Bon Iver's New Album: Every Song On SABLE, fABLE Ranked

MusicianJustin Vernon has returned under his Bon Iver moniker with his latest studio album, entitled SABLE, fABLE. Released on April 11, 2025, this is his fifth record as Bon Iver and his first proper LP in nearly six years, following 2019's I, I and his 2024 EP, SABLE. The fABLE side functions as a continuation of the SABLE EP and incorporates its (technically) four songs as the first half of the album. It then expands into the rest of the record's nine tracks, using the fifth song, "SHORT STORY,"as a bridge that connects the two sides as one.

In many ways, SABLE, fABLE feels like a journey out of the darkness and into the light for the Wisconsin-born artist. Sable acts as familiar territory for Vernon with a heavy, stripped-down, contemporary folk-music vibe that reflects the image of fear, anxiety, and insecurity. While fABLE is his lantern out of the twilight and into an almost sunny-sounding full-band farewell tapestry arc ending in "THERE'S A RHYTHMN/AU REVOIR." Will this be the conclusion of Bon Iver with one final "AU REVOIR" bow? Only time may tell that story.

13 ...

Track 1 - 0:12

The track that technically gives the SABLE EP and the SABLE, fABLE album their opening, "..." is a twelve-second whining drone sound solely intended to act as a transition point into the first proper song, entitled "THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS." While "..." seems as though it didn't need to be a "song" on its own, instrumental transitions are clearly a theme on the album, as "AU REVOIR" functions as a much longer fadeout that concludes SABLE, fABLE. Sort of a yin and yang to each other, with "..." as a robotic sort of screech.

12 AU REVOIR

Track 13 - 2:01

"AU REVOIR" is a very peaceful, easy lullaby of an instrumental track that spirals out of the end of the last proper song of the record, "THERE'S A RHYTHMN." While Vernon has not stated publicly with any confirmation that his Bon Iver project has reached the end of the road, it becomes difficult not to speculate with this bright, clear-eyed album conclusion. Especially given that the Bon Iver name is a term Vernon devised from a French phrase meaning "good winter," while "AU REVOIR" is a French way to say goodbye, until we meet again.

11 SHORT STORY

Track 5 - 1:56

As mentioned previously, "SHORT STORY" acts as the connective tissue that joins together the SABLE and fABLE sides of this record. As the prior song, "AWARDS SEASON," fades out in a nearly a cappella fashion layered in vocals, the remaining chord shining alone is suddenly joined by instruments.As though the band is suddenly filing in to give more color to the dark picture SABLE has finished painting, just to add some of the salmon featured so prominently on the fABLE side of the album art.

"SHORT STORY" is just as it describes, a short experience that almost ends too soon in the scope of things. But when the instruments all suddenly swell up, punctuated by the strum of an electric guitar, that feels like an experience. That moment just pulls you out of the gloom of SABLE and right into the pupil-dilating discovery of constellations and fairytales where once there was only the grand entrance of night. Truly, the entrance meant for a fABLE to begin.

10 IF ONLY I COULD WAIT (Featuring Danielle Haim)

Track 11- 3:22

"IF ONLY I COULD WAIT" is a floaty type of song that seems to drift almost as if in and out of a dream landscape, while Vernon muses about trying to hold on to someone else amidst the trauma and terrors of the world. Buoyed on the back of an electronic-heavy beat, there's optimism here, but also almost a question from Vernon: do we have what it takes to get through and still be together?

Danielle Haim from the band HAIM plays a superb foil in "IF ONLY I COULD WAIT," juxtaposed in the same space but feeling worlds apart. As though an ocean separates their ships, and they are each looking at the night sky, wondering if the other is looking at the same stars as they are. Like Bon Iver itself, the future of the singers is unknown.

9 WALK HOME

Track 7 - 3:46

If the track "I COULD ONLY WAIT" is about the longing to wait and hope to maintain an important, lasting connection with someone, "WALK HOME" feels like the earlier stage of the magnet that brought these souls together. The buzz of attraction and the desire to be with this person drives Vernon in this country/R&B mash of a love song. He doesn't care what happens as long as he can walk home and be inside with them and spend time together.

They really don't exaggerate when they say love is like a drug, especially in its early stages. "WALK HOME" feels like Vernon is happy and attached in this feeling, and that in and of itself can be a glorious high.

8 I'LL BE THERE

TRACK 10 - 2:54

Balanced on a booming, grooving beat, flourishes of thumping bass, touches of organ, and knifing electric guitar, "I'LL BE THERE" feels like Vernon doing his take on gospel choir soul. The lyrics tell this person he's feeling a mad kind of love for that he's going to be there for them no matter whether they're home or away.

He doesn't care whether he preaches it or not to the entire congregation; they're going to know how he feels. The R&B/soul vibes here are unmatched, and really pour out the cup of feelings and emotions so well here.

7 THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS

TRACK 2 - 3:20

From the SABLE side of the album, "THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS" addresses some specific stresses and anxieties that Vernon seems to be feeling in his state of mind on the darker side of the coin. Whether about his own image, the gains he's made in his career, or just the fear of change and what comes with it, this folk-faced track has an introspective type of bleed-through.

In fact, the verbiage of "THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS" literally means to have a clutter or buildup of some type of worry or negativity getting more and more crowded by the moment. Unless Vernon is willing to take that step and address the changes he's afraid to make, that space will only grow tighter and tighter.

6 FROM

Track 9 - 3:02

Arguably one of the most straightforward tracks on SABLE, fABLE, "From" has this charismatic, soulful, bluesy, almost pop-like groove that's reminiscent of the laid-back charm of an artist such as Bonnie Raitt. It also feels like one of the most upbeat moments captured in a Bon Iver project. Vernon might be feeling concerned or is worried that the lover he's connected to isn't quite as affectionate these days in the lyrics, but unlike the past version of himself, he's not letting it cloud his mind with darkness.

Instead, he seems to be more willing to roll with the punches, and whatever will be will be. And that if his lover has their worries, he's more than willing to take them on instead of running away or internalizing them.

5 DAY ONE (Featuring Dijon & Flock Of Dimes)

Track 8 - 3:33

Featuring the wonderful Dijon and Flock of Dimes, "Day One" has more of that hip-hop/R&B-inflected rhythm flavor that's spiced up plenty of moments from throughout SABLE, fABLE. It's a catchy slice of earworm that ruminates on a past relationship tie that seems to have Vernon on the defensive, taking the problems that arose and throwing them back at the individual he was once tied to.

But as the track nods ahead, Flock of Dimes plays the other person in the conflict, who calls out Vernon for making excuses, which gets him to admit he'd like a rewind of what they did wrong. And since he can't make up for the mistakes of the past, he's going to be rattling on and moving forward now.

4 EVERYTHING IS PEACEFUL LOVE

Track 6 - 3:30

Emerging from the fruits of the prior song, "SHORT STORY," like a budding flower sprouting with life into bloom, "EVERYTHING IS PEACEFUL LOVE" is the first indication that this might be a different type of Bon Iver season we're headed into this time. Leaning into a Bruce Hornsby-ish arrangement, this feels like Vernon still has discomfort but is finally moving into a peace of more goodness in his life.

And that calm, in and of itself, is part of what's adding to his unease, almost a wondering if this is too good to be true for him. But inevitably, the deeper he sinks into this lounge chair, the more he realizes that this is a safe place and a safe person to be alongside. This state of mind is, again, Vernon rolling with the punches and learning to let things go instead of taking them into a bad place. There's peace and love at last.