Classification is a key part of rock criticism. When I listen to a record for the first time, the first thing I do is label it. This is not meant to put an artist in a box, but to give me a quick reference point. By making a quick comparison, I am able to analyze the music more clearly. I have been writing about music for seven years, and this is the first time that I have no earthly idea where something belongs. Who is Joanna Newsome, and what the hell is Have One On Me?
Have One On Me is an incredible piece of work. Weighing in at three discs, eighteen tracks and clocking in at two hours, this is not meant for passive listening. It is a baffling ordeal to get through, because Newsom makes no concessions to the mainstream. She has not really written songs, but stream of consciousness poetry set to orchestral pieces. There are recurring motifs throughout the music, but you have to be paying attention. On the title track for example, “Have one on me,” is almost a chorus, but then she goes back into her world. The title is especially interesting, because it’s such a common phrase. It could be a Rod Stewart or Bob Segar title, but it’s being sung by a hipster nymph.
Newsom is a talented harpist, and the instrument is used in a variety of ways. It provides the basic melody, the percussion and the tempo. Her harp is supplemented by a full orchestra and a conventional rock ensemble. “Easy,” begins with tranquil violins and a harp, and then suddenly there are drums. Not just drums, but drums that sound like they belong in a Journey ballad. There is such a great contrast between the elegance of the orchestra and the blunt force of the percussion. It shouldn’t work, but it does.
As you wade through the eighteen tracks, Newsom’s voice is what stands out. She doesn’t really sing, but it’s obvious she can. Her voice sounds like a cross between Joni Mitchell and a female Neil Young. Her voice is a character. She is able to bend it and morph it at will. One moment she might be singing a line completely straight, and then goes into a high falsetto warble. It’s jarring at first, because beautiful girls are supposed to have beautiful voices. However, this record is all about breaking and defying conventions.
The fact that this record exists in 2010 is a remarkable feat. In a time when the album is dying medium, this girl made a triple album. Few artists have the balls to try such a thing, and even fewer can pull it off. Have One On Me is not for everyone. You won’t be singing it in the car or the shower. But if you have the patience to get through it, it’s worth it. This is not a passive listening experience, but a very rewarding one.