Bon Iver - Sable, Fable

Bon Iver - Sable, Fable


A bold two-part album that maps Justin Vernon’s emotional arc — from shadowed introspection to luminous renewal. Built around the 2024 SABLE EP and expanded into the brighter fABLE suite, the record explores grief, love, and personal transformation across 41 minutes and 13 tracks

🎬 Overview

  • SABLE: A stripped-back trio of songs (“S P E Y S I D E,” “AWARDS SEASON,” and the cryptic “...”) that evoke solitude and the heavy weight of self-reflection, delivered in minimally produced folk style. It represents the dark night of the soul, akin to the emotional landscape of For Emma, Forever Ago.

  • fABLE: A collection of nine songs bursting with warmth — blending R&B, pop, gospel, and soul. As Vernon steps into renewed emotional clarity, themes of new love and acceptance take center stage. Collaborations with artists like Dijon, Flock of Dimes, Danielle Haim, and Kacy Hill amplify this visceral shift toward community and joy.

Critics call it Bon Iver’s most balanced and accessible work yet, marking it as a true epilogue to his earlier introspective chapters, embracing peace without relinquishing depth.

🎵 Track Listing

Disc I: SABLE

  1. ... (bundled with Things Behind Things… on physical editions)

  2. THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS

  3. S P E Y S I D E

  4. AWARDS SEASON (ends with locked groove on vinyl)

Disc II: fABLE
5. Short Story
6. Everything Is Peaceful Love
7. Walk Home
8. Day One (feat. Dijon & Flock of Dimes)
9. From
10. I’ll Be There
11. If Only I Could Wait (feat. Danielle Haim)
12. There’s a Rhythmn
13. Au Revoir (instrumental outro) 

✨ Standout Moments

  • “AWARDS SEASON”: A pivotal point closing SABLE, it weaves Vernon’s identity into the song’s motif — “I’m a sable and honey, us the fable” — as a turning point toward emotional renewal.

  • “Short Story” → “Everything Is Peaceful Love”: This transition opens fABLE with optimism. The former is brief yet triumphant, while the latter becomes the album’s emotional anchor—a radiant love song entirely soaked in joy.

  • “Day One” (feat. Dijon & Flock of Dimes): A shimmering duet about identity and devotion, marked by sunlight piano lines and intimate lyricism.

  • “If Only I Could Wait” (feat. Danielle Haim): A realization of longing and patience atop swirling electronics and subtle strings—Balancing fragility and strength beautifully.

  • “From” & “I’ll Be There”: The former is a gospel-tinged plea clothed in raw vulnerability; the latter blends fractured indie-funk with warm backing vocals and sax touches.

  • “There’s a Rhythmn”: Nostalgic and soft, with R&B beats and lyrical tension about belonging—caught between past home in Wisconsin and love in California warmth.

  • “Au Revoir”: A meditative instrumental closure—floating the album into stillness, emphasizing reconciliation and calm.

💬 Artistic Impact

With a Metacritic score of 83, SABLE, fABLE earned praise for its evolved songwriting, emotional resonance, and tonal coherence. Some critics noted a hint of sweetness in its optimism, but most agreed it cements Bon Iver’s transformation from shadow into clarity with radiant musicianship and heart.

It also topped Billboard’s Rock & Alternative Albums chart and ranked high in Australia and New Zealand — a strong reception that reflects both its artistic depth and broader emotional reach.