Joanna Newsom introduced the world to Have One On Me via a cryptic comic before she performed some of its songs live in Australia on her birthday. One of those tracks was/is “’81,” a delicate pastoral that has the protagonist locating a plot of land in the Garden Of Eden. The song was posted in its lovely studio form at Drag City, but the site was loading very very very slowly, so they’ve taken it down while they work out the technical issues. (It’s back.) The album’s first press photo (below) is more colorful than the album’s art (to the right). And yes, it is indeed a 3-CD (or 3-LP) set.
i found a little plot of land
in the Garden of Eden
it was dirt and dirt is all
the same
i tilled it with my two hands
and i called it
my very own
there was no one to dispute
my claim
well, you’d be shocked at the state of things:
the whole place had just cleared right out
it was hot as hell, so i lay me by the spring
for a spell, as naked as a trout
the wandering eye that i have caught
is as hot as a wandering sun
but i would want for nothing more
in my garden; start again
in the hardening to every heart but one
meet me in the Garden
of Eden
bring a friend
we are gonna have ourselves a time
we are gonna have a golden party
it’s on me
no siree, it’s my dime
we broke our hearts in the war between
St. George and the dragon,
but both in equal parts are welcome
to come along
i’m inviting everyone
farewell, two loves that i have known
even muddied as waters run
tell me, what is meant by sittin’ alone
in a garden, seceded
from the Union in the year of ’81?
the unending amends you made
are enough for one life; be done
i believe in innocence, little darlin’; start again
i believe in everyone
i believe, regardless
i believe in everyone
Have One On Me is out 2/23 via Drag City. You can pre-order it, if you’d like.
[Photo by Annabel Mehran]
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wow, she’s hot.
and extremely talented.
unlike yourself douche
And her song takes a long time to load.
I still haven’t gotten it to work. When it finally loads, it says it’s playing but nothing is happening.
I am a little worried about the 3LP thing though. It takes work, especially these days, to keep one’s attention for that long.
Tell that to James Cameron.
Actually even though it is 3 “sides” they are not many tracks on each.
Well, we’re talking about Joanna Newsom here who tends to write really really long, epic songs. I’d be surprised if it was a 3-LP set full of radio hits.
It’s great to see a man here who really loves women!
well, i do at that. i’m not sure if your comment is a slight or a compliment. however, i wrote what i wrote to not detract from the idea that she’s an amazing artist- which she is- but because i’d never seen a picture of her looking quite so fetching.
It’s just that when every post about a female artist is taken as an opportunity to comment on her attractiveness or lack thereof – and really, the former’s little better than the latter – it makes me want to kill myself. That’s all.
Or, to make it less about me: we live in a society where women are judged by their appearance over everything else – and often to the complete exception of everything else. This is misogyny, perpetuating it is misogyny, and “but look, I was complimenting her! How can you say I’m being misogynist when I love women?!” is missing the point spectacularly.
yeah, but what are ya gonna do?
Yeah, misogynist!
Now back to the topic at hand, please: which one of these new songs would fit best in the next Victoria’s Secret ad?
ooh, victoria’s secret. now those chicks are hot!
3 cds? you gotta be kidding me. this chick is insufferable, ugh.
I know, right? The worst part is that you specifically will be forced to listen to the entire thing at gunpoint.
God!!! I so hope that they are keeping the real cover art a secret, because that cover is just plain ugly.
She definitely looks like a prostitute in that picture… possibly also a transvestite.
Yr so cool! You have to be really brave and edgy to tell it like it is in these PC GONE MAD times of ours! Will you marry me?
I can already tell it’s really good…BUT can it get away with being a lipstick ad at the same time…
Thanks for the embed!
Song is great but Andy Samberg, really?? REALLY? II Mean, Really??
Either they are over, or the NY Post is an idiot.
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/the_flirty_dozen_r9F0lXPXM5vHlaZKK7i7nN
I’m thinking latter.
My face is going to explode. This comes out in less than a month.
My face is going to explode, you guys.
oooh la la
3 more hours of that please
Wow. Her legs go all the way up.
This re-branding of Joanna Newsom as some fashion model-meets-Starbucks songstress is too much for me to take.
why is no one talking about how GREAT this track is? and what happened to stereogum? ughhhh
I love Ys. The three cd concept worries me. As does the lack of instrumentation. Also, the cover…hopefully that is a placeholder for the real cover.
her voice is so annoying god, you hipsters will listen to anything that is considered cool even singer sounds like a dead animal
Did you listen to the new song? I can understand somebody thinking that “SSAAAAADDIE, WHIIIITE COAT!” was grating but she’s sweetened her voice up an awful lot since then.
Unfortunately your 3rd grade teacher failed to teach you the proper definition of simile, because dead animals don’t make any noise so what you said makes no sense. And this new song is great, although the 3 cd album is worrisome. I have faith in the awesomeness of Joanna Newsom though.
Oh, and she’s grown exponentially hotter since the Milk Eyed Mender
beautiful song
It’s beautiful. Like a fairy tale.
i’m starting to like her stuff a lot. maybe when i buy her stuff on vinyl, i’ll think to pick this up.
a triple album will definitely be a difficult thing to accomplish, though. the only triple albums i have are all things must pass and sandinista, and i can’t sit down and listen to either for that long.
I am curious if this 3-CD thing means each order comes with three discs of the same album (to share with friends?). I’m sure I’m wrong, but just in case, I told you so.
Also, I am beyond excited for this album. She’s a pure gem!
Nah – each of the 3 CDs\LPs are different, the whole album is 2 hours and 10 minutes long. 18 songs with about 6 per disc. It’s a monster!
sweet! i’m glad to hear it. all of these people belly aching about 3 cd worries. are you kidding? it means 2+ hours of new jo news! i love her; i’d want even more!
i love thebass on that harp
she has a wandering eye?
I confused it with whispering eye. I haven’t seen Role Models in a long time.
this is SO SO SO good. what a writer.
I like how the cover art makes you fear for a second that’s she’s also jumped the synth shark… but it’s the same fairy tale music.
She’s never sounded more Kate Bush than this song.
P.S. Newsom looks great, the song is ok, and the album cover is so mundane.
hmmmm. It’s OK I guess…seems like she’s become something of a wannabe famous person now, dating andy samberg, playing fashion parties and glamming up. Loses some of the charm she used to have IMO
no she hasn’t, she’s just put on more makeup and hired proper photographers with their fancy lights and photoshop.
Are you sure its not
“we are gonna have a garden party” instead of
“we are gonna have a golden party”
Cus it sounds like shes saying garden, and that would make more sense.
To the person worried about lack of instrumentation, from seeing her live I can assure you this is not the case for the rest of her album. Seems like there’ll be a few harp-less/more piano-heavy songs though. Have One on Me is going to be fantastic!
i just hope for less vocal quirking on this album. and shorter songs too. she doesn’t need to put the motown rule of 3 mins, but 9 minutes of crazy screaming senseless poetry? no bjork fanatic could stand that
She’s very good. But you’d think her upcoming album was he freaking codes to the nukes. All this secretiveness, leaks, leaks retrieved. Etc., etc. Just put play the music, record it and sell it. Damn.
Weird. I actually just found out about Joanna Newsom today when I got a link from one of her youtube videos by email, from my very best friend I might add. I was immediately hooked. I’m stoked to hear she’s releasing a new album. I hope stereogum gets a teaser track…
God, I love this woman! the melodies in this song are breaking me up a bit.
tell me, what is meant by sittin’ alone
in a garden, seceded
from the Union in the year of ’81?
i think it’s actually:
tell me, what is meant by sin or none
in a garden, seceded
from the Union in the year of ’81?
that seems to make more sense.
What is with the #81 these days. Vampire Weekend’s “Diplomat’s Son” and now Joanna Newsom. Who wears the No. 81 on the Colts and Saints? I’m placing a bet on them to score the first TD in Super Bowl
totally saw this coming..the real artwork is now posted on DC: http://www.dragcity.com/products/have-one-on-me
if i knew how to post it here i would have
its gorgeous
there is a new newsom song up on the drag city site.
and it’s fantastic, by the way.
I’m reminded of Tom Waits when I listen to Joanna Newsom. The whole “love the voice, love the music, hate the voice, hate the music” stance people seem to have. What also reminds me of Tom Waits is Newsom’s new change of direction. Being 28 I would be shocked if her music wasn’t different, as she would have grown and changed a lot in the time between Ys and Have One on Me. I’m enjoying travelling through the genre’s she’s making up herself. Another comparison between the mighty Newsom and the mighty Waits is that Orphans, Waits’ last release before the live “Glitter and Doom” album, was also a triple, and it was fucking awesome!
I just heard the new song Good Brothers Paving Company? (Is That the Title?) She is becoming more and more like Sufjan Stevens. This new triple album is going to have it gems, but it is also going to have some songs that you just can’t listen to.
Most everyone has positive comments and the absurdly pretentious, ‘hipster appreciates image over content’ bs post is the one that gets highlighted in the post? Why am I not shocked?