Bon Iver Announces New Album, Shares Cover Art & More

Bon Iver album art

It's been a few years since the release of Bon Iver's classic, critically-acclaimed debut For Emma, Forever Ago. Since then, Bon Iver became a full-fledged band*, released a follow-up EP, and Justin Vernon cut records with new bands Volcano Choir and Gayngs. To top it all off, Vernon played a prominent supporting role on Kanye West's masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. Understandably, people were getting a bit anxious to hear anything about new Bon Iver material.

Today, we have some great news. Bon Iver will release that highly-anticipated sophomore album on June 21 through Jagjaguwar. The self-titled album was recorded and mixed at April Based Studio, a former veterinary clinic in Fall Creek, WI. Vernon wrote all 10 songs himself and recorded them, as well, with assistance from his brother, Nate. Bon Iver members Sean Carey, Mike Noyce and Matt McCaughan contributed vocals, drums and production. The new album also features the arrangements and strings of Rob Moose (Antony and the Johnsons, The National), the pedal steel of Greg Leisz (Lucinda Williams, Bill Frisell) and a horn section including Colin Stetson (Tom Waits, Arcade Fire), Mike Lewis (Andrew Bird, Happy Apple), and C.J. Camerieri (Rufus Wainwright, Sufjan Stevens).

Hear a bit of the new album and scope the tracklisting after the hop.

Quinn's Top Albums of 2010

Well, the year is over -- didn't see that coming. If there's one thing I can say about 2010, it's that it was the best and most productive year Mixtape Muse has had since it was born back in 2006. I'd like to thank all the artists, bands, and readers who helped make this year so awesome and successful. I would have never thought Mixtape Muse could have accomplished so much in a year. So, thank you all.

Now, my choices for the top albums of 2010. Oh, the year-end list. It's just a troublesome thing. Are we ranking them according to how great they are or how much we enjoyed them? In the end, isn't this all just a matter of opinion anyway? I must admit that if you've been following the site over the years, I have never before ranked my year-end choices. It all seems rather odd to me to say "oh, this album was the best" when you come from the perspective of a musician. So, please consider the fact that I have never exercised my right, or rather my ability, to rank albums (save for my "Top Albums of 2010...so far" list) and that I struggled with this bad boy up until the end. Furthermore, because this isn't my day job I didn't have the opportunity to listen to everything that I saw, heard, or read about. Alright? Alright.

Remember, folks, as people, all we can do is offer opinions when it comes to art. Facts are what we use to form opinions, not the other way around; all we know are the facts, not the opinions. I can't tell you what your opinion is, because that is something you must create with the facts before you (e.g. FACT: I love a lot of different genres of music that some people might not fancy in the least bit). Then again, I guess there are at least a few flaws in this logic. Hopefully, you get my point. In the words of Malcolm Gladwell, "The key to good decision making is not knowledge, it is understanding."

Simon P.'s Top Albums of 2010

Woohoo. What's better than ringing in the New Years with the grooviest, rocking-est, so-in-your-face-that-you-don't-even-know-it's-there records of the year. Believe you me, this has been a (lady) killer year in music, and I had some serious choices to make.

10. Spoon - Transference

Britt and the boys started off the year with a serious bang. Supposedly, Daniels commented that this album is a return to some simpler songs ("Underdog" had just a few too many). While many were put off by the at times abruptness of the record, Spoon ditched some of the fancy progressions and brought out some heavy rock winners like "The Mystery Zone", "Is Love Forever", and my personal favorite, "Written in Reverse". Toss in the subtle, yet beautiful and hidden presence of "Out Go the Lights" and you've got yourself a great record. Keep it up guys.

9. Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs - God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise

This New England folk-rock singer/songwriter is sprouting wings and headed for some really serious musical territory. With every album his vocal talents are showcased more, while still beefing up the arrangements behind him. The Pariah Dogs, new to this record, provide a professional and incomparable backdrop for LaMontagne, who's voice is soulful and strong on this record. Album opener "Repo Man" is a groove-heavy sequel to Gossip in the Grain's funk tune "You are the Best Thing", followed by a solid body of tunes that are easy on the ears.

MUSINGS: Kanye West, His Ambition, & His Artistic Vision

This past weekend, Kanye West appeared on Saturday Night Live as the show's musical guest, performing his most recent singles "Power" and "Runaway." It marked Kanye's first appearance on the program following the Taylor Swift fallout and the Kanye West jokes the program made in connection with the fallout -- and what undoubtedly prompted the line "Fuck SNL and the whole cast" on "Power." Needless to say, there was a lot riding on these performances since they were his first major public performances outside of the VMAs.

Kanye is most definitely an ambitious man, and his performances on Saturday evening proved it. The stage was transformed into a seemingly endless white room -- heaven would be an appropriate assertion -- that brought to mind the borderless prison in THX 1138. Was it possible that Kanye and his artistic directors were implying that power, while desirable and gratifying, is a prison in and of itself? Whatever the case, it was truly something magical and essentially stole the show. There were a few good skits, but Kanye's performances were really the highlight of the episode. It says something when a performance is capable of instilling in viewers a sense that they are no longer watching a TV show or witnessing a studio performance. If anything, Kanye's performances on Saturday night were transportive on account of their passionate delivery and the way in which the music was presented.

WATCH: Kanye West's "Moving Painting" for "Power"

Kanye West, never one to shy away from aiming high and going big, has been talking up a new video, er..."moving painting" for "Power," the first single from his forthcoming album. So what was he even talking about? Well, the Marco Brambillap-directed moving painting for "Power" is finally out and it's truly something else. Regardless of his past actions, there's no denying the talent of Mr. West. He's one of the few artists left in the music industry with a true vision for how he wants his music, his art, to be presented and received. Below is the moving painting. Enjoy...

Kanye, Kanye

(Ryan Adams as Kanye West)

Well, by now we're all familiar with what happened at the VMA's between Kanye West and Taylor Swift. He got a lot of heat for what he did, but let's consider something. Although he invaded the stage like he always does, he didn't actually do it on his behalf. He didn't jump on the stage to boast about how great he is. Nevertheless, it goes without saying that it was bad form. The CAPS-locked apology he issued later on his blog didn't really help either.

Last night, he appeared on the debut episode of The Jay Leno Show shortly before he performed with Jay-Z and Rihanna. He wanted to apologize for his actions and he seemed genuinely remorseful. I think Jay may have gone a tad too far when he asked West what his mother would have thought of his actions. West really had to hold back from crying at that point. If it's true that he hasn't taken any time off since the death of his mother, he really should. Watch his sit-down with Leno below.



Guitarist Chad Gilbert of pop punk band New Found Glory seems to suggest that we might want to take West's apologies with a grain of salt. According to Gilbert's Twitter, West flicked everyone off after handing Swift the mic.

A Comment on Kanye West's "808s & Heartbreak"

No, this isn't an album review.

Okay. Commenting on the whole Kanye West going pop, perpetuating the autotune trend might be a little passe at this point, but I've been meaning to say something about the whole matter.

Yeah, Kanye has an ego. Yeah, he thinks he is the voice of our generation. Yeah, he thinks he is all that. Of course, all of this narcissism and pretentiousness has caused a great deal of criticism and hate to be thrown his way. When he decided to go pop and try his hand at singing, it came as no surprise that people were ready to jump at the chance to tear his new project apart. Even before 808s & Heartbreak people thought he should stop rapping and only concern himself with producing.

I might just be feeding his ego here, but cut the man some slack. For one, this album is highly personal. It is his way of dealing with the loss of his mother and the dissolution of his engagement. This album solidifies, at least for me, that he is a true artist. He could have easily played it safe and released another rap album, but instead he decided to take a risk and put out 808s. I'm sure he probably didn't think at all about the album's possible commercial failure, but, nevertheless, it was a bold move to make artistically after he had already established himself as a successful rapper, able to sell a lot of albums. 808s, while not having sold as well as his last two efforts thus far, has still managed to move a lot of units.

Honestly, I have only heard "Love Lockdown" and "Heartless." I'm not really making a case here for the music as much as I am for what the record represents. Yeah, he's relying on autotune when he sings, and, yes, with Lil Wayne and T-Pain before him, he is only helping to tire out the autotune/vocoder sound. However, 808s & Heartbreak finds a successful rapper taking a chance, trying to mix things up and stepping outside his comfort zone. It is one thing to make a few songs of this nature and include it on an album, but to make an entire album in this vein is quite a feat considering his musical background.

Personally, I feel like he is making music with a passion and drive that not too many other artists are exhibiting these days. Sure, he enjoys making the money, but it appears he really puts his soul into what he does and that is something to appreciate and respect. I may not have heard the bulk of 808s & Heartbreak, so it may be not such a great album...maybe it really is terrible...maybe it is incredible...but props to Kanye for not relying on his past successes and writing what would have to be considered pop music.

Again, I'm not speaking for the quality of the music. I have not heard the album.