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sJ visionof
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2022 with funding from Kahle/Austin Foundation
httos://archive.org/details/visionsofjoannan0000unse
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.
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book design & typeset by Joshua Lurie-Terrell
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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11
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24
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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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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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: powerful emotions her followers U S $1 9 e 9 5
and critics have experienced
ROANPRESS.COM
while under her spell.