2.2.2010 | 2:25 pm

New Music: Joanna Newsom – “Good Intentions Paving Company”

Joanna Newsom pours on the harmonies for this one, which would be almost Carole King-like if it wasn’t sung by Our Lady of Squeaking and didn’t last seven minutes. (A thought: how good would a J-News/Ryan Adams duet be?!) Stream it at Drag City. All my hyperbolic Joanna coverage here. Update: And now, a tracklist! After the jump.

Copy-pasted from the Internet, potentially not official:

CD1
1. Easy (06:04)
2. Have One On Me (11:02)
3. ’81 (03:51)
4. Good Intentions Paving Company (07:02)
5. No Provenance (06:25)
6. Baby Birch (09:30)
Total: 43:54

CD2
1. On A Good Day (01:48 )
2. You And Me, Bess (07:12)
3. In California (08:41)
4. Jackrabbits (04:23)
5. Go Long (08:02)
6. Occident (05:31)
Total: 35:37

CD3
1. Soft As Chalk (06:29)
2. Esme (07:56)
3. Autumn (08:01)
4. Ribbon Bows (06:10)
5. Kingfisher (09:11)
6. Does Not Suffice (06:44)
Total: 42:31

All in all, a zippy two hours — short of the 2.5 hour set some were hoping for, and not enough to stretch past a disc and a half, rather than the three she’s using. But I’m sure the songs are split up for a reason, Cold Roses style, and I’m glad Drag City is allowing her the luxury.

More posts about: 2010,

  • zack

    So weird. I also thought about Ryan while listening to this song. Maybe it is the banjo? Anyway, this song fucking rules, big time.

  • http://www.roanpress.com Brad Buchanan

    Roan Press’s “Visions of Joanna Newsom” book is now available for pre-ordering: http://www.roanpress.com/ourbooks.html

    You can see the blurbs at http://www.roanpress.com/news.html

  • JestaCat

    Saw Joanna perform in Brisbane for the kick off of her Australian tour – brilliant!! She did 9 tracks from this eagerly awaited new album (set list here: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/joanna-newsom/2010/the-tivoli-brisbane-australia-4bd77be6.html ) – the songs are excellent – interesting, involving, story-telling etc… like her previous, but still showing growth and movement.
    The two studio cuts I’ve heard (’81 & Paving Co.) are extraordinary – can’t wait for the release of this piece of work.
    I’m also at a loss as to why 3 discs instead of two… but she’s not the first to release an album over more discs than are needed.

  • J.P.

    Ya oughtta rename this blog The Hawking (Of Joanna) Refuses To Stop!!!
    Haven’t seen an Internet hard-on this large for such a mediocre talent since, lemme think a minute…. oh yeah, since the last craptastical album by, wait for it, wait for it, Joanna Newsom!!!
    I’ll check back in next month after the new Ted Leo album drops, perhaps the “Rawk”, which has been strangely absent from here during this whole Taylor!/Joanna! estrogen sqeakfest, will be back in the Rawkblog by then.

  • David Greenwald

    This blog’s title has been and always will be ironic

  • http://www.blindpigeonrecords.com nixonagnew

    Good Intentions Pavement Company is absolutely amazing. Blown away. It’s what I would have wanted Joni Mitchell to record post-Blue but she instead got into jazz instead.
    Ted Leo album should be good too, if I may bridge the gap between the posts above.
    The Newsom backlash is/was inevitable. I’ll hang my hat on her integrity and ambition. Very impressed and excited for the rest of the album.

  • nikita coltrane

    Ted Fuckin’ Leo, speaking of mediocre.

  • http://www.rawkblog.net Dave Rawkblog

    Ted Leo rules and will also be receiving hyperbolic blog coverage in this space