Review: Bon Iver's "For Emma, Forever Ago"
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 3/6/08 Section: Arts
Bon Iver's recent release "For Emma, Forever Ago," is a peaceful album that lives up to its artist's name. "Bon Iver" is actually a form of the French bon hiver, or good winter.
Each track flows gently from one to the next, creating a pleasant journey through ice-covered northern Wisconsin.
Recorded in a hunting cabin in northwestern Wisconsin, the album by Justin Vernon starts off strong. The second track, "Lump Sum," makes me feel like I'm driving through winter woods.
My favorite song on the album is by far the third track, "Skinny Love." While the lyrics had me pondering for awhile, the song as a whole keeps me mesmerized. Vernon's pleading voice and chorus speak to the part of you that's frustrated.
Some of the tracks seem like failed attempts at quiet, artsy acoustics. "The Wolves" leaves me feeling a little ill-at-ease when perhaps I am supposed to feel touched.
However, Vernon's picks up his flow again in the next few tracks.
"For Emma" is a good surprise at the end of the album. It brings the album full circle and keeps a steady and pleasant beat that matches my stride perfectly - an added bonus.
Overall, the album gives me the same peaceful feeling I get from Jack Johnson, but with much more depth and character. The relatively short album works well as either smooth background music or, if you have the time, a good project in listening.
Vernon's poetic, though sometimes confusing, lyrics sneak their way in between his surprisingly pleasing falsetto and gentle guitar chords, forcing me to listen and understand.
If you're looking for music to pump you up, this isn't it. However, if you have 40 minutes to kill, laying on a couch with this album will be 40 minutes well spent. You will come away feeling calm, refreshed and perhaps like you're in an ice-covered hunting cabin.
Each track flows gently from one to the next, creating a pleasant journey through ice-covered northern Wisconsin.
Recorded in a hunting cabin in northwestern Wisconsin, the album by Justin Vernon starts off strong. The second track, "Lump Sum," makes me feel like I'm driving through winter woods.
My favorite song on the album is by far the third track, "Skinny Love." While the lyrics had me pondering for awhile, the song as a whole keeps me mesmerized. Vernon's pleading voice and chorus speak to the part of you that's frustrated.
Some of the tracks seem like failed attempts at quiet, artsy acoustics. "The Wolves" leaves me feeling a little ill-at-ease when perhaps I am supposed to feel touched.
However, Vernon's picks up his flow again in the next few tracks.
"For Emma" is a good surprise at the end of the album. It brings the album full circle and keeps a steady and pleasant beat that matches my stride perfectly - an added bonus.
Overall, the album gives me the same peaceful feeling I get from Jack Johnson, but with much more depth and character. The relatively short album works well as either smooth background music or, if you have the time, a good project in listening.
Vernon's poetic, though sometimes confusing, lyrics sneak their way in between his surprisingly pleasing falsetto and gentle guitar chords, forcing me to listen and understand.
If you're looking for music to pump you up, this isn't it. However, if you have 40 minutes to kill, laying on a couch with this album will be 40 minutes well spent. You will come away feeling calm, refreshed and perhaps like you're in an ice-covered hunting cabin.
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