For months, Justin Vernon lived in solitude.

After suffering from a liver infection and mononucleosis, Vernon, frustrated with the progress of his life and his album, sought a solution. He packed up what little possessions he owned and drove up from Raleigh, North Carolina, to his father’s remote hunting cabin north of Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The next several months of Vernon’s life would be spent writing and recording songs that would later make up For Emma, Forever Ago, Bon Iver’s debut studio album.

For Emma is one of the most intimate and personal albums to come out of the 21st Century. Touching on grief, isolation, mediocrity, and letting go, the album showcases the effects of solitude on a broken man’s mind. Many of us can relate to For Emma’s introspection. Whether it’s the lingering sadness of a bad breakup or the too-familiar loneliness one can feel in a crowd full of people, Justin Vernon is able to encapsulate these too-real emotions in incredibly vivid vignettes.

Aesthetics

There is an incredible power in silence. For Emma is just as much about the instrumentation and vocals as it is the emptiness that occupies the remaining space on each song. You can picture Vernon sitting in his cabin alone, recording each song. He probably hadn’t seen anyone for days — maybe even weeks. The silence serves as a constant reminder of that solitude. It creeps into the interludes and surrounds the sparse guitar, horns, and vocals. It’s always there, and always waiting to overtake a song at a moment’s notice. Yet, despite this, it’s a welcome silence. For Emma wouldn’t be For Emma without its powerful ambiance. Like a force of nature, it will always exist.

Where Aesthetics Succeed: Every song on the album exudes isolation and loneliness, but the mood of the album shines strongest on Flume, the album’s introductory track. Flume sets the stage for listeners, with a quiet and slowly growing guitar that quickly takes the backseat to Justin Vernon’s high-pitched vocals. As you continue to listen to Flume, you start to feel cold — lonely, even. In a mere matter of minutes, Vernon is able to exemplify and extract the exact feelings of solitude he experienced on a daily basis with just a few guitar chords and a couple quick verses. To call Flume an impressive introduction would be a vast understatement.

Lyricism

They say the best stories can be told in just a few words, and few can wield brevity like Justin Vernon can. Songs like For Emma are able to weave tales of regret and breakups in a few short stanzas, making every word count (and cut through listeners). Creature Fear touches on anxiety, providing listeners with one of the most accurate portrayals of anxious thoughts in recent memory. Creature Fear also showcases Vernon’s impressive ability to connect each stanza with a single repeated syllable. The lyricism of For Emma shine as a guiding light through the foggy ambient instrumentals. However, navigating through the themes of For Emma is entirely up to the listener. Vernon doesn’t hold hands through the album, instead allowing listeners to forge their own path.

Best Lyricism: The Wolves (Acts I and II) is far and above the most lyrically dynamic and direct song on the album. Starting as a calm and quiet confessional of regret, it quickly crescendos into a cacophony of sounds and a repeated outro (“What might have been lost?”). The song ends where it begins, with Justin lamenting on his pain (hopefully) leaving one day. There is no solace, nor any sort of epiphany. Just pain. Pain that stops at nothing to consume Vernon in an undertow of regret.

Personality

Through every chord and every strained syllable, listeners can hear pain and loneliness. These emotions are the key building blocks of For Emma. It can be difficult to cope with feelings like these; even the simple acknowledgement of emotion is an entire battle of its own. Leaving no room for comfort, Vernon embraces the heartache and solitude, allowing it to consume him and reshape his perception of the world. The result is an impressive exercise in vulnerability. Few artists are able to look as inward as Justin Vernon is able to with such brutal honesty and acknowledgement of one’s own shortcomings.

Where Personality Shines Brightest: Re: Stacks is a regretful revelation of the true burden of moving on from past relationships. The song serves as a catharsis and conclusion of For Emma’s main theme. Grief and regret will exist, and pain will come and go, but the key to growth is acknowledging the pain and learning from it. Re: Stacks serves as a reminder that things will get better. They may not get better today or tomorrow, but someday they will. The song ends with the words “your love will be safe with me”, indicating that Justin will potentially always love this girl. He may have moved on from the pain, but he hasn’t let go of the love that was once there.

Versatility

For Emma works best in areas of solitude. Whether it’s the middle of the woods or the foot of your bed, this album’s chilling vocals and ambient sounds emphasize introspection and isolation. We as humans too often choose to bottle up our emotions, denying the acknowledgement of our feelings when we’re upset or hurt. For Emma serves to put the listener face to face with their pain, giving them the opportunity to face it head on and learn from it. It’s normal to feel almost cold while you listen to For Emma – in a sense, you’re experiencing the same feelings of isolation Justin Vernon had felt while creating it.

Where to Listen: This album works wonders on wintry days. When it’s snowing, head to the park and put your headphones in. Walk around a bit, preferably in a wooded area, and let the songs take you to a place where you’re able to feel comfortable and open about yourself and your feelings. The best tracks for moments like these are The Wolves (Acts I and II), Lump Sum, and Skinny Love.

Quality

For Emma was recorded in Vernon’s cabin in the middle of the wilderness. You can hear the way some instruments echo through the cabin’s walls on songs like Flume and Skinny Love, while other songs like Blindsided utilize the ambiance of the wilderness to their advantage. Even the sounds of horns on songs like For Emma build upon the themes of isolation, creating a surreal jazz-like sound that’s often marred by the walls of the cabin. For Emma is crisp, precise, and cutting to the core.

Conclusions

It’s almost ironic to think that For Emma, Forever Ago was created in pure solitude, as it too often can connect us as humans in ways we wouldn’t think possible. For Emma is a recognition of the idea that everyone feels a little lost. Whether it’s through a bad breakup or a feeling of isolation in a society bent on individualism, we’ve all experienced something akin to Vernon’s heart-wrenching retelling of regret and recognition. For Emma is the quintessential album for cold winter mornings, lonely nights, and breakups of any kind. We’re all a little lonely. But, as For Emma reveals to us, loneliness is okay. Sometimes, it’s all we need to move forward and grow.

Final Score: 10 ambient sounds/10

If you liked our review of For Emma, Forever Ago, check out our review of I Love You, Honeybear by Father John Misty for another look at a great indie folk album! If you’re looking to avoid the sadness, try a more upbeat album like Jamie xx’s In Colour! Want an album reviewed? Contact us and let us know! Make sure to subscribe to our site for updates on news, reviews, and everything in between!