2016 studio album by Bon Iver
22, A Million indie folk bandBon Iver , released on September 30, 2016.[ 3] Justin Vernon 's April Base studio inEau Claire, Wisconsin , the album marks a major shift in the band's sound and incorporates elements ofelectronic music andhip hop production influenced by Vernon's prior work withKanye West . Most of the lyricism concerns Bon Iver's rise in popularity and how Vernon's relationship with the world has changed as a result.
22, A Million first premiered at Vernon's Eaux Claires Music Festival, and upon release the album debuted at number 2 on theBillboard 200Pitchfork Rolling Stone The Guardian 22, A Million as one of the best albums of 2016. It also received nominations forBest Alternative Music Album andBest Recording Package at the2017 Grammy Awards .[ 4] Pitchfork andRolling Stone included it in their list of best albums of the decade, at number 91 and 47, respectively.[ 5] [ 6]
22, A Million is composed of songs written and produced from 2012 to 2016. It makes extensive use ofsamples ,synths andbrass instruments . Many of the sounds on the record were created and manipulated using aTeenage Engineering OP-1 synthesizer, along with aharmonizer designed for the band by engineer and producer Chris Messina.[ 7]
22, A Million received acclaim from critics, garnering a score of 87 out of 100 onMetacritic [ 9] Pretty Much Amazing , Peter Tabakis praised the album in his review, giving it an A, and remarking, "Not sinceKid A [ 19] Rolling Stone [ 18] The Line of Best Fit 22, A Million captures personal crisis and resolution better than any album this century".[ 20] No Depression 22, A Million "integrates the high points of Bon Iver's first three recordings ... his most focused and ambitious permutation to date."[ 21]
Critical accolades received by22, A Million Publication Accolade Year Rank Ref. Mojo The 50 Best Albums of 2016 2016 16
NME NME's Albums of the Year 2016 2016 50
NPR Best 50 Albums of 2016 2016 5
Paste The 50 Best Albums of 2016 2016 9
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2016 2016 12
The 20 Best Rock Albums of 2016 2016 — The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s 2019 91
The Quietus Albums of the Year 2016 2016 88
Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2016 2016 22
The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s 2019 47
Rough Trade Albums of the Year 2016 51
The Skinny Top 50 Albums of 2016 2016 3
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2016 2016 15
Variance 50 Best Albums of 2016 2016 5
Commercial performance [ edit ] 22, A Million debuted at number two on theBillboard 200[ 36]
No. Title Writer(s) Alternate title Length 1. "22 Over Soon" Justin Vernon 22 (OVER S∞∞N) 2:48 2. "10 Death Breast" 10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⊠ ⊠ 2:24 3. "715 Creeks" Vernon 715 - CRΣΣKS 2:12 4. "33 'God' " Vernon 33 "GOD" 3:33 5. "29 Strafford Apts" 29 #Strafford APTS 4:05 6. "666 Upside Down Cross" Vernon 666 ʇ 4:12 7. "21 Moon Water" 21 M♢♢N WATER 3:08 8. "8 Circle" 8 (circle) 5:09 9. "45" ____45_____ 2:46 10. "00000 Million" 3:53 Total length: 34:10
Sample credits
"22 Over Soon" contains a sample of "How I Got Over ", as written byClara Ward and performed byMahalia Jackson . "10 Death Breast" contains a sample of "Wild Heart ", as written and performed byStevie Nicks . "33 'God' " contains samples of "Dsharpg", as written and performed bySharon Van Etten , "Morning", as written by Willis S. Graham and performed byJim Ed Brown , "Iron Sky ", as written byPaolo Nutini and Dani Castelar and performed by Paolo Nutini, and "All Rendered Truth", as written and performed byLonnie Holley . "666 Upside Down Cross" contains a sample of "Standing in the Need of Prayer", as written by Dave Kingsby and performed by The Supreme Jubilees. "21 Moon Water" contains samples of "A Lover's Concerto ", as written byDenny Randell andSandy Linzer , and performed byThe Toys . "00000 Million" contains a sample of "Abacus" as written and performed byFionn Regan . Justin Vernon – "Maker", OP-1, guitar, Prophet, bass guitar, drums, M1, MessinaChris Messina – "Maker's Maker" BJ Burton – "Noble Black Eagle", C1 programming(track 6) , C2 programming(track 6) , saxophone(track 7) , programming(track 8) Ryan Olson – "Scream Defence", MIDI capture piano(track 1) , sampler(track 7) , field recorder(track 7) Camilla Stavely Taylor – "Trust Ear", voices(track 7) Brad Cook – "Wings" Zach Hanson – "Professional Mixer" Mike Perry – "Neighbour" Andra Chumas – "Mother Nourishment" Rob Moose – "The Whisperer", violins arrangement(track 1) , violas arrangement(track 1) , saxophones arrangement(tracks 2, 5, 6, 8) Cherie Minske – "Rookie" Jack – "The Prospector" Michael Lewis – "The Oracle", saxophones(tracks 1, 6, 7, 8) , Messina(track 9) Drew – "Key's Grip" Sad Sax of Shit – saxophones(tracks 1, 2, 4-6, 8) Al Falaschi Anthony Barba Christopher Thomas Clay Lyons Clay Pufahl Dustin Laurenzi Mark Henderson Matt Douglas Nelson Devereaux Peterson Ross Scott Fultz Michael Lewis Andy Fitzpatrick – the 22000(tracks 2, 7, 8) , OP-1(track 6) Joe "Squints" Westerlund – bowed cymbals(track 4) Trever Hagen – prepared trumpet(track 4) Chris Rosenau – electric and acoustic guitars(track 4) James Buckley – bass guitars(track 6) Sean Carey – drums(tracks 6, 8) , percussion(track 6) , DX7(track 7) Matt McCaughan – metal drum(track 6) , drums(track 8) Andrew Broder – V3 programming(track 6) , audible programming(track 9) Jessica Stavely Taylor – voices(track 7) Elise Carey – voices(track 7) Colin Stetson – saxophones(track 8) Michael Vincent Vognar Noyce – voice(track 8) Huntley Miller – mastering Eric Timothy Carlson – art Year-end chart performance for22, A Million Chart (2016) Position Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[ 63] 57 US Top Rock Albums (Billboard )[ 64] 37
Certifications for22, A Million Region Certification Certified units /salesDenmark (IFPI Danmark )[ 65] Gold 10,000‡ United Kingdom (BPI )[ 66] Gold 100,000‡ ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
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