Tom Lynch

The beloved harp player is back after two years of writing and recording with "Ys" (Drag City), a positively spectacular album of invention and soul, an equal to her previous "The Milk-Eyed Mender," which set the world aflame in the first place and made her a new kind of indie-queen: strange, delicate and viciously talented. "Ys"'s five songs run at nearly an hour as Newsom weaves extraordinary, magical tales, poetic and strong with her nasally and wonderfully odd voice. Van Dyke Parks did all of the orchestral arrangements, and Newsom's harp playing is feverish and heartbreaking--on "Sawdust and Diamonds," it hits a summit, as she croons "Drop a bell off of the dock/ Blot it out in the sea/ Drowning mute as a rock; sounding mutiny." This is her first headlining tour, and for these shows she's backed by a band--preparing a live show must be a massive undertaking, and the show itself should be heavenly, hypnotic, scary and huge. Don't miss it.

Joanna Newsom plays November 8 at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 North Kedzie, (773)509-5019, at 7pm & 10:30pm. $20.

(2006-10-31)

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