BEAT OF THE WEEK: "Bon Iver"

More and more the little indie band from Wisconsin is becoming known, yet not enough know the true beauty that erupts every time one listens to one of their songs. Justin Vernon, after having many initial failures with other bands and relationships, even after a battle with mononucleosis, came to a revelation in his life while he lay bedridden and weak. After rejoining with his friends from former bands and escaping to a remote cabin in the wilderness of Wisconsin, Bon Iver was born with their first album, "For Emma, Forever Ago". Bon Iver, a deformation of the French "bon hiver" meaning "good winter" ('hiver' reminded Vernon too much of the word 'liver', which is where his illness resided), has been lauded as a great newcomer onto the indie scene. In the past 2-3 years, such songs as "Skinny Love", "Re: Stacks", and "Lump Sum" have been broadcasted on NPR, on popular TV shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "House M.D.", and will soon be on the soundtrack for the new "Twilight: New Moon" movie. Other than those recommendations, the music alone is reason to get into Bon Iver. It has a fresh tone, very relaxing and melodic, but in the same sense intelligent and reinforced with pure musical prowess and talent. If you're into such artists like Jack Johnson, Beirut, and so on, then Bon Iver is definitely a band that you owe to yourself to check out.

Recommended songs: "Lump Sum", "Re: Stacks", "Skinny Love", "Woods", "Flume"