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Product Description
Review
Whatever maudlin magic musician Justin Vernon found in the remoteness of rural Wisconsin come the close of 2006 and the dawn of 2007 - made devastatingly real on his debut LP as Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago - it's something that many another artist has been trying to conjure since. Dispatch a band into isolation today, to cajole those creative juices, and inevitably some plucky press type will label them as ""doing a Bon Iver"". The album's impact on today's indie-folk scene, and beyond, was powerful, and global commercial success was the unlikely culmination of Vernon's catharsis following the break-up of both his previous band and a relationship.
For this follow-up, Vernon and band - among them Sean Carey, whose own solo debut, We All Grow, was released to fine reviews in the summer of 2010 - have developed the sound of For Emma… without over-stretching themselves and making a mess of arrangements which are all the more effective for their striking intimacy. There must have been temptation to draft in a name producer - but Vernon sees to that side of the process too, and this control has resulted in a set that's as arresting in its first few seconds, Perth's rolling percussion providing a base for Vernon's exquisite emoting, as it is come the David Gilmour-styled guitar showmanship of closer Beth/Rest. This is how to spend an improved budget (though anything is more than nothing), and expand a sonic palette, without compromising what appealed in the first place.
To some, the consistent mood that pervades this set - of reflection, introspection; bruised and sincere, but never cloyingly so; melancholic, but not without a blurry, horizon-line optimism - might lead to attentions wandering. And there's no doubt that this eponymous collection isn't the step into immediacy that some might have expected, or even hoped for. But the majority of listeners will surely come to this aware that nothing on For Emma… leapt from the speakers with quick-fix frills attached. This - like Wild Beasts' sublime Smother, Julianna Barwick's otherworldly The Magic Place, and How to Dress Well's Love Remains - is one of the year-so-far's finest albums when it comes to repeat-play value: each spin will uncover something previously missed, a tiny but essential nuance that was obscured by a hypnotic motif the first and second time around. Vernon's songs may appear skeletal on an initial encounter; but, on closer inspection, they reveal studied layers and levels of masterful design.
There can be no doubt that certain critics will have come to this album expecting it to fall short of the precedent set by its predecessor. That it doesn't, and actually far surpasses the still-echoing resonance of that debut set, is indicative of its standing as one of 2011's most absorbing, affecting and downright brilliant LPs. It just goes to show that there's really only one act capable of "doing a Bon Iver".
--Mike Diver
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CD Description
Bon Iver is the self-titled second studio album from the band led by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, following critically acclaimed debut For Emma, Forever Ago and the 2009 EP Blood Bank. A definite progression from the stark debut, Bon Iver was recorded in a remodelled veterinarian clinic and features the single "Calgary".
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bon Iver - The ice has thawed and the warmth breaks through,
By
This review is from: Bon Iver (Audio CD)
4.5 starsThey say never judge a book by its cover, but before playing Bon Iver's self titled second album dig out 2008s little marvel "For Emma Forever Ago" and compare the sleeves since they say much about the music within. On the latter you will see a darkened tree covered in an icy "white out", while on his new album are greener forests and blue lakes in the middle of which lurks a small white house and to the right two large swathes of red. It's like coming out of chill albeit into early spring as opposed to blazing summer. This is reflected in the music contained on Bon Iver 2 which is a ambitious and expansive follow up by Justin Vernon to a record that's occupies a special place for lovers of music. Equally it would be wrong to suggest any sharp break here as those of you in the interim who sought out the lovely album by his drummer Sean Carey "We all grow" or Vernon's 2009 EP "Blood bank" will recognise some very familiar themes. Here the painful honesty and isolated log cabin melancholy of "For Emma" is thoroughly downplayed (although not absent) but this remains an instantly recognisable Bon Iver record not least because of the presence of his trademark falsetto as he announces on the superb opening track "Perth" that "I'm tearing up, across your face/Move dust through the light/To find your name/It's only faint". Granted there are real gear changes all over the album and this song starts with an achingly slow electric guitar but flowers into a beast of a song with military drumming and by its close Emeralds style power chords. "Perth" segues into Minnesota WI, which is a gentle but funky track which shows that Vernon's time spent with Kanye West has paid off. The third track "Holocene" is probably the song on here that could have slipped onto "For Emma". It is a lush delight gently powered by Vernon's voice and beautiful guitar phrasing. As a starting trilogy these songs amount to a brilliant opening fusillade. Next up "Towers" is what could be described as straightforward Bon Iver song but "Michicant" follows it with exquisite textures and shimmers along making it an absolute standout. Throbbing synths and chanting follow next on "Hinnom TX" which picks up some Blood Bank themes, while the song "Wash" is full of opulent but hushed piano ballad interspersed with violins. Many will have already heard the single "Calgary" and seen the watery dream like video on a song which powers up to a tremendous crescendo only to gently fade out. Trying to find different ways of saying "lovely" is becoming pointless because that what it is and it deserves widespread radio play as much as all good people deserve a big lottery win. It is followed by the slight instrumental "Lisbon OH" which has an almost Eno style ambience and then by the albums closer "Beth/Rest" which could end up splitting the jury. On first hearing this reviewer felt that it had a bad case of 1980s Bruce Hornsby schmaltz or could be one of those horrible soundtrack "Celtic" songs which producers use on documentaries about Scotland, Ireland or Wales. It does get better on repeated listens and for many this may well be the albums highlight. Yet having listened recently to Vernon's inspired cover of Peter Gabriel's "Come talk to me" suggests that perhaps a better and more apt conclusion was already recorded? Ultimately you will decide. In any case it's a small slip in an album that truly is a thing of beauty and which cements Justin Vernon's reputation as one of the finest songwriters in indie music, and the Bon Iver band who have turned into a very special unit. Perhaps in early listens this album does lack a "Re Stacks" moment of jaw dropping acoustic simplicity, but it makes up for this with an expansive set of songs that reveal more on every listen. Taken as a whole Bon Iver is an instant joy that we should warmly celebrate and speak of in hushed tones.
9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Shame, could have been so much better.,
This review is from: Bon Iver (Audio CD)
Bought this on a five star recommendation in the press. This is an interesting and attractive, although not exceptional, work from a musical point of view. It is, however, let down by some very poor production values, particularly on the first track and impenetrable vocals throughout. I listened hard, both to the CD and to example tracks on iTunes, but the words of each song are either impossible, or near impossible to distinguish. At first I thought this might be a bad CD, but the iTunes example unfortunately confirmed the problem. This is a shame, because there is exhilerating music here. It is also a shame because the lyrics, when discovered on the Bon Iver web site, although bizzare in places are intriguing and would complement the music - if only they were audible! If the vocal approach is intentional then it is a style that some will find difficult to live with. My recommendation is to listen to tracks before purchase.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
easily one of the best albums i've ever heard,
By
This review is from: Bon Iver (Audio CD)
This album is without doubt one of the best I have ever listened to. The way you can discover something new upon each listen is mesmerising and goes to show the sheer amount of effort and pure musical talent that went into the album. There is not a faultless track, with each offering a range of unique sounds alongside deeper meaning upon close listening. The sheer magnitude and scope of this album is unprecedented, partly due to it's ability to effortlessly evoke your emotions through the ethereal, tangible music and the stunning authenticity of Justin Vernon's voice. Listening to this transports you to a place of brilliant scenery which has never been achieved before personally. For those who dislike this or simply don't get it, check out professional reviews, as they speak volumes and show just how amazing this peice of music really is.
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