New Bon Iver Album Due in June

Rolling Stone reported yesterday that a new Bon Iver release is on the way this summer.  I, for one, cannot wait.  Justin Vernon, the driving force of the band, has been busy since the debut album with various side projects and a contribution to Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which was a hell of an album.  I hope that this news excites you as much as it does me.

For Emma

Beach Baby

Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows: Songs of John Prine

An A-list of indie and alt-country artists have come together to lend their versions of some of John Prine's favorite songs for the tribute album Broken Hearts & Dirty Windows, due out on June 22nd.  Artists featured are Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Conor Oberst, My Morning Jacket, Josh Ritter, Justin Townes Earle, The Avett Brothers, Old Crow Medicine Show, Drive-By Truckers Deer Tick and Those Darlins.  Pretty strong line-up, don't you think?  It is a worthy tribute album for the legendary singer/songwriter.  Check out two of my favorite tracks below and go ahead and pick this one up on the 22nd.

The Avett Brothers - Spanish Pipedream

My Morning Jacket - All The Best

Pre-order the album here

Ben's Best Albums of 2009: Number 7

7. Volcano Choir, Unmap

Volcano Choir is the side-project of Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and the Wisconsin instrumental quintet, Collections of Colonies of Bees.  First off, Justin Vernon is one of my favorite musicians out there right now - as you have probably noticed from his regualr appearances on this blog.  Bon Iver’s debut For Emma, Forever Ago is a modern masterpiece that ranks right up there as one of the best break-up albums ever and the follow-up EP, Blood Bank, contains three songs of pure aural enjoyment.

This project utilizes Vernon’s vulnerable falsetto as more of an accompanying instrument than the focal point of the songs. His well-known vocals blend with the layers that the Collections of Colonies of Bees create producing a beautifully eerie experience for the listener. It is not known if or when Vernon will be releasing a new LP under the Bon Iver moniker, but if he continues to make collaborations like this one, we can all rest easy at night – especially if we play one of his albums as we lay our heads down.

Volcano Choir - Seeplymouth

A snowy goodnight

It has started to snow outside and it is time to bid the world a goodnight.  I will leave you all with two tracks that would fit in nicely on any bedtime playlist.  The first is from Mountain Man, ironically the band is comprised of three females.  "ANIMAL TRACKS" has a beautifully eerie feel and is a recent favorite of mine.  The second is from Volcano Choir, a side project of Justin Vernon (imagine that - I cannot get enough of this guy's music).  More to come on Volcano Choir soon, but enjoy this and goodnight.

Mountain Man - "Animal Tracks"

Volcano Choir - "Husks and Shells"

Bon Iver goes back to school

A live album featuring Justin Vernon (Bon Iver) and the Concert Jazz Band from his former High School, Eau Claire Memorial, was released on December 7th.  As a student, Vernon was a member of the school's jazz band that played for the Essentially Ellington contest in New York.  It is time again for the current school band to head to the competition and Vernon stepped in to lend his assistance for the fundraiser event.  The album is available for download on iTunes.  It is not earth-shattering by any means, but anything with Vernon is welcomed here with open arms.

The 1st track featured below, "For Emma," is originally from Bon Iver's debut masterpiece, For Emma, Forever Ago, as performed by Vernon and the Eau Claire Memorial Jazz Band.  The 2nd offering is a song that has oft been covered, most notably by Jeff Buckley, entitled "Satisfied Mind."

Eau Claire Memorial Jazz I - For Emma (feat. Justin Vernon)


Eau Claire Memorial Jazz I - Satisfied Mind (feat. Justin Vernon)