Apr 16 2025
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5
What an absolute beauty this debut album is. I am convinced the subsequent albums are more impressive from an innovation standpoint, but this is sheer pleasure. Great laidback folk songs with fantastic melodies, tantalising vocals and impressive instrumentation.
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Apr 09 2025
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3
Sad man is sad
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Apr 08 2025
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5
One of my favorite albums and absolutely missing from the original list. There's not a bad song on the album and the introspection and vocal passion of his delivery is among the best. Though the lyrics are difficult to decipher in places, i'll just embrace the mystery.
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Apr 09 2025
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5
I’ve heard some Bon Iver and liked him, and when I pulled this up in Apple Music saw a VERY long write up for this album. I read that before listening, and it recommended putting on some headphones… which I did. I loved this album. Really impressive and hard to believe someone in such a state holed up in a cabin in the north woods came up with this… then again it makes sense too. Really wonderful.
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Apr 11 2025
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5
The first and best album of Bon Iver is one that has its unique stylings make a lasting impact in an album less than 40 minutes. When this first came out it really changed the indie music landscape. I’m shocked this wasn’t on the original list. The melancholic sounds with the auto tune vocals created a mystifying listen that still resonated today. It’s really one of the best albums from the 2000s. A must listen. 8.9/10
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Apr 16 2025
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5
Someone gave my wife a burned CD of this in its word of mouth phase, before it really broke through. I recall I liked it well enough but wasn't over the moon, and took the lyrical side to be kind of mumbly word salad. It turned out to be a slow burn for me though. As a flyover state former country boy myself the origin lore has always amused me a little - how it glosses over the fact that having access to a plumbed and wired family cabin on tens of acres of land is pure economic privilege, or that its remoteness is pretty relative in terms of how we reckon distances in these parts - its not like a bar, restaurant meal or throwing in a few loads of laundry at Mom and Dad's house would have required more than a drive millions of Americans wouldn't blink at as a commute. For all that, there is a sense of isolation, and transformation, that is undeniable. I came around as a full partisan on it (I like most of the rest of Vernon's catalog very well too) and I think in its genre it's the best of its decade - a true album, carefully composed, not a speck of filler in it, bookended by and shot through with absolute bangers. Staying truly independent in the face of what must have been avid courting by the major labels tips it into the realm of the greats for me.
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Apr 16 2025
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5
The user list has been dropping some heaters recently; I’d say this is worthy for main list contention at this point. Just like that pop punk album hit the spot for just having fun, this one hits the spot for making me very very sad.
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Apr 17 2025
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5
This album is just magical. The high pitch vocals take you to another world.
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Apr 18 2025
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4
I'm not a fan of Bon Iver's work after this album (what I've heard of it anyway), but this album I absolutely love. Especially the song For Emma, it's so beautiful. My daughter's name is Emma, so the song makes me emotional for that reason as well as the pure beauty of the song. 4 stars.
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Apr 11 2025
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3
"I don’t know, but White Butler’s really into it." - Maya Rudolph as Beyonce.
https://youtu.be/ELXbZsYHhpQ?si=l8iP5fp1tIdpseJg&t=294
If you get that reference, first of all, you're my people, but second, you'll understand how I feel about most Bon Iver albums and tracks. Talk about sticking to your style. It's the dictionary definition of white people music. Every song sounded like the last. Not horrible, by any means, and I was somewhat surprised when I recognized a couple of tracks. This is the epitome of a 3 star album on my scale.
1 star = absolutely terrible. No redeeming qualities.
2 star = not my jam/style, decent, but nothing to hook me at all.
3 star = I actually liked a couple of elements/songs, but likely would not re-listen again
4 star = would re-listen again, really liked it
5 star = all-time great, historically significant, etc.
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Apr 19 2025
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3
I’ve never really cared about Bon Iver and I continue to not do so
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Apr 23 2025
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3
I never got the hype with this artist.
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Apr 13 2025
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2
Didn't I just review and slag these guys off a few days ago?
Nah, I checked and it was ages ago. This is just kinda nothing. It is most definitely up its own arse, but where it might be pretentious, it's not super arrogant. It's a bit too miserable for that. It IS pretty bland, though. 2/5.
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Apr 13 2025
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5
Yup
Nice choice
5
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Apr 16 2025
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5
Probably in my top 10 albums oat
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Apr 19 2025
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5
Thanks for introducing me to this immaculate album 18 years ago, Bob Erickson
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Apr 09 2025
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4
Rating: 7/10
Best songs: Skinny love, Blindsided
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Apr 09 2025
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4
Aughts folksy indie with beautiful lyrics.
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Apr 27 2025
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4
Putting the bon in bon iver
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May 03 2025
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4
Beautiful album, where it all began for Bon Iver. Guy retreats into the woods with mono and heartbreak, records a brilliant record that kinda changes the world. First few listens, "Skinny Love" is the best. Years down the road, "Re: Stacks" will hit you like a freight train. Shout out to Bon Iver man, amazing catalog all the way through. Thank you to whoever picked this!
4.5/5
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Apr 11 2025
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3
Not usually a singer-songwriter fan, but there's enough going on here to elevate this one against my tastes. The orchestration (and acoustic guitar especially) reminded me of Neutral Milk Hotel, and the LP contains some surprising punches of dynamic contrast that piqued my interest. The slower, more ballad-like tracks still drag interminably as they tend to do on albums like this, but Vernon injects enough personal flair and instrumental elements to keep things as exciting as they could be
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Apr 19 2025
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3
This was the longest album I have ever heard, which is quite a feat considering it's only 37 minutes long. It was fine, if a bit one note and glum.
Fave Songs: For Emma, Creature Fear, Flume, Lump Sum
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Apr 22 2025
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3
I’ve started to get into his works in the last little bit. However this one hasn’t grabbed me as much as some of the others.
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May 01 2025
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3
Yea, real nice.
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Apr 15 2025
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2
Indie folk, alt-country, country folk, ambient. Aburrido. Un 2.
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Apr 25 2025
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1
I forgot I was listening to something until I remembered...bored to death.
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