If there is anything less exciting than finishing a list of my favorite albums from 2008 in 2009, it has to be including an album that technically came out in 2007. Let's be honest, does anyone even remember 2007? The only thing that really comes to mind is the premier of "The Big Bang Theory" on CBS. Other than that, pretty much nothing happened. Oh yeah, Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago was self-released in the Fall of 2007. So I guess that makes two interesting things that happened in 2007.
But it wasn't until the album was re-released through Jagjaguwar in February of 2008 that I actually heard the album. And to be honest, the album feels so wintery that I have to consider it's February 2008 release as it's official release. So fuck off Wikipedia (c'mon baby you know I don't mean that - your facts are the best).
But it wasn't until the album was re-released through Jagjaguwar in February of 2008 that I actually heard the album. And to be honest, the album feels so wintery that I have to consider it's February 2008 release as it's official release. So fuck off Wikipedia (c'mon baby you know I don't mean that - your facts are the best).
2. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Coming in at #2 and winner of the "Henry David Thoreau Walden Pond" Award is Bon Iver and For Emma, Forever Ago.
Mostly recorded over three months of seclusion in a remote cabin in Wisconsin, For Emma, Forever Ago feels (and sounds) like isolation. In fact, I can't imagine this album ever being created without his Thoreau/ Alexander Supertramp-like self-isolation. If an artist has ever captured the feeling of walking alone into a cold snowy, woods at sunset and chopping down a tree for firewood, it would have to be Bon Iver (there's no word on whether or not he knew how to properly conserve moose-meat).
Perhaps Wikipedia says it best (or whoever edited this page): "Solitude is a state of seclusion and isolation, i.e. lack of contact with people or love." A lack of contact with people or love. I probably didn't need to type that twice, but that statement just describes Mr. Iver's (his real name is Justin Vernon) album best. Not only does the album feel like Northwestern Wisconsin or winter or chopping down trees or the smell of pines or isolation, but if feels like a lack of contact with people or love. Imagine what having a clear head did to his songwriting. The only things to join him beside his fire are past memories of people he knew and love he experienced. Maybe he found out what or who truly meant something to him. Maybe this album was him saying "Emma, I should have told you this forever ago." Yes this is a wild guess, but even the title is interesting. And if none of that means anything to you, let me put it this way:
Coming in at #2 and winner of the "Henry David Thoreau Walden Pond" Award is Bon Iver and For Emma, Forever Ago.
Mostly recorded over three months of seclusion in a remote cabin in Wisconsin, For Emma, Forever Ago feels (and sounds) like isolation. In fact, I can't imagine this album ever being created without his Thoreau/ Alexander Supertramp-like self-isolation. If an artist has ever captured the feeling of walking alone into a cold snowy, woods at sunset and chopping down a tree for firewood, it would have to be Bon Iver (there's no word on whether or not he knew how to properly conserve moose-meat).
Perhaps Wikipedia says it best (or whoever edited this page): "Solitude is a state of seclusion and isolation, i.e. lack of contact with people or love." A lack of contact with people or love. I probably didn't need to type that twice, but that statement just describes Mr. Iver's (his real name is Justin Vernon) album best. Not only does the album feel like Northwestern Wisconsin or winter or chopping down trees or the smell of pines or isolation, but if feels like a lack of contact with people or love. Imagine what having a clear head did to his songwriting. The only things to join him beside his fire are past memories of people he knew and love he experienced. Maybe he found out what or who truly meant something to him. Maybe this album was him saying "Emma, I should have told you this forever ago." Yes this is a wild guess, but even the title is interesting. And if none of that means anything to you, let me put it this way:
Dude was straight lonely as a mothafuck.
But enough about his loneliness, the music itself is awesome. Most of the songs are him strumming away at his acoustic guitar (not like that corny guy at the party who's covering Dave Matthews Band) and layering harmonies stickier than Vermont pancake syrup. He's got a falsetto sweeter and warmer than a campfire-toasted marshmallow. Music can do two things (actually it probably can do thousands of things). It can provoke a feeling from the listener or it can document a time in a musicians life. And Bon Iver does the latter, but by doing so, provokes many a feeling from the listener.
Listen to the whole album out of order on his guyspace.
Download the mediafire here.
Watch a few fantastic videos here:
1.
2.
But enough about his loneliness, the music itself is awesome. Most of the songs are him strumming away at his acoustic guitar (not like that corny guy at the party who's covering Dave Matthews Band) and layering harmonies stickier than Vermont pancake syrup. He's got a falsetto sweeter and warmer than a campfire-toasted marshmallow. Music can do two things (actually it probably can do thousands of things). It can provoke a feeling from the listener or it can document a time in a musicians life. And Bon Iver does the latter, but by doing so, provokes many a feeling from the listener.
Listen to the whole album out of order on his guyspace.
Download the mediafire here.
Watch a few fantastic videos here:
1.
2.
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