Bon Iver
SABLE, fABLE


3.5
great

Review

by YoYoMancuso STAFF
April 11th, 2025 | 90 replies


Release Date: 04/11/2025 | Tracklist

Review Summary: there's a rhythmn to reclaim

”the only thing left that’s constant is the change” - rx bandits

It is this terribly liberating awareness of transience that has compelled Justin Vernon to beckon listeners toward the heavy twin gates of SABLE, fABLE, his often resistant, but ultimately captivating surrender to the forces of volatility. On lyrical, musical, and ideological fronts alike, Bon Iver’s long awaited fifth full-length is one of reckoning, a confrontation with the ephemerality of the past, the elusive grasp of the future, and a concerted effort to accept the itch of relinquishing control and living in the present. As the scope of the project expands from the introspective seclusion of the SABLE EP to the gripping unpredictability of its nine newly released tracks, Vernon’s journey toes a stirring and contradictory line between a peaceful samadhi of his temporary place in the universe, and a ceaseless striving to unearth mummified desires and cling to them, in hopes they may ultimately be fulfilled. Upon closer observation, the ebb and flow of SABLE, fABLE’s overall quality can be viewed as a mirror of this struggle, with its more playful and effortless moments standing tall over the sterility of its offerings that feel more crystallized in time.

”understanding means throwing away your knowledge” - thich nhat hanh

I was always somewhat flabbergasted by the laudatory response that “S P E Y S I D E” received. While almost every Bon Iver fan (even the ones who adored 22, A Million and i, i) has clamored for a return to the simplicity of an acoustic aesthetic, it is an erroneous assumption that the barebones backing of a track like this could recapture that magic. The truly enchanting aspects of For Emma and later acoustic triumphs like “29 STRAFFORD APTS” are their reliance on well-placed melodic flourishes to punctuate emotional meaning. Poetic as “S P E Y S I D E”’s lyrics are, they ultimately attach themselves to a lifeless musical manifestation of their narrative. This is a curious trend that continues on the album proper, where the linguistic desperation of tracks like “Walk Home” and “I’ll Be There” confine themselves within arrangements that somehow feel just as frozen and powerless as the words they carry. It’s as if the pleas for connection that define the record forcefully hijack Vernon’s creative vehicle in these moments and strip the songs of any unique wrinkles that could be piled upon, criticized, and most regrettably of all, appreciated.

”f u c k i f i e d” - justin vernon

The record’s most profound and memorable experiences arrive at the hands of the tracks that are not afraid of crossing timelines, the ones that are unafraid of integration and understand there is no returning to the past. “AWARDS SEASON” is the true gem of the EP trio, reflecting masterfully on both the constancy and impermanence of the phases of the moon. This track’s palpable feeling of bittersweet gratitude is translated in flawless fashion through its electronic-tinged sexy sax crescendo and superior understanding of minimalist songwriting strategy, representing evolution and change on a musical level just as the album aims to represent these concepts on an ideological level. The jaunty one-two punch of “Day One” and “From” espouse similar beliefs about Vernon’s relationship with time, as well as his relationship with relationships themselves, weaving a tuneful fractal web of mindful presence and reflective yearning. As the tracklist concludes, even this nostalgic desire that is prone to give pause is integrated, as demonstrated by the cyclical nature and hopeful disposition of “There’s a Rhythmn”. All at once on this flavorful smörgåsbord of everything that has defined Bon Iver’s career, Vernon finds himself scattered, whole, distant, home, constant, changing, resistant, accepting, restless, and peaceful. It’s a fascinating microcosm of the odyssey, both emotional and geographic, that Vernon has embarked on over the past six years, and further illustrates the undeniable correlation between songwriting success and forward motion that stood out to me throughout the album. The rhythmn [sic] that is spoken of does not find itself concerned with our hangups, wounds, or the distorted mental models we’ve constructed to craft some sort of coherent yarn from the ingredients of our painful sensations. It looks neither back nor forward. It’s simply being, and inviting you to do the same. When SABLE, fABLE musters up the courage and wherewithal to do just that, it’s no surprise that it begins to truly shine.



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user ratings (99)
3.4
great
other reviews of this album
Hawks CONTRIBUTOR (2)
SABLE was such a tease....

Alex Stephenson (5)
There are miles and miles to go - and I've been down this road before...



Comments:Add a Comment 
YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


19640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Typing i, i in italics is the hardest thing I've ever tried to do on this website

tectactoe
April 11th 2025


8785 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

“AWARDS SEASON” is the true gem of the EP trio,



Oh hey, finally someone else who agrees with me.

Hawks
Contributing Reviewer
April 11th 2025


102062 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

3 reviews in one day lfg!!! Nice one brother..

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


32821 Comments


Tis the true though. Great review YoYo, you're a hell of a writer. Bravo.

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


19640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

@Hawks I didn't have nearly enough energy after my listen last night to start writing this lol, I'm glad to see others took up the mantle

Rowhaus
April 11th 2025


6665 Comments


Any review with an Rx Bandits quote gets instapos'd

Odal
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


2975 Comments


Beautiful writeup, man. I enjoyed the EP and "There is a Rhythm" excited to check out the rest

EoinCofa
April 11th 2025


960 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Hawks review too cold

Alex review too hot

This one is just right

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


19640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

that's why staff makes the BIG BUCKS (we do not get paid whatsoever)

mkmusic1995
Contributing Reviewer
April 11th 2025


2286 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I also feel this review represents how I feel about this record the best. It's solid, it's got the goods, but it also could have been much better.

Bilbodabag
April 11th 2025


196 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

butt iver

zoso33
April 11th 2025


626 Comments


mad props for the rx bandits quote, i hear they've finally got new material in the works

WatchItExplode
April 11th 2025


10634 Comments


This is not how I expected to learn of new RX bandits material

YoYoMancuso
Staff Reviewer
April 11th 2025


19640 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

"i hear they've finally got new material in the works"



dude i will shit. that would make my year

Sowing
Moderator
April 11th 2025


44826 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This feels like his worst album to me. The EP stuff is mostly what keeps this afloat, with the new, poppier soul-ish stuff not really meshing all that well IMO. "From" is a decent addition to the EP songs, along with "Short Story" and "Au Revoir", but they're barely full/actual songs despite setting a beautiful aesthetic. I enjoy this, but it feels like a small step down from i, i (higher highs here, but also lower lows as well as more of them) and phoned in compared to his very best work, especially considering so little here adds value to the Sable EP which has been out a while.

Colton
April 11th 2025


16508 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Fable is nice but Sable is the best thing he's done in a while

Slex
April 11th 2025


17485 Comments

Album Rating: 2.0

Stinky poop from a butt album tbch

Odal
Staff Reviewer
April 12th 2025


2975 Comments


Not sure about RxBandits but Sound of Animals Fighting have a tour and are rumored to be putting out something this year ¯_(ツ)_/¯

Nikkolae
April 12th 2025


6807 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

The most ive vibed to Bon Iver years

tectactoe
April 12th 2025


8785 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

bon(er) (g)iver



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