Joanna Newsom

These five tracks reveal that Joanna Newsom's most devoted listeners are drawn to her earlier, more whimsical material. The presence of songs like Peach, Plum, Pear and Sprout and the Bean, both from her 2006 album Ys, suggests that fans are particularly engaged with her work from a period when her sound was more playful and fantastical. These aren't her most experimental pieces, nor are they her most austere compositions. Instead, they occupy a sweet spot where Joanna's distinctive vocal character, her gift for narrative storytelling, and her intricate harp work come together in an accessible but still challenging package. The popularity of these specific tracks indicates that listeners appreciate her ability to make whimsical subjects feel genuinely moving. The songwriting patterns that likely explain this popularity center on Joanna's talent for creating vivid, almost childlike imagery that actually contains emotional depth beneath its playful surface. Peach, Plum, Pear uses fruit as metaphor in a way that feels both innocent and oddly haunting. These songs also benefit from relatively straightforward song structures compared to some of her later work, making them easier entry points for new listeners while still rewarding close attention with clever wordplay and intricate arrangement. The production on these tracks features her harp as a primary instrument rather than buried within orchestral layers, allowing her distinctive musical voice to shine clearly. This directness appears to resonate more strongly with listeners than her later, more baroque arrangements. If someone enjoys these particular Joanna Newsom tracks, they would likely find much to appreciate in the music of Devendra Banhart. Banhart shares Joanna's ability to blend lo-fi sensibilities with genuine melodic sophistication, and his early work contains similar whimsical storytelling paired with intricate guitar work that serves a function comparable to Joanna's harp. Both artists create worlds within their songs that feel both intimate and slightly strange, making them particularly appealing to listeners who enjoy folk music that surprises them.