The beauty of Bon Iver's music is its ability to inspire instant images and feelings from song to song. In honor of that, this review of Bon Iver's self-titled album is less structured, more stream of consciousness, and you'll have to excuse me if its a little fragmented or my images are less relate-able. Sorry 'bout it.
In general, this is quintessential Bon Iver, music that can be played on misty mornings, late summer nights and solo drives down PCH. Haunting vocals, incredible guitar work are obvs for Justin Vernon, but this most recent work has an electronic vibe with some 80s/90s influence that is perplexingly attractive. These songs are certainly different from For Emma, Forever Ago, and follow a similar quietness of the Blood Bank age.
Here is a song-by-song breakdown and a Grooveshark playlist so you can listen along :-)
Perth: Epitomizes that 80s/90s almost soft rock sounds, super mellow
Minnesota, WI: Bolder vocals, more singable than other songs, and I love percussion/guitar interplay... sooooo good
Holocene: the breakup song of the album, definitely fit for an introspective rainy day, if I were in a different mood listening to this, it would probably instantly inspire tears
Towers: The layering of eras and instruments on this album is tremendous – this has a little 60s/folk thing going on, but like not. It's confusing but again, appealing in provocation. I like it.
Michicant: the road trip song, picturing myself driving down the 101 at dusk with soy chai tea latte
Hinnon, TX: haunting and ethereal. Just listen to it.
Wash.: my favorite with the gentle piano and Vernon's angelic voice. I just want to wrap myself up in this song.
Calgary: You should have already heard this single, since it's been everywhere on the blogosphere and I only mentioned it like 3000 times. People who called it boring obvs didn't wait for the glorious buildup that happens around minute two... idiots.
Lisbon, OH: electronic, grows on me, but the lack of Vernon vocals = eh.
Beth/Rest: The review on Music Ninja said this song would be polarizing and I agree. Not sure about the retro influence, def some 90s shiz going on, but melancholy, calming with a beach on a gray day feel.
