My relationship with folky folk music is roughly the following: Some Nick Drake, The Incredible String Band, the two first Bridget St John records, and Vashti Bunyan. That’s pretty much where it ends. Pentagle is the worst music ever, and Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny are ok, but i’d be much more likely to put something by Alexander Tucker or Fuck Buttons on if i wanted to relax. (that last one might seem like an oxymoron, but i know what i’m talking about.) Joanna Newsome i like though. I like her because like Allen Ginsberg, she’s overhyped, but her randomness hides some moments of awe inspiring lyricism.
I saw Jack Burnett from These New Puritains interviewed by the irrascibly one track minded Paul Morley on the Guardian Website the other day. Jack was saying some fairly interesting stuff about how the new record Hidden, was written with classical music in mind rather than pop. I think the new JN record Have One On Me says something similar. JN’s songs seem more like opera’s than anything else. I’ve just realised why, despite meeting untold numbers of fey pseudo-hippies who profess undying devotion to her, i like her so much. She’s playing with form and structure, yes, but most importantly bringing lyrics into the mix. I think that’s the appeal. The vocal coda has been so ghettoised by the three minute pop song, that now, although Joanna may well be boring in places, at least she’s bringing something new (or at least out of vogue enough to appear new) to the table.