32 replies to this topic

[Overstreet]

Listen to a new song from Bon Iver's upcoming self-titled LP.

We already have a thread on Bon Iver, but since it isn't album specific, it should probably be retitled to focus on For Emma, Forever Ago.

Edited by Overstreet, 16 May 2011 - 05:35 PM.

[Persona]

Oh, I likey! And to know that is the eighth track on the album. Can't wait! Love the synths! Love the squelches! Great new direction.

[Scholar's Parrot]

And just like that: Apple accidentslly put it up on iTunes. Thanks apple!

Edit: Simple first impressions that may or may not stick: Kept the tone of FE,FA while expanding the sound. I am quite fond of it after my first listen, eager to explore it more. It closes on one heck of an 80s ballad.

Edited by Scholar's Parrot, 17 May 2011 - 04:54 PM.

[Josh Hurst]

Stereogum prematurely evaluates.

They seem to believe that it isn't exactly self-titled, but rather is called Bon Iver, Bon Iver.

[Persona]

So technically wouldn't that mean it's called Bon Iver: Bon Iver, Bon Iver?

[Scholar's Parrot]

Josh Hurst, on 18 May 2011 - 03:57 PM, said:

Stereogum prematurely evaluates.

They seem to believe that it isn't exactly self-titled, but rather is called Bon Iver, Bon Iver.

One of the band members, and the album page on Jagjaguar both confirm this. It's still self-titled, I guess.

[Tim K]

Josh Hurst, on 18 May 2011 - 03:57 PM, said:

Stereogum prematurely evaluates.

They seem to believe that it isn't exactly self-titled, but rather is called Bon Iver, Bon Iver.

I really like this album. It's one of those that I should have waited for an official release for, but I couldn't help myself.

I look at Stereogum pretty regularly, they have some really decent information on there often. However, the writing on that site is really disappointing. I like the idea of the Premature Evaluation, but it seems executed so poorly.

[Tim K]

Scholar, on 17 May 2011 - 03:39 PM, said:

It closes on one heck of an 80s ballad.

It seems like everyone is talking about Beth/Rest. You know, that song sounded so out of place on first listen -- but after a couple of times through, it's really starting to sound like a nice book-end to the album.

[Scholar's Parrot]

Tim K, on 20 May 2011 - 10:39 PM, said:

Scholar, on 17 May 2011 - 03:39 PM, said:

It closes on one heck of an 80s ballad.

It seems like everyone is talking about Beth/Rest. You know, that song sounded so out of place on first listen -- but after a couple of times through, it's really starting to sound like a nice book-end to the album.

Yeah, I don't mind it either. I really love the album and think that Halocene is one of the best things he's done.

[Tim K]

[quote name='Scholar's Parrot' date='20 May 2011 - 11:24 PM' timestamp='1305955441' post='252320']
[quote name='Tim K' date='20 May 2011 - 11:39 PM' timestamp='1305949148' post='252317']
[quote name='Scholar's Parrot' date='17 May 2011 - 02:39 PM' timestamp='1305664748' post='252022']

Yeah, I don't mind it either. I really love the album and think that Halocene is one of the best things he's done.
[/quote]

Oh, definitely! What do you think of the lyrical content of this album so far?

[Scholar's Parrot]

[quote name='Tim K' date='21 May 2011 - 03:43 AM' timestamp='1305963795' post='252323']
[quote name='Scholar's Parrot' date='20 May 2011 - 11:24 PM' timestamp='1305955441' post='252320']
[quote name='Tim K' date='20 May 2011 - 11:39 PM' timestamp='1305949148' post='252317']
[quote name='Scholar's Parrot' date='17 May 2011 - 02:39 PM' timestamp='1305664748' post='252022']

Yeah, I don't mind it either. I really love the album and think that Halocene is one of the best things he's done.
[/quote]

Oh, definitely! What do you think of the lyrical content of this album so far?
[/quote]

Bon Iver always seems to be hit or miss with lyrical content, this one seems no different. Some things are just wildly obtuse. But, I don't really mind it since so much of his technique seems more about the SOUNDS of things, it makes sense that he would choose words based only on their sound within his voice. I'm ok with that. Reading the lyrics page, though, is just odd. It's hard to make sense of a lot of it.

[Overstreet]

What an incredibly beautiful album. I've only heard it once, and I was writing (so I wasn't paying attention to the lyrics). But the music is just so gorgeous. Sounds like a significant evolution of his style.

[Josh Hurst]

NPR First Listen

[Overstreet]

Is it just me, or does it sound like he's been listening to Sun Kil Moon? The first song had me thinking of them right away.

[Jason Panella]

Overstreet, on 11 June 2011 - 08:13 PM, said:

Is it just me, or does it sound like he's been listening to Sun Kil Moon? The first song had me thinking of them right away.

YES. Maybe more specifically, I was thinking of latter-day Red House Painters.

I finally got to sit down and pay attention to the album today. I love it. As much as I love multi-instrumentalists, I like the fact that Vernon actually has bandmates this time around. The drums sound great.

[Gavin Breeden]

I'm really digging it. I agree with Jeffrey, some beautiful Sun Kil Moon-y music. I really wasn't too excited for this as I was afraid of a "For Emma" part 2 or something. Definitely not that. Vernon has proven himself to be, at the very least, at artist who isn't that interested in doing what was successful on the last album. He really utilizes the band here and it was a very smart move.

Scholar, on 17 May 2011 - 03:39 PM, said:

It closes on one heck of an 80s ballad.

The keyboard for that song makes me think of some early 90s Michael W. Smith music (popular 80s style = popular early 90s Christian music style, always 5-10 years behind, etc.). Once I move past the initial shock of it, I like it. But it catches me off guard every time.

[Tyler]

I listened to this twice tonight. I like it about as much as Emma, which is not very much. I'm still not sure why I dislike Bon Iver; they're in a similar vein as The Antlers, who are one of my favorite bands.

And yes, the last keyboard on the last song sounds like "Somewhere in the Night."

Edited by Tyler, 11 June 2011 - 09:47 PM.

[Tim K]

After listening to the album multiple times, I still like it -- but maybe not as much as I initially thought. There are certainly some beautiful songs on the album, but after track 5 the whole album just seems to disappear until the very noticeable last track comes up. After thinking on it now actually, maybe the album just seems so short that it's easy to repeat the whole thing without noticing it. I wish there were a couple of more tracks to fatten it up. Anyone else feel similar?

[Matt Conner]

Am I the only one who thinks that "Perth" is as stunning as anything else released this year? I also dig "Holocene" in particular, but man that first song kills me.

[Scholar's Parrot]

Well, Pitchfork has spoken: and given it one of it's highest scores of the past few years.

http://pitchfork.com...15551-bon-iver/