Bon Iver
When an artist as idiosyncratic as Justin Veron discloses his intent to do something different, we scribes get excited. The first Bon Iver album, For Emma, Forever Ago became a steadfast addition to the play list back in 2008 and we now have the second album to get lost in.
There is a lot to be said about anticipation and waiting the three years since album one has only made the experience of listening to the new work that much more vivid. Now Bon Iver has always been a band that delivers its music with a nuance and subtlety that those surface dwellers might miss but it has an appeal that grows successively with each listen.
The initial surprise with the new work is how much it gets under your skin with just one listen. The tonal palette is varied and the studio is used as almost an additional band member. The forcefulness comes from how comfortable the band is with the material. It completely lacks the false sense of sincerity that some bands try with album number two after a successful debut.
There is a lot more to be said about the music itself, like mention of Veron’s heavenly falsetto or the way the lyrics are more swirling poetry than literal statement or even the story arc of the songs themselves but the best way to experience music like this is to just listen to it. If it’s been a while since a new work has graced your collection, there is no time like the present and no better present than this. Rob Hudson www.boniver.org
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