stretching things by attempting to compare Joanna Newsom’s songs to traditional rock & roll balladry? A bit, perhaps, but I do feel that the comparison is apt - both are stories meant to strike a chord in the heart of the listener. Just because Joanna uses a 15-string harp and not a six-string guitar doesn’t mean that her songs don’t pack an emotional punch. In fact, it’s her quirky voice and willingness to step outside of the instrumental box in order to tell a fantastic tale that set her apart (in the best way possible) from her peers and their comfortable cliches. Simply stated, Joanna Newsom & the Ys Street Band EP is quite possibly the best introduction to her music - it’s all there: the harp, the voice, and the wealth of lyrical skill.

So, if 2007 is the year of the harp, can we look forward to the lute as the instrument of 2008? Sting’s already tried the lyre (and thankfully failed miserably), so maybe it will be the harpsichord instead… Or will it be the mandolin?