Music Review: Bon Iver

Justin Vernon of Bon Iver just released his second full album, Bon Iver, streaming on NPR. Bon Iver's debut album, For Emma Forever Ago, serenaded us with stirring sounds (ugh, alliteration). Recorded in desolation with bare bones recording equipment, it was raw and unfettered. The music swallowed you up, transferred you to a different world, and ripped through your soul with wondrous melodies and caustic lyrics. A follow-up EP, Blood Bank, gave us more of the same, but I was cautious about the future of Bon Iver. Already in Blood Bank, I heard sounds evoking a slight pandering to the mainstream. I hoped that Bon Iver wouldn't venture further down that trail.

So with a degree of trepidation, I fired up NPR on my bus ride home and gave Bon Iver a listen. One-and-a-half listens later, but seemingly only moments after leaving work, I was home. The record completely knocked me over. It was somehow more polished than For Emma and yet still raw. Vernon's musical genius shines through everywhere, much like Andrew Bird albums. The music is exceedingly beautiful, the lyrics mysterious and meaningful (there I go again). Go get lost in this album. It's tremendous.