Bon Iver – '22, A Million' (LP)

Bon Iver – '22, A Million' (LP)

🎧 Listening Experience

A defining statement of modern indie and emotional minimalism, 22, A Million is where Bon Iver pushes boundaries—sonically and personally. Layered with cryptic lyricism, bold electronics, and vulnerability, each side is a journey through spiritual searching, coded heartbreak, and hope. Essential for fans who seek innovation, honesty, and immersive, headphone-worthy detail.

Bon Iver's third studio album 22, A Million, self-recorded and produced by Justin Vernon and BJ Burton, has been described by Vernon as "a collection of 10 songs including song-samples, vocal snippets, and found sounds to assemble a mix that is grounded in the vernacular of the godly and the unrequited." More personal yet more expansive than his previous work, the album moves beyond the cabin-folk of For Emma, Forever Ago and the baroque grandeur of Bon Iver, Bon Iver into a sonic landscape that feels both intimate and infinite.

Immersive and experimental, 22, A Million dives deep into coded emotion and abstract beauty. The album's title and cryptic song names—filled with symbols, numbers, and glyphs—reflect the intentional mystery embedded in Vernon's creative process. His voice, at times heavily manipulated and at others achingly pure, floats over a collage of organic instrumentation, synthesizers, and chopped samples, creating something that defies easy categorization.

Themes of faith, isolation, love, and transcendence ripple through every track, pulling listeners into a meditative yet disorienting listening experience. From the distorted gospel of "22 (OVER S∞∞N)" to the haunting minimalism of "715 - CRΣΣKS" and the cathartic release of "8 (circle)," the album asks its audience to lean in, listen closely, and embrace the unknown.

With contributions from an array of collaborators including saxophonist Colin Stetson, members of The National, and engineer Chris Messina, 22, A Million is a testament to Vernon's boldness in pushing the boundaries of what Bon Iver can be.

Track Listing:

1. 22 (OVER S∞∞N) - 2:48
2. 10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⚄ ⚄ - 2:24
3. 715 - CRΣΣKS - 2:12
4. 33 "GOD" - 3:33
5. 29 #Strafford APTS - 4:05
6. 666 ʇ - 4:12
7. 21 M♢♢N WATER - 3:08
8. 8 (circle) - 5:09
9. ____45_____ - 2:46
10. 00000 Million - 3:53