By the mid-2000s, indie was in a sorry state of stagnation, and it took a record with the scope, sprawl and ambition of Joanna Newsom's 'Ys' to change that.

Its lyrics were reputedly inspired by a brawl at ... Pop told Pittsburgh Post-Gazette of their duet, “and Kate has a little twang in her voice that sounds slightly rural and naïve.” ...