#461 Bon Iver, 'For Emma, Forever Ago' (2008)

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About 4 years ago Bon Iver announced a series of shows at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid Live. My wife and I had always wanted to see a show there together and decided this would be the one. We luckily managed to secure tickets to one of the shows and flew up to Sydney for the weekend. The show was nothing short of spellbinding. One of the greatest experiences of our lives. It was just that; an experience, not a concert. The next morning, we went out for breakfast to a famous café called ‘Bill’s.’ We had lined up (because in Sydney and Melbourne, you line up for sometimes hours to eat) and after about 15 minutes of our standing in the line, my wife turned to me and said “hey! That guy behind us is wearing the same hat as the guy from last night.” I turned and looked at him and said to her, “errr… that is the guy from last night.” And that’s just it. Unless you’re a diehard music fan, you’d be hardpressed to pick Bon Iver aka Justin Vernon out of a crowd. He’s a normal guy. Fades into the crowd; trucker hat, beard and all. Looking at him, you wouldn’t expect the voice of an angel to come out of his mouth.

Justin Vernon turned folk music on its head with this album. Fusing elements of stark electronic music and his acoustic guitar with the combination of his falsetto & baritone vocals and often choral arrangements. After falling ill, Vernon shacked up at his father’s hunting cabin in Wisconsin. He didn’t intend to make an album, yet he did and this is it. It’s a stunning record from start to finish and a beautiful introduction to the varied career of Bon Iver. The massive hit off of the album was ‘Skinny Love,’ which subsequently received massive commercial success via Birdy’s cover. The real gem on the album for me is ‘Creature Fear.’ Opening with the choir of Vernon, into a stark vocal accompanying his acoustic guitar and then into one of the greatest choruses this side of 21st century folk music.

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