4. Bon Iver "Blood Bank EP"

The follow up to my favorite album of 2008 For Emma, Forever Ago, Justin Vernon once again creates a beautiful blend of ambient guitars and his unmistakable falsetto. While comprised of a sparse four songs (it's an EP after all), the album loses none of the luster and magic of the debut. Opening with "Blood Bank," the lyrics are haunting, recounting an encounter between two people at, well, a blood bank. "Beach Baby" has a more, I dont know, hawaiian atmosphere to it, something that is interestingly refreshing, seeing as how much of Vernon's notoriety stems from his seclusion in a Wisconsin cabin, by himself, during the winter, to compose For Emma. "Babys" carries a hammering piano line throughout most of the song, lulling in the middle to give room for Vernon's voice, before picking up at the end, to combine with Vernon for a beautiful finish. The highlight of the album lies within the last song, "Woods." Truly minimalist, the song consists solely of Vernon singing the lines "I walk through the woods, I'm down on my mind. I'm building a still, to slow down the time" in auto-tune. The song grows, with more voices joining the auto-tuned chorus, and Vernon becoming more an more emotional, at the end adding soulful riffs to the end of his lines. Honestly, this may be the most beautiful song I have ever heard. Vernon's genius is present in full force, as the auto-tune allows the song to be done entirely in acapella. In a time when other artists are using auto-tune to hide the defects in their voices, Vernon utilizes the instrument to create a thoroughly lush and vibrant piece of art.

Bon Iver- "Woods"