The opener to 22, A Million, “22 (OVER SOON),” hints at a new direction for the band. Bringing together traditional soul and mellow electronic, it sets the tone for the album in a concise, two-and-a-half-minute statement.
Next is "10 d E A T h b R E a s T,” an interesting contrast of deep, layered vocals and a distorted, marching beat. “715 - CREEKS” follows—an a capella track, featuring vocoder-filtered vocals that invoke early James Blake and even 808s-period-Kanye at some points. 33 “GOD” sounds nothing like you’ve ever heard before—there are a ton of layers, but they all seem to fit. The intro starts on the lighter side—a piano riff, strings, pitched-up vocals—then out of nowhere comes bass, snare, an echoing synth and a lush, full sound. “29 Stafford Apts” is next: a folky, guitar-based ballad with a really pretty melody but also low, rising saxophones and bits of echo and distortion. “666” continues to contrast the electronic and acoustic influences of the album—featuring a repeated synth line against both electric and acoustic guitar and later, an upright bass. “21 MOON WATER” is the most experimental track—remaining mostly ambient until finishing with a flurry of bleeps, creaks, and reversed vocal samples. The album finishes with “00000 Million”—a quaint but powerful ending with an uplifting melody, piano and guitar, and a vaguely nostalgic vibe. On 22, A Million, Bon Iver seems to be able to incorporate a small, style-bending detail into every track. On “666,” the upright bass cuts into layers of synth and electric guitar, on “33 ‘GOD,’” a distant banjo shadows the web of strings, drums, piano, and affected vocals. It’s so intricate—each detail makes me want to go back and listen again. The best part is, despite all the layers and intricacies, the album is light and accessible. Stylistically, it melds the delicate folk melodies of For Emma, Forever Ago with the hard-hitting beats of Yeezus, but never feels busy or overly dense. Blending styles, exploring intricacy, and forging a brand new sound, 22, A Million might be their best album yet. Comments are closed.
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