Bon Iver – SABLE, fABLE
Let's just see how indie heads hate happy people because I feel like that would be a great case.
You know what’s very on-brand for Bon Iver? Patiently waiting twenty years to release his most optimistic, sunlit record at a time when the world is visibly falling apart. The irony of Justin Vernon knows no bounds.
As I said in my SABLE EP review — the comma was never just a pause, it was a hint that there was more to come. That EP was only a glimpse, a part of a larger, unfinished narrative. There’s not much to add about the first half — just read what I already wrote. It still stands.
On the fABLE side of things, we step even further into this new era — there’s little of the heartbreak-laced melancholy of For Emma, Forever Ago or Bon Iver, Bon Iver, nor the unhinged innovation and sonic rule-breaking of 22, A Million or i,i. This is Bon Iver with clarity and intention — a reinvention of the self that doesn't need to scream to be heard. A grown, grounded romantic. A man who no longer has the energy to pretend everything is terrible for him just because everything is terrible in general.
The chaos of life, broken hearts, and the urge to be the smartest, most unpredictable artist in the room — they just don’t matter as much anymore. Vernon has found beauty in simplicity. And if that doesn’t strike you as wonderful, you might just not be at that chapter of your life yet.
On paper, this could sound like Coldplay’s latest reboot or an indie version of Dua Lipa’s Radical Optimism. And honestly? That’s not entirely wrong — but only if you bring nuance into the conversation. Because make no mistake: this is still unmistakably a Bon Iver album. No one else could make this.
The tone shift starts clearly on “Short Story” and blooms into the radiant “Everything Is Peaceful Love” — one of the most uplifting tracks in his entire catalog. There’s plenty of producer magic too, like the layered textures of “From” and “Walk Home.” The duet with Danielle Haim, “If Only I Could Wait,” is pure beauty, and “There’s a Rhythm” stands out as a clear highlight — a song that captures everything this new era of Bon Iver is about.
This is easily his most accessible and emotionally grounded work to date — a record about clarity, about recognizing that suffering is not a competitive sport, and that you’ll always have time to feel bad later. This one’s for the people who’ve grown tired of turning pain into a performance.
And just when you think Vernon couldn't take this new light further, he gently plays with the very image of domestic bliss. If you flip through the physical Zine included with the album, you’ll find a photo of him with a child and actress Cristin Milioti — an image straight out of the new-parent starter pack. And while I can confirm that they’re not a couple, and that’s not their child, it fits the tone of fABLE perfectly: part fantasy, part metaphor, entirely sincere. It’s a snapshot of the kind of peace he’s chosen to believe in, if only for the length of a song — or a photo.
Some longtime fans may turn away from SABLE, fABLE without giving it a fair chance. And that’s fine. This album isn’t chasing the shadows of past heartbreaks — it’s choosing light. And it does so with a kind of softness that some might mistake for resignation or shallowness. But it’s not about giving up. It’s about embracing ease, and allowing joy to exist without apology.
This record also feels like a reflection on everything he’s done before — you can hear little echoes of his earlier albums throughout. Some say this could be the final Bon Iver album. And honestly? I wouldn’t be sad if it is. The journey we’ve taken with Justin Vernon under this name has been nothing short of singular and unforgettable. Whether he moves on under his own name or returns to Bon Iver in the future doesn’t matter — he’ll always have something meaningful to say. There’s no The Weeknd/Abel Tesfaye identity crisis here, where the character consumes the artist. Vernon found light within himself just when the world got pitch black. And that alone is beautiful.
If Bon Iver can be positive, so do you. So stop all this shit and try to find a moment of peace and joy. Now!
8.5/10
