When I first bought this (the whole album, without first listening, purely on the basis of how brilliant past albums had been), I thought I had wasted my money. I stopped listening to it, and only by chance did I hear “00000 Million” on shuffle - at least there’s one nice song on here. Over time the album got played as it carried on from Bon Iver and Emma (usually when dozing on a plane...), it slowly dawned on me that a lot of it is actually pretty good (maybe it’s an acquired taste....), and some of it is really good! Track 2 is unquestionably dire, the song titles are clearly going way over my head, and some of the editing is a bit much. That said, I would rate the album on the whole, and while not as consistently brilliant as previously, there are some absolute gems in there (33 “GOD” and 29 #Strafford APTS in particular).

Maybe my mistake was hoping for more of the same, but for those who might dismiss it out of hand, I’d urge you to give this one a second chance.

Amazing

A lot of the negative reviews on here are of people who heard the previous albums and wanted something similar. The album is a masterpiece! It is different but it's still a masterpiece. Justin's finest work by far and I haven't stopped playing it since the album release! 8 Circle is my fave song ever

the "fans" who go into this album expecting bon iver to do the same thing as he did on "for emma, forever ago" and his self titled LP will find that they aren't true fans after all. bon iver never does the same thing more than once. here he does something different and it pays off.

Was expecting the old Bon Iver. But giving this album the time it deserved to listen to it from start to finish, I give it 11/10. Amazing piece of art. Like a Picasso painting

This is good music, but 35 minutes of music is no more than an extedned player, I was shocked when I realsied how short this so called album was. Shame on you for charging album prices....

If you make music, or if you love music this is the album for you. Go get, you're in for a treat. Ph€N0mEn/\L

Soul music. 8 (circle) gives me particularly large goosebumps.

Great in places people dislike this cos it's different. Fav tracks over soon, _45_

Unfettered genius. Grows and grows. Nothing else like this, a real one-off.

I love "8(circle)", one of my favourite songs 2016. Such a shame the rest was awful. Seems to me to be a contemporary attempt at changing the way music sounds, but in some places it just didn't work

This is absolutely awful. Such a shame.

Thought that I'd accidentally downloaded 'Volcano Choirs' new album? So looking forward to this album as I've been a fan for years but this is like another, all the other VC albums and I'm not a fan of them. Sorry really wanted it to be great.

Ok, it's not the last two albums but then I don't want it to be. Listen to 8(circle) and 45 and tell me this isn't JV at his beautiful best?

Can't give it 5/5 because it is overproduced at times. Anyone who says this isn't music, simply because of the electronic production (that forms the foundation of the album), just have an awful understanding of how electronic music conveys emotion and detail. Great production with the vocals, the production is just sometimes too complex. Nothing more.

This is a great listen, not for everyone perhaps. But if you’re searching for something truly original and something where you can discover something new on each listen, then this is it. Stick with it!

Seen a lot of people slagging this album and the first few listens weren't easy I'll grant you that but then slowly the album made sense, its like nothing else I've heard this year.

8 circle and 33 God are tracks that will be in my favourites forever, pure genius, Justin you did it again. Now if only I could get tickets to see you 😩

I have everything they have done ,have waited for the new release and what a disappiontment.

Can't quite believe it really. A crying shame.

If you wondered where Pinky and Perky have been all these years then look no further!

Alright, slight exaggeration.

There are some good tracks on this album, however this is overproduced in parts and strays from the bands roots.

Whilst its good to be innovative and come up with something different I think this went to far.

I realise some fans are confused by this album. Me, I'm transfixed by it. I love the sound experiments, the haunting distorsions, and the songwriting. Beautiful and really soulful

Waited so long for this and

other than '8 Circle' the album is just full of short tracks that are basically rubbish. Really disappointed by this and don't know what Justin was trying to achieve. Was waiting for an epic album but this is not it. Have only downloaded '8 Circle' as in my opinion it's the only song worth owning.

8 (circle) and 715 creeks are incredible tracks. I realise not everyone will share this opinion but I think this progression is a step in the right direction.

Bon Over more like.. if you want pants buy pants !

Album is bloody brilliant, moon water and 45 are pish however these become mere scratchings on the surface of what is a truly outstanding album

As befits a Talk Talk fan, JV has just made the same shift from the mainstream that Hollis and Co did with Spirit of Eden and Radiohead did with Kid A. It will jar the ears of many casual fans, but those who 'get it', will regard it as a masterpiece.

Some of these songs are the same beautiful Bon Iver we expect. But some of them sound awful, so tinny and low quality. I actually went to YouTube to listen on there to see if I'd downloaded a faulty copy, but no - that's just the sound of the songs. It's difficult to listen to some of these songs in my opinion. Wish I would have listened on Apple Music before buying this!

Sad when a genious just runs out of steam. 30 minutes of nothing, after a 5 year wait. Time to come out of the woods Justin, there is nothing there any more.

Oh dear! Tried my best to like! 'Nail in the coffin' was when my wife asked 'is this Cher's Believe?' I

Sour ears

Just absolutely stunning again from the best band in the world. 8 (circle) is musically, vocally and emotionally perfect.

Not really sure how this is classed as music

80%drivel👎

The best album yet. Simply stunning.

The singles point to JV taking a differnet direction to the cliched sad boy image that had been cultivated in the wake of his earlier releases. This is a real grower. Layered, emotional, evocative: can’t stop playing it

I have been a fan of Bon Iver since his first album. This is obviously a very different direction but each song is unique, complex and haunting. Every listen uncovers new layers.

a far cry from the likes of beach baby, calgary and the entirety of for Emma forever ago, 22, A million sounds like the band found some retro electro-music equipment and vomited out whatever first came into their head. I know every band looks to go in a new direction at one point but this is an epic fail in my opinion. Bon Iver were a great band because they created emotive and great music through simplicity. This album should have never happened!

I'm a huge Bon Iver fan, DeYarmond Edison / volcano choir too... There are some beautiful tracks here but don't expect it to be the same as previous material, also slightly disappointed that some of my favourite tracks here have (audio engineering?) faults that cut through special moments, no the digital track isn't corrupted this is the final mastered version... Hmm will still play Beth/rest forever :)

Justin Vernon tries to make an electronic album but fails, in the end the lush and gorgeous sound he's famous for shines through and takes centre stage. This is an excellent album, the texturing around the songs is fresh and new but their core is more classic Bon Iver.

I'm around 3 songs into this apart from the few that were already released or teased before today's release and it's nice to have some fresh music from Bon Iver. What a fantastic album this is!

Pretentious, irritating, but brilliant.

After a long wait and doubt as to whether we'd ever get a third album from Justin and Bon Iver, this is certainly much anticipted and appreciated. Perhaps a slight change of sound from the previous two albums, this third still absolutely delivers on originality, drama, emotion and atmosphere. Music made for the right reasons with the right results!

Been waiting ages for this, seems I shouldn't have bothered. A few "good" tracks, 00000 million and 33 god, and the rest just an exercise in noise making. I think Justin must have got a new synth for Christmas and just pressed all the buttons. Disappointed!

Another great album.

He's done it again. It's the first album I've been excited about in years,it doesn't disappoint. Justin Vernon is a genius,his mind works differently from us mortals. He is a once in a generation talent that should be celebrated at every corner of the earth. This album will go down as a game changer,one of the greats. Bon Iver,never stop.

Just perfection!

Long awaited, progression continues, no strumming from the cabin here, but no lack of soulful themes. That voice. Samples. The gospel feel behind much of it, interspersed with 21st century technologies, blends wonderfully and seamlessly. If you're looking for Skinny Love, Towers, Re:Stacks, Perth, then look away.......if you're looking for development and another reinvention of Justin DeYarmond Edison Vernon, this should fit the bill........now to play it forever!

Absolutely brilliant as always...I expect nothing less from JV. Looking forward to a live listen in February. X

Brilliantly original and well worth the wait. Another classic. Just superb.

Absolute drivel