i, i
| Bon Iver
i, i
I, I (stylized as i,i and pronounced as "I comma I") is the fourth studio album by American indie folk band Bon Iver. It was released track by track per hour on August 8, 2019; the intro only being available on the Bon Iver fan subreddit until August 9, when the album was released properly on all services, with a physical release to follow on August 30. The album was preceded by the singles "Hey, Ma" and "U (Man Like)", and the tracks "Faith" and "Jelmore" were released alongside the album pre-order. I, I features contributions from James Blake, Aaron Dessner, Bruce Hornsby, Moses Sumney, and Channy Leaneagh, among others. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
Show All-
Pitchfork
On his fourth album, Justin Vernon reassembles the familiar Bon Iver elements like a cubist collage, with his voice fearlessly front and center. The result is his most honest and forthright music ever.
-
Rolling Stone
Conjuring dread and hopefulness, Justin Vernon blends electronic and acoustic elements into a soulful, kaleidoscopic whole.
-
Vulture
What took root in a cabin in the woods has since broken through pop and experimental music’s topsoil as Vernon ventured out into rock, folk, synth-pop, and hip-hop circles, elevating the craft of his collaborators and bringing ideas and players back into the fold for his flagship.
-
The Atlantic
The band’s folk-pop experiments sound like gorgeous, nonsensical conversations on the state of the world.
-
Consequence of Sound
A mature masterpiece and a stunning marriage of ambition and technique.
-
NME
Previous Bon Iver albums worked through the seasons, the hushed 'For Emma, Forever Ago’ representing winter. With 'i, i', Justin Vernon arrives at autumn, a time of change.
-
Pop Matters
Both artist and listener can share a moment of understanding.
-
The Guardian
Justin Vernon has been building Bon Iver into an artistic commune of shared ideals – but loses his way in a fog of weak melodies and bad poetry.
-
Variety
It’s wild and fragmented, as nature intended.
-
Brooklyn Vegan
Justin Vernon is such a unique artist and his fingerprints are always strongly felt whenever he touches anything, so the songs on i, i still scratch that unique itch that only his music can scratch, but there’s something left to be desired.
-
Glide Magazine
Vernon is a unique talent.
-
The 405
Bon Iver stick to the doldrums of straightforward nostalgia on the still pleasant i,i.
-
The Line of Best Fit
i,i may be the most complete Bon Iver album to date.
-
DIY Mag
An emotional tour-de-force that displays an unparalleled understanding of the power of music.
-
Hotpress
i,i argues that he can never quite escape the sensitive everyman within. That may be a cause of frustration to Vernon. Fans, however, will be delighted to hear him circling back.
-
NPR
Disarmingly beautiful and multi-dimensional songs we'll be puzzling over for a long while.
-
Irish Examiner
Bon Iver's i,i is a joyfully experimental record.
-
Stereogum
After spending some time with i,i, though, my feelings can be summed up by a different line: “I like you, and that ain’t nothin’ new.”
-
Paste Magazine
Objectively dazzling, but not always easy to love.
-
Telegraph
Anguish and ecstasy from the singer who gives technology a human heart.
-
Loud and Quiet
Plays with the inquisitiveness and freedom of cats in the nighttime.
-
Uproxx
Their best in a decade.
-
The Young Folks
He has, as he is want to do, come full circle, once again finding a way to loop his great pains into his great strengths.
-
Gigwise
Comforting and heartbreaking in equal parts.
-
Spill Magazine
He has invented countless new ways to utilize sound and rhythm, pushing the boundaries of music while always maintaining a deeply emotional core.
-
The Los Angeles Times
Indeed, for all the signs of trouble that Vernon finds in modern America, he can’t help but finish this album on an optimistic note that seems to proceed directly from his clear musical satisfaction.
-
The Nation
What began as a solo folk act has swelled into a collaborative and ecstatic mix of rock, pop, gospel, and more.
-
Aesthetic Magazine
The art of slipping in and out of focus is what Bon Iver does best.
-
Irish Times
Meandering songs that unwind over time.
-
Pass the Aux
Bon Iver continues growth, strengthens heart on ‘i,i’.
-
KUTE Radio
Bon Iver really honed in on the sound they started to play with on their previous album.
-
Lemon Wire
A shift towards community.
-
Joyzine
An exceptional piece of work that deserves time and attention.
-
Standard
From raw ballads to sax appeal and much more.
-
Sputnik Music
Excellent.
-
The Young Post
The indie rock band returns with an album that reflects their distinct sound.
-
Riff Magazine
Bon Iver enters a fourth season of eclectic spontaneity on ‘i, i’.
-
Soundblab
i,i literally could have been the first epic misfire of Bon Iver’s career. But instead, it’s possibly the one album that everyone can agree on as being wholesome and lovingly pieced together.
-
Magnetic Mag
This feels like Bon Iver’s most complete and thoughtful album yet.
-
Thank Folk For That
Although Bon Iver have matured into a more experimental indie rock sound, leaving folk back in that cabin in the woods, the band still manages to prove that they are an exciting group to track in the industry.
-
The Times
Justin Vernon returns to what he does best.
-
Belwood Music
Perhaps their best work yet.
-
American Songwriter
i,i is an album that pulls you in much closer than arm’s length, and that’s the fascinating thing about Bon Iver right now.
-
Fortitude
Another immersive, though inconsistently satisfying listening experience.
-
vibeRANT
It is a sprinkle of both extravagance and modesty, a humble boast if you will.
-
KUMD
i,i holds up to the legacy of Bon Iver, but doesn’t add any new angles to it. Still, it is thought-provoking music perfect for a cloudy day.
-
The Rockhaq Community
Musical wizardry.
-
Stereofox
Bon Iver would never disappoint.
-
musicOMH
Not all music this sincere has to be this dull.
-
Earbuddy
Should you,you listen to the new Bon i,iver album? Yes, you should.
-
The Wall Street Journal
A Sonic Masterpiece Woven From Past and Present.
-
New Statesman
A vulnerable yet self-assured album of tender falsetto and pulsing synths.
-
4 out of 5 Reviews
An inviting and warm place to rest.
-
Phawker
Bon Iver has become a staple of indie-folk sound.
-
Vice
The ambitious fourth LP from the Wisconsin artist's band is the thrilling culmination of his career so far.
-
Indie is not a genre
From it’s airy beginning Yi, the album enigmatically captures listeners’ attention.
-
Rock Club
Ultimately, “i,i” is a pleasing album, enjoyable from start to finish and will invoke the intimate auditory and visual experience one expects from seeing Bon Iver live. Embrace it.
-
The Current
By opening himself up, Vernon opened up his band to countless new possibilities. Even though i,i is being marketed as the end of a season cycle of albums, I can't help but hear it as a new beginning.
-
Straits Times
US indie folk band Bon Iver complete their seasonal quartet with autumnal collection i,i.
-
Riffs and Rhymes
Whether it’s the rich, enveloping texture of the production or his opaque, enchanting lyrics, his songs continue to be a unique and enthralling experience.
-
The Lazy Music Guru
i,i marks his fourth studio album and his continuation into experimental/electronic-folk sound.
-
The Scotsman
A tastefully wrought sonic tapestry of electric and acoustic instrumentation embellished with studio effects.
-
The Inquirer
Beautiful.
-
Afterglow
Like its predecessors, i,i is a work of art.
-
Northern Transmissions
It would seem Vernon and co are completely untethered from pressures and barriers; ‘i,i’ is the true sound of creative freedom.
-
Spectrum Pulse
A fascinating listen.
-
The Arts Desk
It’s not perfect – there’s a bit too much parpy sax noodling and some of the songs are over before they’ve begun, but fans from all eras and incarnations of Bon Iver should find something to enjoy here.
-
Greg Cleo
Bon Iver’s latest album i,i delivers everything I’ve enjoyed in the band’s earlier albums: layered vocals, mellow brass, and glitch. It is both familiar and satisfyingly fresh.
-
The Edge
With a mixture of both reminiscent and new sounds, Bon Iver continue to showcase their seemingly endless talent and ability with i,i.
-
Albumism
Bon Iver Summon Their Signature Strain of Enigmatic Musical Magic Once Again with ‘i,i’.
-
FLOOD Magazine
Soul has always been present at the core of Bon Iver, but here it shines just a little bit brighter.
-
Colorado Springs Independent
Noteworthy.
-
SMH
Beautifully blend[ed] . . . melancholy, grandeur and experimentation.
Rate This Album and Leave Your Comments