Review: The Shouting Matches, Grownass Man

Who else knew that Justin Vernon had another band up his sleeve besides Bon Iver? Not me, I'll tell you that much. I wasn't expecting much from this record, and I'm not really sure why. Maybe it's because I didn't want another airy, sentimental record that sounded just like Bon Iver. Don't get me wrong, I love Bon Iver. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a bluesy, rock-infused record of….well….change. It's almost like Bon Iver doesn't exist when you listen to The Shouting Matches record. Let's dive into Grownass Man…

Talk about blues. This record gives me the same chills and makes me jam the same way last year's surprise JD McPherson record got me going. This three piece consisting of Justin Vernon, Phil Cooke (formerly of Megafaun) and Brian Moen, part of Peter Wolf Crier, they're just magic together. Most of Vernon's vocals don't stray into the high notes that dominate his Bon Iver records. Rather, he sticks to a pretty standard baritone and it just blends with the straight blues and classic sound of this record, particularly on a track like "New Theme". The harmonica floods your eardrums during the soft, jazzy stylings of "Three Dollar Bill", and you can hear Vernon in the back yelling for the guys to just jam, egging them on. Pure, unadulterated fun.

Vernon actually recorded an EP with TSM before Bon Iver.

This is just a fun record, flat out. It shows its character as early as the opening track, "Avery Hill", which features a guitar tone that sounds strangely like something Dan Auerbach might use. Vernon's vocal delivery is classic here as well, while "Gallup, NM" reminds me of a Broken Bells, Danger Mouse flair, complete with a soothing guitar lick during a perfect bridge. Switching gears slightly, Vernon dives into his inner grittiness on "Heaven Knows", a pure blues track. I can't even describe how down home this track sounds and how Vernon's emotional vocals mesh perfectly with the jam style. "Mother, When?" is another staple, as a quick romp of old school blues and stomping classic rock.

When I heard The Shouting Matches, I didn't believe the record was real. It's so far off of what I was used to from Vernon that I couldn't fathom it. But now I can't stop listening to what could be on my list at the end of the year. With Vernon putting Bon Iver on hold indefinitely, here's to hoping this isn't the last we've seen of these three musicians. Nobody makes music like this anymore, and to have it hiding in someone like Vernon; well all I can say is keep it up.