Visions of Joanna Newsom 0981596843

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advance praise for the book

The exquisite songwriting and ethereal singing of the superb Joanna Newsom are the occasion of this celebratory collection of wise essays, astute reflections, and poetic reckonings with this

unique artist's work. Editor Brad Buchanan has gathered together an absolutely fascinating mix of scholarly and personal responses (the Dave Eggers piece alone is worth the price of admis-

sion) to Joanna Newsom's astonishing body of work, and I’m delighted to say that this is a book for long-time devotees and new initiates both. Buy this book today. —

David St. john, Director, Ph.D. Program in Literature and Creative Writing, The University of Southern California; author of The Face: A Novella in Verse

Serious without being eggheady, playful without being frivolous, Visions ofJoanna Newsom is a passionate investigation into one of America’s most unique living musical forces. In its determination to rescue Joanna Newsom from the lost island of “quirk,” this sharp, frequently witty

collection digs deep into the too-often unspoken question that drives fans and non-fans alike: What is beautiful?

—

Katrina Onstad, Columnist, Chatelaine Magazine; author of How Happy to Be

This fascinating, enlightening, and fun book is a study of an artist who has made two albums— both masterpieces—and been a success both commercially and with unspeakable music snobs,

while not compromising her music one iota. Joanna Newsom's work will continue to be a musthear for decades, and this book is an important early look at how she is perceived in her early years by both scholars and obsessive fans. If for no other reason, get this book because it will be

worth a lot of money on eBay one day.

—

Hal Willner, legendary record producer & Music Supervisor of Saturday Night Live

© 2010 by Roan Press

Post Office Box 160406, Sacramento CA 95816

ISBN 0-9815968-4-3

COLOPHON

All rights reserved under international and Pan-American Copyright

illustrations:

Convention. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored ina

front cover, editor's preface, 6, 56, 72, 102, and 154 by Annelise Holwerda

retrieved system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic,

30 and 112 by Jamie Shaw

mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior

back cover by Heather Jovanelli

written consent of the publisher.

Body type is Emigre’s Mrs Eaves Xt Narrow, designed

Lyrics from Walnut Whales, Yarn and Glue, The Milk-Eyed Mender, and Ys

by Zuzana Licko. Headers are set in Mr Eaves Sans,

are used by kind permission of Joanna Newsom and Drag City Records.

a complementary face by the same designer.

WWW.ROANPRESS.COM

book design & typeset by Joshua Lurie-Terrell

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Brad Buchanan: “Am 1so dear? Do [runrare?”: Affections and Ajjectations m joanna Newsom’s The Malk-Eved Mender 5.2.0.2... ..vasvicesonctvacecsseveucacneeeitatsressenenes

37

T.S. Miller: “/ tell it as Ibest know how”: Fantasy, Fable, and Storytelling in Joanna Newsom's “Colleen” ..............064.

57

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Lisa Fett: An Iconographical and Iconological Analysis of Benjamin Vierling’s Portrait of Joanna Newsom............

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99

103

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Robert McKay: The Awakening of Desire in the Classic Musical Work: A Speculative Exegesis Of

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113

Dougal Phillips: The Pelt and the Felt: Affect and the Unfolding Libidinal Skin ofEverything ........0.....c00c0eeeeeeeeeees

155

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Roan Press

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: powerful emotions her followers U S $1 9 e 9 5

and critics have experienced

ROANPRESS.COM

while under her spell.