An odd sound, placed somewhere between Iron & Wine and Chad VanGaalen, drips off the music of Bon Iver. With a wispy, haunting voice that begins to get under your skin just seconds after shaking your hand for the first time, Justin Vernon has created an album of rare quality. In a hunting cabin, no less!The album begins with the soft sung "Flume", with lullaby lyrics that seem perfect for curling up to. Here, Vernon dips his toes in the water with simplicity, and it works.
Things become a bit more upbeat with the song "Lump Sum". Following an intro that reminds one of a choir gospel in an empty church far off, the guitar jumps in with short and sharp chords that keep one's head nodding.
"Skinny Love", however, is where Bon Iver truly begins to shine. Mixing both the soft air of "Flume" and the tapping notes of "Lump Sum", the third track moves one to swaying with eyes closed. A true sort of ache can be felt in Vernon's vocals during the chorus, as he moves from coo to cry. Nicer still is his shift to falsetto near the very end that really manages to pierce one's ears right to the soul.
Track 4, "Wolves (Act I and II)", moves us back into the real of lullaby before building up and then propelling us into harmonies and the repeated chant "what might have been lost". Cut up drum samples and a sweetly synthed autotune vocals begin to pour over this track like warm butter as the acoustic guitar builds in volume toward the very end. One of the few tracks with prominent drums, it reminds the listener that Bon Iver is a more than a one man band. Honestly, I'd forgive them for forgetting.
"Blindsighted" is another soft song, very slow and soothing. Not the strongest song on the album but it does have some high points that make it stand out, such as the distortion at 3:24. It pales in comparison next to other tracks, however.
"Creature Fear" starts soft before bursting into a short, but powerful
So many foreign worlds
(So relatively fucked)
So ready for us
So ready for us,
The creature fear
The song then again dissipates back into Vernon's coo. This is repeated once more before giving way to a steady snare kit beat with baritone guitar notes bumping along. The song finishes with some very repetitive whistling, which serves as one of the low moments of them album. This song ends much better 30 seconds shorter.
"For Emma" is the second to last track on the similarly named "For Emma, Forever Ago", and mixes up the Bon Iver formula with the introduction of horns and a second guitar leading over the chords of the first. A good song, (and the broader range of instruments is very much welcome) but one that certainly does not feel worthy to share a name with the album. It feels as though it falls a tad too short at only 3:41, with half of the track being pure instrumental. It's a shame that as the trumpets truly begin to show their notes, the song is also drawing to a close.
Ah, "re: Stacks". The last song on the album. Improvement!! This track is my favorite of all those on the album, and starts off with some very well placed chords and vocal notes that remind one of the opening track. The defining moment of the song doesn't come until the chorus, however, with sharp rhymes leaping from behind the guitar.
On your back with your racks as the stacks as your load
In the back and the racks and the stacks are your load
In the back with your racks and you're un-stacking your load
Tying in at 6:41, "re: Stacks" spends the last portion of itself lulling you to sleep.
Bon Iver demonstrates extraordinary potential with their first album, with easy to understand form and beautifully crafted song. Nearly anyone should be able to pick up this album and immediately enjoy its simple and yet masterful construction.
Good for: Falling asleep to, having your best gal over, drinking wine to
Sounds like: Iron & Wine, Chad VanGaalen, a really simplified version of Wolf Parade, and, according to the INTERNET, an acoustic version of TV on the Radio. But I don't hear it.
Animal it reminds you of: Little baby wolves
8.5/10 Starmakers
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