Those who fell in love with Bon Iver's brilliant debut For Emma, Forever Ago have been waiting four years for a followup, and Justin Verson & co. do not disappoint -- it's as grand, forlorn, and heartbreaking as anyone could hope. Vernon felt too overwhelmed by the pressure to go it alone, so he enlisted a raft of contributors to help inspire him, from pedal steel master Greg Leisz to Arcade Fire sax sideman Colin Stetson to a children's choir. His recent detours with Gayngs and Kanye West have lighted new musical directions for him as well. Each of the 10 songs is named for a different place, and each casts a different mood -- from Civil War-era melancholy to magical forest-wandering to a stoney natural high by album's end. Bon Iver forever!

I still cannot get over the quality of For Emma, Forever Ago. However, this is an awesome sophomore effort for Justin Vernon & Co. Much like their debut, this new self-titled album uses atmospheric sounds and melodies that paint a landscape very much like the one depicted on the album cover. – Gabi, San Francisco

Everything Justin Vernon does hurts me in my heartspace. This album is just as cold, lush, and achey as For Emma, Forever Ago, while still managing to sound completely new. I was a little afraid Vernon would spread himself thin with all of his awesome side projects, but this album is fantastic. – L.L., Hollywood

I was so blown away by Bon Iver’s debut For Emma, Forever Ago that I certainly didn’t expect this self-titled sophomore effort to outstrip it significantly. Songwriter Justin Vernon mixes country, folk, R&B, chamber music, jazz, electronica, and simple sound experimentation in ways that make this new beast seem like a friend we have known our whole lives. – J. Mark Beaver, Hollywood

Also available on CD.