Before "Ys" I was sort of on the fence about Joanna Newsom; now I heart her with all my love. I think this is probably the only time in my life that I'll be obsessed with someone who plays harp.

I think Bjork taught me that you don't have to have a perfect voice to be a singer.

I don't believe the hype, but I do take note of the buzz, particular in this age of blogs and online reviews. And in that spirit, with Newsom showing strongly on my radar, I bought Ys at the time of its release. (I buy a lot of CD's.) Initially I liked and admired it, and tolerated her notorious squeaks and squawks.

Today I was walking on the beach with the wind raging and the waves threatening, and I sung from memory all the words of Sawdust and Diamonds. I could pretty much do the same for the other songs too, and trust me, that's a heck of a lot of words! Yes, I've listened to Ys many times and show no signs of tiring of it.

Ys is not for everyone, you can't dance to it, you can't play it at a party, but if you're game to find out why so many people, from classical nuts to indie hipsters, are obsessed with it - go ahead and try it yourself; but be sure to give it a few listens with an open mind. This isn't American Idol, it is a work by a seriously creative and talented artist. Music, poetry and expressiveness of the highest order.

Some people aren't into her voice, but I think of it like hearing a legend for the first time -- sometimes it's a little bit of a challenge. Joanna Newsom's songwriting is truly epic, her rhyming is just brilliant, the chord changes are great, the instrumentation and production is amazing.

Not that there isn't enough hype for this album, but while I initially avoided it after much prodding from cute girls in polka dots I finally gave it a listen. I have to say, it's different, it's difficult, and it's very much worth getting. Ys will take you to a place you probably haven't been before, a fun, intelligent, happy world that haunts you after you've put away your head phones. Don't listen if you don't like expanding your horizons.

Incredible. Quite possibly the best of 2006. Definitely in top 10 for 2006 at least. (via HireThisGuy)