Bon Iver BLOOD BANK

On 2009 EP BLOOD BANK, Bon Iver aka Justin Vernon covers territory similar to that of his 2007 debut, EMMA, FOREVER AGO, without repeating himself, and instead builds on the stark sound of that album to achieve a warmer, if not fuzzier, effect. On the brooding title cut, Vernon forgoes a chorus in favor of hushed guitar squalls and the swelling, affecting sentiment of the lyric, which maps out places from which to escape the winter wind and cold. On the peppier "Babys" (half a world away from "Blood Bank" if the lyrics are to be believed), Vernon uses sparse piano to mine the glow of the summer and its possibilities. On "Woods," Vernon uses only his voice to achieve results no less dazzling. If anything, BLOOD BANK benefits from its relatively short playing time: its four songs are so fully realized that they stand best alone.

• Format: Vinyl
• Genre: Rock
• Released: 01/20/2009