Ys (Joanna Newsom album)
Ys is the second album by Joanna Newsom. It was released in November 2006, Drag City and was produced by Van Dyke Parks and Newsom. It is named after the eponymous mythical town in Brittany.
Title list
Style
The album includes five pieces on a playing time of just over 55 minutes. The focus is on Newsom's voice and harp playing, but comes in four of the five songs and a 29 - piece orchestra used. Van Dyke Parks, alongside Newsom Album producer, also plays accordion.
As Toningineur was involved, among others, Steve Albini at the reception.
Reviews
Ys received mostly positive reviews, which is a Metascore of 85 %, as the average of 35 individual reviews.
Maximum ratings awarded as The Guardian, The Observer, Plattentests.de and PopMatters. Even Pitchfork Media ( 9.4/10 ) and Allmusic (4.5 / 5 ) recommend the album. Smoother reviews, however, painted by Robert Christgau (Grade C) and the English- Rolling Stone (2 /5).
Awards
The album is listed in numerous " Best of ... " lists. A selection of the following table sets out:
- 1st place: Plattentests.de - albums of the year 2006
- 2nd place: Rolling Stone ( Germany ) - Albums of 2006
- 3rd place: Pitchfork Media - Albums of 2006
- Seat 4: Spex - Albums of 2006
- # 7: Music Express - Albums of 2006
- No. 83: Pitchfork Media - albums of the 2000s
- Course 92: Music Express - Albums 1969-2009
In addition, the album is part of the compound by Robert Dimery 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die and was nominated for the Shortlist Music Prize.
Musician list
- Bill Callahan - harmony vocals
- Matt Cartsonis - Banjo, Mandolin
- Grant Geissman - guitar
- Don Heffington - percussion
- Emily Newsom - harmony vocals
- Joanna Newsom - harp, vocals
- Van Dyke Parks - Accordion
- Lee Sklar - Bass Guitar
Orchestra
- Briana Bandy - Viola
- Caroline Buckman - Viola
- Giovna Clayton - cello
- Patricia Cloud - Flute
- Peter Doubrovsky - Bass
- Jeff Driskill - Clarinet
- Erika Duke - Kirkpatrick - Cello
- Karen Elaine - Viola
- Phillip Fethar - Oboe
- Susan Greenberg - Flute
- Sharon Jackson - Violin
- Peter Kent - Violin, Concert Master
- Gina Kronstadt - Violin
- Miriam Mayer - Viola
- John D Mitchell - Bassoon
- Peter Nevin - Clarinet
- Robert O'Donnell, Jr. - Trumpet
- Bart Samolis - Bass
- Terrence Schonig - Marimba, Cymbal
- Edmund Stone - violin
- David Stenske - Viola
- David R. Stone - Bass
- Cameron Patrick - Violin
- Vladimir Polimatidi - Violin
- Julie Rogers - Violin
- Marda Todd - Viola
- Jessica Van Velzen - Viola
- John Wittenberg - Violin
- Shari Zippert - Violin
Production
- Steve Albini - Toningineur
- Tim Boyle - Toningineur
- TJ Doherty - Mixing
- Richard Good - Design
- Joanna Newsom - producer
- Jim O'Rourke - Mixing
- Van Dyke Parks - producer, conductor, orchestral arrangements
- John Rosenberg - Conductor
- William T. Stromberg - Copyist
- Benjamin A. Vierling - Artwork
- Nick Webb - Mastering