When a previously low-key(indie) artist makes an album which becomes universally acclaimed and feels thoroughly organic and honest, there are those who would fault them for pandering to those they initally sought to avoid. The mere fact of their sudden popularity is obviously a clear sign of a creative reduction and presents the artist struggling to say something unique and personal. But that is just a knee-jerk reaction that fans have when their favorite artists release an album which transcends the indie stratosphere and catches on with the mainstream music community. There is a possibility of Grammy nominations, much like Arcade Fire, and a recognition which has eluded them outside of their musical niche. For Justin Vernon, that time has come. With the release of his latest album, he finds himself propelled into the upper echelon of musical artists, indie or not. From his attention grabbing guest-spot alongside Nicki Minaj, Jay-Z and Kanye West in the latter artists 2010 song "Monster" to the unexpected 4 Grammy nominations for his newest album, Vernon finds himself with a creative and commercial viability which would have seemed far-fetched only a few years ago.
His popularity among the independent music community had already reached a fever pitch when he self-released his debut For Emma, Forever Ago back in 2007, though it was re-released to a wider audience in May of 2008 on Jagjaguwar. That album displayed a maturity and an inherent sense of musical construction that belied its debut status. It could have been his third album as opposed to his first and ushered in a new wave of introspective indie singer/songwriters, much to our gratitude and dismay. For every artist who developed their own unique take on this set of well-worn musical tropes, there were 20 who thought that having a beard and playing an acoustic guitar with close-mic'd vocals was all you needed to release a good album. But most of those have since fallen by the wayside, and rightfully so. And we are left with Justin Vernon, an incredibly talented artist who has arguably released one of the best records of the year.
The latest release to bear the Bon Iver name stands leagues above its predecessor, both in terms of ambition and execution. Where For Emma, Forever Ago dealt with the emotional intricacies and heartbreak on a personal level, Bon Iver feels much larger and aims to relate to the listener on grander scale. Vernon has said that these songs relate to particular places and as some of the song titles indicate--"Perth", "Holocene", "Minnesota, Wl", "Hinnom, TX", and "Lisbon, OH"--these songs do have a lived-in feeling, a sense of geographical groundedness, whether the place is real or fictitious. He develops the idea that these places stand in for our own attitudes and feelings, that they tell us as much about ourselves as they do about him. Opener "Perth" develops slowly, rising until the initial silence is broken by the cascading sound of its denouement. It is a fitting entryway into an album that relishes in its ability to draw the listener in on the most subtle of musical cues and can engulf you in the blink of an eye. Album highlight, "Holocene", holds onto you tightly espousing Vernon's honest expressions of regret and guilt. One of the albums most shattering lines comes from this track and he delivers it so simply that it breaks your heart to hear him confess his inadequacy. This unassuming line "I was not magnificent" lays there desperate to be heard, knowing that it's nothing more than a fleeting glance into his own insecurities. I can't tell you exactly why this line, among all the others, affected me on such a fundamental level but it feels so honest as to border on being uncomfortable and so maybe that's part of the reason. It's something so uncommon in music now that it stands out even among lyrics so eloquent and touching as those found on the rest of this album. Justin Vernon is that rare artist which solidly fits in with his peers but also broadens the idea of what a singer can be and what they can accomplish when given the chance. This is a truly remarkable abum and only grows more impressive with each listen. What strikes me on subsequent listens is how large it feels, how immense. In the end, this album exists for us, the listener and for any who take him up on his offer. We can either walk away or follow along. I think I'll follow him a little while longer.
Tracklisting:
01. Perth
02. Minnesota, WI
03. Holocene (listen to the mp3 below)
04. Towers
05. Michicant
06. Hinnom, TX
07. Wash.
08. Calgary
09. Lisbon, OH
10. Beth/Rest
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