User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 373 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 309 out of 373
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Mixed: 16 out of 373
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Negative: 48 out of 373
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JoshSNov 13, 2006Incredible, best album of 2006.
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MattD.Nov 13, 2006Less grating than The Milk-Eyed Mender, but it's without personality. Sounds like a bad soundtrack to a fantasy movie. If you want something different, try Nellie McKay or Loreena McKennitt.
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umbertopNov 13, 2006beautiful but not so beautiful
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JeremyPNov 14, 2006Personally, my favourite album ever. I'm so happy I heard it months before it was released so that I was free of any influence
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KevinCNov 14, 2006This album is without question the best thing I've heard in at least a few years. It's mind-blowingly ambitious and ornately beautiful. I wouldn't expect anything less from Joanna Newsom, this is a perfect album and a stunning masterpiece.
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billNov 14, 2006Astounding! Between Joanna and Van Dyke, this si nothing short of a masterpiece! The more you play it, thyee more it grows on you. Congrats Joanna!!
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PaulFNov 14, 2006Spell binding! Album of the year.
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JonLNov 15, 2006
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AaronSNov 15, 2006I don't know whay everyone else is hearing, but this is the single worst release in 2006. Newsom's vocals are beyond bad and the album itself is very overproduced. Awful.
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GrutNov 15, 2006Her first album was amazing, this one is just crap. Must be the influence of her new buddy Devendra Banhart. Can someone tell this guy not to talk to other artists ?
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AntonioBNov 15, 2006Rolling stone dropped the ball. Solid arrangements as the songs meander with a purpose and let her voice shine.
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HelenNov 15, 2006We have seen the birth of a true modern day masterpiece.
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nightchapelkNov 15, 2006awful. 50+ minutes long and she is singing for 48 of those minutes. I would love to hear the version sans vocals.
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SanNNov 17, 2006On first listen, I'm thinking it might be the best of the year. That spot is currently held by TV On The Radio for me, but it's close.
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PlatePlateNov 17, 2006On the verge of replacing In The Aeroplane Over The Sea for me, album of the year, Joanna Newsom is a demigod, wow, i have listened to this album more in the last few weeks than any album this year in total
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ZachJNov 17, 2006One of the more groundbreaking albums to be released this year, I think. Takes a while to settle in (possibly moreso than usual; I say this because most times people follow such a comment with, "Just like any great album.") Once it clicks though...incredible.
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DanielONov 18, 2006J Publius said: "This will be on every critics top 10 list, and nobody will listen to it for more than five minutes." Actually I haven't been able to put it down for over a week. Grows with every listen. It's the same for most people I've talked to who liked it.
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samfNov 21, 2006stunning
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DanielWNov 21, 2006One of the finest albums ever written. Opening track "Emily" is one of the best songs ever written. One must be generous and open-minded when approaching Y's, but the rewards are excellent. At times, her lyrics can even be life-changing. Definitely pick this one up.
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skyweaponskyNov 21, 2006This is a real dream
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GuyHNov 23, 2006Anyone commenting on this album should have the patience to listen from start to finish at least 10 or so times... Well it isn't conventional pop song writing, it is hard to get a hold of at first but your patience will be rewarded. Ys is stunning - Only Skin and Sawdust together make up the most compelling 30 minutes of music released this year. Yes, this album is that good.
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KacyKNov 23, 2006I previewed this on iTunes and didn't like it. In particular, Joanna's vocals. A couple of days later, I purchased it and after 2 or 3 listens, I'm fairly smitten with it. I now find her vocals charming and sincere. Beautiful harp and arrangements. Wonderfully escapist.
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KenHNov 24, 2006This is by far the most overrated album of the year. Just awful
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markpNov 26, 2006Astonishinly beautiful, albeit a tad bjorkish and kate bushish, but once you over that, lyrics in hand, it is a bold, fresh, gigantic musical piece. Well done to that young californian girl!!
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TedB.Nov 27, 2006Newsom should have stuck to voice work in commercials and cartoons rather than thinking she could sing.
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WesleyWillisNov 27, 2006I like the way she rock! I like the way she roll! Jovanna Newston is my honey-lover to the Max!
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happysadNov 28, 2006Another neo-folk (or whatever you call it) record pretty much completely devoided of any soul or passion...or memorable tunes for that matter, having a gimmicky voice is just not enough I'm afraid. String arrangements are nice though...
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DavidNNov 28, 2006deeply musical, lyrically astonishing, and profoundly moving.
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ECantonNov 30, 2006Brilliant, Beautiful, one of the best of 2006
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JoeE.Dec 11, 2006Just breathtaking. I hate to sound like a music snob and say something like "People who don't like it just don't understand it," but I feel like a lot of the negative feedback is from people who haven't given it a chance. Give it a try for yourself. More than once. This is definitely an album in which something more can always be found.
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JennaJamesonDec 1, 2006
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ericlDec 14, 2006an impressive album of rich, layered music. the lyrics aren't as great as they were on milk-eyed mender but the production is better and newsom's voice has improved. that said, many will be turned off by her voice without ever knowing the beauty of this album.
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andrewDec 15, 2006
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RichardKDec 15, 2006Not my cup of tea but I can see there's something original going on. Some parts sounded like an old Walt Disney cartoon.
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CraigHDec 18, 2006
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JacksonGDec 2, 2006
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JyotirmayaDDec 2, 2006
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KevinKDec 27, 2006
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EranRDec 29, 2006Excellent in every aspect!
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TopCatDec 31, 2006Haunting - keeps me coming back
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jaybDec 3, 2006Snooze fest. Too much hype on nothing. You can guarantee it'll get four to five stars from most meatheads...
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[Anonymous]Dec 5, 2006Rolling Stone has been irrelevant for years. Ys is one of the most enchanting albums, I have ever listened to.
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AdamHDec 6, 2006Very good cd. reminds me of an epic poem with wonderful lyrics. she assumes an air of confidence that makes her great.
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grubDec 6, 2006one of the worst sounding, most indigestible CDs I've heard. yet the songs are amazing. what happened?
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KyleVJan 25, 2007i think i can sing better : and thats saying some thing
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JamesBJan 25, 2007will some one kill this crazy person
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ajaypMar 29, 2007out of this world, new, refreshing, magical, beautiful and truly lovely to hear.
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MarkFMar 31, 2007Beautiful, and highly stimulating if you like poetic lyrics, a classical sensibility, and the spirit of artistic endeavour. A masterpiece that I can enjoy again and again.
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JoSMay 29, 2007
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CaitJul 12, 2007Perfect. Read the Pitchfork review. You love it or you hate it. If you don't like it, it probably won't grow on you, and I pity you.
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PaulOct 13, 2008Beautiful Album. Just evokes the full range of emotions.
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DavidM.Feb 25, 2008I'll never understand why these sprawling idiosyncratic croonings constitute a great work--and that's coming from a fan of Tori Amos and Kate Bush!!
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ChristianD.Mar 18, 2008I have currently been examining monkey and bear, I get chills just reading a few lines. this is classical masterpieces with brilliant poetry that seeps into your head and cuddles you in a blanket of ease. if green day is more of your music I would not suggest listening to this as it might put you in a comma.
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ZacC.May 17, 2008Quite simply one of the most beautiful records I can think of. Everything is lush and flowing. The lyrics and orchestration are nothing short of amazing.
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BillyB.Sep 21, 2008Her voice is total garbage. I don't understand what's likeable about her baby-like voice and barely competent harp playing.
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JoanSNov 29, 2009
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AlexP.Feb 18, 2009
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KyleBNov 12, 2006Album of the decade.
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TomBNov 13, 2006It's like the best thing that I'll only ever listen to once.
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aldoaNov 14, 2006rolling stone is the dumbest publication on earth.
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ClaireTNov 14, 2006Simply beautiful :).
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JeffRNov 15, 2006Like Bjork doing 10 minute "epic" Yoko Ono covers with a harp. Overly ambitious and frankly, kind of annoying. Clearly lots of people love it, but I just don't get it.
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JohnMNov 15, 2006WOW.
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LianNNov 15, 2006Just perfect. That's all.
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JustinBNov 15, 2006rarely does any artist ever reach such high levels of accomplishment with any piece of music. "Ys" is really too good to explain, only listening will do it justice.
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RickHNov 15, 2006Though only five songs, they will continue to reveal themselves to me for years. Every pass over this album has been so different.
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BrendtRNov 15, 2006Album of the year. Hands down.
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AudreyNov 15, 2006This is an amazing piece of art, something that I have come to enjoy more with every listen.
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VicsONov 16, 2006album of the year, period.
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EvanSNov 17, 2006Rolling Stone can kiss my puckered pool hole for all I care. I don't want nuts...oh, wait. Um, this is the album of the year.
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LonelyGurlNov 18, 2006Magically Fantastically Romantically Amazingly Gorgeous
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TomPNov 18, 2006
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AlDNov 19, 2006An extremely ambitious album that actually achieves its ambitions. Incredibly rich, complex and subtle, it needs to be heard many times to be fully absorbed, but for me, repeated listens are easy. This is about as good as music can be.
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johncNov 21, 2006This is not my normal indulgence, but a couple of these songs are perfect. Give the girl a chance. Does it get a tad pretentious, sure. But ambition is important and she has a singular approach that can only humble you.
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BiffLNov 21, 2006Like fingernails on a chalkboard. Maybe there's a nice melody in there somewhere. Maybe if Squeaky paused her rambling lyrics for a second or two we could hear it. Pretentious crap.
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LeoFNov 22, 2006very boring.... next, please!
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TaylorFNov 22, 2006Stunningly beautiful with lyrics that will play with your head. So close to perfect it's scary. Screw you, rolling stone.
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TristramCNov 22, 2006
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JohnDNov 24, 2006I can understand that this album is very good, and that Newsom is a terrific lyricist. My problem is that I just can't get into it.
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ReidANov 26, 2006Beautiful...i cannot stop listening to it.
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timeNov 27, 2006What the hell is this crap? Is KFed still performing? That's how bad this album was.
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jasonbNov 28, 2006best album of the year... no contest
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annaNov 29, 2006there is something completely inspiring about this album, from the lyrics to the classical musical arrangements newsom proves she is a novel force to be reckoned with in the music world. if you are a fan of music you have a moral obligation to listen to this entire album.
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BrianDNov 29, 2006You pretentious people like to think you're cool because you know of things that others don't. In reality your taste sucks and so does this album. Rolling Stone is a good publication and I trust for the most part their critics and right they are that this album is hard to stomach. Things are not beautiful because they're ugly, or different sounding. Get over yourselves.
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AaronADec 15, 2006One of the best albums I've ever heard.
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michaelsDec 18, 2006
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ReubenFDec 18, 2006
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felipe.Dec 21, 2006some time ago i thought that her voice was REALLY terrible. but then,i think she won me up with these 10-minute songs,great job. :}
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DylanMDec 22, 2006
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NeilDec 26, 2006This could be some of the most overated music I have ever had the priviladge of listening to. Listen to the new TV on the Radio album, or Future/sex Lovesounds by Justin Timberlake.
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KateMNov 29, 2008
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Dec 11, 2010Magical. Flawless. One of the best albums I've ever heard, it's like a very well told tale, and Joanna is very creative, and not boring at all. Even though no one mentions it, "Cosmia" is beautiful, and, for me, the best track. "Sawdust & Diamonds" is also just as pretty. No single back track in this album.
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Dec 24, 2010
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Jul 27, 2011Joanna Newsom is more than a musician, she is an artist. Perfectly blending her musical talent into the realm of her imagination. Each song is a journey unto itself.
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Nov 27, 2011Showing her power as an singer and harpist, Joanna Newsom deliver us the best folk album ever. With strange lyrics, that sounds like talks, we catch ourselves flying around listening to beatiful songs like 'Emily' and 'Sawdust & Diamonds' - the best of this album. Super!
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Jan 18, 2012Newsom screeching voice, her masterful harp playing and the graceful orchestration all come together in a whirlwind of beauty that at the end of the album you are completely overwhelmed. It is very unlikely that youâ
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Jan 8, 2019
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Nov 17, 2016This album is a truly masterpiece, it may seem like the songs are long (because they are), but with the lyrics sheet on your hand, you won't get bored.
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Jan 29, 2018My all time favourite. Five enchanting stories each each accompanied by beautiful instrumentation. Could not recommend enough!
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Sep 7, 2018
Awards & Rankings
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It’s to her great credit that Newsom (literally) plucks artistic triumph from the jaws of cloying whimsy.
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It may well be the most off-putting album released this year. After playing it, there seems every chance it is the also the most astonishing.
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Newsom has managed to lessen the twee factor of her last record... in the process crafting an album as bewitching as it is odd.