Review: Bon Iver -Bon Iver

In 2007, Justin Vernon independently released Bon Iver’s debut For Emma, Forever Ago. The album year lists, and won several awards. The long-awaited follow-up, simply entitled Bon Iver, is the spring-like compliment to For Emma’s songs of wintery sadness.

The last the music world heard of Bon Iver before this record was Vernon’s collaboration with Kanye West on the track “Lost in the World” from West’s masterpiece My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy. That influence trickled into Vernon’s own work on this record. Tracks like “Calgary” and “Hinnom, TX” both contain synth that bring an almost danceable life into the record. Other tracks, “Michicant” and “Minnesota, WI” have a progressive, R&B feel to them. “Minnesota, WI” has a slight, Jamaican groove feel to it while “Michicant” has distortions that create an affect that is completely new terrain for Bon Iver.

With remnants of R&B being peppered amongst the classic acoustic strings, there is a slight country feel to the record. The song “Towers” is the liveliest on the album, the complete opposite of the wintery sounds on For Emma. Along with the rollicking country groove, it’s got a slight blues tone that is also accompanied by violins.

“Holocene”, “Perth” and “Wash” are quintessential, Bon Iver tracks. The heart-breakingly beautiful lyrics and acoustic guitar are what made this band’s debut the success it was. But where “Holocene” and “Perth” have the ethereal, Vernon vocals, build-ups of snare drums, and soft keyboards, “Wash” stays consistent with a soft piano. “Wash” is by far the sleepiest track on the album, but its counterparts make the album special.

“Wash” isn’t the only track that holds the album back. The instrumental “Lisbon” really serves no purpose. At its most rudimentary, it’s a prelude to the album finale, “Beth/Rest.” The final track roots itself deep in ‘80s, synth-pop. Vernon’s vocals have the most production I have ever heard on a Bon Iver record. He almost sounds like Chris Martin of Coldplay.

While Bon Iver is often put in the same category of bands such as Iron & Wine, this album shows Justin Vernon’s growth as a lyricist and composer. There’s no lack of emotion or heart on this record. The problem seems to be fitting the influence into each song to make it a cohesive album. Where the songs are most upbeat and lively, the band shines. To the band’s credit however, you do get lost in the music and there’s nothing wrong with that. **8.0/10