Most of you probably started hearing about Bon Iver sometime last year. This record was self-released in limited quantities before Jagjaguwar signed signed them (it's really only one guy named Justin Vernon) and pulled the record. This being the internet age, bloggers illegally downloaded it in mass quantities and it managed to pop up on a lot of top 10 lists. I prefer to discover things more organically (...finally got an advance from the publicist). The long buzzed about record finally sees national distribution next Tuesday.
I've been listening to it off and on for the last month. The good news, is that I keep returning to it. It's a very easy album to listen to. As Pitchfork and numerous others (including my girlfriend who never reads Pitchfork) have pointed out, it basically sounds like early Iron & Wine fronted by the lead singer of TV on the Radio. High falsetto and gently strummed acoustic guitars. Vernon doubletracks his vocals on most of the songs and a few of the arrangements are fleshed out with subtle horns and drums. Recommended for those of you who like getting rocked to sleep.
Download "Skinny Love" (very indicative of what the album sounds like)
Buy tickets for Bon Iver live at the Echo on 3/20/08
See Aquarium Drunkard's post (and get another MP3)
See Pitchfork's Guest List with Justin Vernon
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