REVIEW

EDITED BY BEN HELME

Syed Zaid Ali’s All Time Best: 22, A Million by Bon Iver

For my all-time best, I’ve decided to go with Bon Iver’s third studio album 22, A Million. With its innovative sound and poetic lyricism, this album has stuck with me since its release in 2016. This album plays with textures which serve to build a unique sonic palette, shifting the band’s style away from their folksy roots. For instance, the processed saxophone of “____45_____”, and the heavy, distorted bass of “10 d E A T h b R E a s T” would have been out of place on a record like For Emma, Forever Ago. The production even gives meaning to the words sung; the glitchy effects on the vocals near the end of “29 #Strafford APTS” (“You’ve buried all your alimony butterflies”) suggest the effects of grief and anxiety. Frontman Justin Vernon also explores ideas of finding one’s self, especially with regards to religion – the opening track asks, “Where you gonna look for confirmation?” Vernon’s lyrics have summed up my past experiences in more ways than I can count. Perhaps they even shape my future, as I have no doubt that I’ll keep finding pieces of myself throughout this record for years to come.