I don't want to dislike Bon Iver as much as I do; I don't feel good about it. Some people I really respect and like are big fans of his. But I thought last night's Grammys was a good opportunity to point out some inconsistencies about them (well, Justin Vernon, really). Usually I start these kind of rants at the beginning, but today, I will go backwards: I remember thinking Justin Vernon's refusal to play the Grammys based on having to collaborate with someone (likely someone terrible) was justified and sensible. However, after he showed up to accept his Grammy awards and said he refrained from saying how ridiculous the Grammys are, I changed my mind. What stopped him from doing that? Or what stopped him from not going at all? If you snub performing at the Grammys, why even show up at all? I find that very inconsistent and disappointing. Maybe it's because I'm mostly such a black-and-white person, so all-or-nothing. Perhaps. It still really bothered me either way.
Now I will take a few steps back to when I first heard Bon Iver. Once again, like with every band it seems, I heard their second album first. In fact, I was pretty impressed with the two songs I'd heard ("Perth" and "Calgary"), so I went ahead and bought the self-titled album not long after it came out. I'm kind of wishing that I hadn't now. And from what few scant reviews I can find, I'm not alone in this assessment. Then again, I went back to listen to Bon Iver's first album, and didn't find that really impressive either. Sometimes I listen to my suspicions about a band that Pitchfork adores, and I should have done that this time. The self-titled album came off as trying too hard; trying way too hard. Music can be quiet and subtle, but it all too easily comes off as boring. Sometimes quiet and subtle really works - listen to anything by the Mountain Goats (and early Iron & Wine) for confirmation of this. But Justin Vernon is no John Darnielle. It's obvious to say that the best music usually comes off as natural, or at least effortless, but that's really the problem with this album - there is nothing natural or effortless about it. It's as if aiming for simple led him to achieve the opposite, with too much going on musically. It's not his lyrics that suffer, necessarily - it's everything else that does.
I know there are a lot worse bands/songwriters to praise. I just think that Justin Vernon has a long way to go before he earns the acclaim he's already been given. And don't get me started on Fleet Foxes. I feel pretty much the same way about them too. I'm still offended they got top billing over The Walkmen at a show in Big Sur last year. But that's for another day.
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