The Music Shack

[the-music-shack]

https://anchor.fm/everythinginbetween

Hi everything

Don't know who even will see this post, but I started a podcast with a friend and would love it if you gave it a listen. It's also on Spotify and a bunch of other platforms you just might have to search for it

[stagnationtriomphante]

humble by kendrick lamar (2017)

[the-music-shack]

Bon Iver 22 (OVER SOON) Review

Bon Iver is back with two new singles and an album on the way (September 30th). This new album, “22, A Million”, will be Bon Iver’s first album in 5 years. After debuting the album live at the Eau Claire music festival, two songs were released for the world to hear.

22 (OVER SOON) is a bit of a return, and a bit of a departure from Bon Iver’s accustomed musical style. As expected, the song offers an extremely delicate balance using basic, folk-based chords, mixed with busy, colorful, detailed textures. What isn’t expected, however, is the introduction of more electronic and processed sounds, rather than the usual organic, acoustic sounds. This allows the song to remain sounding earthy just like the last two records, but also give more room for experimentation.

If Bon Iver’s last album (titled: Bon Iver) is a horizontal record, focusing on locations and the natural world, then this new album, from what I’ve heard, is going to be more horizontal, focusing on less physical concepts, and more abstract.

The song begins with a looping track of Justin Vernon’s voice repeatedly singing a single pitch, with other pitch-tuned voices dancing around singing “It might be over soon.” Then is when we hear the iconic delicate voice of Justin singing “Where are you going to look for confirmation.” From there on more and more sounds and textures are added as the song builds to a climax, responds with a saxophone solo, then slowly backs off into a string coda.

22 (OVER SOON) is another song to add to the array of tender and heartbreaking songs from Bon Iver, with a big-point so subtle you might miss it. However, what’s different is that the heartbreak is internal, no longer singing about a lover, or a friend, but instead about himself. This is a theme that was specifically pointed out to in Bon Iver’s press release about 22, A Million.

“22, A Million is part love letter, part final resting place of two decades of searching for self-understanding like a religion. And the inner-resolution of maybe never finding that understanding,” the press release reads.

The biggest theme I pull out from OVER SOON is longing. Longing for something missing, something unknown, something not there. The saxophone solo mid-song best creates this. A great example of less can be more, few notes, full heart. 

The strings at the end give closure to the song along with the repeating drone that started from second 0. Personally, I feel like the strings could’ve been introduced a little earlier, and could’ve had more playtime at the end. To me they seem like a bit of an afterthought that was added to the song apart from its initial time of creation. That being said I do appreciate them and what they do.

22 (OVER SOON) - 8.5/10 Gorgeous writing, as tender as can be. 

I couldn’t be more excited for 22, A Million. So much so, I have to be careful to not over-listen to the songs that got released. I don’t want to break the flow of that first listen, come September 30th.

[the-music-shack]

https://soundcloud.com/clayton-dryden-1/quick-idea

[clairrossiter]

One of my fave commissions in the whole world ever, illustrating the lyrics to Sufjan Stevens’ album Carrie & Lowell

[the-music-shack]

How am I supposed to move on when I’m still moving closer How am I supposed to forget when you’re all I know How am I supposed to move on when you’re still beside me How can I close the door with you still in it?

[the-music-shack]

Upcoming reviews

Psychic Temple - III

Wilco - The Whole Love

Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

[the-music-shack]

Hey guys I just finished a new song, if you have the time I’d love it if you listened! Thanks!

[the-music-shack]

Weekly Listenings:

Somehow I stumbled upon Gilberto Gil through some random Spotify ad or playlist or something like that. For about a year I forgot about it until one day I recalled it and really wanted to hear it again. Obviously I was able to find it.

[the-music-shack]

Listening to Sufjan, talking to someone amazing, and crying through it all.

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The most trusted voice in music.

Insert Ron Paul “It’s happening” gif here.

[the-music-shack]

Weekly Listenings:

Wilco keeps growing on me. The combination of simple, effective songwriting with excellent instrumentation is fantastic. These straightforward songwriting techniques give Wilco’s music a very earnest feeling-a sound that is very home-y. A home-y feeling that rests in my heart, and because of these I keep coming back to Wilco to listen to more and more.

Summer Teeth incorporates bird noises and twangy guitar with a sulky lyrical story that creates an authentic song that feels like a late, spring evening.

[the-music-shack]

[the-music-shack]

Weekly Listenings:

Shara Worden, who used to sing backups for Sufjan Stevens, brings an absolutely gorgeous song with phenomenal vocals and instrumentation encompassing a lovely lyrical story. 

I’m not even in love but this song makes me think I am.

[the-music-shack]

Sure on this shining night Of star made shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground.

This song is a real 10 out of 10.

[the-music-shack]

But to love her is to need her everywhere.

[the-music-shack]