Bon Iver/ For Emma, Forever Ago

If You Like: Beirut, David Bazan, Iron and Wine, Radiohead
Release Date: February 19, 2008 (Jagjaguwar)

Justin Vernon's musical persona, Bon Iver, derives from the French pronunciation of "bon hiver," meaning "good winter." After the break up of his previous project, Bon Iver fled to his father's secluded hunting lodge in the forest of northern Wisconsin. With no intention of writing or recording an album, he emerged after three months of isolation with For Emma, Forever Ago. No Producers, no engineers, the entire album is Bon Iver. He commonly uses overdubbing in his vocals to create a choir of himself, generating a cohesive motif for the album; specifically in the songs, "Lump Sum" and "Creature Fear." For Emma, Forever Ago best resonates in an intimate setting. Bon Iver shares accounts of failed love in "For Emma," "Skinny Love," and "The Wolves Acts I and II." His drones of poorly enunciated words ultimately benefit the album's vibe, most notably in "Flume." The most beautiful minutes of the album remain "Creature Fear" and "Team."

1. "Flume"
2. "Lump Sum"
3. "Skinny Love"- 'Sullen load is full, so slow on the split'
4. "The Wolves Acts I and II"- 'Can't you find a clue when your eyes are all painted Sinatra blue'
5. "Blindsided"- 'I'm not really like this... I am probably plightless.' Oh, hey poetic license.
6. "Creature Fear"- You're dragging your feet on the gravel, but at the chorus, you rise above. The delay at 2:28 creates a feeling of strong longing for the chorus; lovely bleed-through to the next track.
7. "Team"- Instrumental + Whistling = I'm Down
8. "For Emma"- Lyrics written as a duet between 'Him' and 'Her'.
9. "Re: Stacks"
10. Bonus Track: "Wisconsin"