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Sunday Music Spotlight - Bon Iver

November 18, 2007 in Music, Spotlight by Sean | 2 comments

Bon Iver - a stage name for singer/songwriter Justin Vernon
Justin Vernon didn’t move to northern Wisconsin to record an album. After his longtime band broke up he moved into a cabin in the woods to find solace and solitude, not musical inspiration. He chopped firewood, watched sunsets, and relished the peace and quiet. Then a funny thing happened.

He started recording. A lot. Music and lyrics pouring out of him and into the ancient recording equipment he had on hand. Song after song appeared, with Vernon’s falsetto expressing heartbreak and pain in each of them. Hour upon hour of went into writing, recording, and mixing. The result would eventually become For Emma, Forever Ago, released under the moniker Bon Iver, an intentional bastardization of the French for “good winter”.

Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Sounds like you took Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam and crossed him with Ben Harper. This track is truly the albums strongest, and destined to become a classic.

Bon Iver - Flume

The opening track on For Emma, Forever Ago is sung in Vernon’s hearbreaking falsetto. It’s only a matter of time before this starts appearing in TV shows and movies, over dialogue-less scenes depicting characters struggling to come to terms with the harsh realities of modern life.

Bonus Videos
“Skinny Love” live at Bowery Ballroom:

“Lump Sum”:

Links
Official Site
Bon Iver on MySpace
(Note: I would put a link to buy the album, but it appears to be impossible to buy right now. It’s sold out. Everywhere. So keep checking the official site and the MySpace page for more info)