Album Review: Joanna Newsom - Divers

​By Jonathan Fuchs, Contributor

[Drag City; 2015]

Rating: 4/5

Key Tracks: “Anecdotes,” “Sapokanikan,” “Waltz of the 101st Lightborne”

With three critically acclaimed albums under her belt, singer/songwriter Joanna Newsom has been called one of the biggest names in the indie-folk genre. Newsom has been celebrated for her distinct singing voice and use of more unusual instruments like harps.

Divers, Newsom’s fourth album and first in five years, explores the style she brought on previous albums, but provides a bigger sound through its instrumentation. Because of this, it can easily be considered one of her best albums, and even one of the most unique albums of the year.

The vocals brought by Newsom are probably the best on any of her albums. Her opera-like angelic singing is more low-pitched, which is good for those who aren’t fans of her past material, which features higher vocals that are tougher to enjoy. Her singing on “You Will Not Take My Heart Alive” sounds pleasing to the ear, especially compared to singing on past material like her debut The Milk-Eyed Mender, which sounds more abrasive.

The lyrics on tracks “Anecdotes” and “Sapokanikan” are imaginative and provide plenty of imagery for the listener. No lyric on this album is uninteresting, and they all help the listener get into Newsom’s mind.

The key point of Divers is the instrumentation, which goes in an orchestral direction. It sounds like a huge symphony is playing behind Newsom the entire time. Instruments like violins, accordions, harpsichords and more sound beautiful on this album, especially when they’re layered on top of each other.

Divers is a beautiful record with well done writing, great singing and excellent instrumentation. Its blend of emotions and imagination will leave you with goosebumps, especially during quieter parts. It is one of the most creative and refreshing albums of the year, and an excellent project in Joanna Newsom’s career.