Category:
Folk / Singer/Songwriter

Try if you like:
Bonnie "prince" Billy, Iron & Wine, Ray Lamontagne, Sparklehorse

•   Skinny Love
• Wolves (act I & Ii)

Bon Iver is one of those word-of-mouth acts that just seems to be picking up steam. Justin Vernon took a break in a remote cabin in the woods of Northwestern Wisconsin just as winter was setting in (Bon Iver is a purposeful misspelling of the French term for "good winter). The result was this amazing album that he called For Emma, Forever Ago. 

You kind of know your in for a treat with the personal "Flume" leading your heart and soul into the album. The way Justin manages to layer his spooky vocals over each other lends to the eerie feeling that you get from the album. The spookiness continues on "Lump Sum" but as all good dark songs there is hope. There is a lot of hope in this particular song, in so much as to overcome the darkness. 

"Skinny Love" reminded me very much of TV On The Radio, if only they played one of their songs acoustically. It's a song that makes me want to pick up the guitar again and strum along. Then "Blindsided" comes on and honestly tugs at every single heartstring that may be untied. Could easily be song of the year. The album closes on an amazingly high note as well. "Re: Stacks" is the uplifting track you have been waiting for for the entire album. 

It's the sort of album you want to buy for everyone. I'm giving it a high 4.5 score but I honestly think that I may be back in a couple months to raise it to a 5. For Emma is really that good, and original too. Don't miss out.