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Blood Bank [EP] - Bon Iver
Blood Bank [EP] Image
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.2 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 26 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • Summary: The four-track EP was recorded at different places between December 2006 and June 2008.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Paste Magazine
    85
    The record sounds, appropriately so, as if it were made by a band experimenting, rather than by one man alone, heartbroken, in his so-often-talked-about Wisconsin cabin.
  2. The A.V. Club
    83
    Blood Bank leaves something to be desired--namely the fragility and unplanned expansiveness that defined Emma. Fortunately, this set's remaining songs benefit from feeling slightly incomplete.
  3. All Music Guide
    60
    Recorded over a couple years and in various locations, the EP sounds like outtakes from "Emma," but not in a bad way.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. vmd1020
    10
    I honestly don't know why this EP wasn't received nearly as well as For Emma, its basically the b-sides and you can tell (which is a good thing). "Blood Bank", the track, is extremely strong and "Babys" is haunting beautiful. With "Woods", Vernon stepped out of his expected sound and made a masterpiece of a song (personally, I think this track may have inspired James Blake a bit).… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. BrianM
    9
    I can't believe this got the reviews that it did. This was a really good EP to hold me over until Bon Iver's next album. I love all the songs, except Babies (which is still good, but not great). I can see it being a very good transition point for the band with its branching out a little and exploring more ideas than the isolation mood in For Emma. Some of the reviews on here seem to think that straying away from the last album's feeling is a bad thing, but i think that this EP just proved them wrong.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. JJDraper
    9
    This is a beautiful hint at what is to come from his full upcoming album. As bleak and devastatingly heart-warming as his prior work, it is also a definite step towards something new. As for the comment about Blood Bank sounding like Coldplay...look at the lyrics, the incredible building anxiety and wonder at the end and compare that to any of the thoughtless, pretentious noise of Chris Martin and co. Disgrace!… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

See all 6 User Reviews

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