Bon Iver,Bon Iver
Alright, time for more Bon Iver. This time it's his self-titled album, which honestly feels perfect for the colder weather setting in. The cover and the vibe just scream fall/winter to me, and a lot of the songs kinda fit that seasonal mood too. I feel like I'm in the minority on this one because a lot of people have different takes, but I think For Emma, Forever Ago really spoiled me. I definitely prefer that album, but I think it's because I have more of a personal connection to it. Still, this one's not bad at all. There are parts I really enjoy, even though it took a bit longer for me to warm up to it. On first listen, I only vibed with like three tracks.
The album kicks off strong, though. The opener lets you know right away that this is gonna be way more instrumental and grand compared to For Emma. I really appreciate that. "Perth" is packed with drums and horns, which we barely got on the previous album. Fun fact: I found out this song is about Heath Ledger, who was from Perth, Australia. The transition into "Minnesota, WI" is smooth too. Also, I love how almost all the track titles are place-related, whether it’s a state, city, or something that just sounds like a location.
I didn’t realize this album won two Grammys back in 2012, one of them for "Holocene," which makes total sense. I love that track, and it probably gives me the strongest fall vibes. "Towers" is one of my faves too—it’s got the most country sound on the album, and it clicked with me the quickest. The guitar at the beginning is just so good, and the way it builds up to this folksy part with background vocals is perfect. Honestly, it might be the happiest-sounding track on the album.
But after that, things start to slow down for me. "Michicant" and "Hinnom, TX" didn’t do much for me at first, and I’ll be honest, "Hinnom" was one of my least favorites for a while. I’ve come around to appreciating Bon Iver’s vocals on it more now, but still, not my top pick. Weirdly, it kinda reminds me of something from Tame Impala’s The Slow Rush, but maybe that’s just me.
"Wash" is another track people seem to love, and I get why—it’s got that wintery vibe with a nice piano, but I just can’t fully get into it, even after a bunch of listens. I did learn that the "Claire" mentioned in the song refers to his hometown, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, which ties back to the whole locations theme. Then there’s "Calgary," which is probably my favorite on the album. It didn’t click right away, but the electric guitar part is just chef's kiss. It’s got this somber, almost early 2000s punk rock feel that I really dig. The slow build-up at the beginning turned me off at first, but now I’m into it.
Now, for the last two tracks... they’re my least favorite. By the time "Beth/Rest" comes on, I’m kinda lost. The first time I heard it, the super 90s-sounding instrumentals threw me off hard, and not in a good way. I mean, it still does, but I get that it’s supposed to be the closing track. It’s not my favorite closer, but it does feel like a closer. It’s a shame though, because apparently "Beth" is Bon Iver’s favorite song on the album, and it’s clearly personal to him. "Lisbon, OH" doesn’t really do much for me either—it’s kinda like this album’s "Team" from For Emma.
Throughout the album, the lyrics are super vague, and honestly, I feel like only Bon Iver knows what’s going on. Even reading through them track by track didn’t give me much insight, except for the ones I already mentioned. Lyrically, this album feels weak, and songs like "Wash" and "Beth" really highlight that for me. That being said, I’d still recommend giving it a listen if you’re trying to get into Bon Iver. There’s definitely something here. I wouldn’t call it his best work, even if it did win a Grammy, but you can tell he still put effort into it. My top picks are "Calgary," "Towers," and "Holocene."
BON IVER - BON IVER, BON IVER
RATING - 10/10
FAVORITE TRACK - Calgary, Perth
GENRE - Indie rock, Indie folk, Folk music, Folk rock, Art rock,