Bon Iver :"I tell my love to wreck it allcut out all the ropes and let me fall"

It's a late winter arrival here at work on a hot July summer day. I've been lazy and stubborn and was just about to give-in and buy an album since For Emma, Forever Ago was never shipped to us back in February when it was originally released by Jagjaguwar. Better late than never right? The single off of the album, "Skinny Love" has been out for quite some time though the resonating applause surrounding the single via blogs, music conversations, indie radio stations, and live performances popping up over the Internet have not quieted in the least.

After the breakup of his longtime band, Justin Vernon left Eau Claire and headed to a cabin in the remote woods of Northwestern Wisconsin just before the harsh winter set in. He spent three months living a life of solace and filling his days by chopping wood, hunting deer, and spending up to 12 hours a day recording songs. Nine songs erupted from his winter of writing and recording along with Vernon's new project/"band" titled Bon Iver, meaning "good winter" in French (bon hiver). Though he often travels with additional musicians, comprising the band Bon Iver, the songs seem best when stripped naked where Vernon's pain seems most visible. Trudge through the introduction and you'll easily see what I mean during Vernon's performance of "Skinny Love" on Later With Jools Holland:


(sigh)

Vernon created For Emma, Forever Ago with aged recording equipment, a guitar, kick drum, and a few microphones in his cabin. It's been available since February and you have to thank the laziness of either the label and/or ME for not introducing this song to you earlier. If you're a fan of simplistic, yet achingly beautiful singer-songwriters, such as Ray Lamontagne, Damien Rice, Jeff Buckley, you know...you'll enjoy the entire album. You can download Bon Iver's single for free, courtesy of Jagjaguwar, here:
Bon Iver - Skinny Love