Bon Iver - Justin Vernon Gets Mellow..er. (AUDIO)

Justin Vernon, aka 'Bon Iver' aside his Bruce Hornsby-channeling, synthesizer-driven studio take on the closing track to his new sophomore record, Bon Iver, Bon Iver, for NPR’s World Cafe recently, unplugging the tune with just a solo piano backing. The new version recalls his alternate version of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” we saw — and loved — earlier this year.

In addition to trading the keyboard for the ivory keys, Vernon varies his pitch more, alternating between his trademark falsetto and a breathy baritone--both of which compliment each other well. In short, this version is quite hauntingly beautiful in its own right and well worth a couple spins. Check out and download below:

Bon Iver - Beth/Rest (Solo Piano Version) by MiscMusic.net

On “Calgary,” Justin Vernon’s vocals lay in a cloud of gloomy synths and anxious electric guitar tones, suggesting a sonic shift from the grainy For Emma formula. But not too much has changed — the ghostly falsetto remains Bon Iver’s calling card. JV’s voice has also been unmistakable on recent collaborations (GAYNGS, Volcano Choir, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy) and an asset when he takes on someone else’s song. So I’m especially looking forward to the “Calgary” 12″ b-side, a combined cover of two Bonnie Raitt classics, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” > “Nick Of Time.” (Bon Iver once deejayed the latter at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.) While we wait to hear that (it’s out 7/4), let’s take a listen back at all the tunes by other folks Justin’s successfully made his own.

DOWNLOAD MP3:

Bon Iver - Beth/Rest (Piano Version) @ NPR Cafe

Bon Iver – “Why” (Annie Lennox Cover) [w/ St. Vincent]

Bon Iver – “A Satisfied Mind” (Red Hayes & Jack Rhodes Cover)

Bon Iver – “Blue Tulip” (Okkervil River Cover)

Bon Iver – “Mercury” (Kathleen Edwards Cover)

Bon Iver – “Crawling Back To You” (Tom Petty Cover)

Bon Iver – “Train Song” (Vashti Bunyan Cover) [w/ Feist & Colin Stetson]

Bon Iver – “The Park” (Feist Cover)

Bon Iver – “Bruised Orange (Chain Of Sorrow)” (John Prine Cover)

Bon Iver – “Come Talk To Me” (Peter Gabriel Cover)

Bon Iver – “Your Love” (The Outfield Cover)

Bon Iver – “I Can’t Make You Love Me”/”Nick Of Time” (Bonnie Raitt Cover)

Bon Iver – “Love More” (Sharon Van Etten Cover)

Bon Iver – “Who Is It” (Björk Cover)