After the heaps of praise and fascination from his first album, Justin Vernon had a choice to make. Do I play it safe and do what I know? or should I scrap the old stuff and bring in some band or play some instrument? Either option runs the risk of alienating someone. If he plays it too safe, he alienates the snobby writers and if he plays it too experimental he gets a good review (on an obscure website but no one gets his record).
To start off, Vernon has found a nice balance between the two. His signature falsetto harmony overdubs anchor the eponymous track “Blood Band.†At the same time, the gentle electric guitar strum seems only slightly unsettling. It’s a nice connection between the familiar Bon Iver and a taste of the new.
The next track hearkens back to the old Bon Iver. single-tracked resophonic guitar in hand with a truly solo chant (of the Gregorian nature), the voice retains its power. Vernon sings “Beach Baby†with an almost religious power, like a plaintive monk in a huge monastery chapel.
The next track is quite a large leap. “Babys†begins with over a minute of dissonant piano. Then the track goes into familiar simple repetitive lyrics. It’s a rather strange and acquired taste. The last track is largely an a capella. It uses vocal effects and harmonizers, which I usually find nauseating. It’s tolerable here, but not all that compelling.
Vernon’s second effort is not quite a sophomore slump but not a game-changer either. It’s got hints of progress and boredom. Experimentation comes at a cost . . . listeners. I don’t know about you, butI’m not ready for Bon Iver to turn into Imogen Heap. I hope he sticks to the familiar baby steps of the first two tracks and steers clear of the confusing vocal/instrumental jamminess of the last two. It’s clearly a transition, but where to?
About the author: Jeff is a teacher in the Boston area. When not buried correcting papers, Jeff can be found plucking various stringed instruments and listening to all types of americana music.