Carrie & Lowell

Here is something to contemplate. Its been ten years since Sufjan Stevens released the career high Illinoise, the second in his ill fated and now abandoned 50 states project. Since then he hasn't been as intimate, releasing Age of Adz in a swathe of electronics, the Sisyphus side project and two Christmas box sets (let's discount The Avalanche as it was just a companion piece to Illinois). Here he returns to Illinoise and Seven Swans era music with his most intimate music to date. An album dedicated to his mother (who passed away in 2012) and his step father, who now runs his label Asthmatic Kitty. However, this is Sufjan Stevens and his relationship with his mother was as complex and dark as you can imagine. His recent forays may have alienated many who loved his early era intimacy (personally I loved Age of Adz) but this will see those fans return to the fold as he opens up his past for all to see. There are moments of beauty here in the arrangements, however the lyrics are altogether darker. Should Have Known Better sounds like a slightly more up tempo version of John Wayne Gacy Jr from Illinoise but actually is as dark as that number. It depicts the first time that Carrie abandoned Sufjan and his siblings (at age three or maybe four). The Only Thing shows Stevens fixation with his mother when he sings 'Should I tear my heart out now? Everything I feel returns to you somehow.' The entire eleven tracks seem to show the depth of the relationship (or lack thereof) between the singer and his parent. Sufjan Stevens has divided many with recent works. This will not. Dark, beautiful and wonderful this is up there with his very best efforts.

This is the album that I suspect many followers of Sufjan have been hoping he would make as the official follow up to the Age of Adz - something far more intimate and paired back. Carrie & Lowell underscores everything that is special for me about the artist: his ability to create truly heart-warming and emotive missives from the clever counterpoint and pay-off of a series of simple but memorable and folksy melodies. It's quite lovely. Mainly built on a sound-bed of acoustic guitar, banjo and piano, with occasional electronic flourishes and washes, this is a very clean and concise collection of songs that have real emotional impact - not least because of the lyrical theme, which is a very personal study of a relationship with a deceased parent. However, this is Sufjan Stevens we are talking about, which means that the nursery-rhyme and hymn-like qualities of his music mean that even the darkest of moments (such as the "we're all gonna die" refrain at the end of the Fourth of July) leave you with a strange sense of optimism, hope or even joy. A great record for fans and a wonderful starting point for newcomers. I score this as 4.8/5.

If you aren't averse to the folkier side of music then you'll appreciate the beautiful sounds created on this sublime album. If, like me, you also love your folk music dusted with an old, golden melancholy, you will ADORE this. Fans of Elliott Smith, Iron And Wine & Bright Eyes are probably already listening to it right now, to be perfectly frank. I won't lie: I'm completely & utterly obsessed with the crushing splendour of this majestic work which details Sufjan Stevens' devastating grief following the death of his mother, Carrie. It's heavy. But totally worth your time.

Hadn't listened to Sufjan for a while I must admit. Like a friend or acquaintance you see on the street but avoid talking to, it's not that you particularly want to avoid them, but rather that you wonder if you still have much left to say given the last couple of conversations you had were a bit strained. Despite myself and my fickle ways, I decided to say 'Hi' this time, thinking it may be a tricky engagement. Very glad I did. Whilst I wouldn't say Carrie & Lowell is his best album, nor is it exactly uplifting, it is certainly in the canon of his best work, highly recommended and, in my view, well worth buying. I've played it a few times now and foresee myself revisiting often. If he keeps this up standard of work in future we may even become BFFs :-)

THIS RATING IS FOR THE MUSIC. The music on this album is absolutely fantastic and the best that Sufjan has ever written. HOWEVER, avoid the vinyl pressing at all costs. It is, simply put, unlistenable. The music is distorted throughout, especially during instrumental sections, the sound is weak and quiet, the grooves are off centre resulting in constant pitchshifting, and frankly it's just awful. Stick with the CD or digital, as it really is a beautiful album. Shame about the vinyl.

Pretty acoustic-picking with evocative sound washes, offset by somewhat grim lyrics inspired by the death of his mother. A bit samey, but there is only one track I find a bit wearisome, and there are many beautiful highlights such as Should Have Known Better, Fourth of July, No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross. One of the best new albums for a while.

Great album from Sufjan - or should I say Subaru? It has his characteristic and wholly unique blend of great songs with just a dash of serialism. And not forgetting the (almost) ever present tenor banjo. As ever his lyrics are mostly impenetrable and sometimes frankly disturbing - but one would expect no less from the man who wrote John Wayne Gracy Jnr. I'm not sure that any of the songs individually have the impact of his greatest - for example Chicago. However taken as a whole I think it has a consistency that makes it his most satisfying album. I find I listen to it from beginning to end, and there aren't many albums I do that with in these days of playlists.

This is my favourite Sufjan Album with deep and emotive lyrics and beautiful melodies, its a winner all the way through not really any weak tracks on this album at all, if you like soulful introspective indy folk singer songwriters you should give this one a listen

Album très intime et une période douloureuse pour Sufjan. Parfait pour chialer un bon coup un jour de pluie en hiver. Non sans déconner il est magnifique.

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美しいメロディとエモーショナルで繊細な歌声。心に染み入る名盤です。

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