Blood Bank EP Review (Release Date: January 20 2009)

Bon Iver, meaning "good winter," has been making his way up "top 10" music charts for 2008 all over the place. His first album, "For Emma, Forever Ago," recorded solely by Justin Vernon in a cabin up in Wisconsin, is truly a masterpiece. However, this review isn't about his first solo album, this is about his first EP (extended play), which was announced a little bit after FEFA's release. The single titled "Blood Bank" was released to the public in late 2008, and the whole EP leaked sometime between late November and Early December. Truly a great EP. Listen to it a few times first before you set it down. I was disappointed with it at first and set it down for another time. I picked it up again over winter break, and instantly got hooked to it. Although Bon Iver still doesn't really "fit" to be listened to any other time of the year besides winter, it is still a commendable band. Hopefully in the future we might see Bon Iver truly excogitate where they want to take their band sound-wise. In fact, we see a glimpse of that in the last song of the EP.

The first song, titled "Blood Bank," is traditional Bon Iver. I think it easily surpasses the quality of most of the songs on FEFA. Like his previous album, this song has a snowy and chilly feel to it, while staying away from a sound that's too "bitter" to listen to. As Vernon soulfully repeats "I know it well," in his ghostly voice, you can't help but remember a myriad of fond memories in the past. Good to see Bon Iver is managing to stick with his original sound while at the same time advancing into a different sound (see track 4). This fresh, wintry tune deserves a 9/10.

The second song, "Beach Baby," has a beautiful strumming of a slide guitar accompanied with Vernon's voice. Although it is a pretty laconic track, it's far from being bare, and it's trimmed with meaningful lyrics and quirky, haunting guitar rifts. It's very short, as I stated earlier, but is definitely a treat for the ears. In my opinion, it's the best of the two "baby" tracks. It get's a 8/10, only because it's cut a little short. Nothing wrong with that though, still a favorable song.

Next, there's the second of the "baby" tracks, "Baby," in which we hear the beginning of something new. Starting out with the piano, a high chord is repeated for about a minute. It almost reminds me of spring. The snow is melting, bits of green start to appear, birds start to chirp and tiny little violet flowers emerge from the damp ground. Soon Vernon starts to sing. This is probably the whiniest we've heard him so far. Not a bad thing at all. He can even make a squealing, whining voice sound gorgeous. It really sounds like Vernon's singing from his heart as he says "my woman and I, my woman and I." He starts all over again, this time with a guitar accompanying the piano, and his voice increases in volume. The second half of the song now sounds even more triumphant and glorious. A great transition song, and considering it's leading to the final track, it couldn't be even better. Although I prefer "Beach Baby," to "Babys," this song is absolutely perfectly positioned in the EP. It also deserves a 8/10.

Well, throughout this entire EP I've been talking about it. The final track. "Woods." "I'm up in the woods, I'm down on my mind, I'm building a still, to slow down... the time." That's the only verse. It's sung throughout the entire song. The one difference between this song and the rest is that he uses a vocoder. This song truly had mixed reactions from everyone. In fact, contrary to many people, this isn't a cheesy effect used by music artists like "Kanye West." Vernon uses the vocoder to its best effect. As the song goes on, he sings louder, and layers the vocoder over and over. The sound of this song is extremely deep and rich. As Vernon starts to sing over the other verse, and it builds up to it's climax, it truly leaves you amazed. And to think, if you go back to FEFA and listen to "The Wolves (Act I and II)," you'll hear a blip of a vocoder in the song. If that isn't brilliant foreshadowing, then I have no idea what is. This song deserves a 9/10.

All in all, a fantastic EP. I'm extremely satisfied with it, and I look forward to Bon Iver's future releases.

Preview: Next album to review I'm actually not sure on. I might review one of my favorite albums that came out a while ago, but if not, as soon as either the new Akron/Family or Grizzly Bear album is leaked/comes out, I'll review it.

Merriweather Post Pavillion Review (Release Date: January 20 2009)

Well, MPP has been out since Christmas day in 2008. After months of anticipating the release of this album, it finally leaked, and to be frank, it definitely lived up to it's hype. After only a month into 2009, one of the best albums in a LONG time has already been released. Good thing is, that with the other great EP's and albums coming out this year, MPP won't have the easy path to being the number 1 album of 2009.

Merriweather Post Pavillion starts off with the twisting and turning song, In the Flowers. Starting off with a queasy and mysterious droning of tingly beats and ghostly lyrics. After about 2 or 3 minutes, there's a small hint to the explosion that occurs later on. 30 seconds later, it happens. I'm sure anyone listening to this song for the first time was blown away when they first heard the abrupt outburst of perfectly-aligned notes. Moments later, as you start to get comfortable with this amazing pattern of awing sounds, the song goes back to the coiling and drowsy part that we heard earlier. All in all, one of my favorite songs off the album... worth a 10/10 in my book.

A quick succession of rapid, pins-and-needles beats follow In the Flowers. This song of course being "My Girls." Although not one of my favorite songs on my album, it's definitely not a dud. The rhythmic, almost Native American crooning lyrics in the beginning are great, and when followed by "I just want 4 walls and Adobe slabs for my girlssss," it definitely gets you into an upbeat happy mood. This song gets an 8/10.

The next song, "Also Frightened," has a swooning, chill sound in the beginning, but after a few minutes, quickly evolves into a song that truly gives you a life. As Avey and Panda, start to shout "Are you also frighteneeeddd?" you immediately get a rush of energy through your body. Excellent song, also deserves an 8/10.

What can I say? SUMMERTIME CLOTHES! My favorite song on the entire album (except the last track of course)! The song starts out with a grooving and upbeat pulse that carries on through the entire song. The rich and wild lyrics spurted out of Avey's mouth impacted me more than any other AC song. I always pause whatever I'm doing when I hear "Midnight Meal." If you're going to get any song on this album (although I encourage you to buy/download the entire thing), definitely get this song. 10/10.

The chirping scrapes of the electric organ in the beginning of the next song, Daily Routine, are almost eerie, but when accompanied with Panda's voice it surges into a Brooklyn-influenced Pow-Wow. The descending shouting that eventually leads up to an eruption of keys being pressed is wonderful. This is the first time Avey pipes out "Just a signal... in my head..." A minute later, when he says the same verse it comes along with a soft strumming of the guitar, which reaches a whole new plateau of musical grandeur. Perfection. 9/10

The song starts out with an eclectic beeping that sounds like something out of a 90's video game. Although it is short and sweet, it appears later on in the song. The song's nostalgic and gorgeous lyrics combined with the illusory and haunting melody is quite addicting. As the song begins to grow up a little more, you first hear the lyrics "It makes me so crazy yet I can't say whyyyy." Ironically, that one verse fully represents how nearly every lover of this song feels. 9/10.

I honestly can't understand why the song "Guys Eyes" is loved so much. I'm certainly not denying that it's an enjoyable song, just that it's not the best on the album. I honestly would give it a 6/10 if it wasn't for two things. These being (1) that it leads into "Taste," and (2) it has a very cool buildup of harmonizing bits of singing from Panda and Avey. Still a fantastic song though. Deserving of a 7/10.

The next song, which I mentioned earlier, is Taste. Where to begin... The beginning of this song sounds like a electronic beach paradise. I don't know how to describe it. The lyrics are positively supernatural and eccentric. My favorite verse being "Am I really all the things that are outside of me?" If this song COULD be described... picture yourself floating in a blinding and swirling cosmos, being lightly effaced by expurgating pigments. It truly is indescribable. Animal Collective, you outdid yourself here. 10/10

Moving onto the last 3 song, the next one being Lion in a Comma. What a wacky song! The first instrument to be heard is a Jews Harp, which certainly doesn't hide it's presence throughout the rest of the song. The lyrics jumps all over the place, eventually reaching a perfectly arranged crescendo at the word "BEDROOM!" After a few repeats of these kooky tones, the song becomes utterly unhinged and Avey starts to mindlessly spit out the nutty tongue twister "Lion in a Comma," over and over. Another great song, which deserves a 9/10.

No More Runnin'... what a quirky song...

The intervals of this song feel like you are

A. Walking through a creepy Bayou Swamp at midnight

B. Slowly fading away

When Avey Tare first yells "No More Runnin'..." you feel completey blown away. As "Runnin'" slowly diminishes into the past, there's only one option as to where you are

-Standing on the top of a lofty African hill at sunrise. No one else is there except you, and everything in the world is at peace.

This song obviously deserves a 10/10.

Finally... this album goes out with one heck of a bang. Brothersport. Although this song is completely unfitting to the rest of the album, it's obvious AC just had to cram it because it was just so awesome. This song is what got everyone highly anticipating the release of this album in the first place. The tribal pitches and beats of this song are extremely captivating, and after the the minute long head-ache inducing maraca-shaking break between the first half and the second, the song almost seems to start out anew. There's only one verse repeated until the end... the good thing is... it sounds absolutely great, and almost anyone wouldn't mind hearing this for ten minutes straight. You need to hear it for yourself to experience this great song. Hate to be generic, but this song, just like seemingly everyone else, is my favorite song on the entire album. 10/10

That's it. That's the MPP experience. What a great start to 2009. This album is definitely worth a dozen or more straight listens, and definitely doesn't get old. It seems AC has taken the right turn, and the golden age of AC has officially started. If the rest of 2009 will be this astounding, I welcome it with both hands open.

Preview : Next album review will be the "Blood Bank" EP by Bon Iver. Look for it's release sometime soon.