Track Listing

1. Flume
2. Lump Sum
3. Skinny Love
4. The Wolves
5. Blindsided
6. Creature Fear
7. Team
8. For Emma
9. RE: Stacks

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #238 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-19
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Justin Vernon began recording as Bon Iver following the breakup of DeYarmond Edison, an indie folk group similar in tone and manner to Iron & Wine, Little Wings and, to a certain extent, Bonnie "Prince" Billy. Pronounced 'bohn eevair', it is French for "good winter" which is spelled wrong deliberately. This debut CD is centered around Justin Vernon, who is the primary force behind Bon Iver, as he moved to a remote cabin in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin at the onset of winter, alone for three months. From this solitary time emerged a bold, uninhibited new musical focus of all his personal trouble, lack of perspective, heartache, longing, love, loss, and guilt that had been stockpiled over the past six years into songs. The NY Times called this record "irresistible", and it was given a "Recommended" rating by Pitchfork. 9 tracks. Jagjaguwar Records. 2008.

Amazon.co.uk
It's hard to believe that For Emma, Forever Ago is the work of one man. But when Justin Vernon's old band split he hauled himself (and presumably plenty of instruments and recording equipment) to his dad's hunting cabin in the woods of Wisconsin for the coldest season and worked through his issues in musical form. (The name comes from the French for "good winter"--"bon hiver"). By the start of the spring thaw he had recorded the bulk of this stunning debut, originally self-issued to acclaim last year in the USA and now picked up for a British release. Vernon's voice grabs the ear from the start, switching easily into a smooth falsetto (and unusually for a white indie lad, without the slightest intent of emulating Prince). The formula is straightforward. He layers his vocal harmonies, while a gently strummed acoustic rhythm guitar just about holds the centre. All else from horns to slide guitar is mere detail. The quality is rough and ready but the effect is strangely similar though to the slick vocal confections of European women like Bjork and Camille, all mystery and distance. It's the musical equivalent of reading someone else's diary. In code. Through a dirty window. Enigmatic songs like the elegantly stumbling "Creature Fear" with its rowdy horn parts, the resolute opener "Flume" and the evanescent "Team" are just so pretty they seem to glide by without leaving a mark in the snow. Vernon is apparently a straightforward and friendly guy, but For Emma, Forever Ago genuinely sounds like something from a far off place. --Steve Jelbert

Customer Reviews

Boring
OK, who else is really bored of said artists going off on some Siddhartha like quest only to come back with a collection of "feel sorry for myself" tunes?
Probably no one except for me, that's why I'm writing this. How many more of these records must we endure? I'm soo sick of guys with beards and chicks with hairy armpits thinking that this type of posturing is getting them closer to some sort of dime store spiritual state. It's pathetic and transparent, "I just sort of went up to the woods to really be alone with my thoughts...blah blah blah." Dude, the songs are boring and you sound like every other Granola eating monkey trying to emote about some broad you broke up with God knows how long ago, get over it! We all go through this buddy, you ain't special!

On the positive side, it's nice that Bon sat up in his little cabin making cute songs with his little ol' guitar! Good on ya! I'm sure there are tons of little boys and girls out there who will gladly sing along with you and talk about how keen your lyrics are and how they can really "identify" with "where you're comin' from, Dude." Oh yeah, and probably plenty of tunes that can be played on s*#t programs like Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, House M.D., Orange County etc.

I guess though with musical zero's like Devendra Banhart out there, I shouldn't be too bothered by this runny nose of an album. "Folk" is the term used I believe, I think I'll stick with early Bob, Fred Neil and Karen Dalton thanks!

One of the most cohesive albums in a decade.
Everything about this album flows. Conceptually, musically, instrumentally, vocally, emotionally - it's just a tour de force from the frozen yonder. Gorgeous, just gorgeous. Don't wait, buy now.

Great album, can't believe it's so cheap
I got this album last year when it was independently released. So, so good. Many say it's a winter album, but I find I've enjoyed it in summer months too. At less than three dollars, it would be silly not to download this album.