This album yesterday morning, and since have relentlessly listened to it at least a half dozen times. I can’t put my finger on what it is, but I love this album. It’s a lof of blues rock, a little Zepplin, smoothly soulful at times, and there are moments where Tom Petty meets Wilco. It’s strange and beautiful.
I was doing some research yesterday as I have heard of this Justin Vernon project, but honestly hadn’t heard them yet. Most are calling this a side project, but in a tweet yesterday, Justin himself corrected that misconception and that The Shouting Matches have been around longer than Bon Iver has.
And a lot of credit is really due to Brian Moen (of Peter Wolf Crier) and Phil Cook (of Megafaun) who’s influence really helped to create the blues rock sound of this project. You can hear a lot of their previous work find it’s influence in the album.
I doubted that I’d love this album – but I completely do. It’s just fun, the lightness is a fantastic departure from what you’d imagine a Bon Iver project to be. The guys will be playing Coachella and a have a small number of other shows booked currently – there is no saying if they’ll make it to Kansas City or not, but we can hope.
The album, Grownass Man is out now on iTunes and next week everywhere else. But right now you can stream the entire thing over on NPR Music – which I highly recommend you do. Below is a live recording of a song they did a few years back in 2007 at the House of Rock along with the first track from the album.