This four-song collection continues down the path forged by 2008's critically acclaimed "For Emma, Forever Ago". Bon Iver's snow-blanketed harmonies live across the seasons. As much as "Emma" is about the cold, "Blood Bank... more »" is about the warmth that gets you through it. Both expansive and intimate, these songs explore the darker and lighter natures of the seasons and what they signify, and offer a glimpse into the natural energy and refined craftsmanship that characterize Justin Vernon's music.« less
This four-song collection continues down the path forged by 2008's critically acclaimed "For Emma, Forever Ago". Bon Iver's snow-blanketed harmonies live across the seasons. As much as "Emma" is about the cold, "Blood Bank" is about the warmth that gets you through it. Both expansive and intimate, these songs explore the darker and lighter natures of the seasons and what they signify, and offer a glimpse into the natural energy and refined craftsmanship that characterize Justin Vernon's music.
CD Reviews
A stunner!
Russell Evansen | Waunakee, WI USA | 01/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Bon Iver (essentially Justin Vernon and a couple of bandmates) burst out of the frozen Wisconsin north woods in 2007 with "For Emma, Forever Ago" - a record of quiet, contemplative and deeply felt songs triggered by the ending of several relationships, both personal and professional. Vernon took advantage of his months of isolation to craft a set of emotionally direct songs that sometimes employed rather oblique lyrics, and his not-for-everybody falsetto singing was said to be either enchanting (most critics) or off-putting (many music fans).
But as word spread about "Emma" and Bon Iver played more and more live shows (even turning up on late night TV on rare ocassions) his fan base grew, and an increasing number of online reviews labeled "Emma" an emotional masterpiece.
If you're new to this artist, you should probably begin with "Emma" to get a sense of his unique style. Fans of that record, however, will find much to love on "Blood Bank," which contains several tunes written and/or recorded around the same time period. The title cut is especially strong, with sharp lyrics and strong guitar work.
The first three songs could easily be outtakes from "Emma," and all are easily the equal of anything found on that record. It's the final cut, "Woods" that is the wild card, and the one that is likely to sharply divide dedicated Bon Iver fans. Making use of the Auto-tune technology currently in vogue among hip-hop artists like L'il Wayne and Kanye West, Vernon electronically distorts his vocals to the point where he sounds almost machine-like. Repeating four simple phrases over and over ("I'm up in the woods/I'm down on my mind/I'm building a still/To slow down the time") and gradually adding high-pitched howls, the song builds to a kind of haunting grandeur, and the howls begin to sound like wolves far off in the distance on a frozen north woods evening. Some will hate it, but personally I think it's a stunner, and it hints to me that Bon Iver is an artist who is brave enough and talented enough to challenge himself and his fans. That's an encouraging sign for the future."
Soulful
Baron von Gaspantstein | Green Bay, WI | 01/20/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This EP is a good sign for people who liked Bon Iver's first album. The tunes are soulful and share similar aspects to the LP: the falsetto voice layered multiple times, the trance-like repetition that builds to an emotional release, the cryptic lyrics.
There is also experimentation. "Blood Bank," is recognizably written for a full band. "Beach Baby," uses a slide guitar solo. "Babys" uses piano, one note repeated for tension. He uses a similar technique with his voice and guitar, but the piano adds a new tone. But these are small experiments.
The big surprise comes with "Woods," when he uses vocoder. This song needed to go last, because I don't know what you could put after it. In the beginning the vocals are high in the mix, but as the song progresses the same repeated lines are sung in different ways and recorded differently, some with harmony, some distantly reverbed; it all creates a huge emotional space. My favorite part is when he strains the heights of his register. Amazing."
Very Very good second serving
T. Lovinger | D.C. | 01/21/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Blood Bank is a great preview of whats to come from a full album. The EP seems to be an experiment, almost as if they gave Bon Iver a bunch of shiny new toys and watched what happends.
The first two tracks, Blood Bank and beach baby, are a return to classic form with some subtle add-ons. Almost like what For Emma would have been if done in a true studio, these are very good songs and if you liked for emma, you will like them as well.
The last two tracks however, a complete turn around. These use the technology in an interesting way and sometimes these creations are flops, like babys. The track consistently plays a single line of piano notes for the full duration of the song. This might have worked on a guitar, but on a piano the feeling just doesnt come across as well as it should.
However, when the feeling and creativity both hit the fan...well...just listen to Woods. The track is so genious, so simple and yet so complex I have yet to hear anything better in my search for the note. Its just bon Iver's voice and you.
If your looking for a second coming of For Emma, give up. The circumstances around that album will never repeat themselves and no one, not even Bon Iver himself, can reproduce it...for three out of four of these tracks. However, Woods, woods goes above and beyond for emma.
Buy this album, listen to it from begining to end, you will never have the same feeling as you did when 12 minutes in you hear the words "I'm up in the woods, I'm down on my mind, I'm building a still to slow down the time""
Grey harmony for the heart
Storylover | Philadelphia, PA USA | 01/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"How to describe the music of Justin Vernon? The concept is not new--talented guy, sort of lo-fi recording set up, guitar. Nothing new. Yet, somehow, this guy coaxes austere majesty from nothingness. If you are interested in the EP, then you probably already have For Emma, Forever Ago. Clearly, that is the place to start for Bon Iver. It is a nearly perfect album, stark and haunting in its bleakness.
But lets assume you already know that. What about this EP, Blood Bank? Well, if you were hoping for something new, you're gonna get it. If you were hoping for more of the same, you're gonna get that too. And I mean both of those things in the best possible way. Justin's guitar playing remains hypnotic, a drone pushed to the background on which he layers vocal track after vocal track. These multitracked wonders of harmony and, if not dissonance, then perhaps near harmony are a big part of what make him so special. He uses his full range, including a very interesting falsetto, throughout each of his songs, creating an insular and fascinating sound world. Lyrics float in and out of the haze, struggling to be understood. The words are important, but not as important as the raw feeling that you get from the sounds.
The title track is the one that a lot of folks have heard--it is beautiful and perhaps the most similar to the first album. But from there, things start to grow and change. "Babys" features a repeated piano figure instead of a guitar drone, and it is definitely a little bit of a surprise, but as always, the bleakness and grandiosity both somehow get to you. How can so much music fit into so little tune? Yet this music is not without melody--melody just reveals itself slowly, much like the pleasure of listening to this disc.
The final song, entitled Woods, is a sidetrip for us as best as I can figure. I doubt that this will be the way that Bon Iver composes in the future, but boy is it amazing here. He uses a vocoder (!) as a foil for his magnificent harmonies. The vocals are more layered than ever--that is the point of the song--and individual melodies twine around each other like vines climbing a snake, twisting and stretching, revealing subtle beauties in their bizarrely shifting, howling chords. It brings Imogen Heap (if she were a wild werewolf) to mind, but really is a thing unto itself. Haunting, really haunting, and lovely.
If you are already sold on Bon Iver, don't hesitate. This is a really enjoyable stop on the journey of Justin's career. Does it herald more experimentation on a longer album? Or is he just playing, honing things on the side? I'm not certain. But I will be watching this guy, he is so remarkable. If you don't know anythign about this band, this record is certainly not a bad place to start--it is short and spare and lovely. If you have the money and the attention span, I'd actually consider buying both this EP and his previous album right off the bat. If you must buy one, get the album first, and once you are hooked come back for Blood Bank. You won't be able to stop yourself."
Lovely!
Eric | Gig Harbor, WA USA | 01/23/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
""For Emma, Forever Ago" was one of my favorite albums of 2008 and this little EP is a great way to kick off 2009.
I'm always a bit worried that a great first album will be followed by one filled with lesser tracks, as if the artist sunk his best work into the first, but can't create at the same level again. All four of these songs are quite strong and, to my ears, extremely beautiful and catchy.
Track Listings (4) - Disc #1