User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 440 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 401 out of 440
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Mixed: 10 out of 440
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Negative: 29 out of 440
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Jun 16, 2011
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JoeH.Sep 24, 2009Best album released for years, the lyrical content is something to admire, completely compelled to listen to it at least once a day even though its been out for over a year, thanks Justin.
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Jan 30, 2013A beautiful, yet sparse debut. Vernon flays his very heart out for the listener. It is full of pure, raw emotion. The guitars are perfectly placed, juxtaposed by Vernon's introspective, albeit mysterious lyrics.
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Aug 22, 2011
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May 28, 2013This album is the example set when one thinks about good music. It's amazing what such a talented musician when they go back to their roots. Every song as beautiful as the other and every word a painful memory to a proud belief, this album deserves the best ratings from every critic.
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Mar 24, 2014Words cannot explain how much I love this album. There's a comforting feeling in this album-- it's heartbreaking, but at the same time, it has a light of optimism that shines. This album is relaxing and Justin Vernon's singing is distinctive.
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Apr 21, 2015
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Apr 29, 2018This album is sadder than In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, more intimate than Either/Or, and more expressive than anything released in the 2000s.
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DaveNov 25, 2009The only thing I can add to what everybody else has said about this incredible album is that it breaks your heart.
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MarcG.Apr 16, 2008Decent effort...must confirm the next time.
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MauriceS.Aug 1, 2008Such sadness, but such beauty. His voice stays with me for hours
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AniruddhaB.Jan 6, 2009Beautiful album. Justin Vernon's voice is so intimate... yet so intense... the best of the year for me along with portishead's third.
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christianp.Feb 27, 2008What a fantastic album. The vocals are hauntingly familiar and there is enough subtle diversity to keep the record fresh. My only complaint is that there are only 8 full songs on it -- it's a lovely listen though.
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wimk.Jan 9, 2009Great, fantastic. Great, gloomy and genious!
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JJOct 14, 2008This album is a very soothing and calming release. I first heard it while in Iraq and have been a fan since. His music was just what I needed on those rough days when tempers flared and situations were nearly out of control...I would go and listen to this album to calm down.
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joshFeb 27, 2008Love this record, "Skinny Love" stands out as the best track for me. Bon Iver sounds like an accoustic version of TV on the Radio. Outstanding.
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JeremyFeb 27, 2008One of the best albums I have EVER heard.
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JoshP.Feb 28, 2008I love this. I'm waiting for one of these songs to end up on Grey's Anatomy because of all the hype. Not that I'd watch Grey's, but seriously boys and girls. If you don't own this and are any sort of person that is inspired by music, this record will haunt you for a long time.
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wisdomwisdomMar 21, 2008Briliant...
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TedG.Mar 20, 2008The guitar reminds me of Elliott Smith and the off-putting at first that grow on you vocals remind me of the first few times I listened to the Pixies. Definitely worth multiple listenings.
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AlanR.Mar 2, 2008Amazing album. Sounds like Tunde Adepimbe from TV on the Radio meets the instrumentation of Sam Beam. Great for late nights or early morning car drives to work. My only complaint is that this rerelease came out at the end of winter. Would have been a great soundtrack for December and January.
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SleimanC.Mar 5, 2008Great album from this french artist! Merci!
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TimT.Mar 6, 2008incredibly refreshing; I say with no uncertainty that this is the most beautiful album I have ever listened to.
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RMar 6, 2008This is the best record I've heard in a long long time.
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CraigApr 17, 2008I think this was the best album of 2007. Hauntingly beautiful. Skinny Love never gets old.
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DarenH.May 12, 2008My favourite record of the year. An ambient, honest, simple, soul-searchingly wonderful record. Can't stop listening to it.
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FelipeP.May 20, 2008Fantastic album, unique voice.
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JennaR.May 30, 2008Absolutely amazing sound; pure emotion and thought.
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MissWJun 2, 2008It has been long since I heard this album first time but what I remember is this magical feeling. It makes this CD timeless sailing through my mind. Album has only 9 tracks but sometimes it's better to put some really good melodies on the disc and leave the less shiny behind. Songs for Emma are picked with love and by a big ear which knows how to get into humans soul.
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BillAug 23, 2008One of the more unique albums in recent memory. His voice is very specific and fits the overall mood of the cd's themes very well. Look forward to more of him.
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RobertoC.Aug 25, 2008Reaches out to your inner loneliness but in a good way. Very original.
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NeiloM.Oct 14, 2008Buy this one on vinyl and let-er-spin on a Sunday morning while you're blankly staring at birds out the window. "Skinny Love" is just OK people (a nice sounding pop styled song... but not the best song on the album!) The "Wolves" songs are much more layered and unexpected in sound and rhythm. Great sound-scape of an album. Somewhat haunting...great poetry.
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ahmada.Dec 22, 2008Album of the year, with Skinny Love as the track of the year.
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MarkF.Oct 23, 2008I listen to this CD in my car and find myself transported. Even my kids love the songs. This is such a transformational CD that i am telling all of my friends about it. I cant wait to hear what he does next. he reminds me a bit of Sufjan Stevens!
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ScottM.Feb 26, 2008
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eFeb 27, 2008The layering of vocals and the subtle Peter Gabriel meets Simon and Garfunkel ethos makes this one of the best albums of the first two months of 2008.
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JeremyF.Feb 28, 2008
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T.NixonFeb 28, 2008Wow ... Easily album of the year for me. I have never had an album grab me the way this has. A moment of musical genius.
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[Anonymous]Mar 1, 2008Great record, but to get the full deal see them LIVE. Just saw them open for Black mountain in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was floored. Holds a nice spot right next to the handsome family and all my Palace Music. Solid talent to be reckoned with
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DavidB.Mar 21, 2008I just fell in love with this album tonight so take the "10" rating for what it is. But as far as first impressions go it doesnt get much better than this for me. Beautiful record.
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OwenP.Mar 21, 2008Such a gripping listen. His voice is precious. As the album progresses, you can almost envision the 3 months he spent in a cabin tucked away in Wisconsin's hinterland. Although thoroughly enjoying this album at the moment, I can't help but look forward to future albums from Justin, aka. Bon Iver.
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SamMar 22, 2008Easily the best indie album of the year (so far). Painfully evocative of the rural setting which inspired him and a truly masterful acoustic opus.
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JustinMar 23, 2008Intimate. Hypnotic. Beautiful. Intense.
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AlexApr 1, 2008This may seem redundant, since I completely agree with Josh. When I first heard it I thought, "Tunde Adekimpe?" (lead singer of TV On The Radio). The songwriting and song craftsmanship is gorgeous, and Skinny Love and Creature Fear are fantastic.
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foxoffApr 17, 2008Wow, this is a brilliant album. I am giving an 8 because it lets itself down a little towards the end and well, since I believe nothing's ever perfect, 9 is my highest score. Skinny Love is going to be played to everyone who will listen and who I believe will appreciate it. There's some others too, but that one hit me right away. Nice job!
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TR.Apr 18, 2008Cool album. I can't wait for his next.
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ChadS.Apr 24, 2008
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RuiR.May 15, 2008The real American ballads os XXI century. Genetics: American Music Club, Cowboy Junkies. I love it. Come to Portugal, one day.
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TimTomMay 15, 2008What can I say-- this album is too good to be lumped into any sort of genre. For Emma.. gives me that feeling of being kissed for the very first time. I'm pretty sure its going to be the best thing to come out this year.
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ElliotC.May 18, 2008Perfect. Whatever the situation you find yourself listening to this album, every song suits every eventuality. But there is still more to come no doubt, looking forward to seeing where he goes in his career.
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LinusG.May 8, 2008Re: Stacks must be the most beautiful sentimental song I have ever heard. Great to listen to when looking at old pictures from college parties.
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BenF.Jun 11, 2008A masterpiece.
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WesP.Jun 13, 2008When I first heard this album, by the third song, my brain had begun to re-wire itself, neurons grew, new synapses formed. I will never be the same. This is one album that I will try my best to keep to myself, like a briefcase full of cash you find in an alley.
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MatthewM.Jul 22, 2008
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BrianAug 19, 2008I have never heard anything quite like this. It is absolutely brilliant.
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OleMAug 20, 2008Stunning, absolutely stunning.
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JyotirmayaD.Sep 13, 2008The only crime with this beautiful album is that it is not longer than it is... Another 15 minutes or 2, 3 songs would have been awesome.
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DannyV.Sep 17, 2008I love music that surprises me. Like many great albums, For Emma, Forever Ago has taken several listens fully grasp the raw beauty of Bon Iver's music. Very easily a contender for album of the year.
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MaxM.Sep 17, 2008If you count this album as a 2008 release, it is definitely the best of 2008. If you count Justin Vernon's individual release of 2007, Bon Iver is the second best of 2007 with you-know-what in first (In Rainbows). Very good music for someone who recorded in a remote cabin in Wisconsin for four months.
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ScottWApr 30, 2009Its Wounder an album like this is made today. Art, folk rock at a finest level. Never wavers nor falls short. Just bleeds all the way through to the end.
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JayL.Nov 13, 2008Songs to download are Creature Fear/Team, Flume, Re: Stacks and The Wolves, if not the whole thing. Amazing, amazing work. His voice and his harmonies are just plain beautiful.
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BillS.Dec 22, 2008Hands down, album of the year. Beautiful.
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PaulB.Dec 30, 2008Best album of 2008. The Vinyl interprets the space of the cabin in a way the CD just can't. But in any medium this is a record worth hearing. The live shows with Wilco were outstanding.
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scottRothDec 3, 2008This is amazing! one of my favs this year. if your going to listen to anything this is a must.
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RobertP.Feb 26, 2008Wisconsin, Winter, Moonlight... the best 3 am album ever.
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KyleN.Feb 26, 2008A relaxing listen
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MIkeB.Mar 21, 2008Pick this one up. You won't regret it. Gentle, sad and haunting. Vernon's only gotten better since his Mount Vernon days.
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AnnaMar 23, 2008I saw him in concert in November about a month after discovering him on the internet. His performance was poignant and moving, like his songs. It is a lonely yet complacent record, and Vernon sets that tone on every track. This album is a stunning debut, Vernon has the capacity to be both irresistable and haunting.
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SueS.Mar 24, 2008Beautiful album - has a depth of sound and feeling - my favorite song changes each time I listen to it. Makes me homesick.
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NPMar 26, 2008Though I frequent this site regularly for music recommendations, I rarely rate albums. That said, this is one of the most beautiful and affective albums I have ever heard. I know that sounds like a grand and thoughtless statement, but it's true. My response to it was immediate. It's indie rock-soul-folk, and it's gorgeous.
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BenG.Apr 26, 2008This album is fantastic. It's so raw and emotional. It's hands-down the best album of the year.
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SenorDiscountMay 18, 2008Get to this fellow's show - live in fact better than fiction.
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RossLMay 19, 2008Simply Brilliant.
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JasonJun 18, 2008Grand record considering how mellow and stripped down it is. Some great ambiance behind the rhythmic strumming of the guitar. Opening track, Flume, and skinny love are the best...I love it when a record opens up upon repeated listenings. Goes well with Neil Young's Live 1971 Massey Hall.
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AndrewP.Jul 13, 2008Simply inspiring.
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BelleJAug 15, 2008This is such a stunning album. I've heard it so many times, and it's still fantastic. I love how different his voice is, and all of the harmonies, and how EVERY song amazes me. It's a really great album.
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scotta.Jan 14, 2009For Emma, Forever Ago perfectly captures the feelings of both the cold and warmth of a long winter. I have played this album non-stop since I discovered it over the summer. Overall one of my all-time favorite records.
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DavidSApr 16, 2009
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MSNov 24, 2008Justin Vernon is a very talented musician and always has been. Anything he has ever written, including music off of this album, is perfection.
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StephanieS.Dec 18, 2008I loved it. Best by far. He easily slipped this one as my top album. I live in Wisconsin. This is the sound track of my life, captured by lovely vocals and incredible lyrics.
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Nov 17, 2010Every word penetrates our hearts like a recognition of our most sincere feelings. This is a perfect album, where every song feels like it's meant to exist. It's impossible to get tired off every single one of this musics...
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Jun 20, 2011It is heartbreakingly lovely, personal, and visceral. It is perfect for lying in bed and dozing, reading, or having on outside in the sun for a day. This album couldn't be better.
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Mar 28, 2012This is a pretty nice album with a subtle and interesting feel to it. It's the type of music you would listen to if you were camping with a bunch of friends and you got stuck in a rainstorm in the middle of the afternoon. Give it a chance, it's a fine listen.
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Jun 2, 20115000 characters isn't enough so I'll sum it up with this: perfect. I can honestly listen to this album anytime/season/place etc...easily in my Top 10 albums of all time (talking about ones made in my lifetime).
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Jan 7, 2018
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Dec 3, 2011Refreshing, soulful album. New sound for alternative, and we can only hope we keeps this up. Crossroads will happen if he decides to continue to experiment or move to a more mainstream sound
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Sep 9, 2012Beautiful, Eerie and intimate. Bon Iver at its finest.
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Nov 9, 2012Sad, sorrowful, and, at times, quite powerful. Bon Iver's debut will quietly blow you away.
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Mar 20, 2014
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Jun 25, 2013
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Oct 25, 2013
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Oct 28, 2014Listening to this album is an unique experience that I recommend to everyone who likes really good music - not just as a piece of fun, but totally art. My favorite band, by far.
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Nov 18, 2014Beautifully sung, written, arranged and just beautiful in general.
For Emma, Forever Ago connects with the listener in a way which Justin Vernon does very easily. The lyrics effortlessly provoke all kinds of feelings. Something which modern music almost never does nowadays. Skinny Love and Creature Fear are especially brilliant. -
Mar 6, 2015
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May 30, 2015Throw this up as my favorite album of all time, there isn't a single bad song in the collection. It is filled with emotion and is incredibly relate-able.
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Feb 3, 2017
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May 22, 2019Justin Vernon's musical genius is impossible to deny on this album. You can hear his pure emotion and rawness on each and every track. Vernon's voice is hauntingly beautiful, and often the listener gets lost within this album.
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Jun 7, 2022most subtle incorporation of drum machines, horns, and vocal effects transforms Bon Iver’s music from the quiet afterthought that characterizes much of today’s indie-folk into a sonic landscape of moods and nuances.
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Jul 30, 2023
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Aug 18, 2019Beautiful Debut. Bon Iver's music is consistently always beautiful.
Best Tracks: Skinny Love, Flume, The Wolves(Act I and II),For Emma, Team
Worst Tracks: Lump Some
Awards & Rankings
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A sure-footed assertion of the artist's individual talents and landing it a spot among the best folk records of 2007 has to offer.
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As good as it is, it’s clear that Vernon still has room to grow. A few songs could have used a little extra instrumental kick, and while his songs are great, you can tell he has more to offer. Keep an eye on this one.
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Vernon gives a soulful performance full of intuitive swells and fades, his phrasing and pronunciation making his voice as much a purely sonic instrument as his guitar.