Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
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Free Music Notes for For Emma, Forever Ago
Free Music Review: One year later: the phenom keeps growing
Hit: 4 Stars
It is exactly one year since Bon Iver's debut album was released, and the phenomenon keeps growing. I read recently somewhere that this album now has sold over 125,000 copies, an astonishing number for this type of indie music release.
"For Emma, Forever Ago" (9 tracks; 37 min.) is strictly an acoustic and solo recording from Justin Vernon. I love the opener "Flume", with Justin's soaring, almost angelic, overdubbed vocals. You can also feel the emotions pore out in every track. For example on "Flume", the first two lines are "I am my mother's only one/It's enough", which hit right at you. Not much up-tempo melodies on this record, although "Blindsided" comes close. Not that it matters. This is an intimate listening experience (and as with all quite records, should be played LOUD). My favorite tracks are in the second half of the album: "Creature Fear" with the "Team" instrumental outro as a separate track, which in turn is followed by "For Emma", which is the most traditional/conventional song on the album.
This album has gotten massive critical and (by indie-release standards) commercial acclaim. Bon Iver just released the "Blood Bank" EP, as well as 2 new tracks on the "Dark Was the Night" indie-charity compilation. I will finally have the chance to see Bon Iver in concert in June at Bonnaroo, and I really have no idea what to expect, but it's certainly one of my more anticipated shows for this year. And if you wonder where you can hear this type of music, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country, bar none.
Free Music Review: If You Haven't Liked Slow Music, You Will Now
Hit: 4 Stars
Bon Iver was another one of those artists that come out of nowhere. I heard about them through an automated recommendation and I am thankful I have discovered him. I've never really liked music this slow and folk-like before, but for some reason I really feel like this music speaks to my generation. At the time of this review, I am barely into my 20's and I can really connect with this music. It's a little sad and a little mystic at the same time. Bon Iver makes music that takes you places. And most of the time he takes me to a very very relaxing and enjoyable place.
Unfortunately I can't be 100% passionate about the whole album, yet. It takes a while to grow on you. But immediate and lasting favorites are "Flume", "Skinny Love", and "For Emma". I became attached to those tunes at first listen. The great thing about this album, is that none of the songs are annoying, or bad songs. It's all listenable through and through. I give it 4 stars because some songs are 10X more memorable than others. The other songs will still sooth you and treat you the way good music does. So unlike other albums that have good songs and bad songs. This is an album with all good songs. Some just take us a little higher than others, like my personal favorite "Flume".
Everyone owes this style of music a listen. Here's a great way to start. Bon Iver creates music that's very hard to dislike. It speaks to your heart, and it's easy on the ears. Preview the album, I say. Before long you will have these songs stuck in your head, and your going to want to purchase the album.
Free Music Review: Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Hit: 4 Stars
For Emma, Forever Ago (2008, Jagjaguwar) Bon Iver's first studio album. ***1/2
From his name, I automatically thought Van Morrison. This even before I knew he had a rootsy-folk sound. Then when I started the album there were the signature rolling acoustic guitars that also open Van Morrison's brilliant Astral Weeks. After about twenty seconds I then expected to hear the trademark wailing vocals that we know so well, but instead was treated to Sam Beam-like falsetto. I sat there for a moment, almost perplexed, and thought "Well gee, this ain't bad."
Bon Iver isn't the most original artist in the world, and the songs are very elementary in structure, but it's his voice, his lyrics that make For Emma what it is. And what it is is a great start to a what should be a very bright songwriting career. "Flume" is the album's greatest point, unfortunately for us it's in the beginning. Still, the way Bon Iver's voice sways, the play with stressed and unstressed words is haunting. And although the obvious influence is Iron & Wine, there is no need to go overboard; there are far more differences in their deliveries that it's almost not worth mentioning. Iron & Wine has the tendency to make songs more complex, either from the beginning or as the song travels on. Bon Iver, though, is very content with a simple strum of his guitar, even if it's just a few basic chords. I'm okay with it, too.
-Stephen
www.politicianrock.blogspot.com
Free Music Review: Entrancing
Hit: 4 Stars
Songwriter Justin Vernon showcases his beautifully unique talent with the release of "For Emma, forever ago." Utilizing a stripped, minimal soundscape of solo guitar, layered vocals and some electronics, Vernon creates a virtual diary of song that is moving, beautiful, and at times voyeuristic. This album seems devastatingly genuine, and painfully crafted.
Although a solo work driven mainly by guitar, Vernon avoids monotony through his selective use of voice layering, electronic accompaniment, and the support of choice vocalists. Each song on this album is capable of standing alone as a work, but that would do the album a disservice.
Vernon's work shows not only inventive songwriting, but also a poetic and meaningful lyricism imbued in every song. If nothing else, he will be regarded as a poet.
Free Music Review: Sometimes, something just sounds right
Hit: 4 Stars
For Emma, Forever Ago is one of those works of music that is hard to say exactly what it is about it that connects. For me, it's like reading poetry that I really don't understand, but leaves a ghostly trace for some moments afterward, that intuitively tells me this was time well spent.
Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks" would probably be the epitome of this and I am not implying that this album approaches that level, but it flows, is lyrical in word and music and just sounds right. Justin Vernon certainly has developed his own sound and it will be interesting to see where he goes.