Walnut Whales is the self-distributed debut EP by American multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom.[1] It was released in 2002[2] and sold in limited numbers in CD-R format.[3][4] All tracks on the record, except for "Erin", "Flying a Kite", and "The Fray", were later re-recorded, the re-recorded versions being released on Newsom's debut studio album The Milk-Eyed Mender (2004), with minor lyrical changes.[3][4] The EP has been described as indie folk, contemporary folk,[5] and folk rock.[6]

Walnut Whales
EP by
Released2002
Recorded2002
GenreIndie folk, contemporary folk, folk rock
Length36:15
LabelSelf-released
ProducerNoah Georgeson, Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom chronology
Walnut Whales
(2002)
Yarn and Glue
(2003)

The title of the EP was inspired by the 1975 children's book "Snips and Snails and Walnut Whales: Nature Crafts for Children" by Phyllis Fiarotta.[2][7][8]

Background edit

Walnut Whales was initially not intended for public distribution, but at the suggestion of Noah Georgeson, Newsom's then-boyfriend as well as co-producer and recording engineer of the EP,[3] she burned several copies to sell at her early performances.[9][10] Newsom's friend and bandmate in Golden Shoulders, Adam Kline, gave one of her CDs to singer-songwriter Will Oldham at a show in Nevada City. Oldham was impressed with Newsom's music and asked her to tour with him. Kline also gave a copy of the record to the owner of his record label, Drag City. Drag City signed Newsom and released her debut studio album The Milk-Eyed Mender in 2004.

Discussing the record, Newsom stated that "The very first Walnut Whales recording was recorded just a few weeks after I had started singing, out of the blue, started singing. And the voice, you can hear how uncomfortable I am with it, and how terrified I am with it."[11]

Track listing edit

All tracks are written by Joanna Newsom

No.TitleLength
1."Erin"3:38
2."Cassiopeia"4:00
3."Peach, Plum, Pear"3:27
4."Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie"3:52
5."Flying a Kite"6:34
6."The Fray"3:22
7."En Gallop!"6:26
8."The Book of Right-On"4:40

References edit

  1. ^ "Not On Label (Joanna Newsom Self-Released)". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  2. ^ a b "Walnut Whales track listing ~ Joanna Newsom Lyrics.com". Joanna Newsom Lyrics. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  3. ^ a b c "Walnut Whales by Joanna Newsom". Genius. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  4. ^ a b "Wiki - Walnut Whales — Joanna Newsom". Last.fm. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  5. ^ Walnut Whales by Joanna Newsom - RYM/Sonemic, retrieved 2021-02-09
  6. ^ "Joanna Newsom Walnut Whales (EP)- Spirit of Rock Webzine (en)". Spirit of Rock. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  7. ^ ThriftBooks. "Snips and Snails and Walnut Whales:... book by Phyllis Fiarotta". ThriftBooks. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  8. ^ "9780911104493: Snips and Snails and Walnut Whales: Nature Crafts for Children - AbeBooks - Fiarotta, Phyllis; Fiarotta, Noel: 0911104496". AbeBooks. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  9. ^ Gillespie, Ryan (October 2006). "Under the Radar - Joanna Newsom Interview". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  10. ^ Harmanci, Reyhan (2005-05-29). "Playing by the bookings". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  11. ^ Cramer, Michael (April 19, 2004). "Harp's Delight - An interview with Joanna Newsom". Dusted.