Take three months of solitude in a Wisconsin cabin. Add a Silvertone guitar and a pair of old drums. Mix in thoughts of love, loss, and almost everything in between. What do you get? Bon Iver’s hauntingly beautiful For Emma, Forever Ago. A generally slow-paced acoustic album, For Emma, Forever Ago appropriately reflects the name of the band: Bon Iver (pronounced “bon-eevair”), which means “good winter” in French.
In his tenth album “The Age of Adz”, Sufjan Stevens parts from his folk roots and ventures into the experimental realm of music. Stevens’ new album is chock full of computer-generated beats, yet maintains his insightful lyricism. Although it may take more than one listen, this album is bound to grow on fans of Passion Pit and Radiohead.
Right off the bat, you are immersed in an interesting hybrid of Phoenix, The Fratellis, and U2 in the first track entitled “Birds” of Buzzard by Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s. These melodies bring a sense of peace and tranquility, although its lyrics truly contrast that feeling it brings. The instrumentals in many of the songs provide a feeling of relaxation, which makes Buzzard a successful album. The album features an interesting mix of stoner rock dipped into some pop.