Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (2007)

 posted by record facts

Bon Iver is an American indie folk band founded in 2006 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon.

Vernon released Bon Iver's debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, independently in July 2007. The majority of that album was recorded while Vernon spent three months isolated in a cabin in western Wisconsin.

For Emma, Forever Ago is the debut studio album by American indie folk band Bon Iver. 

It was first self-released in July 2007, and later saw wide release on the Jagjaguwar label in February 2008. 

The album is principally the work of singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. While living in Raleigh, North Carolina, Vernon fell ill with mononucleosis and a liver infection, and grew frustrated with his songwriting and life. 

He left Raleigh and drove to his father's remote hunting cabin an hour northwest of his hometown, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, hoping to be alone.

The album was recorded at the cabin between late 2006 to early 2007. Vernon abandoned his old songwriting methods and instead focused on wordless melodies that he later set to words, which he felt evoked a more subconscious meaning. The record's lyrical subjects include lost love and mediocrity. His folk-infused songs include heavy choral arrangements, featuring Vernon's falsetto, and horns. He hunted his own food and spent much of his time isolated. Though he did not intend to make an album, he received strong encouragements from friends and decided to self-release For Emma, Forever Ago in July 2007. After several performances and online exposure, he was signed to Jagjaguwar later that year.

For Emma, Forever Ago attracted wide acclaim from music critics, achieving a spot on dozens of end-of-the-year lists, as well as several awards. It became a major commercial success for Jagjaguwar, an independent label, and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for combined sales, streaming and track-sales equivalent of over one million units. "Skinny Love" became the album's best-performing single and also went gold. Vernon gathered together several musicians to form a band to tour with. The album's touring cycle lasted two years, ending in late 2009, and visited several countries and music festivals worldwide. 

In 2020, it was ranked 461 on Rolling Stone's list of the greatest albums of all time.

Track listing

1.  Flume - 3:40 

2.  Lump Sum - 3:20 

3.  Skinny Love - 4:00 

4.  The Wolves (Act I and II) - 5:22 

5.  Blindsided - 5:30 

6.  Creature Fear - 3:06 

7.  Team - 1:56 

8.  For Emma - 3:40 

9.  re: Stacks - 6:40 

 iTunes bonus track

10.  Wisconsin - 5:24 

All tracks are written by Justin Vernon.

Bon Iver

• Justin Vernon

Additional musicians

• John Dehaven – trumpet (track 8)
• Randy Pingrey – trombone (track 8)
• Christy Smith – drums, vocals (track 1)

Production

• Justin Vernon — recording
• Nick Petersen – mastering

Design

• Brian Moen – art direction
• Daniel Murphy – layout
• Griszka Niewiadomski – photography
• Gilbert Vernon – photography
• Deb Sorge – hand lettering

Notes

Released:  July 8, 2007

Recorded:  November 2006 – January 2007 

Studio:  Hunting cabin in Northwestern Wisconsin / Fairall, Raleigh, North Carolina (add.)

Genre:  Indie folk 

Length : 42:38 

Label - Jagjaguwar / 4AD