For Emma, Forever Ago
by Bon Iver

Decided to get back into Bon Iver. This is a beautiful album. Justin's voice is so haunting and his falsetto is to die for. The simplicity of it enhances it fully, their second album falls from being over produced. Justin escaped into the Woods for a few months to work on this album and you can hear that perfectly here. The music has this tone and attitude where the wilderness is all you can picture. It sounds as a longing to get free and want to be away.

His vocals on ever song is beautiful, especially the harmonies with himself on The Wolves Act 1 & 2. Musically it's easy and accessible to listen to. The only place this album has some faults is with lyrics. On songs like Lump Sum, Blindsided, and Creature Fear, they are questionable. But at other times they rip through like beautiful poetry, and talent is undeniable.

The Wolves Act 1 & 2, Flume, Skinny Love, and re: Stacks, are the highlight tracks easily. They have the most emotion and power to them and that's where Bon Iver really shines. Sure if you're in a blissful carefree mood, Bon Iver is not the band to go to, but if you need to cry, need to be picked up some, need something nice, this is the perfect place to go.

There isn't too much to comment, because it's an incredible album plain and simple. A must listen to from the last decade.

A-

What an amazing album. I had listened to it before and thought it pretty good, but then I heard it on an icy night during a car trip through the country. It was near whiteout conditions, and the occasional lonely tree in the middle of a field pretty much sums this up.

From Hayden TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/10/2011 00:37 | #21368 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

I'll continue to listen to this, cause it's quite nice, but not 'great'. The thing about this album that gets me is the title. I swear the first time I read it I almost cried, just something about it that's amazing.

I think that the right word for this album is "Cute". You could say it's beautiful, but I don't want to sound cliche. Still, it's far from great. It's very nice, the overdubs are used perfectly (The Wolves), the falsetto and lyrics go by seamlessly (Flume) - but still, it could be better. That is my opinion. Still, I have strange feelings towards this album. I'll rate it 65/100, but, all this involved, I don't think the 8.1 Pitchfork gave For Emma, Forever Ago is excessive: I think it's fair, and I'm glad for the guy. Why I think this? The story behind the album is incredible. Simply incredible. A guy that locks himself in a cabin and records a highly emotional album? It makes perfect sense and makes it more appealing. So... I'm really glad for Justin Vernon. I would be really happy if, under the same circumstances, recorded an album and Pitchfork gave it a solid 8.1. This said, I don't think this rates higher than a 65/100. Maybe a 70/100. But that's all. The strongest tracks are Flume, The Wolves (particularly the 'What Might Have been lost' part - that was indeed well done) and re: Stacks. Lump Sum is a bit weaker and more commercial than the other tracks I mentioned but still it's worth a listen. Aside from that, I didn't like any song, not even For Emma. Still, an album which I plainly rate 65/100 and still makes me comment in this way is not any ordinary album. For Emma, For Ever Ago is special. And, I repeat, I'm glad for this guy. It's a pitty that - as far as I've read - he's made an awfully commercial album in 'Bon Iver'. I haven't listened to that one, though.

From silverwing 11/16/2010 10:52 | #15677 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

listened to a few times over. Usually this thing grabs me but I found this quite boring and pretentious. Still worth a listen though. Fav track: Lump Sum