Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension (September 25, 2020) Album • Page 18

Yeah I.... think I really loved that? It's totally the sleepier pop companion piece to Adz, some really wild stuff going on. But I can't help but feel like every song felt EXACTLY the same, and the album doesn't really feel like it climaxes at all. You'd think with something this massive it would have a huge ebb and flow and the end would be super cinematic, but I don't feel like that happens (even though I REALLY like America). Idk. It's gonna be an album I'll need some time with. I can definitely say right now I really loved quite a few tracks, namely Make Me an Offer, Video Game, Tell Me You Love Me, Ativan, Landslide, title track and America

 

Also I’m still getting used to the new auto play on Apple Music and A-Punk coming on after America was pretty jarring lmao

 

"Run Away With Me" is so beautiful.

 

Was my first thought. “This is a Tears for Fears song”

 

I'm on Landside right now and it may be my favorite thus far.

By the end of the opening track I knew I was in for something special. I'm connecting with this in all the ways I never could with Adz. What a fucking week it's been.

 

About 2/3 through. I like this more than I thought I would. I love Adz so I was concerned when the first 3 singles weren’t doing much for me.

 

As someone who does not dig Adz at all besides 2 or 3 songs, this is like a much more pleasant, accessible version of that. It's like Sufjan is not actively working against the listener this time around. Big NIN vibes too which works well for his voice. Lamentations and Ursa Major are early highlights for me.

 

The title track... WOW

 

I don’t know what to make of this after my first listen. I’m not really sure it worked for me. Parts of it did, but I didn’t find a lot of it to be melodically engaging, parts of it blended together, and a lot of it lacked the vibrancy I really love in all of Sufjan’s records. I’m hoping it will be a slow burn for me that will grow, but as of right now, this is my least favorite thing I’ve heard from him.

 

How do people not like Adz?

 

This is not a first listen. Wouldn't even be thinking about rankings at this stage.

 

This is hitting just right today. It's like he took all the weirdness from Adz and Planetarium, and turned that into a bunch of pop songs. And for me, it works. This is a massive album. Definitely going to take a few more listens to really sink in.

The title track had me in tears at 8AM, so that's something.

 

I found this to be quite drawn out and kind of boring on first listen. Definitely some cool moments, and I’m sure it will grow with more listens.

But at the same time, the thought of another full listen seems daunting to me lol.

 

Landslide is nice. Also a good reprieve from the two tracks before it.

 

I feel like the album should have ended with "The Ascension," with "America" being a separate release.

 

7/10 from Pitchfork

Sufjan Stevens: The Ascension

 

Pretty sure this is the first solo full-length of his not to get BNM since Michigan

 

I'm not sure I've ever agreed with a Pitchfork score.

 

I’m on Die Happy and everything has blown me away so far.

 

Die Happy was a standout for me. Also agree about the title track being up there with his best.

 

Folk/country ?

huh?

 

Pitchfork writer is correct that the title track is one of his best songs, but I don't agree with much else after one listen. The beginning and end of the record definitely struck me more immediately than the meandering middle, but I don't think it was meandering in a bad way. There were lots of really interesting parts of songs and I'm sure with repeated listens I'll appreciate some of the less-direct tracks more. I also love Adz but I'm not sure this record is actually that similar to that one, apart from the fact that he uses "electronics." Very different vibe.

 

Death Star isn't getting enough love.

 

Pitchfork review read quite a bit more positive than the score for me, not that it matters

 

Sam is a great writer. Shame most people tend to only talk about the score.