Album Rating: 4.0

The arrangements on this album are gorgeous for the most part but I feel like Vernon gets a bit too lost in the mix but at the same time sometimes the vocals/vocal effects are rather grating. Hoping it grows a bit more but currently I'm inclined to put this closer to the level of quality of 22, A Million than that of For Emma.

Album Rating: 4.5

Hmmm, I like this one best but i haven't spun it in a while. After 22, A Million i'm starting to think maybe I'm not that big a fan of Vernon.



Ah, but then the second Volcano Choir album is really good so that complicates things.



~Conclusion: I might be slightly overrating this at 4.5 but I think it hangs together as a complete album a little better than For Emma, which has some great songs and some other songs that play exactly like weaker versions of the best songs.

Album Rating: 4.5

For Emma isn't that much inferior, but this is more layered and consistently engaging to me

Album Rating: 4.0

That's an interesting opinion Doof because I actually find that every song on For Emma has a pretty distinct identity.



They're very different albums though so it's hard to compare them outside of mere quality. But For Emma feels more genuinely felt whereas this is trying to make the listener feel something that's not necessarily coming from the artist himself. It feels a tad bit stuck between trying to be a grand musical opus and a "feels" album like For Emma is.

bon icer

Album Rating: 4.5

Boney I think this one doesn't aim for the 'feels' nearly as much as 'For Emma' and that's a bonus for me, I was never really 'moved' by 'For Emma' - I did appreciate most of the tunes though and the atmosphere was decent for what it was.



This goes for more prettiness and I've got to say that's where I see this artist's creative strengths - as much as Vernon himself will no doubt fight against that instinct/calling.

Album Rating: 4.0

This one is definitely going for prettiness but it still feels to me like it's trying to be feelsy as well, since at that point that was what the appeal of this project was founded upon.

bong iver

hotboxing the cabin

Album Rating: 4.0

Basically (like many debuts) For Emma is a more natural album in a sense because Vernon was making that album for himself and was just lucky that it ended up speaking to others as well. This feels like a much more conscious effort and comes across as a tad forced as a result.

Album Rating: 4.5

Ok, maybe this one just has more to prop up/distract from the feels :/



Hopefully this grows on you a bit more, I think this is an album that inspired a lot of if not exactly copycats then at least the widespread certain adoption of a similar aesthetic. Prob sounds nowhere near unique coming to this in 2017

Album Rating: 3.5

he hadn't hit the bong on the debut yeah

Album Rating: 4.0

Honestly check back with me in a week and I'll probably have this at a 4.5

Album Rating: 4.5

Boney have you ever checked Hans Chew? Hiss Golden Messemger collaborator apparently, plays grand piano. Given his debut a couple of goes and he has a new one out Friday that got a good review in Uncut. Country rock/Americana. Sorta thinking 3.5-4 territory but worth a try...after Micah P Hinson ;-)

Album Rating: 4.0

Haven't heard of him no, sounds good though, may give it a peep.

For Emma was made basically by Vernon himself (some stuff added later in studio) and this one had a full roster of musicians and collabs. Working with a band while mantaining your identity, especially after putting out a banger debut can be tricky, but even yet he managed to make this beauty.

Album Rating: 4.5

Yeah one of the best albums of the 2010's imo, really grew on me each time I've listened.

Album Rating: 4.0

I can't tell if Perth is amazing or terrible

Album Rating: 4.2

Who's Bon Iver?

Perth is AMAZING.