This album was initially released independently in 2007 but it was re-released yesterday by a ‘proper’ label after much critical acclaim. Bon Iver is the performing persona of Justin Vernon, once of indie-rock band Eau Claire.
Straight off, the album rings a bell in the direction of Elliott Smith, it’s that kind of vibe. His voice however is more along the lines of Neil Young with a good helping of Antony and the Johnson’s thrown in for good measure. It’s a great mix. It’s a slow and gentle progression but a very enjoyable one.
The opening track ‘Flume’, has a great melody to it. It sounds like Antony singing a Neil Young song written by Elliott Smith, if that makes sense. It’s very easy to listen to. ‘Skinny Love’ is another track in the same vein, as most of the album is, but it doesn’t bore. I can imagine listening to this on a summer evening as it gets dark but never gets cold, I’d have it on repeat all night long. The chorus is fabulous, short but sweet. Great lyrics and a great passion from the vocal performance.
‘Blindsided’ is again a very pretty track. The overdubbed vocals work a charm to create a real soft feel that sums up the album. Very simple guitar but there’s so much more going on, whether it be in the subtle background noises or just in the lyrics themselves.
In truth I haven’t got many bad things to say about this album, if any at all. It’s a really good all round effort, and thoroughly enjoyable.
The production is typical of singer/songwriters these days. Recorded in a bedroom on minimalist equipment. It really suits this style of music. It adds to the atmosphere, it gives the album an almost homely feel. There’s a lot of subtle work going on in this album though, that you don’t usually get. Some real nice, creative sounds either drenched in reverb or reversed. The vocals too are really well recorded, although his diction is highly suspect, it’s recorded almost like another instrument and adds a great deal to make this album what it is, a beauty.
Bon Iver will be on Jools Holland this week, tonight from 10pm and Friday from 11.35pm on BBC TWO.
Tour dates can be found here.
Posted in Album Reviews, Music | Tags: antony and the johnsons, bbc two, blindsided, bon iver, eau claire, elliott smith, flume, for emma, forever ago, jools holland, justin vernon, later, neil young, singer/songwriter, skinny love
