For Emma, Forever Ago

每一年以唱作人自居的歌手多如恒和沙数，实则听来不过是重复前人或是自己的无病呻吟之旧套路。Bon Iver在今年小范围的爆发实在有些出乎意料，Pitchforkmedia的“率先发难”，老牌经典导航的Mojo五星满分推介，各路媒体的“围追堵截”，我们也不能强行忽略他的成绩，这张《For Emma，Forever Ago》入手后几乎是带着逆返的心在听，而结果不能说有多么出人意料，毕竟他做的就是自省内敛的民谣，但正如当年我们听到Iron And Wine、Elliott Smith后一样的雀跃感动，泛着泪花回味着曼妙音符激荡出的情感共鸣，小人物Bon Iver唱着自己的失意、怅然，没有一味地消沉或是单纯地歌颂。他的音乐牵动现实远离梦幻，处在爆发边缘却小心翼翼克制，这就是他与梦呓派自赏民谣的最大区别。 For Emma, Forever Ago is the debut album from Wisconsin band Bon Iver. It was self-released in 2007 and received wider release on the Jagjaguwar label in February 2008 (and on the 4AD label in the UK in May 2008). The album was widely acclaimed, receiving spots on critics' end-of-the-year lists, as well as several awards. Following his break-up with his girlfriend at the time, as well as the break-up of his previous band DeYarmond Edison, Justin Vernon, suffering from mononucleosis, secluded himself in a cabin in Medford, Wisconsin for three months planning to "hibernate." Three months of solitude resulted in the creation of For Emma, Forever Ago. "All of his personal trouble, lack of perspective, heartache, longing, love, loss and guilt that had been stockpiled over the course of the past six years, was suddenly purged into the form of song."  All the basic tracks for the record were done by Justin Vernon in the cabin, with a few additional instruments (for example the horns on For Emma) added later; "despite its complexity, the record was created with nothing more than a few microphones and some aged recording equipment." The album was self-released in July 2007 and quickly gained attention from various music publications like Pitchfork Media. In February 2008, the album was re-released through the Jagjaguwar label with a new album cover. In May 2008, 4AD picked the album up for release in the UK and Europe. Peter Gabriel recorded a cover of "Flume" for his album, Scratch My Back.