Bon Iver at AIR Studios (4AD/Jagjaguwar Session)

I've been a fan of Justin Vernon or Bon Iver since the days of "Skinny Love" or "Blindsided". Recently offered on the internet via Bon Iver's YouTube page, a 24 minutes video of Justin Vernon and Sean Carey performing songs just by the two of 'em.

"Recorded in AIR Studio's Lyndurst Hall - a building that was originally a church and missionary school designed in 1880 by the great Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse (designer of the Natural History Museum) - Vernon was joined only by Carey, with the pair positioning themselves opposite one another at two grand pianos. Although neither Justin nor Sean's first instrument is piano, they were able to remodel the songs in a way that showcases their complimentary vocals and, perhaps more strikingly, a seemingly effortless ability to experiment with form and structure.

As such, fans are treated to jaw-dropping interpretations of several songs from both the new album and the 'Blood Bank' EP, as well as a cover of Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me". And interpretation is an apt word, as these songs are artfully abstracted from their original incarnations. Rather than layer the sound as on 'Bon Iver, Bon Iver', the focus is on paring back, in part evoking the minimalist approach of contemporary classical music, while remaining true enough to the source material to retain those elements characteristic of Bon Iver.

As on "Babys" and "Hinnom, TX", Vernon's trademark falsetto is positioned centre stage, framed by subtle and unexpected instrumental flourishes that render the performance simultaneously weighty and airless. It's quite an achievement that songs so widely-known and loved in their recorded form are able gain in emotional impact, and stands as testament to Bon Iver's singular talent. "

Track List :
1. Hinnom, TX
2. Wash.
3. I Can't Make You Love Me
4. Babys
5. Beth/Rest

Bon Iver - Blindsided

Last Night i was listening to my old musics from my iTunes and then i just remember how i dig this song, "Blindsided" by Bon Iver. Dope.

Bon Iver - Blindsided

Merry Christmas!

Bon Iver - Holocene (Live at Fallon 2011)

Coldplay - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Amy Winehouse - Halftime

Iron & Wine - Walking Far From Home (Live at Austin)

The Antlers - I Don't Want Love

Mayer Hawthorne - Christmas Time is Here

Alexander Ebert - A Million Years

After the song has been featured on the season 4's 21st episode of "Chuck", I think Alexander Ebert's track, "A Million Years" is worth watching. Listen to his music below, comes in a surreal music video which directed by Benjamin Kutsko and produced by Jack Richardson.



And you should check his other song, "Glimpses" too. This is hauntingly good. This dude reminds me of Justin Vernon, the frontman of Bon Iver. They are both brilliant singer songwriter.

Maxwell

You know that feel when someone ask you "yo man, what kind of music do you listen to?" and you don't know what to say since you heard like almost everything? I posted everything here from Boyz II Men to Mew, from Alekesam to The Whitest Boy Alive, from A Tribe Called Quest to Bon Iver, from Chet Baker to Mos Def, from The Strokes to Michael Jackson. Today, let's talk about Maxwell.

Everybody knows who Maxwell is. He's one of the musician back in the early 90s that helped "Neo Soul" to grow as a sub-genre of soul movement alongside names like Raphael Saadiq, Erykah Badu & D'Angelo. Without them, there will be no Musiq Soulchild, no Bilal, no Maliq & D'Essentials, no nothing. Memorable quote from him from an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, he said, "It bothers me how women are treated in pop songs. I'm doing my best to pay some long-overdue respect to African-American women.", and yet he's still keeping his words to now.

Born a New Yorker, no surprise that he'd wear a Supreme

I still remember back in around '97 when i was still in school around 5th or 6th grade, my sister's friend came to my house bringing his mixtape that contains one of Maxwell's, Whenever Wherever Whatever, and i instantly hooked up to that track. But it's up to the album, "Now" (2001), that i really gotten to get into Maxwell and his music. I started to buy his other albums like Urban Hang Suite and the MTV Unplugged and really enjoying it at the moment. I remember listening to Sumthin' Sumthin', 'Til the Cops Come Knockin', Fortunate, and Lifetime over and over again.

In 2002, he finished his tours and decided to take a break from music. He surprisingly made a comeback in 2009 (with no 'fro) after a 7-year hiatus with his new album, BLACKsummers'night, and literally brought neo-soul to another level. His music has nominated and won him lots of awards including BET, Soul Train, and Billboard Music, but his 2009 comeback grant him 6 nominations in 2010's grammy awards, and won Best R&B album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

He's always surrounded by great musicians, but last year in VH1 Storytellers, Maxwell and the band (notice that Robert Glasper on the piano) once again bringin' his songs to the higher level. Just like he did back in the 90's at MTV Unplugged, he got intimate with the crowds for this 2011 VH1 Storytellers. Check the video below and learn how some of his music was created.

Check out his other music below