Review: Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me (* * * * 1/2)

Should you be inclined to make such a superficial judgment, you can tell quite a bit about a Joanna Newsom album by its cover. Her amazing debut, 2004's The Milk-Eyed Mender, is adorned with a colorful collage of drawings and photographs both personal and stridently quirky—the music follows suit. Two years later, much changed. Newsom’s sophomore effort (and most would claim her masterpiece), 2006'sYs, featured more refined, mature artwork: a detailed drawing of the singer-songwriter dressed in ornate, Renaissance-era garb displaying an air of confidence and grace. Fittingly, the album is much more lyrically and musically ambitious, and Newsom creates an otherworldly, fantastical listening experience. Four years on, the tradition continues. Joanna's third and most anticipated release, Have One on Me, features artwork of Newsom sprawled out on a couch, nearly obscured by a wealth of exotic furs and other assorted finery. Calling it “busy” would be an understatement—it’s a visual overload—but given the size and scope of this record, nothing less would be appropriate. (Read the rest @ In Review Online)