Bon Iver Bon Iver, Bon Iver |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Perth
2. Minnesota, WI
3. Holocene
4. Towers
5. Michicant
6. Hinnom, TX
7. Wash.
8. Calgary
9. Lisbon, OH
10. Beth/Rest
| Ranking: #69 for 2011 | |
| | other reviews | Indielens (5)
The fuller sound of Bon Iver.... | garth (5)
Mr Vernon, you are magnificent.... | Cam STAFF (4.5)
Each song acts like a personal journal entry, documenting Justin Vernon’s experience back with the... | Tom (4.5)
It might not top the (now almost sacred) For Emma, Forever Ago, but Bon Iver's sophomore effort is a... | SowingSeason STAFF (4.5)
... | LudditeStereo (4.5)
Gorgeous-sounding and elusive, Bon Iver, Bon Iver doesn't have the compelling back story of For Emma... | Lucidity (4)
This is not the sound of a new man.... | Griff Fuller Jr. (4)
Quiet indie folk rock and soundscaping shape an impressive sophomore album.... | Jared P. EMERITUS (2)
It’s not a problem that Vernon hasn't created music in the same style of the last successful album... |
On 452 Lists
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| Summary: Just like a sherbet bomb; sweet on the outer, and brilliant within. |
5 of 5 thought this review was well written
Candy. Who can resist it? Children yearn for it, adults sheepishly devour it. It’s the sweetness and heavenly texture that always keep us coming back for more, unless, of course you are a diabetic. Yet, we always seem to feel guilty for the love of our precious candy, as we all know that in the end, despite its rich yummy taste, overindulging can course a detriment to our health. When For Emma, Forever Ago was released, it instantly became rejoiced and much loved as for many, its allure lay in how damned pretty it was, and was admired for the beauty, yet sadness of the story behind it. Yet, Bon Iver, Bon Iver, the sophomore release from these Wisconsin indie folk musicians, is so different in many ways to For Emma... but there is the most obvious differential, that this candy is better than any on earth.
When an album as good as For Emma... is your debut, releasing another album that matches that standard of work is always going to be a daunting task. Nonetheless, with gorgeously layered out melodies and intricately buried harmonies, Bon Iver, Bon Iver can easily be regarded as good as its predecessor but one must not get stuck on comparing these two pieces of art work, as they are completely and utterly contrasting in sounds, contexts and musicality.
Opener ‘Perth’ instantly states that this is going to be a different record, as the you are hit with an electric guitar and snare rolls and the undertones of Vernon’s vocals layered to death. Each song comes and goes with the beautifully played out structures and coherent song writing that we all expect from Vernon, but what we don’t expect are the dramatic and substantial shift in instrumentation that occurs throughout the album. ‘Towers’ for instance, showcases how new intricate instrumentation come and goes regularly. To describe the brilliance of this track is impossible, as its quaint guitar riff and heavenly orchestral section have to be heard to be appreciated.
Lyrically Vernon is as cryptic as ever, his story telling isn’t as clear or nostalgic as his folk counterparts, yet his words transfer many personal feelings:
“For the love, comes the burning young
From the liver, sweating through your tongue
Oh the sermons are the first to rest
Smoke on Sundays when you’re drunk and dressed
Out the hollows where the swallow nests”
Bon Iver, Bon Iver is definitely an enjoyable listen. But it can be perceived as much more than that, as it intertwines and weaves through many touching, yet distant enigmas and moments of musical brilliance. It shows character for Bon Iver to write an album that is quintessentially completely different to whatever legacy For Emma... had created, rather than trying to recreate the feelings he captured in that Hansel and Gretel log cabin of his, and that is a candy that no one can over indulge on.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Yes I know, there are shit loads of reviews of this already, but I had this written months ago, then went away for most of June and missed the chance to post on the 'release' date. So, here she be.
Digging: S. Carey - Hoyas Digging: S. Carey - Hoyas | | | Album Rating: 4
Pretty darn good review for a pretty darn awesome album. Got this sudden urge to go get some candy.
This is at least on par with For Emma for me, and I feel this is a bit more consistent with maybe not as many high points. And I can't comment on lyrics cos I find it hard to understand what's being said.
Digging: Bill Evans - The Complete Live at the Village Vanguard 1961 Digging: Bill Evans - The Complete Live at the Village Vanguard 1961 | | | Album Rating: 1
Album sucks.
Digging: Botanist - I: The Suicide Tree / II: A Rose From the Dead Digging: Botanist - I: The Suicide Tree / II: A Rose From the Dead | | | Album Rating: 3.5
I love that summary.
Digging: OFWGKTA - The OF Tape Vol. 2 Digging: OFWGKTA - The OF Tape Vol. 2 | | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Yeah, its more of a whole type of album.
| | | Album Rating: 4
but one most not get stuck on comparing these two pieces of art work, as they are completely and utterly contrasting in sounds, contrasts and musicality.
Wish you elaborated on this because I just don't agree at all.
Digging: Animal Collective - Honeycomb/Gotham | | | Album Rating: 4
double post
| | | Album Rating: 3
Album sucks.
You disappoint me Wylie
Digging: Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Pinata Digging: Diablo Swing Orchestra - Pandora's Pinata | | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Lucidity, really? fair enough, also i just read that sentence again, grammatical mistakes everywhere!
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
I started getting tripped up by the candy metaphor, thinking to myself, so...if diabetics can't eat too many sweets, who are the theoretical equivalents of those who can't stomach this album? Then I realized I had a bag of Swedish Fish in my bedside drawer, and everything else seemed inconsequential.
Great review, dude. Pos.
Digging: El-P - Cancer For Cure | | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Haha Dr, thank you very much.
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Was wondering when this would be up. Good review Doug 
I've only heard "Beth/Rest" and I really dislike that song.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Oh yeah, forgot to mention the thanks for your edit Mikey! A big thankyou : )
Beth/Rest is epic when listened in context to the rest of the album.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Nice review Dougie! (or James, I guess). I pos'd.
And I totally agree with you on "Beth/Rest." I thought it was excellent in context with the album and it's actually one of my favorite tracks off here.
Digging: The Flashbulb - Arboreal Digging: The Flashbulb - Arboreal | | |
With that in mind I'll give the entire album a listen when I can
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
That you should definitely do.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
Oh and thanks crazy. Yeah, the flow of the makes you not realize how 'corny' beth/rest is supposedly, and now it's one of my faves.
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balls to the wall!
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
yeah, a 1 is fair harsh.
| | | Album Rating: 5 | Sound Off
It's so cornily serious
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