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Last Active 08-22-20 4:10 am
Joined 01-03-09
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| Bon Iver/Justin Vernon
Inspired by Eye For an Eye's awesome list, here's my rrlist of favourite rJustin Vernon related songs. | | 1 | Bon Iver
Flume (Myspace Transmission Version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOUxAfQdNd0
This rendition of Flume is absolutely stunning. The 4 musicians in the video
feed off of each other, and it creates a this wholesome balanced
atmosphere. Of course Vernon?s voice takes centre stage, but each
instrument has its own space, and its own contribution. Nothing in the song
is misplaced, and every little aspect adds to general feeling of the song.
When I say its ?messy but measured? I?m talking about how everything
seems and defiantly looks out of place, but somehow it just comes together
in a coherent mess. Take for example at 3:22 where Vernon seems to
collapse on the piano, however, somehow its sounds good. This whole
section of the song is simply absurd in the way each band member seems
to be doing their own thing, and it?s a clutter of noises, but still sounds
amazing.
Then there?s Vernon?s voice. Vernon perhaps possess the best range of any
Indie artist, his gentle croon sways over quite a few octaves, and he
pushes it here in this rendition. There also is something in Vernon?s voice
that makes you feel sad and upset, but in a good way; like you?re happy
that you feel sad ? if that makes sense. Take a listen to 1:12 ? 1:29 for
example, where there must be something wrong with you if you don?t at
least feel something.
Lastly, the lyrics continue to impress with every listen. Bon Iver uses a
variety of cryptic metaphors in each line, which while confusing, seem
completely relatable. If you?ve ever been destroyed by a relationship that
went sour, you?ll love this song. If you ever get the feeling of false hope
with each new relationship, you?ll also love this song. The lyrics add to the
very melancholy atmosphere, with lines like ?Only love is all maroon?
possessing great depth and also accessibility. See, what does Vernon
mean by ?maroon?? This can take on many meanings, for example being
marooned ? isolated or lonely, or it can be read through the colour red,
which symbolises danger as well as romance. It can even be given the
British definition of a ?fireworkused as a danger or warning signal,' which
suggests love can be sour. The lyrics are thought-provoking and
interesting, and play upon our feelings about love and break-ups. | | 2 | Justin Vernon
I Cant Make You Love Me/Nick of Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3VjaCy5gck
Vernon's medley cover of Bonnie Raitt's 'I cant make you love me' and 'nick
of time' hit me in a weird time in my life. The song mourns loving someone,
but not having that ardor reflected back at you. Perhaps this rendition was
moving for the fact that I was on the opposite side of the conundrum - they
fell in love, but I didn't. The magic of the song lies in the fact that Vernon's
voice tells more than the lyrics themselves. You can feel the pain in the
notes; in his voice, perhaps in the placid piano. The song sounds wonderful
tacked onto the end of 'Bon Iver, Bon Iver,' with the keys fitting into the
pretty aesthetic that album creates. Vernon mainly sticks to falsetto the
whole song, with the final 'I found love darling' expressing that celebratory
nature love comes with, however so painfully fashioned. | | 3 | Justin Vernon
A Song For A Lover of Long Ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpYKtirbA7E
On some notes his voice sort of breaks, or trembles, and it's what I think
makes this song so fragile and haunting. It's another sad tale of a love lost,
but the poetic nature of the lyrics, and Vernon mainly sticking to the
speaking tone of his voice is what makes it so majestic. In some parts the
acoustic perks in, to accompany the emotion in his voice. He uses dynamics
wonderfully here, take for example the 'I have buried you' almost coming as
a whisper, and then as it comes around again, a louder half sob. This song
is telling of how sometimes music is a lot better constructed when it's
written not for anyone but the artist themselves. A song just only there to
fulfill that urge for self-expression. | | 4 | Bon Iver
Woods
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZYVJlhnqxQ
When people start bashing auto-tune I usually point out this song, along
with Kanye's 808s and Heartbreak, as how it can be used tastefully and
even artistically. Wood's is great through decent headphones, and you can
sometimes pick up the lines coming from another room in the recording
studio if you listen close enough. The song really immerses you on first
listen, and you find yourself listening to how Vernon cracks and bends his
voice to accompany the weaving melody of the other voice tracks. The
novelty does wear off after a while, but its always great to return to. | | 5 | The Wolves (Act 1 and 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV6IN8mvogs
The second part of the song, where the acoustic guitar stammers and the
coda 'what might have been lost' repeats ad nauseum is what makes this
song damn great. The way 'lost' is pronounced is what 'gets' me but the
claustrophobic backing of what sounds like fireworks? allows the song to
work as a metaphor. It collapses into the line 'someday my pain' sung
rather crookly, and makes it seem as though a euphoric reflection has
collapsed into bitterness. | | 6 | Skinny Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrMmr1oMPGA
In a descriptor of the famed 'Emma,' Vernon makes reference to the
relationship as 'skinny,' as in, he was dependant on her help, although he
shouldn't have been. That isn't exactly a healthy relationship, and he
deems it 'skinny.' Perhaps the most catchiest and well known of Bon Iver's
back catalogue, it's here for that reason - it's meaning is personal, but
people can nuance it into their own meaning for their own ends. | | 7 | Perth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIluBvQ77Bk
Here is where Bon Iver's aesthetic for the album is fully realized and
brought into detail. The opening riff is gentle yet endearing, and the song is
well put together and well orchestrated. The attention to detail here is
sublime - you can find something you may have not noticed every time you
return to the song. | |
00mee
03.09.12 | can anyone rec me some decent acapella songs, like Woods? I only know of that one and that Dear Hunter one. | fuckthatnoise
03.09.12 | try this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1K3adhhuAM | urnamz2longfixit
03.10.12 | don't know if fuckthatnoise recommended what i'm about to (i'm my ipod so i can't hit up his link) but measurements by james blake is exactly like woods with layered vocal harmonies and great use of auto-tuning (or maybe it's just a vocoder, who knows?). apologies if that was mindless reiteration! | 00mee
03.10.12 | not a fan of that frank tuner one man.
and forgot about james blake one haha, but it's still sweet :D | StreetlightRock
03.10.12 | Seeing this guy on Tuesday. Super stoked. | iFghtffyrdmns
03.10.12 | you can see the waning amount of interest/effort that went into this list
cmon man we wanted a mondo paragraph like number one for all 7 of them bro | 00mee
03.10.12 | aha it was getting late haha. I had 1 written for about a year on a blog so just smashed out some descriptions for the others.
eh, maybe I'll add to the others |
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