Bon Iver - SABLE, fABLE - April 11, 2025 Album • Page 25

Wow. I haven’t been an active Bon Iver listener in a long time, but I fucking love this album.

Ranking based on one listen when I’m rusty on his others would be nonsense, lol. But, as someone whose favorite historically has been FE,FA (with 22,AM at I think a solid second place?), I think this is really top tier. At least for my sensibilities, idk! What a delight.

 

yep just put this on for a morning walk around the river with coffee, can confirm it's starting to imprint on my soul this way

 

if only i could wait is becoming one of my favorite BI songs. From, Short Story, and There’s a Rhythmn are my other favorites.

 

Don't think I shared this when the EP came out, but my best buddy from my college music school days is on this album. He did the choral/vocal drone that runs through the entirety of "Awards Season." Here he is talking about it:

Blake Morgan Talks Voces8 and Choir

 

This is super cool. That drone sound ended up being a huge part of the rollout and the way people discovered there was likely more music coming after the EP.

 

This is awesome and now I’m real curious about what the version with the crazy sweeping chorale textures sounds like.

 

album hits real good when you're driving at 6am watching the sun rise over a reservoir. listened in the car and through nice headphones. It doesn't top 22 or bon iver as my personal favorite, but it doesn't have to, it's great in its own right

 

BI, BI is one of the most important albums of my lifetime so i find it hard to really even have the conversation

 

agreed. the first two records were perfect right place right time albums

 

Same but with 22,am

 

Yeah, I think those two tracks ("Awards Season" and "Short Story" were initially constructed as one, so my friend worked on/sang on both.

He played it for me and it rules. I understand why Justin wanted something a little barer, but I love the more lush choral version.

 

Finally got around to listening to this today, and it is a very easy listen. The back half of the album really works for me - Justin really just knows how to sing a duet. Get him on any track with a female vocalist and it is just pure gold. It feels like a cheat code - no wonder If Only I Could Wait just keeps circling in my head, but I really loved From as well.

 

listening to Repave for the first time in years and wow did I forget how phenomenal it is

 

Agreed, that happened to me a few weeks ago too

 

Truth!

Continues to be so underrated

 

if we’re talking vernon side projects don’t forget about the shouting matches

 

Comrade is The One, what a song

 

one of my favorite live performance videos ever

 

The last bit of Almanac is an all-time music moment for me.

 

that Volcano Choir album is one of his best for sure

 

I think Repave is my favorite JV release ever. I saw them in Milwaukee when they were winding down the tour and they had a surprise opener. It was Sylvan Esso right before they blew up and it was a top 5 favorite shows ever for me. lol I have the vinyl on my hanging on my bookshelf and when people identify what it is its always a treat.

 

I love this new album but I think in the long run it was a mistake to put the sable songs on the front end. IMO it would have been better if it was a longer ep (6-7 full tracks) and a couple extra songs on Fable. One transition song that starts slow and somber and gets huge. Have it be two separate releases but do a bundled vinyl for the die hards. It’s kind of a slog getting through the first 3 songs to settle into what feels like the proper album. Everything on Fable is his best stuff in a minute though.

 

I agree that the SABLE tracks don’t really work for me in the flow. Wouldn't call it a slog, and I get the thematic conceit, but I don’t think it’s needed. (It’s especially annoying on vinyl where you're literally flipping it at 45rpm to hear one (fantastic) song.)

It would have been more interesting to have "AWARD SEASON" + "Short Story" as a single 7 minute opening track.

 

I don’t think sable is a slog. It’s also easily broken up that can you just listen to fable on streaming or vinyl if you want without listening to sable.

 

You are correct, and I will likely almost never put the SABLE disc on when I listen on vinyl.