I, I

Last updated

I, I
Bon Iver - I, I.png
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 9, 2019
Studio
Genre
Length39:34
Label Jagjaguwar
Producer
Bon Iver chronology
22, A Million
(2016)
I, I
(2019)
Sable
(2024)
Singles from I, I
  1. "Hey, Ma" / "U (Man Like)"
    Released: June 3, 2019
  2. "Faith" / "Jelmore"
    Released: July 11, 2019

I, I (stylized as i,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. [1] I, I features contributions from James Blake, Aaron Dessner, Bruce Hornsby, Moses Sumney, and Channy Leaneagh, among others. [2] The album was nominated for Best Recording Package, Album of the Year and Best Alternative Music Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, as well as Record of the Year for the song "Hey, Ma".

Contents

Background

The project was first teased during an Instagram Live broadcast by Justin Vernon's personal account, in which he revealed a snippet of the song previously known as "We Maddie Parry" (later shortened to "We") and showed a song list with working titles. [3] After the band's show at All Points East 2019, they premiered two new songs; U (Man Like) and Hey, Ma, which were released as singles the next day, as well as dates for the fall 2019 tour. [4] On July 11, they announced that their fourth album, "i,i" would be released on August 30 (later moved to August 9) and released the third and fourth singles, "Jelmore" and "Faith". [5] The band likened the album to the season of fall, with I, I completing a cycle that began with the "winter" of For Emma, Forever Ago (2007), followed by "the frenetic spring of Bon Iver, Bon Iver (2011), and the unhinged summer of 22, A Million (2016)". [6] Vernon additionally described the album as "very much like the most adult record, the most complete" and "more honest, generous work". [7] The album was recorded over an extended period of time at April Base in Wisconsin, and was completed at Sonic Ranch in Texas. [8] On July 31, 2019, the band released a documentary short called Bon Iver: Autumn, featuring Vernon and bandmates discussing the new album and aspects of the upcoming Autumn 2019 tour. [9] To promote the album, listening parties took place on August 7 in several countries. [10]

On August 8, without prior announcement, eight of the album's nine remaining songs were released digitally (one each hour) and the ninth, "Yi", was posted on Reddit. [11] This was followed by the band moving the album's digital release date three weeks forward to August 9, with the physical release on August 30. [12]

Music

A number of publications have considered its sound to be a merger of the musical elements of Bon Iver's previous three albums, [14] [15] [16] with Chris DeVille of Stereogum considering it the first of their albums "that sounds more familiar than new." [17] Its production includes acoustic guitars, horns, piano, synthesizers, woodwind, organ and interwoven voices along with "jittery electronics," "otherworldly beats, whispering brass and fragmentary structures." [18] [19] [20] [21] Music journalists have noted its electronic and experimental features reminiscent of those found on 22, A Million , but note that it has been used more sparingly than on the aforementioned album, with DIY writer opining that it "[provides] the foundation for the record’s truly big moments." [14] [15]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic? 7.8/10 [22]
Metacritic 80/100 [23]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [24]
The Daily Telegraph Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [25]
Entertainment Weekly A− [26]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [27]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [14]
The Observer Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [28]
Pitchfork 8.8/10 [29]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [30]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [31]
The Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [32]

I, I received acclaim from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, I, I has an average score of 80 based on 33 reviews. [23] Hannah Mylrea of NME gave the album a perfect score, considering it "pieced [...] in an impossibly intelligent way." [14] DIY writer Ben Tipple also gave it full marks, dubbing it "an emotional tour-de-force that displays an unparalleled understanding of the power of music," further praising its "masterful delicacy" and sparing use of electronic experimentation. [15] Pitchfork awarded it the "Best New Music" accolade, with editor Matthew Strauss calling it the band's "most honest and forthright music ever"; he additionally noted Vernon's vocal performance, considering that he "sings with more texture and conviction than ever before." [29] Damien Morris of The Observer hailed it as "complex and majestic," saying that "i,i spins a mesmerising web of superficially insubstantial yet intensely majestic music." [28]

Some critics had their reservations. Chase McMullen of The 405 deemed the album underwhelming, considering it to be inferior to the band's previous work, he noted that they are "doing the things they know well," and that while "at times, this can work in i,i's favor, [...] it can feel a bit limited and complacent." [33] Ben Beaumont-Thomas named it Bon Iver's "first ever misfire" in his assessment for The Guardian , lamenting its "weak melodies and bad poetry." [27] In a mixed review for The Independent , Jazz Monroe described it as an "exquisite album that is otherwise frustratingly apolitical." [21] Writing for No Depression , John Amen concluded, "i,i is, relatively speaking, a fine album. It may even end up being one of 2019’s notable sets. Still, it’s the least magical of Vernon’s tetralogy." [34]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Yi"
0:31
2."iMi"
3:16
3."We"
2:22
4."Holyfields,"
  • Vernon
  • B. Cook
  • Chris Messina
  • Moose
3:07
5."Hey, Ma"
  • Vernon
  • B. Cook
  • Burton
3:36
6."U (Man Like)"
2:25
7."Naeem"
  • Vernon
  • Burton
  • Hagen
  • JT Bates
  • Noah Goldstein
  • B. Cook
4:22
8."Jelmore"
2:30
9."Faith"3:37
10."Marion"
  • Vernon
  • Moose
2:21
11."Salem"
3:44
12."Sh'Diah"
4:11
13."RABi"
  • Vernon
  • B. Cook
  • Lewis
3:32
Total length:39:34

Samples

Personnel

Credits adapted from the band's official website. [35]

Bon Iver

Featuring:

Worm Crew – horns (2, 5–7, 9–12)

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork and release

Charts

Related Research Articles

<i>Blaze of Glory</i> (Jon Bon Jovi album) 1990 studio album by Jon Bon Jovi

Blaze of Glory is the debut solo studio album by Jon Bon Jovi, the frontman of Bon Jovi. The album was released on August 7, 1990, through Mercury Records. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II. Emilio Estevez originally approached Bon Jovi to ask him for permission to include the song "Wanted Dead or Alive" on the soundtrack.

<i>Undiscovered Soul</i> 1998 studio album by Richie Sambora

Undiscovered Soul is the second solo studio album from Richie Sambora the guitarist from New Jersey band Bon Jovi. The album was released on February 23, 1998, and is more experimental than his earlier release Stranger in This Town. The album was produced by Don Was.

<i>Destination Anywhere</i> (Jon Bon Jovi album) 1997 studio album by Jon Bon Jovi

Destination Anywhere is the second solo studio album by Jon Bon Jovi, released on June 16, 1997 and features music from the film Destination Anywhere released in the same year. It follows his successful 1990 soundtrack Blaze of Glory, from the film Young Guns II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bon Iver</span> American indie folk band

Bon Iver is an American indie folk band founded in 2006 by singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. Vernon had originally formed Bon Iver as a solo project, but it eventually became a band consisting of Vernon, Sean Carey, Michael Lewis, Matthew McCaughan, Andrew Fitzpatrick, and Jenn Wasner

<i>For Emma, Forever Ago</i> 2007 studio album by Bon Iver

For Emma, Forever Ago is the debut studio album by American indie folk band Bon Iver. It was first self-released in July 2007, and later saw wide release on the Jagjaguwar label in February 2008. The album is principally the work of singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. While living in Raleigh, North Carolina, Vernon fell ill with mononucleosis and a liver infection, and grew frustrated with his songwriting and life. He left Raleigh and drove to his father's remote hunting cabin an hour northwest of his hometown, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, hoping to be alone.

<i>And Ill Scratch Yours</i> 2013 studio album by various artists

And I'll Scratch Yours is a compilation album developed by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. Initially slated for release in 2010, the album was released on 24 September 2013. The original concept was that And I'll Scratch Yours would serve as a companion piece to Gabriel's 2010 covers album Scratch My Back. The idea was to give the artists whose songs Gabriel covered on Scratch My Back a medium to reciprocate – And I'll Scratch Yours would feature those artists covering Gabriel's songs. Three artists, David Bowie, Neil Young and Radiohead, declined to record covers of Gabriel's material, so Brian Eno, Joseph Arthur and Feist contributed covers to the album instead.

<i>Bon Iver</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Bon Iver

Bon Iver is the second studio album from American indie folk band Bon Iver, released on June 17, 2011. The album is composed of 10 songs and was seen as a new musical direction for the band.

"Hold My Liquor" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, from his sixth studio album Yeezus (2013). It was primarily produced by West and longtime collaborator Mike Dean, who also provides a guitar solo, with additional production from Arca and Noah Goldstein. It features vocals from rapper Chief Keef and singer-songwriter Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. It is a house ballad that is built upon a pulsating synth beat with metallic stabs. In the song, West stumbles into an ex-girlfriend's home for reckless sex, with lyrics that contain references to substance abuse and issues with relationships and self-image.

<i>The Colour in Anything</i> 2016 studio album by James Blake

The Colour in Anything is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter and producer James Blake. It was released on 6 May 2016, by Polydor Records. It serves as the follow-up to his Mercury Prize-winning 2013 album Overgrown. It features contributions from Justin Vernon and Frank Ocean, and additional production work by Rick Rubin.

<i>22, A Million</i> 2016 studio album by Bon Iver

22, A Million is the third studio album by American indie folk band Bon Iver, released on September 30, 2016. Recorded in lead member Justin Vernon's April Base studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, the album marks a major shift in the band's sound and incorporates elements of electronic music and hip hop production influenced by Vernon's prior work with Kanye West. Most of the lyricism concerns Bon Iver's rise in popularity and how Vernon's relationship with the world has changed as a result.

<i>Nation of Two</i> 2018 studio album by Vance Joy

Nation of Two is the second studio album by Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy. The album was announced on 12 January 2018. The album serves as a follow-up to his 2014 album Dream Your Life Away (2014). with Vance Joy explaining: "Nation of Two describes a perfectly self-contained couple; their world beginning and ending at the bed they share, the car they ride in, or any other place where they're together... the idea that their love for each other gives them their bearings; a point of reference that makes sense of life." The concept originally appeared in the Kurt Vonnegut novel Mother Night.

<i>American Utopia</i> 2018 studio album by David Byrne

American Utopia is the eighth studio album by Scottish-American rock musician David Byrne, released on March 9, 2018 through Todo Mundo and Nonesuch Records. The release is his first solo studio album since 2004's Grown Backwards, and serves as a musical component of a larger multimedia project titled Reasons to Be Cheerful, which attempts to spread positivity. Byrne announced the album and released its lead single, "Everybody's Coming to My House", on January 8, 2018. A second single, "This Is That", was released on January 31.

<i>Big Red Machine</i> (album) 2018 studio album by Big Red Machine

Big Red Machine is the debut studio album by American musicians Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon as Big Red Machine. Dessner is most famous for being a founding member, instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer for The National, and Vernon for being the founding member and frontman of Bon Iver. The majority of the album was recorded in Dessner's shed studio in the Hudson Valley.

<i>Late Night Feelings</i> 2019 studio album by Mark Ronson

Late Night Feelings is the fifth studio album by American producer Mark Ronson. It was released on 21 June 2019. It is his first album in four years, following Uptown Special (2015). Its lead single, "Nothing Breaks Like a Heart" featuring Miley Cyrus, was released on 29 November 2018. The title track "Late Night Feelings", featuring Lykke Li, was released alongside the album pre-order on 12 April. "Don't Leave Me Lonely" was released on 17 May 2019 as the album's third single. "Find U Again" featuring Camila Cabello was released on 30 May 2019 as the fourth single. "Pieces of Us" featuring King Princess was released on 17 June 2019 as the album's fifth single.

<i>III</i> (Banks album) 2019 studio album by Banks

III is the third studio album by American singer and songwriter Banks, released on July 12, 2019, by Harvest Records. It was preceded by the release of three singles, "Gimme", "Look What You're Doing to Me", and "Contaminated". The album peaked at number 21 on the Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hey, Ma (Bon Iver song)</span> 2019 single by Bon Iver

"Hey, Ma" is a song recorded by American indie folk band Bon Iver. It was released on June 3, 2019, as the lead single from their fourth studio album, I, I through Jagjaguwar, alongside "U ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yi and iMi</span> Pair of songs by American band Bon Iver

"Yi" and "iMi" are songs by American indie folk band Bon Iver from their fourth studio album, I, I (2019). The songs are the first two tracks on the album, with the former being a 31-second phone recording that serves as an intro to the latter. Both songs were produced by Justin Vernon, Brad Cook, and Chris Messina, with additional production by BJ Burton. "Yi" and "iMi" feature additional production by Trevor Hagen and Andrew Sarlo, respectively.

<i>Future Past</i> (Duran Duran album) 2021 studio album by Duran Duran

Future Past is the fifteenth studio album by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released on 22 October 2021. It is the band's first album to be released through BMG, and their first since 2015's Paper Gods six years prior.

<i>How Long Do You Think Its Gonna Last?</i> 2021 studio album by Big Red Machine

How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? is the second studio album by American indie duo Big Red Machine, which consists of musicians Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. It was released on August 27, 2021, via 37d03d and Jagjaguwar record labels. Dessner stated the album is built around themes of childhood, familial dynamics, and mental health. He cited The Last Waltz, the 1978 live album by the Band, as an inspiration for the record.

<i>Sonder</i> (Dermot Kennedy album) 2022 studio album by Dermot Kennedy

Sonder is the second studio album by Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy, released on 18 November 2022 through Riggins Recording, Interscope Records and Island Records. Originally scheduled to be released on 23 September 2022, its release was delayed twice: first to 4 November, then 18 November, with the latter due to the UK postal strike. The album was preceded by the singles "Better Days", "Something to Someone" and "Kiss Me", with "Innocence and Sadness" and "Dreamer" also released prior to the album. Kennedy will tour Europe, the UK and North America in 2023 in support of the record.

References

  1. Monroe, Jazz (July 11, 2019). "Bon Iver Announce New Album i,i, Share 2 New Songs: Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  2. Murray, Robin (July 11, 2019). "Bon Iver Announces New Album 'i,i'". Clash . Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  3. "justin just played a new song on instagram, i caught some of it live". December 13, 2018.
  4. "Bon Iver, All Points East review: A magnificent bookend to Justin Vernon's glitchy '22, A Million' era". Independent.co.uk . June 3, 2019.
  5. "Lucid Design Concepts". Bon Iver. June 9, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
  6. "Bon Iver announce new album 'i,i'". DIY . July 11, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  7. Bruce-Jones, Henry (July 11, 2019). "Bon Iver enlist James Blake, Moses Sumney and more for new album, i,i". Fact . Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  8. "New album 'I,I' – out August 30". Bon Iver. July 11, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
  9. "Bon Iver Releases Mini-Documentary About Upcoming Tour: Watch". July 31, 2019.
  10. "Bon Iver announce i,i listening parties in London, New York and Europe". Crack Magazine . July 19, 2019. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
  11. Rossignol, Derrick (August 8, 2019). "Bon Iver Are Releasing Their New Album, 'i,i,' A Few Weeks Early". Uproxx . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  12. @jagjaguwar (August 8, 2019). "Tonight, @boniver will release 'i,i' digitally around the globe. Find the songs here: (link: https://boniver.ffm.to/icommai) boniver.ffm.to/icommai #icommai" (Tweet). Retrieved August 9, 2019 via Twitter.
  13. Joe Coscarelli (September 6, 2019). "5 Years, 28 People, 1 Song: No One Writes Quite Like Bon Iver". The New York Times . Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Mylrea, Hannah (August 8, 2019). "Bon Iver – 'i, i' review". NME . Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 Tipple, Ben (August 9, 2019). "Bon Iver – i, i". DIY . Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  16. Feibel, Adam (August 12, 2019). "Bon Iver i,i". Exclaim! . Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  17. DeVille, Chris (August 9, 2019). "Premature Evaluation: Bon Iver i,i". Stereogum . Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  18. Gallagher, Marianne (August 8, 2019). "Bon Iver - i,i". Clash . Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  19. Beviglia, Jim (August 11, 2019). "Bon Iver: i,i". American Songwriter . Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  20. Davis, Clive; Cairns, Dan; Verrico, Lisa; Edwards, Mark (August 11, 2019). "On record: Pop, rock and jazz, August 11" . The Sunday Times . Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  21. 1 2 Monroe, Jazz (August 8, 2019). "Bon Iver review, i,i: Immersive lullabies that crackle with nostalgia". The Independent . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  22. "i, i by Bon Iver reviews". AnyDecentMusic? . Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  23. 1 2 "I, I by Bon Iver Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  24. Sendra, Tim. "I, I – Bon Iver". AllMusic . Retrieved October 19, 2019.
  25. McCormick, Neil (August 7, 2019). "Bon Iver, i, i album review: anguish and ecstasy from the singer who gives technology a human heart" . The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  26. Greenblatt, Leah (August 8, 2019). "Bon Iver sounds more confident than ever on i,i". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  27. 1 2 Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (August 8, 2019). "Bon Iver: i,i review – his first ever misfire". The Guardian . Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  28. 1 2 Morris, Damien (August 11, 2019). "Bon Iver: i,i review – complex and majestic". The Observer . Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  29. 1 2 Strauss, Matthew (August 9, 2019). "Bon Iver: i,i". Pitchfork . Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  30. Segal, Victoria (October 2019). "Bon Iver: I,I". Q (403): 110.
  31. Hermes, Will (August 14, 2019). "Bon Iver's 'i, i' is About Getting In Touch With Your Human Side". Rolling Stone . Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  32. Hodgkinson, Will (August 8, 2019). "Bon Iver: i, i review — Justin Vernon returns to doing what he does best" . The Times . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  33. McMullen, Chase (August 12, 2019). "Review: Bon Iver stick to the doldrums of straightforward nostalgia on the still pleasant i,i". The 405 . Archived from the original on August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  34. "Bon Iver Revels in Beauty and Repetition". No Depression. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  35. "Album Credits". Bon Iver . Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  36. "Australiancharts.com – Bon Iver – I,I". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  37. "Austriancharts.at – Bon Iver – I,I" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  38. "Ultratop.be – Bon Iver – I,I" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  39. "Ultratop.be – Bon Iver – I,I" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  40. "Bon Iver Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  41. "Danishcharts.dk – Bon Iver – I,I". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  42. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Iver – I,I" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  43. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 36, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 16, 2019.[ permanent dead link ]
  44. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bon Iver – I,I" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  45. "Irish Albums Chart: 16 August 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  46. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 36 (dal 30.08.2019 al 05.09.2019)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  47. "Bon Iver". Oricon . Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  48. "Mūzikas Patēriņa Tops/ 33. nedēļa" (in Latvian). LAIPA. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  49. "Savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. August 16, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  50. "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  51. "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 36, 2019". VG-lista . Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  52. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  53. "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 36: del 30.8.2019 al 5.9.2019" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España . Retrieved September 11, 2019.
  54. "Veckolista Album, vecka 33". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  55. "Swisscharts.com – Bon Iver – I,I". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  56. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 17, 2019.
  57. "Bon Iver Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2019.
  58. "Bon Iver Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  59. "Bon Iver Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  60. "Bon Iver Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  61. "Bon Iver Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  62. "Jaaroverzichten 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  63. "Independent Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
  64. "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2020.