I,I is the fourth album from indie folk band, Bon Iver. I’ve heard some of their stuff in my Apple Music shuffle playlist, as well as songs that feature them, like “Monster,” and “Lost in the World.” Justin Vernon, the founder of the group, is not only a talented singer-songwriter, but a very versatile multi-instrumentalist. He plays guitar, keyboards, bass, piano, drums, and even banjo. Anyways, how does this album hold up in the five years since it was originally released?

    While this album was critically acclaimed, a few critics saw it as a disappointment compared to their previous works. Given that I haven’t listened to a full-length Bon Iver album before, I went into this album with an open mind. There’s things I really like on this album, such as the gorgeous vocal melodies on tracks such as, “iMi,” and “We.” I like the glitchy production, especially on “Holyfields,,” and “Jelmore,” and the relaxing instrumentation on these aforementioned tracks is very soothing. It’s the kind of music I put on when I wanna stare at the movements my cube light makes in my room while I listen to it. This is honestly one of the most gorgeous albums I’ve listened to production-wise. The mixture of acoustic and electric combines to create a truly ethereal experience for the listener. Vernon is a solid vocalist, and while most of the vocal performances won’t blow you away or anything, the production absolutely does. I like the usage of piano, flute, and harmonica on the track, “U (Man Like),” I don’t really find the songwriting to be that deep or impressive, and that’s okay. Not all albums have to have insanely wordy or lyrical, sometimes it’s about creating a unique atmosphere, and this album does that very well. It’s not a perfect album, but I like the experimental sound of the album, a lot.

   Overall, it’s a strong record, with maximalist production featuring a variety of different instruments and vocal effects, and it’s a good album for contemplation and meditation. Bon Iver’s sound is definitely much different than most of the music I’ve heard so far in my 25 years on this planet, and I don’t think they’re for everyone. The gentle, folksy sound of much of the album isn’t super upbeat or catchy. It’s an album that’s meant to be a journey. It’s one of those albums where you need to close your eyes to and picture someone, something, or somewhere that makes you happy. “Faith,” for example is one of the most gorgeous and lush tracks I’ve heard all year. I’m glad I didn’t go into this album with much Bon Iver listening experience, because it made this album all the more magical for me.

Overall Score: 8/10

Favorite Tracks: “iMi,” “Hey, Ma,” “U (Man Like),” “Jelmore,” “Faith,” “Marion,”

Least Favorite Tracks: “Yi,”

Listen: https://youtu.be/wU-s_Zxv_MQ?si=TtpivcJVW68hg9R1

Genres: Art Pop/Folktronica/Experimental Folk