“SABLE,” is the latest release of powerhouse band Bon Iver. Released Oct. 18, the three-song EP proves to be another feather in Bon Iver’s cap. While “SABLE,” is a smaller, scaled-down project for Bon Iver, it holds its own among the band’s discography with its poignant, relatable lyrics about healing and change. Frontman Justin Vernon dives into his experiences with pressure and anxiety, and he sings about the healing process and the emotions that come along with it.
“SABLE,” massively scales down with the use of simple instrumentals, with pedal steel guitar, trumpet, fiddle and saxophone as the primary accompaniments to Vernon’s voice. But “SABLE,” is not simply a curtailment —- it is an artful simmering down of production and instrumentals, leaving behind only potent, touching songwriting.
The band has been a driving force in the indie and folk genres since the 2008 release of its first album, “For Emma, Forever Ago.” The album’s evocative lyrics and moving, falsetto-style vocal delivery almost immediately cemented Bon Iver as a unique player in the industry. In 2019, the band explored experimental folk with the album “i, i,” which earned three nominations at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album, Album of the Year and Record of the Year for the song “Hey, Ma.”
In preparation for the EP’s release, Bon Iver released “S P E Y S I D E” on Sept. 20, the official single of the EP. Critics and fans quickly drew a comparison to “For Emma, Forever Ago” for the despondent, isolationist atmosphere that characterizes both the debut album and “S P E Y S I D E.” Several fans hoped that, like “S P E Y S I D E,” “SABLE,” would also be a return to the band’s roots.
However, Bon Iver is aware of how idolization of depressive art — such as “For Emma, Forever Ago” — can create toxic patterns of reinforcement in the creator. On “SABLE,” the band tries a different lyrical approach by layering themes of love, regret, sorrow and hope in the lyrics — much like in life, where such emotions are hardly mutually exclusive.
This lyricism is different from the lyricism on its supposed parallel, “For Emma, Forever Ago.” In “For Emma, Forever Ago,” Bon Iver either shyed away from heartfelt declarations or shrouded them in intricate vocals and instrumentals. But on “SABLE,,” all the walls are down.
Vernon is not afraid to confess upsetting truths. He lets listeners sit next to him as he goes through the healing process, and through Vernon’s lyrics, listeners see first-hand the difficult, depressing and bittersweet parts of healing. He takes a step to the front, and what listeners get is a declaration, reintroduction, reframing and reevaluation.
The EP’s first track, “THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS,” communicates the idea that emotions are often entangled. With a pedal steel guitar and relatively upbeat tune in the background, Vernon lyrically analyzes how emotions affect personhood. He acknowledges that making sense of one’s emotions is not as straightforward as it might seem — as he says, “there are things behind things behind things.” He emphasizes that emotions are often a result of other emotions, making them difficult to unpack.
On the track, Vernon shows vulnerability as he sings, “I am afraid of changing–” admitting that parsing through emotions is no easy task, and sometimes, it is easier to turn a blind eye to difficult emotions. Yet, Vernon takes the first step in attempting to uncover and understand the layers to his being in “THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS.”
The emotions detailed in the second track, “S P E Y S I D E,” are much more precise and hard-hitting, and Vernon leans into them through relatively simple, yet powerful, lyrics. He sings of the regret he holds from hurting people in his life. After an acoustic guitar intro, he somberly declares, “I know now that I can’t make good / but how I wish I could.”
The rest of the lyrics are just as truthful and also detail the shame and regret he holds from hurting others. Towards the end of the track, he sings, “man, I’m so sorry / I got the best of me / I really damn been on such a violent spree,” pushing past shame and taking ownership of his actions.
Throughout “S P E Y S I D E,” Vernon lets his voice run wild, masterfully cruising through falsettos and unintelligible wails. Although soft strings join in later in the song, the track stays dominated by Vernon’s voice and guitar — to Vernon, what he has to say is too important to embellish with other instruments. The track’s strength lies in its unprecedentedly raw lyrics and stripped-down production, and in it lies in Vernon’s commitment to making things right, no matter how shameful his actions might be.
Relative to “THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS” and “S P E Y S I D E,” the final track, “AWARDS SEASON,” ramps up the complexity of the EP. With bittersweet lyrics and tear-jerking instrumentals, “AWARDS SEASON” is a standout track on “SABLE,.” It encompasses the emotions explored in the previous two tracks, making “AWARDS SEASON” a fitting close to the EP. The song is the most instrumentally intricate, featuring synths, piano, strings, and an orchestral-like saxophone melody for the bridge.
Lyrically, “AWARDS SEASON” features a complicated balance of missing the past and accepting the present. Vernon sings of change and nostalgia, particularly about a past relationship he leaves unnamed.
He sings, “oh, how everything can change / in such a small time frame,” signaling some form of nostalgia for how things were before change. However, immediately after, he sings, “you can be remade / you can live again” — a poignant reminder for all listening that it is possible to heal from troubling times. There are sad lyrics throughout “AWARDS SEASON,” but by supplementing them with lyrics about healing and acceptance, Vernon carves a path through the sadness, believing that there is an end to sadness even if he has not reached it himself.
For a three-song EP, “SABLE,” packs an emotional punch. The work delves into analyzing and releasing built-up emotions. “SABLE,” takes the stance of vulnerability and parses through the complicated moments life bestows upon us all. Rather than making grand declarations of how things should be, Vernon simply describes how things are, making the EP more relatable to listeners who might be in the throes of emotional turmoil themselves. That relatability and connection is what makes “SABLE,” so tender. Just as Bon Iver does in "SABLE,” listeners are invited to sit amongst their own beautiful, destructive wreckage, too.
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