Sufjan Stevens - The Ascension (September 25, 2020) Album • Page 23

Adz feels like a folk record that used electronic instrumentation, and this feels like an actual electronic record to me. A lot more repetition and builds and whatnot. But Adz is also prob the one I’m least fully familiar with out of the last 4 proper albums (getting there though - i do love it) so I may not be the best judge there

 

This is a very interesting observation. Hadn't thought of it this way.

 

I always found Adz exceptionally easy to relate to I guess. I think "Vesuvius" and "I Want to Be Well" are some of his most thrillingly emotional (and also just best) songs

title track on here is the only thing, so far, that's giving me that same rush of emotion :(

 

Adz is cool but doesn’t work for me the way his others do

 

Those are the two on the record (along with "Futile Devices" and a couple moments on "Impossible Soul") that I'd say really move me emotionally.

 

Only hearing Carrie and Lowell and some other songs here and there and no Adz seems to have helped my enjoyment of this album. I don’t think anything has hit harder lyrically/personally than the title track on here in a long time

 

The main thing I noticed on first listen was the lack of textures this album has. He tends to layer his compositions with harmonies and instruments and ambience to the point where they feel like they’re exploding with color. This album felt very stark in comparison, almost cold and hollow. I’ll have to give it another listen soon, see if this grows on me.

 

I’ve been trying but this just isn’t sticking for me :/

 

I like this album a ton, but can't listen to it outside of a pair of good headphones. Maybe that'll help you guys?

 

It didn't grab me on my first listen, but after spending quite a bit of time with it, I'm really enjoying this record.

 

The Ascension is still one of the best songs I have heard this year. So good.

 

This album is so chaotic and beautiful, not sure how else to put it... certainly takes a certain mindset to get fully into it

 

About half the times I've listened I've had the thought "this is my AOTY" and half the times it's been "this doesn't work" so I don't really know.

 

This gets better with every listen. This is my AOTY unless something truly incredible comes out in the 2 months.

 

Not yet at AOTY for me but this certainly has some of the best songs I have heard all year on it and there are so many moments I am in love with here

 

happy 10 years to Adz - read my embarrassing review of it from 10 years ago

Sufjan Stevens – The Age of Adz

 

Really sad this was the direction after the masterpiece of C&L.

 

I like the direction, but a lot of it just feels like it’s missing something to me.

 

i like this more than C&L

 

Yeah C+L is like, my... 5th? 6th favorite Sufjan project

 

C&L definitely reigns supreme for me, ha. But it was also (maybe) my first Suf album. Either that or Michigan, I can’t remember.

 

yep definitely

 

Yeah after my fifth listen I enjoy this immensely. Nobody mentioning Death Star enough. Songs a jam

 

Death Star - Goodbye to All That is definitely one of the better parts of the record imo.

 

I wouldn't shut up about Death Star the day the album came out.