9. 'The Milk-Eyed Mender' by Joanna Newsom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzCuOP46kpM Leaving behind prog and punk for now, we're going to shift our focus to some of the most oddly beautiful music ever composed. When you think of folk music, what do you picture? If you've been a music fan for a while, maybe you think of Bob Dylan or Dave Van Ronk, or perhaps slightly more obscure fare such as Laura Marling. If you've recently become a folk fan, you probably picture Mumford & Sons or the Lumineers, with their take on folk that blends nicely with pop and rock. However, I can almost guarantee you that what you do not picture is a skinny blond girl with a stinking huge harp singing about pears. If not, then allow me to introduce you to Joanna Newsom. Her debut hit shelves in 2004, and absolutely shocked us all. Her songs are intricate melodies with frequent polyrhythms that keep you on your toes throughout. Many of her songs hit the five minute mark, and are constant barrages of lyrics (she practiced memorising and reciting very long poems when she was younger, which she claims helps her remember these long stretches of lyrics). But perhaps the most noticeable thing about her music is her unique voice. While some critics (and fans) have referred to it as "childlike", I prefer not to put it down. As I stated at the beginning, it's some of the most oddly beautiful work you'll ever hear. And I choose to let her music speak for itself (see below)...
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