Album Review: Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago"

Bon Iver ("pronounced: bohn eevair; French for "good winter" and spelled wrong on purpose") is the recording moniker for Justin Vernon. Apparently, according to his bio from his page on Virb, Justin went up into the woods of Wisconsin to his father's cabin and lived alone for three months, working and recording music, exorcising all of his fears and regrets. All of the songs were recorded by himself in his cabin. Jagjaguwar has re-released the album, which gives it a special seal of approval in my book because I love pretty much every band on that label.

What does it sound like? I hate defining someone in terms of someone else, but it's hard not to compare Justin's voice to TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe. Many songs contain multitracked harmonies of his voice on itself, creating a haunting, ghostly soul sound. The guitar has a sort of sameness to it, what you'd expect from a lonely singer songwriter. But occasionally the music swells, and the voice becomes transcendent.

The standout track for me is "Skinny Love" (with "The Wolves (Act I and II)" as a close second). It's rapidly becoming my favorite track of the year, and constantly on repeat on my iPod. Video of a live recording above. Justin's oblique references to lost love come into sharp focus here, with a chorus of:

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind

In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines

and ending with:

Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?

Bon Iver is currently on tour with Black Mountain. The tour just started this evening in D.C. and hits Little Rock on March 11. Do not miss this show.

NPR's All Songs Considered Bon Iver/ Black Mountain Show.
Bon Iver page at Virb
(Five tracks for your sampling).

Update: The first video came down. A new one is up. Hopefully with no interruption of your service. As you were.