Sufjan Stevens – Javelin

Sufjan Stevens – Javelin – Book compilation 1

Album data

Rating

Announcement

On August 14 Asthmatic Kitty Records, Sufjan Stevens’ record company, announced a new album:

We are proud to announce a new album from Sufjan, Javelin, on October 6th. The first single, “So You Are Tired,” is available for listening now, alongside a lyric video.

Javelin marks Sufjan’s first solo album of songs since The Ascension, and his first in full singer-songwriter mode since Carrie & Lowell. At times, Javelin has the feel of a big team album production — but it is decidedly not: almost every sound here is the result of Sufjan writing and recording at home, building by himself what sometimes feels like a testament to ’70s Los Angeles studio opulence. The contributions come from a close circle of friends – adrienne maree brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui and Nedelle Torrisi – who provide harmonies on many songs, and Bryce Dessner, who plays acoustic and electric guitar on “Shit Talk.”

Sufjan Stevens – Javelin – Book compilation 2

To build anticipation for the upcoming album, two more songs would be released : Will Anybody Ever Love Me? on September 13 and A Running Start on October 3. The physical releases of the album are accompanied by a 48 page book of art and essays created by Sufjan, samples of which are scattered throughout this article in 3 compilations. The essays are divided into 10 paragraphs, whose titles make up the sentence My love. Is. A Weapon. Thrown. Unto. The. Oblivion. Of. Your. Body.

Guillain-Barré syndrome

Unfortunately, bad news was announced on September 20. On his personal website sufjan.com Stevens posted:

Hi Friends. Quick update on my life. I’m very excited about having new music to share, but I just wanted to let you know that one of the reasons why I haven’t been able to participate in the press and promotion leading up to the release of Javelin is bc I am in the hospital. Last month I woke up one morning and couldn’t walk. My hands, arms and legs were numb and tingling and I had no strength, no feeling, no mobility. My brother drove me to the ER and after a series of tests – MRIs, EMGs, cat scans, X-rays, spinal taps (!), echo-cardiograms, etc. – the neurologists diagnosed me with an auto immune disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Luckily there’s treatment for this – they administer immuno-hemoglobin infusions for five days and pray that the disease doesn’t spread to the lungs, heart and brain. Very scary, but it worked. I spent about two weeks in Med/Surg, stuck in a bed, while my doctors did all the things to keep me alive and stabilize my condition. I owe them my life.

On September 8, I was transferred to acute rehab, where I am now undergoing intensive physical therapy/occupational therapy, strength building etc. to get my body back in shape and to learn to walk again. It’s a slow process, but they say I will “recover,” it just takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work. Most people who have GBS learn to walk again on their own within a year, so I am hopeful. I’m only in my second week of rehab but it is going really well and I am working really hard to get back on my feet. I’m committed to getting better, I’m in good spirits, and I’m surrounded by a really great team. I want to be well!

I’ll keep you posted as I progress. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. And a huge shout out to all the incredible caretakers of the world working night and day to help us heal. They are living saints.

Be well, be joyful, stay sane, stay safe. I love you.

yours truly from a wheelchair XOXOXO Sufjan Stevens

Terrible news, which hopefully will have a happy ending. Luckily, the prospects seem to be fairly positive. Ever since, Stevens posts regular updates on his progress and tries to keep his spirits up. A week ago he posted “This whole experience has been a blessing in disguise. I know I’ve often been the poster child of pain, loss, and loneliness. And I can be a misanthrope at times. But the past month has renewed my hope in humanity. All the caregivers, doctors, nurses, and specialists working 24/7 to care for those in dire need around me have been constant examples of love in action”.

Sufjan Stevens – Javelin

Review

But, in the end, it all comes down to the music, and to get straight to the point, it is impressively beautiful (once again). Richer orchestrated than the equaly impressive Carrie & Lowell, and more subdued than his first masterpiece Illinois. The die has been cast. Javelin sounds like a cross-over between both albums, but never sounds predictable.

The album immediately grabs at the very start. “Goodbye evergeen / You know I love you / But everything heaven-sent / Must burn out in the end”. 15 Seconds underway and the album has already made its indelible mark. Serenity, emotion, Stevens’ soothing voice. Most of the songs start off calmly and gradually build and build with lush orchestrations and choirs, only to end up small again.

Love is the central theme, the search for true connection, the longing for somthing permanent, the loss. Will Anybody Ever Love Me? is a perfect title for a Smiths song, but fits perfectly in Stevens’ body of work. Is true love in the cards for the author? “Will anybody ever love me? / For good reasons / Without grievance, not for sport / Will anybody ever love me? / In every season”. Beautiful instrumentation, beautiful vocals and sincere emotion, it never turns pathetic. And then, after all the beauty that has come before it, the album ends with a Neil Young cover, There’s A World, a song Stevens has made his own.

I can do nothing else than fullheartedly recommend this astonishing album. Once again Sufjan Stevens delivers an album I will listen to on repeat and will give me nothing but pure joy. Take your time, immerse yourself in Sufjan’s world and allow yourself to be moved. Just do it!

Sufjan Stevens – Javelin – Back cover

Songs

All songs written by Sufjan Stevens, unless stated otherwise.

• Goodbye Evergreen
• A Running Start
• Will Anybody Ever Love Me?
• Everything That Rises
• Genuflecting Ghost
• My Red Little Fox
• So You Are Tired
• Javelin (To Have And To Hold)
• Shit Talk
• There’s A World (Neil Young)

Sufjan Stevens – Javelin – Book compilation 3

Musicians

Javelin is recorded, engineered, arranged, produced and mixed by Sufjan Stevens. All instruments and vocals by Sufjan Stevens, with help from:

• Bryce Dessner – guitar on Shit Talk
• Megan Lui, Hannah Cohen – (background) vocals on Goodbye Evergreen, Will Anybody Ever Love Me?, Everything That Rises, My Red Little Fox, So You Are Tired, Javelin (To Have And To Hold), Shit Talk, There’s A World
• Adrienne Maree Brown – (background) vocals on Will Anybody Ever Love Me?, Everything That Rises, Genuflecting Ghost, My Red Little Fox, So You Are Tired, Javelin (To Have And To Hold)
• Nedelle Torrisi – (background) vocals on A Running Start
• Pauline Delassus – (background) vocals on Shit Talk

All artwork, paintings, collages, photography, layout and design by Sufjan Stevens.

Ter afsluiting

Unfortuantely, a tour will not be in the cards anytime soon. Let’s just hope Sufjan Stevens will recover soon and fully.

What are your thoughts on the latest offering by Sufjan Stevens? Let me know!

Video/Spotify
This story contains an accompanying video. Click on the following link to see it: Video: Sufjan Stevens – Javelin. The A Pop Life playlist on Spotify has been updated as well.