32 replies to this topic

[Tyler]

Colbert interviews Justin Vernon (he majored in religious studies, apparently), and Bon Iver plays "Calgary" and "Skinny Love." Even if you're not a big fan, like me, it's still cool to watch someone murder a saxophone.

Edited by Tyler, 21 June 2011 - 11:23 AM.

[Overstreet]

Good heavens. AllMusic's Tim Sendra gives it a scathing review:

Quote

Where For Emma was stripped down and intimate, Bon Iver is packed with guest musicians, horn sections, strings, and extra vocalists. Every inch of sonic space is filled with sound, each one fighting for space and distracting from Bon Iver’s strength, namely Vernon’s vocals. It’s probably unfair to expect Vernon to replicate the sound of For Emma, but he could have found a middle ground between tender restraint and totally overdoing it. Instead, he’s working like mad to distance himself from the sound he established so well in a desperate attempt to make a “masterpiece” instead of For Emma, Pt. 2. Perhaps if he were a more skilled producer and arranger, things would have been better. Unfortunately, his style comes off more like sub-Enya with a beard than a true studio wizard. The muted, over-washed sound of the record is murky when it should be mysterious, flat when it should be 3-D, and his reliance on clichéd synth sounds is somewhat perplexing. Pity he didn’t call up his buddy Kanye for some tips. While most of the record is underwhelming sonically, the last track, "Beth/Rest," is laughable. Sounding like it was recorded using a five-dollar Casio and featuring some of the worst dueling sax/guitar solos you’d ever imagine, it shoots for a majestic, album-ending feel but instead sounds like the theme song to a horrible '80s movie about unicorns (only not that good).

[Scholar's Parrot]

Quote

. While most of the record is underwhelming sonically, the last track, "Beth/Rest," is laughable. Sounding like it was recorded using a five-dollar Casio and featuring some of the worst dueling sax/guitar solos you’d ever imagine, it shoots for a majestic, album-ending feel but instead sounds like the theme song to a horrible '80s movie about unicorns (only not that good).

This is the best thing ever. I agree, but I LOVE the song.

[Lauren Wilford]

[quote name='Tim K' date='21 May 2011 - 01:43 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]


[quote name='Matt Conner' date='12 June 2011 - 04:09 PM' timestamp='1307916573' post='253753']
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.
[/quote]


[quote name='Scholar's Parrot' date='19 June 2011 - 11:15 PM' timestamp='1308546940' post='254173']
Well, Pitchfork has spoken: and given it one of it's highest scores of the past few years.

[url="http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15551-bon-iver/"]http://pitchfork.com...15551-bon-iver/[/url]
[/quote]

http://www.laurensschoolofpop.com/2011/07/bon-iver-bon-iver-bon-iver.html


This is my review-- it's pretty ravey and purple, but what can you do. I love this record. Perth, Holocene, and Beth/Rest being favorite tracks. The weird thing is that my review is almost identical to the Pitchfork one, even though I swear I didn't read it before. I can't tell if this is a bad thing.

[Holy Moly!]

I find it all a bit maudlin, but not terrible. That's not a five-dollar casio, that's a Korg M1. A casio might have been a more interesting choice.

[Tyler]

NPR is broadcasting Bon Iver's concert live tonight. You'll be able to listen to it here. It's supposed to start around 9:30 ET.

[Persona]

Can't believe I haven't mentioned here how much I love this recording. It has been the only disc in a 6-disc changer in my car and I purposely put no other discs in. It plays over and over and over... and over.

Still can't decipher a lyric, but love what I'm hearing.

[Tyler]

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bon Iver workout out video:


The AV Club says it's real. They talked to the director.

[Tyler]

Justin Vernon has started a record label (a Jagjaguwar imprint) called Chigliak. The name comes from a character on Northern Exposure.

[Tyler]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IZKE2Hd6Ck"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=8IZKE2Hd6Ck[/url]

[Tyler]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Tp5fl18Ho"]http://www.youtube.c...h?v=A9Tp5fl18Ho[/url]

This is a recording of Justin Vernon and Sean Carey performing stripped-down versions of Bon Iver songs, and a Bonnie Raitt cover.

[Darren H]

Nice. I'd never heard Justin Vernon sing in his soulful, non-falsetto voice. He should do that more often.

Edited by Darren H, 20 February 2012 - 10:23 PM.

[Tyler]

Darren H, on 20 February 2012 - 10:03 PM, said:

Nice. I'd never heard of Justin Vernon sing in his soulful, non-falsetto voice. He should do that more often.

My thoughts, too. Have you heard Hadestown? He mostly stays away from the falsetto on that.

Edited by Tyler, 20 February 2012 - 10:07 PM.