But Sufjan Stevens defies these odds. Though Stevens’ vocals are as ghostly and light as ever, there is a difference in his music in his seventh studio album, Carrie and Lowell. While being sure to stay true his style of incorporating mythological and Christian motifs and beautiful, poetic prose, Sufjan also includes something else, his most raw and bare emotions and past experiences.
When one explores this album on a deeper level, they see what Stevens’ has gone through the past few years and what he continues to go through. Though it is still story-like, it is his story. The wonderful part of this album is that it can still be interpretive because of his use of imagery and double meanings. Be sure to keep an ear open to his usage of winged animal references throughout (very Sufjan).
Listener beware, however, it is easy to go through very intimate emotions when listening to this album in whole. Stevens’ does a wonderful job at expressing his life and it is possible to experience possible feelings that he has had as well. Though the album is both story-like and biographical, he does a good job at tying up all of the loose strings he creates throughout the album, on the final track it shows what he has gone through and where he is now. Even though this album is enriched in the references of death, Sufjan shows that he is able to produce a poetic continuation of his life.
Recommended If You Like: Sisyphus, Panda Bear, The Decemberists, Destroyer
Recommended Tracks: 1 (Death With Dignity), 3 (All Of Me Wants All Of You), 6 (Fourth Of July), 7 (The Only Thing)
Do Not Play: 10 (No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross)
Written by Haven Harbert on 04/10/2015