Comments on: Decade :: Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)

By: Bon Iver ‘Self Titled’ review from Aquarium Drunkard |

Bon Iver ‘Self Titled’ review from Aquarium Drunkard | — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:15:29 +0000

[...] less space in the music this time around though. One of the best things about For Emma, Forever Ago was its silence. Vernon was able to create vast spaces behind minimalist guitar and voice, even when [...]

By: Aquarium Drunkard » Bon Iver :: S/T

Aquarium Drunkard » Bon Iver :: S/T — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:38:34 +0000

By: starry

starry — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 12:37:40 +0000

It’s a terribly overrated album. The man can’t write a melody to save his life. He should take lessons from that young girl Emma the Great.

By: Monica

Monica — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:02:07 +0000

For Emma, Forever Ago has become in a very short time in one of my favorite and essential albums. With sounds similar to choral singing he seems to be singing two notes at a time. The entire album is spectacular, with touching lyrics, transparent voice full of impressive falsettos, perhaps coming from the abandonment and peace he finally found.

By: j.crosby

j.crosby — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:12:08 +0000

Chris, interesting you mention Buckner’s The Hill–it’s a personal favorite, but generally Bloomed gets the most credit from Buckner fans. Check out an AD post from earlier this year. Clearly, we think highly of The Hill, as well, but some folks–namely, casual Buckner fans if there were such a thing–think it’s tough to digest.

That has nothing to do with its quality as compared to Bon Iver, just found it interesting that you mentioned that one specifically. So many overlook how great it is due, maybe, to its format.

By: Joe

Joe — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:35:25 +0000

Chris, with all due respect, if this album “does nothing for you” after 4 or 5 listens, I have to question your credibility (and sanity). To call this album overrated is a joke, frankly.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:25:40 +0000

I was kind of just going the singer-songwriter angle. Perhaps I should revisit, but after 4-5 listens, this record just did nothing for me. As far as it being the best folk album of the past 30 years, that’s just blasphemy. Check out Gillian Welch, Richard Buckner’s “The Hill” or about 422 other records.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 21:14:30 +0000

Definitely my most played album of the year. Love, love, love it and this review was beautiful. Thank you!

By: Funky Rutabaga

Funky Rutabaga — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:32:54 +0000

How is this album overrated? For Emma, Forever Ago has to be the best folk album released in the past 30 years, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and Fleet Foxes not withstanding. Bon Iver revolutionized the genre of indie folk, and the album delivers a saturnine euphoria seldom found anywhere – it mesmerizes me how music so melancholy can not make me feel solemn. And it’s not entirely digitalized, a rarity in this era.

By: Nolan

Nolan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:16:57 +0000

Chris–

While I enjoy Kenny Roby (I actually work with a couple of his former band mates), I don’t think I would put him in the same camp, stylistically, as Bon Iver.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:48:02 +0000

Love the reviews, but this record is incredibly overrated. There are a slew of artists in the same camp as Bon Iver but are much better, namely Damien Jurado and Kenny Roby.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:49:00 +0000

This was truly a roots album for the decade. It’s pure genius in its overdubbing, the twangy Silvertone guitar, Justin’s falsetto, and just one brilliant song after another. Great review of a great album!

By: Jake

Jake — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:04:29 +0000

I too love this album. his new EP is also fantastic.

By: uwmryan

uwmryan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:02:30 +0000

saw him Sunday night. beautiful as always