Hear the New Bon Iver Album In Its Entirety, Right Now

On For Emma, Forever Ago, Justin Vernon made a grand debut for Bon Iver, crafting one of the most intimate and profound records of the past few years. That record was deep and engaging due to Vernon's courage to bare his soul, opening himself to the world. He seemed to spare nothing when it came to conveying how he felt -- even if it was often shrouded in a bit of poetic mystique. One could easily get swept away in the album's pensive mood and honest sound.

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.

VIDEO: Gayngs - "The Last Prom On Earth" Feat. Prince (?!)

Indie supergroup Gayngs released one of the year's best albums with Relayted. At the end of the album is six minute closer "The Last Prom on Earth," which features a lot of synth and a lot of '80s romanticism. The band just released a video for the song, made up of footage recorded at a Minneapolis release party back in May, which was appropriately prom-themed. It reminds me of those closing scenes from WB/CW TV shows where all the characters are gathered in the gymnasium of their high school dancing, talking while some hot new band performs in the background -- the exception being those shows never featured a band as cool as Gayngs. I think my favorite part of this song would have to be Justin Vernon's R. Kelly-like rap in the bridge that somewhat sounds like it could have been part of "Ignition (Remix)." One of the best parts of the music video? Prince is just hanging out in the wings off the stage, covered by a nice fedora. And, understandably so, he digs what he hears.

Yep. The "Bass Lounge." Three bassists.

REVIEW: Gayngs - Relayted

Gayngs - Relayted
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Gayngs began when Ryan Olson (Building Better Bombs, Digitata) decided to make an album with Solid Gold members Zack Coulter and Adam Hurlburt built on drugged-up keyboards and inspiration taken from 10cc's synth-fueled ballad "I'm Not In Love." It eventually snowballed into a collaborative project between 25+ musicians, including Justin Vernon and Mike Noyce of Bon Iver, P.O.S. of Rhymesayers, and Joe Westerlund, Brad Cook, and Phil Cook of Megafaun. What was once a bedroom project evolved into something of epic proportions, covering musical territory the members had yet to tackle in their respective projects.

Some reviews have had critics debating where exactly Gayngs' debut, Relayted, stands between sincerity and tongue-in-cheek ‘80s pastiche (they did cite "I'm Not In Love" as a big influence). Upon first listen to a song like album opener “The Gaudy Side of Town,” one might be more inclined to go with the latter, but then you’d be shortchanging Gayngs. With reverb-coated saxophone crying out in the night and every song written/recorded at 69 BPM, it’s easy to understand why one might write Gayngs off for being somewhat overindulgent. Relayted is an album filled with ‘80s R&B, soft rock jams that plays like one long-lost but killer bedroom mixtape. The group’s slowed-down cover of Godley & Crème’s 1985 hit “Cry” more or less summarizes the theme and direction of the album’s musical intentions: experimenting and breaking the mold of familiar sounds.

Gayngs Announce Fall Tour + MP3s

Midwestern adventurous indie group Gayngs have announced their fall tour dates. The band consists of 23 musicians, giving The Polyphonic Spree a run for their money. But really, this is like an actual supergroup as it features P.O.S., Justin Vernon and Mike Noyce of Bon Iver, and three of the guys from Megafaun among many others. On the upcoming fall tour, ten of the twenty-plus contributors that appear on Gayngs debut, Relayted, will be there, including Justin Vernon and Mike Noyce, ringleader Ryan Olson (Building Better Bombs, Digitata), Zak Coulter and Adam Hurlburt of Solid Gold, Jake Luck of Leisure Birds, Ivan Rosebud of The Rosebuds, Brad Cook and Joe Westerlund of Megafaun, and Mike Lewis of Andrew Bird and Happy Apple. You get all that?

See the tour dates, watch a live performance, and catch a few MP3s after the hop.