Justin Vernon. Just, wow. We love him so much.
Following on the acclaim of their 2008 debut LP, "For Emma, Forever Ago," Bon Iver—the musical brainchild of Justin Vernon—returned in June with "Bon Iver," a set of 10 tracks recorded and mixed at a former veterinarian's clinic in Fall Creek, Wis. It's a terrific example of how to avoid the dreaded "sophomore slump," retaining many of the elements of its predecessor that worked so well while ditching those that didn't. "For Emma" was spacey and hypnotic thanks to Vernon's lush harmonies, but it wasn't incredibly dynamic. This time, Vernon trades in much of the acoustic action for electric guitars, a sea of synths, a splash of ‘80s sax and even a dash of Auto-Tune (see the gorgeous album-closing "Beth/Rest"). With The Rosebuds.
