Rolling Stone (p.68) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "The music evokes the acoustic side of Nick Cave or Neil Young, with his voice ranging from a creepy falsetto to a moan."

Rolling Stone (p.92) - Ranked #29 in Rolling Stone's 50 Best Albums Of 2008 -- "Justin Vernon builds big sounds that warm you from within."

Spin (p.97) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "Vernon's voice -- delicately layered and yearning -- gives standouts 'Skinny Love' and 'Flume' their stunningly direct emotional impact..."

Spin (p.47) - Ranked #31 in Spin's "40 Best Albums Of 2008" -- "[He] built a cathedral to lost love from a base of acoustic guitar and his astonishing, frequently multitracked vocals."

Uncut (p.80) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[A] magical, hyper-real experience....A sealed, complete and satisfying album..."

Q (Magazine) (p.147) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[H]is stretching and warping of songs until the tension between plaid-shirted authenticity and technical adventure carries a considerable charge, the kind undiminished by repeat plays."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.100) - 5 stars out of 5 -- "[A] record that reaches out and demands attention. It is a powerful act of transformation....Isolation doesn't get more splendid than this."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.73) - Ranked #4 in Mojo's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2008" -- "[H]e's made something beautiful and true that will last for ages."

Harp (magazine) (p.107) - "Vernon's strikingly soulful singing adds an expressive realism to his songs. Charged with honesty, his voice amplifies the unusual beauty of his songs."

Clash (magazine) (p.118) - "[R]efreshingly uplifting and should be heralded as a celebration of unique music making..."

Clash (magazine) (p.65) - Ranked #21 in Clash's "The 40 Best Albums of 2008" -- "The album is a testament to Justin's hard work and perseverance of over a decade of recording music in different forms."