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]
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]
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]
"Naeem" incorporates elements of "That Storm", performed by Naeem, and "More Love", written by Gary Nicholson and Tim O'Brien, and performed by Tim O'Brien.
"Sh'Diah" incorporates elements of "Waves" performed by Velvet Negroni.
Personnel
Credits adapted from the band's official website.[35]
