Box of Moonlight

One of the most accomplished and enthralling albums so far this year is also one of the most elaborate vinyl releases. No, it isn't the twentieth anniversary of Joanna Newsom's Have One on Me -- though I'm sure we'll still be talking about it then -- nor is this a massive live release or career-spanning greatest hits collection, but that's the impression you might get from this 3-LP box set, complete with a booklet of Newsom's characteristically enigmatic lyrics. There's nothing modest about this release, but Newsom has the skill to deliver on unwieldy ambitions. She's performing at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre tonight and we'll be there to admire this one-of-a-kind, generation-defining talent. -- JD