A quintessential fall album: Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago

Following the warm weather and constant sunshine of the summer, it is almost ironic how it is followed by autumn, marked with rain, gloom, and for a lot of people, the beginning of a new school year. These elements combine to make the fall an extremely polarizing season, with many immersing themselves in the spooky vibe, while others accredit the clouds and dying trees to their melancholic tendencies, or maybe even seasonal depression. When experiencing these changes and the end of the year nearing, for me and plenty of others, it is the music that we end up turning to, finding some solace in the midst of it all. With this array of feelings being considered, it can be said that there are traits to certain music that make it fitting for the season, the sounds being very stripped down and bare, evoking emotions that can be uniquely desolate, yet tranquil. Everyone has their own ‘fall albums’ that they regularly return to, but to me, the one that sticks out the most is Bon Iver’s debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago.

The album was internationally released in 2008, following frontman and founder Justin Vernon’s dismissal from his band of five years. During the time of recording, he was experiencing further weighty emotions due to the conclusion of his long-term relationship, while also facing a multitude of health problems. These hardships sat with him, as he decided to spend an extended period of time in a cabin located in the woody forests of Wisconsin, where he recorded most of the album. Being in a remote location, most of these initial recordings were done with low-end equipment, sounding very rough around the edges and plain; it was just him and his guitar. Pertaining to the recording proceedings, Vernon stated that, “music doesn’t really breathe when you’re sitting in front of the computer screen,” and this sentiment is felt throughout the album, utilizing his soft falsetto along with unrefined acoustic strings, creating a deep sense of intimacy while maintaining the bleak tone that is evoked in every song. Its recording makes it sound as if the listener is sitting in the recording room with Vernon. Originally, these recordings were not going to be on the actual release, and he treated them as demos, though these recordings were the same ones that appeared on the album. 

It is through his lyrics that Vernon invites listeners to endure his sorrow; on the opening track, titled “Flume,” he sings, ‘I wear my garment so it shows,’ immediately letting us know that this content is revealing and transparent to his innermost thoughts. This stark tone is continuously reinforced through these ballads, as Bon Iver grapples with his emotional turmoil, containing more enigmatic lines such as in the song, “The Wolves (Act I and II),” where he vocalizes, ‘someday, my pain will mark you,’ capturing his sense of yearning in a time where he was seeing significant changes in his life. There is a sense of ominousness in these lyrics, a lot of these verses being left up for interpretation, but there is a charm in the uncertainty, as he effectively paints the picture of someone experiencing raw emotions that make for a feeling of inexplicable honesty. On the track, “Blindsided,” the verses detail his headspace following the breakup from his partner, seemingly also speaking directly to her, as he repeatedly questions, ‘would you really rush out?’ In the more grand sounding “For Emma,” he seemingly comes to terms with these newfound feelings, describing how he ‘toured the light, [on] so many foreign roads.’

Many emotions are felt during this time of the year, and Bon Iver effectively encapsulates a lot of these sentiments in this album. It is a great listen, as he lets listeners know that they are not the only ones carrying a sense of desolation, and there is peace to be found, even amid shifts that feel life-altering during a season that is deeply representative of change. This is a project that I always return to, especially during this season and I think it is because of the sense of honesty that is communicated both sonically and lyrically. It is in these songs that Bon Iver chooses to thoughtfully reach an acceptance of the inevitable uncertainties that will be met in life, allowing listeners to sit with their own emotions, and showing that there is beauty in navigating personal change.

Article by: Anthony Figueroa

Photo by: Simon Fanthorpe