In fact, there are actually two tracks of this phrase being played, as the 'buzz' moves from channel to channel initially, but then joins up in saccharine harmony near the end of the verse.Ġ:45-1:10 - In terms of production, the chorus is really subtly arranged and flows beautifully from the verse. It's a cold and spine-tingling presence in an otherwise warm instrumental piece. Either way, I have no idea how this sound was achieved (perhaps with a slide and ridiculously high action on a separate acoustic?), but it serves the song so well. To me, this always sounded like a bumblebee or the crackling of a short-circuited wire. Of course, one of the crowning production moments on the record happens in this first verse, as the buzzing high-E string of the acoustic guitar makes an appearance. The words are pretty clear through the first verse, which is more than can be said about some of the other more verbose vocal passages later on. Linguistically, this verse sets a precedent that isn't continued throughout the record in that you can actually understand most of what he's saying. In this case, his (presumably dual) vocals rushingly creep in from both channels to accentuate the thinness of his falsetto. Nothing is ever jarring, out of place, or rough, unless meant that way. I can't parse what this is, but it grounds the song in a real environment instead of making it so the whole thing sounds like it was recorded in a pristine studio.Ġ:15-0:45 - One thing (among many) that Justin Vernon does masterfully is vocal entrances. That's how I imagine the guitar Justin's playing to look and feel like.Īt 0:15, a mysterious huff (or sigh) is heard out of the right channel.

If you're a guitar player, think of the way in which old strings start to 'shed' thin strands of nickel and brass.

Though he never strummed his guitar like Justin, this guitar tone reminds me of Nick Drake. The warm, thuddy tone of the acoustic is a defining feature of the record and, in particular, the opening song. The guitar that is being played is clearly an older, creakier instrument that hasn't had its strings changed in ages. The progression itself isn't overly complicated, but the way in which it's played adds so much character. Then, in a somewhat rushed fashion, and after some muted downstrokes, the guitar enters with the song's primary progression. I don't know exactly what the sound is during the first half-second of the song, but it has something to do with someone either sitting down on a chair to play guitar or moving across wooden floorboards in a cabin-like environment. Here's a more detailed analysis of some of the production nuances that make this song click:Ġ:00-0:15 - Right off the bat, we're introduced to something that becomes a discrete staple of the entire record: ambient noise. Though I believe this track had some additional production done on it after Justin left the cabin, it remains one of the greatest album openers (and individual songs) in modern folk. Chronologically, this is the first song that is heard from the official Bon Iver discography. From a purely organizational standpoint, this is the song that started it all.

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