Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell

 

Sufjan Stevens

Carrie & Lowell

2015

Sufjan Stevens has released his much awaited album Carrie & Lowell and the Indie world can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The album is full of heart, great stories and amazing writing but the album suffers from one thing: it's boring. This is not the Sufjan of Seven Swans or Illinois with soaring orchestras and powerful chest beating tunes. Instead Stevens has taken a quieter turn, mostly just him and a guitar or guitaresque grouping of instruments, and singing songs that have deep meaning to him personally. The songs are quite pretty and delicate, soft in tone and volume, but most of the tracks just hold a line and stay right there. The one chance for a track to really take a large step up "John My Beloved" but instead the song just ends abruptly leaving the listener wanting more in the worst way possible. 

Much like a really dense book this is the type of album that takes some deep digging into. I'm sure there is a treasure trove somewhere under the surface, but I just can't find it. There is no doubt that Stevens had a clear intention with this record, but whether that actually hits the mark is the issue I find with Carrie & Lowell. In terms of courage Stevens really puts himself out there. Most of these heart wrenching stories ring very true and pull you into their vortex of tragedy and loneliness. Sufjan Stevens has done something different with this record and it is to be applauded, but I think a balance between the Sufjan of old and the one from Carrie & Lowell would bring about music at a much higher level.

7 out of 10