[Music Monday] Bon Iver - Bon Iver Review

You already know my obsession with Bon Iver. It's almost disturbing. And feeding my unhealthy love for Bon Iver is the fact that I am seeing him next Monday at Universal City Walk with friends Alexis and Steph. So I thought that a belated-but-still-relevant-because-everything-Justin-Vernon-thinks-says-does-sings-will-always-be-relevant review of his newest album was in order.

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.

[Art] The Northern Ballet - Cleopatra [Review]

As part of my goals for this month, I decided to do something new in London every weekend. Last night, I saw Cleopatra at the Sadler's Wells Theater. The Sadler's Wells theater happens to be literally across the street from me and it is a shame that I have just taken advantage of that :-/

But enough of the Debbie Downer-ness because Cleopatra, directed by David Nixon OBE, was effing amazing. In fact, I don't even know where to start with my thoughts. Obviously, the dancers were some of the best I have ever seen. But I wouldn't really expect anything less, especially from the lead. And of course, because I am a fashion fiend, the costumes had to go through an extremely skeptical and thorough evaluation. The verdict: the pared-down Monique Lhuillier royal costume with the glorious white chiffon and beaded bodice had me at first glance. And the summer look with the teal shorts made me wishing that it came in a ready-to-wear bikini style. (I freely admit I sound on the brink of idiocy right now, but you know you love it, so shush.)

Onto the music, which was specially composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg (Miss Saigon, Les Misérables) and played live by the Northern Ballet Sinfonia, was a little up and down for me. However, I really enjoyed the heavy, active beats of the scenes with the Roman soldiers as well as the scene with the Senate members and the doomed Julius Caesar. The slower, melancholy pieces seemed to drag out a little, although all in all, the music seemed a perfect fit for the story line, alternating between upbeat tempos of passion and violence, with the slower, introspective breaks.

The set and lighting impressed me to no end. I loved the interplay of shadows and minimalist set pieces. Every moment framed the bodies of the dancers in lit frames and silhouettes. The most stunning was the blindingly white ending scene, which just now reminded me of Black Swan's ending scene. The stark, harsh scene abruptly brought Cleopatra to a close in a beautiful way.

I also have to say that the ballet was a perfect length and didn't drag on, which sometimes happens to me. And the theater is world-famous for a reason with space for mingling, multiple bars on multiple levels, and of course, a plethora of places to chill at after, such as Exmouth Market and our favorite pub, The Harlequin. Ending the week with a pint and cheeseboard after an amazing ballet? Priceless.