If Justin Vernon had grown up in a trailer park listening to country music, Bon Iver might have sounded like this. The twang is subtle, meaning if they were trying to be country, it would be more upfront, as that is the act they are putting up. It's detectable, but I think they are trying to make indie pop, but that is what comes out. It's not pop country though I think they recorded this in an actual studio and not their bedroom, like the sometimes lo-fi Soundcloud quality tries to emulate. Though this is their 5th full-length album they have taken enough trips into the studio to settle into their skin.
"Big Blue" finds country colliding with indie folk, and it proves not to be the strongest sound as the direction is a little murky. There are some clever moments lyrically, but the chorus does not flow like it did in the first two songs."Shell" is both lush and personal. Then things are stripped back to a more folk mood with "Forever". "Heartstring" continues to wander around in the organic atmosphere. I would not call it poppy as that would mean more intention was invested in the hooks, which is not the case. "Make Ya Proud". The subtle twang is what separates this from Bon Iver or Iron & Wine. The ambiance becomes more sweeping on this one.
"Till I Let You Know' drifts by in an honest enough fashion, but I feel "Meant" is a better song. In researching this album, reviews were saying this album is heavier and packs a punch, if your ears are so sensitive that you think anything about this album is punchy or heavy, you should not listen to music at all or at the very least keep your mouth closed and fingers away from the keyboard, as this is one of the airiest lightest albums I have heard this year. Granted more often than not I review metal, but of the 623, albums I reviewed I would say 223 of them were not metal.
"Every Exchange" finds the vocals in a higher register, as things coast along. The beat to "Give it Up" helps give the song the groove it needs to anchor it. "Angel" is a more timid ballad. I would think "Bad News" would be all over the radio as it marries pop and country better than Beyoncee of Shaboozy. The last song is more of a twangy country ballad. I'll give this one a 9, it could have been a 10 if was 10 songs instead of 18, but they were feeling more prolific at the time I suppose. Solid pop music.
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