We are waiting for the hype to cool down on Bon Iver. Not in a bad way, we love Bon Iver, but we are still waiting. I long for the days when we can simply go back to enjoying him/the band for providing stellar music, period. Although I do think the mad frenzy that started (well a mad frenzy for “indie” at least) over the last 6-8 months after the re-release of “For Emma, Forever Ago” was good for the scene, I am always protective of the bands I like…
When I say “protective”, I mean that sometimes when the light shines bright on the lesser know artists it can feel like they are being drawn away from the listeners that might consider to have “discovered” that artist. While I don’t mean actually discovered, but when an artist like Bon Iver comes around you know he/they are destined for more than your average indie fame but you still want that connection. The connection that if fewer people listen to the music, it is more personal and one might feel like they connect to an artist more – I mean who takes anyone seriously when they say “oh, that Celine Dion song really spoke to me”?? Really.
Oh well, kind of a long introduction to a couple of tracks from Justin Vernon. No, not Bon Iver, but Justin Vernon. There was still talent shining through that Wisconsin beard back in 2005/2006 when these tracks were making the circles in the WI scene. I am not sure on actual releases by them or if they were independently released, etc as there is very little “online” for the two albums. Regardless, Justin, we here at Slowcoustic wish you all the success in the future with Bon Iver and we promise to listen even when you have your own show in Vegas.
Please visit them on MySpace – and be sure to pick up an album (and the upcoming Blood Bank, even if you have a “copy” already, come on people!)
~Smansmith
Comments
5 responses to “Before there was Bon Iver, there was still Justin Vernon”
Yes, Sides is so good (but incredible sad) and Liner is a really solid track also.
Nice post. Tonite I heard some other tracks, Song For A Lover Of Long Ago, Hazelton, Easy, Hanna, My Ophelia, which just floored me. Don’t know much about them, except they are earlier recordings. I wish I could purchase a legit recording of them, with some nice art. Without the recent success of Bon Iver, Id probably never have heard this music (from a small town in Australia) … so Im kinda glad he got famous ; )
Where can I get my hands on “Self-Record”?
Enjoyable post – I harbor some of the same feelings about it all – but it’s really great to see him getting the attention he truly deserves.
Nice post. Over 3 years later the frenzie isn’t showing signs of dying down.
I of course discovered the earlier music after hearing about this “Bon Iver”. Enjoyed it to bits, then discovered DeYarmond Edison. Forgot about Bon Iver for a bit. Then discovered the early Justin Vernon that you refer to above and that’s all I’m listening to right now, in the midst of the noise of Bon Iver’s grammys for best NEW artist (ironic?). This stuff is really dark and I know I can’t listen to it forever. I’ll work my way back to Bon Iver, but I’m not ready for that yet.