Bon Iver - Bon Iver

(cannot post a image to the coverart)

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Panopticon - Kentucky (2013)

Honestly the mixture of country and black metal gimmick kind of wears thin, it really just sounds like someone human-centipeded a country album with a black metal one, but the fact is that both arrangements are really well done so I quite enjoy it. Both genres (country, metal) have their roots steeped in the blue collar working class and this album is pretty much a testament the struggles of coal miners trying to get better working conditions and wages. If you're not into metal or country I can't see you getting anything out of this, but if you like one of the genres, but not the other, I think this could change some minds.

Definitely would recommend.

It was released last year, but good summary of the album echoing my thoughts.

Oh you're right it is from last year. Honestly I'd be more interested in a straight bluegrass/country album from this guy, because I found myself enjoying those songs more than the Deafheaven/ Alcest style black metal. Definitely makes all the bluegrass stuff I've learned on banjo this year sound boring by comparison.

Agree again.

This is pretty good so far. Only issue I have is that it is a little too reliant on other songs (they either sample or basically reinterpret elements of other songs) and it takes away from how interesting the album is as a whole as you are regularly thinking about other artists work and not their own music.

Edit: In fairness, after the first four/five tracks they are less guilty of using samples/themes from other songs and the music has more of a unique identity.

Good one. I picked that up in the early 2000s but didn't keep up with them after that, only to check them out again a few years ago. I still haven't heard everything but 2002's Walking With Thee is worthwhile, and last year's Free Reign, with the even better Free Reign II alternates from this year, are really great.

Her voice is so familiar. As I type, she kind of reminds me of the Bird And The Bee singer in parts.

Anyway, seems pretty good so far. But I do predict some terrible songs based on the reaction the album has received generally.

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I gave this album another listen after several MB members mentioning it. When I first listened to it, I thought it was bland, but that's mostly because R&B is not my genre; it's one of the few genres I don't listen to. A few tracks are a bit poppy for my taste, but they redeem themselves later on in the track as Monae makes sure to change the direction of the track at least once each song. This may be a key album in introducing me to the genre, I mean about a year and a half ago I didn't like hip hop in any way shape or form, but I came around and some of my favourite overall artists are hip hop or rap artists.

Her first album is quite a bit better.