Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

I know I know. Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago has received a great deal of attention since its release in February (it was actually self-released last year, but Jagjaguwar picked it up this year). But I am so infatuated with this man whose real name is Justin Vernon, and who sounds like a magical combination of the earnestness of Chris Martin and the gentleness of Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), that I simply cannot let this album go without making any comments.

I suppose For Emma, Forever Go is more of an EP than a full length album, but Vernon’s approach seems so intensely particular–as if he is thinking so carefully about each and every word he sings. He carefully laces his own vocals over rich guitars, imparting a sense of some contradictory calming urgency. “Blindsided” pulls in the listener with its melodic overtones, but then charges the listener with “Would you really rush out / for me now?”. And in the end, there’s an inescapable desire to do so. “Skinny Love” is a falsetto delight, showcasing Bon Iver’s unique vocal range. To be honest, Bon Iver rarely misses on this album–the album’s only real flaw is the sparseness in the number of tracks. But I have an inkling that this is not the last time that we’re going to hear of Justin Vernon.

Have yourself a listen to For Emma, Forever Ago.

Listen to “Skinny Love” (4.9/5)

Listen to “Blindsided” (4.8/5)