Sex Object’ Offers by BEN SCHMITZ Duction of a Brash, Overdriven TER’S” Sonic Build
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PAGE 8 / campustimes.org MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2016 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bon Iver Drops ‘22, A Million’ ‘Sex Object’ Offers BY BEN SCHMITZ duction of a brash, overdriven TER’s” sonic build. Truth, Reality in CONTRIBUTING WRITER drum groove and choppy vocal Closing the album, “00000 samples about halfway through. Million” brings back the folk- Upon the release of his sopho- The last few lines of the lyrics like songwriting of “29 #Straf- Feminism, Life more self-titled release, Bon Iv- profess a desire and motivation ford APTS” and closes the al- er’s Justin Vernon made it abun- in Vernon to move on from his bum’s lyrical themes powerfully. BY ISABEL DRUKKER “The Baby”) and creating an dantly clear that he is a master demons, with him singing, “I The line, “If it’s harmed, it’s A&E EDITOR aesthetic (“Subways,” “Grilled of balancing between too radi- could go forward in the light, harmed me, it’ll harm, I let Cheese,” “Ice”). But if there is a cal and not different enough. well, I better fold my clothes.” it in,” is a clear final word on Jessica Valenti’s first memoir, consistent aesthetic of the mem- Typically, when an artist finds “22, A Million’s” is the best Vernon’s acceptance of the de- “Sex Object” (2016), says a lot. oir, I have yet to see it. success in a given style, they And it should come to no But I don’t think this is a fault. continue their body of work in surprise that the founder of the Valenti’s memoir reads as a a way that is cohesive and non- award-winning site Feminist- tale of transformation and the alienating to their newfound ing and regular columnist for idea that no person has to be, or fan base. Any desire to retain the Guardian has a lot to say— even can be, one theme entirely. relevance also requires that though it’s not exactly clear what People aren’t books, and their some change be made from re- it is. life stories don’t always fall into lease to release. But once you figure out what neat chapters—and, honestly, With “Bon Iver, Bon Iver” it is that she wants to convey they really don’t have to. (the act’s second release and through “Sex Object”—it took “Sex Object” is about the first as a multi-member band), me about half of the book to transformation of a girl who pri- Vernon pushed experimenta- understand, and I think it took oritized being cool to a woman tion to a dangerous degree but Valenti that long as well—you who knows the worth of her an- was enormously successful in realize that it’s very important. ger. creating an album that felt very The introduction sets two con- She writes that in high school, different from his debut “For flicting goals. Within a page of “They had a nickname for me: Emma, Forever Ago,” while still one another, Valenti writes that, Valentitty. I laughed when they retaining his signature song- “Maybe it’s okay if we don’t told me this because this is what writing character. want to be inspirational just this you do when want to be the Now, Vernon has returned once,” only to then say, “I wrote cool-girl.” from a five-year battle for self- this book because I want her But when discussing men who definition with “22, A Million.” [Valenti’s daughter] to feel that send threats online, she says, “I The album’s first words— way [brave] always.” don’t feel bad for them. I don’t “It might be over soon” in the I didn’t understand if I was feel compassion. I just hate opening track “22 (OVER DANIEL FINE / CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR supposed to read subsequent re- them.” S∞∞N)”—point to the search example of how profoundly pression and anxiety he has counts of abuse and harassment Valenti’s story is that of shed- for answers and internal resolu- excellent Vernon is at taking a struggled with, reflecting the bravely, sadly, or simply as a ding the shield of false humor tion in the face of fame that Ver- familiar song format, tearing sentiment of the album’s open- woman who already knows that and the arduous confrontation non has been grappling with for it to shreds through sonic ma- ing lyric. The song’s wistful and this happens all the time. that bad things happen, they of- these past few years. This song nipulation, and reassembling it folky tone along with its cryptic I would also call for a greater ten happen to people like you, also introduces the overall sonic in a way that preserves its famil- yet confessional lyrics bring the check of privilege here. and they have probably hap- motifs of the album quite well, iarity. The poly-fidelity produc- album down gently and offer a She writes, “This is not to say pened multiple times already, with lo-fi, warbly, and pitch- tion also sees its most potent sense of release and closure after that women all experience ob- whether you chose to address it shifted sounds being presented use in this track, with the song’s “22, A Million’s” sonic crusade. jectification in the same way; or not. directly alongside lush, dense, final chorus breaking apart and we do not,” which, I will admit, And, by showing this trans- higher-fidelity elements. dissolving through an inten- Lyrically, Vernon is is big. I do want her to say why formation and this acceptance, The album’s most aggressive tional playback malfunction as and in what way, though—to a it is positive because you admit it track “10 d E A T h b R E a s T its melody ascends higher and as cryptic as ever, but reader who wasn’t looking for is something wrong that can be ⚄ ⚄,” is a clear example of how higher. his ambiguity and use this check, as I was, it’ll go un- changed. In this way, the mem- the artists Vernon has collabo- This startling breakup at a cli- of nonexistent words noticed. oir sends a shout-out to those rated with in the past few years, mactic moment in the song and The memoir as a whole is who aren’t entirely admitting namely rapper Kanye West, the album is a risky move, but like “paramind” and loosely structured. In part, it that they are feminists: that they have rubbed off on him. The one executed to great effect in “astuary.” works chronologically, telling might agree with feminism, or highly distorted, driving drum highlighting Vernon’s despera- the story of Valenti’s life as a simply that they need feminism. beat in this song, as well as the tion to express and understand In the context of Bon Iver’s white Italian-American woman It’s never too late to switch over. ear-ripping bass synth sound, the complex demons that have discography, “22, A Million” is in New York City, beginning This being said, I don’t see are evocative of trademark fueled the creation of this al- a clear peak of the otherworldly, with her school days and going anyone who isn’t on the border Kanye production that can be bum’s songs. genre-shattering composition until the present with the be- of this idea if they are reading or found on albums such as 2013’s Tracks “- 666 ⚄”, “21 M⚄⚄N and production that now de- ginning of motherhood for her even picking up the book at all. “Yeezus.” WATER”, “8 (circle)” flow to- fine Vernon. At its strongest daughter Layla. If you aren’t a feminist and are gether in tone, with “21 M⚄⚄N moments, the album strikes At times, however, Valenti di- considering the book to critique “22, A Million’s” WATER” serving as an inter- that perfect balance between gresses. its philosophies, I dare you. If lude between the other two. experimentation and accessibil- In one section, we hear about you can make it through this is the best example “666 ⚄” is the most catchy and ity, while at its weakest it comes online abuse Valenti suffered as memoir and not feel differently, of how profoundly pop-like on the album in terms uncomfortably close to muzak. an adult, just a paragraph after then you truly hate women, and excellent Vernon is of composition, evoking the Lyrically, Vernon is as cryptic an anecdote about her time in that must be a painful discovery style of ‘80s artists like Peter as ever, but his ambiguity and high school. Valenti then dis- to make about yourself. at taking a familiar Gabriel. use of nonexistent words like cusses various occurrences from I salute Valenti and “Sex Ob- song format, tearing While this number in par- “paramind” and “astuary” are her teenage years. ject.” I read this book, and I get it to shreds through ticular is upbeat and soothing, effective, albeit rather meta, As a reader, I’m not sure what to write my real critiques and it lacks the edge and dynamic ways of expressing his struggle to focus on. There’s a lot going not have to say that Valenti is sonic manipulation, changes of the album’s stronger to convey his turmoil. This is an on—recounts about painful “the best” and “so cool.” I don’t and reasembling it in tracks. album that will certainly polar- abortions, abusive boyfriends, have to pretend that we are two a way that preserves The same can be said of “21 ize in its experimental nature drugs, the comfort of her sup- women chatting friendlily but M⚄⚄N WATER” at its begin- and alienate some while earning portive and loving family, and instead I can take her and her ef- its familiarity.” ning, but this track builds and the adoration of others.