Product Description

Retreating to a woodland cabin in Northwest Wisconsin at the beginning of Winter to hibernate and escape from the breakup of his previous band, Justin Vernon ended up writing andrecording what would become his debut album under the name Bon Iver. A mix of lo-fi acoustic folk and reflective lyrics, the album was picked up by 4AD and Jagjaguwar for a full release worldwide after an initial self-released run. The single 'Skinny Love' is also included.

Track Listing

1. Flume
2. Lump Sum
3. Skinny Love
4. Wolves (Act I And II)
5. Blindsided
6. Creature Fear
7. Team
8. For Emma
9. Re:Stacks

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: CD

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 by 4AD 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

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

one fantastic album.
i stumbled across this album last month on amazon and have been enjoying its delights ever since. im not normally the one to go for acoustics but this is something special.

Only wish the CD was as good as the live version
Admittedly, I didn't know how much Bon Iver would be my cup of tea when I saw them listed as support for Iron and wine in May, but nothing could prepare me for what I saw. We're all entitled to our opinion, and there are some blunt ones :) but I saw Bon Iver silence a packed room for all the right reasons, and wondered how on earth Iron and wine could top it, thus prompting me to get this album. Don't get the same chills as I did that day, but it's a fantastic album. I knew nothing of rave reviews, but realised later that week that they must be receiving some, as there was an appearance on jools holland. Perhaps the album production isn't great as someone pointed out in a past review, but maybe it's about what the music means to you personally that gives it such value, and that means not everyone is going to like it :).

Blindsided.
I really wanted to like this album, as it has had much critical acclaim and was also recommended to me by Amazon because of other items I had bought and/or reviewed.

I am a massive Neil Young fan, so in theory, I should have loved the sound of this record, which is like a homage to him. However, I found the vocals grated on me, and the overall effect was too try-hard, with, as I believe other reviewers have said, rudimentary strumming and not especially interesting or imaginative lyrics.

Again, as others have said, it makes a great marketing angle, the story behind this album, although it's clearly more polished than they'd have us believe, which actually is a concern; if this is what it sounds like polished and finished, what does the live incantation sound like? To answer that, I sought out live footage online and again, was not overawed by it.

For a better example of what Bon Iver is trying to achieve musically, try Coldplay or Neil Young in particular, both of whom are artists I enjoy and admire.