Three discs of Joanna Newsom's harp-assisted poetry might daunt even some of her fans, let alone her detractors. Yet Have One on Me, this two-hour-plus triple album isn't as overwhelming as it might initially appear. While Newsom remains the most intricate lyricist currently working outside of rap, her melodies have become cleaner, her arrangements less mannered, and her singing more straightforwardly heartfelt. Rich rewards await those patient enough to hear her out. A–
Download These:
Tangled, 11-minute Have One on Me at last.fm
Sweet lullaby Esme at last.fm
