Ys ( ) is the second album by Joanna Newsom. It was released by Drag City on November 14, 2006 (see 2006 in music). The album was named for a mythical city in Brittany.
The album features full orchestra arrangements by Van Dyke Parks on four of the tracks. Parks also contributes accordion. Newsom's harp and vocals were recorded by Steve Albini and the orchestra was recorded by Tim Boyle. Newsom and Parks produced the album and it was mixed by Jim O'Rourke. The recording process was completely analog, on two 24-track tape recorders. The music was mixed to tape and mastered at Abbey Road Studios.
Bass guitar is contributed by Lee Sklar, and electric guitar by jazz guitarist Grant Geissman. Don Heffington played percussion and Matt Cartsonis played mandolin and banjo. Bill Callahan of Smog provides backing vocals on the song "Only Skin", while on "Emily" these are sung by Joanna's sister Emily Newsom, for whom the song was named.
The album, particularly the length of the songs and orchestral arrangements, was inspired by the 1971 Roy Harper album Stormcock. In September 2007, Harper supported Joanna Newsom at her Royal Albert Hall performance, playing Stormcock in its entirety.
The album leaked onto the internet over two months in advance of its release when it was left unprotected on servers belonging to music criticism website Pitchfork Media.
Since its release on November 14, Ys has received widespread critical acclaim, including a #1 ranking in Tiny Mix Tapes' Top 25 Albums of 2006, and CHARTbeat's Top 100 Albums of 2006 a #3 ranking on Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2006, and a #6 ranking Time Magazine's 10 Best Albums of 2006. It currently has a score of 85 out of 100 and is 15 highest scoring album of 2006 on Metacritic.
The album entered the Irish Album Chart at #50.
The track "Emily" was ranked #9 in Pitchfork Media's Top 100 Tracks 2006.
Ys is Newsom's first album to chart on the U.S. music charts.
The album was nominated for a 2007 Shortlist Music Prize.
On her fall 2007 tour, Newsom performed the album in its entirety, backed by a 29-piece orchestra.
