On Oct. 18, Justin Vernon released SABLE, his second EP as Bon Iver. Produced by Vernon and Jim-E Stack, SABLE, is a return to the stripped-back indie folk of For Emma, Forever Ago, and its follow-up EP Blood Bank. Vernon’s rich baritone and shaky falsetto meld with finger-picked guitar melodies and soaring string arrangements in a sound so unmistakably Bon Iver, you can’t help but listen.
The EP opens with “THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS,” a repetitive track about seeking reprieve from a brooding mind. Vernon sings, “I would like the feeling / I would like the feeling / I would like the feeling gone.” Though the song never builds into Bon Iver-ballad status, its repetition and stagnancy are meaningful in a subtle way: “I am afraid of changing,” Vernon sings—or rather admits,—as the guitar’s melody marches along in the background.
“S P E Y S I D E” is next on the EP and my favorite on the project. Vernon’s voice is unadorned and unprocessed as his lyrics capture a solemnly resigned state of mind: “I know now that I can’t make good / How I wish I could.” The acoustic guitar has a strong folk quality that verges on country, creating an aching contrast against Vernon’s high falsetto. “AWARDS SEASON” rounds out the EP and breaks the sorrowful song streak. The track feels uplifting and resilient as it gradually builds with piano, synth, and a symphony of saxophones. Its lyrics almost bring me to tears, as Bon Iver’s always do: “I can handle way more than I can handle,” he sings. The EP is soulful and introspective—perfect music as we enter a long, cold winter.
Sabrina Bailey is a junior in the College studying Psychology and English.
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