Sufjan Stevens - I Walked

Throughout time, I’ve really come to love this new sound that Sufjan Stevens created this past year. With the All Delighted People EP (the gorgeous vinyl I just got as an awesome present from someone really awesome) he stunned with a huge wall of sound that featured clashing guitars, soft-paced ballads and intensely crafted compositions. And The Age of Adz was just as equally striking and drastically massive; albeit two entirely different recordings, as compared to the soft, muffled production of Illinois, these new creations really blew my mind.

But even through listening to all of the music, it’s amazing just how tremendous his voice sounds, as compared to before as well. On the title track, he’s declaring that he’s “lost the will to fight” and on “Get Real Get Right” he sings about getting right with the Lord and his voice sounds a lot more confident, a lot more assured, a lot more willing to take risks and in the end, everything sounds just so much better because of it. “I Walked” is your ‘typical’ heartbreak song but Stevens’ turns it into a poetic, bitter, poignant new way of explaining the process of moving on. I’ve well documented my heart many times and it’s only been through the last year or so – I’d say 2010 firmly solidified it – that I could say it’s probably entirely healed. So in many ways, I’ve finally gotten to the point where certain pasts can be closed without ever having any kind of linger in the back of the mind.

Stevens sings about being forced to walk away from someone because he has no other choice and although he’s still madly in love with her, he’s now dead in her eyes. I love how he’s directly singing to her, calling her ‘lover’ and how he depicts details of being left on the floor where they made love the last time and just crying. Ha, so he doesn’t say crying on the floor but he says “the worst has arrived” and I love how he says “for at least I deserve the respect of a kiss goodbye.” The chorus is downright beautiful and it’s a strong kiss-off, good-bye kind of “it’s my fault that you’re gone, whatever, I wish I could be strong but I’ve got nothing left to love so…I’ll walk.” Part of the inspiration comes from the schizophrenic artist Stevens takes influence from, but I’m sure there has to be some kind of personal story inside it as well and if you’re able to make the personal connections then the song’s even more affecting. It’s deeply sad but entirely uplifting at the same time; in some kind of ridiculous, or gorgeous (depends on how you see it), way very depressing music can be somewhat joyful and “I Walked” is just that. This last paragraph is just one long rant so I’ll close it at that :) Bryan

Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz

It’s starting to get cold outside and fall is usually my favorite season but for the start of this one I feel a bit distant. I wish I could pinpoint it, for I know it’s something that should pass soon. Until then, there are always specific bands and artists who simply do it for me in the fall – Sufjan Stevens being one of them. His new album The Age of Adz was just sent to reviewers and is now available to stream at NPR. It’s a drastically different sound from his earlier “state albums” and mostly, an entirely new direction. Much of the inspiration comes from a schizophrenic artist that Stevens’ channels, while still drawing comparisons and references to his own life. In short, it’s pretty special.

“I Walked” is yes, your typical ‘love hurts’ kind of heartbreak song. He’s singing about walking because he has no other choice and mostly because she’s decided to walk, what else is he to do. I’m always amazed that musicians who make beautiful music could possibly be singing about some of the same things I’ve lived before; it seems suddenly surreal. When he sings, “I am sorry the worst has arrived. For I'm on the floor…in the room where we made it that last touch of the night,” you can envision him lying on the floor after he’s probably called her and begged her to come back. It’s incredibly depressing but the music is just so soothing, as if everything is going to be OK, even when it seems so hopeless: “I should not be so lost, but I've got nothing left to love.”

The title track is probably one of the most ambitious songs on the album and even that sounds unfair because most of everything that Stevens does is ambitious in some kind of form. This is an epic, orchestral, twisting and ever-evolving song that delves into huge, soaring highs. I love how everyone sings that “this is the age of adz…eternal living!” before going into wild horn lines and belting choral passages. I also think that this song is where Stevens’ shows off his newly confident and inspired singing voice. Personally, I love the words, especially the last line when he asks to be forgiving for having selfish thoughts, “It’s only that I still love you deeply, it’s all the love I got.” Mostly, “For what you see is not fantasy. It's not what it gets, but gives,” what a great message to rally behind, even when everything seems so coldly unsure. – Bryan