Justin Vernon Seems Like A Cool Guy

Justin Vernon seems like a cool guy, but I’m not gonna lie: I think Bon Iver is pretty boring. I’ve never been really big on singer/songwriters so it’s not a huge surprise that I’m not feeling it. I guess Blood Bank EP was ok, and live it was fairly involving.

But overall:


However, whenever Justin Vernon steps into a collective environment, this shit takes off. 2009’s Unmap by Volcano Choir, a collaboration between Vernon and fellow Wisconsin band Collections of Colonies of Bees, was one of my favorite releases of that year, combining interesting post-rock and math-rock instrumentals with the typically haunting vocals that Vernon brings to the table. Their cover/reworking of the Bon Iver song “Woods” (called “Still” in this incarnation) really shows how astonishingly moving Vernon’s music can be if you spruce up the arrangements a little.

Which brings me to my band of the moment: Gayngs. Gayngs is a wide ranging collaborative group, where Justin Vernon is just one of many contributors. He provides the vocals for the first track on their new release Relayted, “The Gaudy Side of Town”. The album itself flows through a variety of dreamy instrumentals, with vocals/lyrics fading in and out seemingly at will. Fans of Dirty Three will really appreciate this stuff.

And while we’re on the subject of dreamy/hazy instrumentals, lets lend some love to Deerhunter. They played a new song on BBC radio last week called “Helicopter” that I’m fairly fond of, worthy enough of some definite thirsting for Cryptograms and/or Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. And of course, the true masters My Bloody Valentine. Gotta love some Loveless.

Whats In My Ears:

Bon Iver – Woods
Volcano Choir – Still
Gayngs – The Gaudy Side of Town
Deerhunter - Helicopter
My Bloody Valentine – Loomer

~David Ballou