Condition: New
Bon Iver - Blood Bank
Label: Jagjaguwar
Catalog#: JAG 134
Format: Vinyl, 12", EP, 45 RPM
New
Country: US
Released: 20 Jan 2009
Genre: Folk, World, & Country, Rock
Style: Acoustic, Folk, Indie Rock
Tracklist
A1 Blood Bank 4:37
A2 Beach Baby 2:35
B1 Babys
Guitar [Nylon] – Mark Paulson 4:37
B2 Woods 4:44
Credits
Photography [Back And Inside] – Ashley Farland
Photography [Front Cover] – Lauren Hudgins
Notes
Includes lyrics insert and mp3 download coupon.
These 4 songs were recorded (not in order):
in Dec 2006 and Jan 2007 in a hunting lodge in Dunn County, WI
in Mar 2007 in Raleigh, NC at Ticonderobics by Mark Paulson
in Sept 2007 in Montreal, QC at Chris and Josee's apartment
in June 2008 in Eau Claire, WI in a small house
in Jan 2008 in Fall Creek on Otter Creek Rd.
Barcode and Other Identifiers
Barcode: 6 56605 21341 5
Matrix Number: JAG-134-A
Matrix Number: JAG-134-B
Asin: B001MDIA5G
Bon Iver (essentially Justin Vernon and a couple of bandmates) burst out of the frozen Wisconsin north woods in 2007 with "For Emma, Forever Ago" - a record of quiet, contemplative and deeply felt songs triggered by the ending of several relationships, both personal and professional. Vernon took advantage of his months of isolation to craft a set of emotionally direct songs that sometimes employed rather oblique lyrics, and his not-for-everybody falsetto singing was said to be either enchanting (most critics) or off-putting (many music fans).
But as word spread about "Emma" and Bon Iver played more and more live shows (even turning up on late night TV on rare ocassions) his fan base grew, and an increasing number of online reviews labeled "Emma" an emotional masterpiece.
If you're new to this artist, you should probably begin with "Emma" to get a sense of his unique style. Fans of that record, however, will find much to love on "Blood Bank," which contains several tunes written and/or recorded around the same time period. The title cut is especially strong, with sharp lyrics and strong guitar work.
The first three songs could easily be outtakes from "Emma," and all are easily the equal of anything found on that record. It's the final cut, "Woods" that is the wild card, and the one that is likely to sharply divide dedicated Bon Iver fans. Making use of the Auto-tune technology currently in vogue among hip-hop artists like L'il Wayne and Kanye West, Vernon electronically distorts his vocals to the point where he sounds almost machine-like. Repeating four simple phrases over and over ("I'm up in the woods/I'm down on my mind/I'm building a still/To slow down the time") and gradually adding high-pitched howls, the song builds to a kind of haunting grandeur, and the howls begin to sound like wolves far off in the distance on a frozen north woods evening. Some will hate it, but personally I think it's a stunner, and it hints to me that Bon Iver is an artist who is brave enough and talented enough to challenge himself and his fans. That's an encouraging sign for the future.
Bon Iver - Blood Bank
Bon Iver - Woods
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