The Ascension - Sufjan Stevens: Review
is a Michigan based indie singer songwriter who became an icon of the genre in the 2000's with universally acclaimed releases like Michigan, Illinois and The Age Of Adz. After releasing one of his most acclaimed records to date with the somber stripped back Carrie & Lowell in 2015 he took on a number of side projects, very few of which landed in the same way as his core discography. After collaborating with his stepdad and fellow Asthmatic Kitty Records founder on a pseudo ambient project earlier this year he is back with his 8th studio album.
Review By Lavender:
Anybody who likes indie music certainly like Sufjan Stevens. Much like many indie favorites his albums have distinct sounds and fans frequently debate on the merits of their favorites. Personally 2005's Illinois and 2015's Carrie & Lowell are a large step above his other releases even though I think nearly all of his records are worth listening to. I was excited about this record both because it was a return to Sufjan's solo work after 5 years but also because a few of the singles he released really wowed me. Now that the full 80 minutes of music on the record is available however those track stand as some of the only songs here that go off without a caveat.
The lead single was a big hit with me and is by far the best song of the bunch, the albums 12 minute closer America. The "don't do to me what you did to America" refrain is an instant Sufjan classic and perfect for the times. The song grand both instrumentally and compositionally and turned out to be one of the only moments of worthwhile long songwriting on the record. Video Game was the second single and while it isn't as good it still stands out in this tracklist. While the sparse synth lines here don't do quite as much for me as other tracks but the song itself is much better with the verses laying out plainly and smoothly the songs themes and the simple hook wrapping it all up. Sugar was the last single and I initially had questions about the tracks 3 minute long instrumental intro but now that the album is here it doesn't even make my top 10 moments of wasted time across the album. I even think it is a little bit more compositionally engaging than some of the other long winded introductions. I think the whispered vocals are particularly unsettling especially given the refrains Sufjan is singing but that slight uncomfortable sex appeal has always been a part of his music. The song gets better as it goes on and I consider it one of the better tracks here.
The opener Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse is another track that grew to become a highlight. It sets the records tone of blending indie and electronica in a way that feels very In Rainbows. Similar to that albums opener there is a rapid fire drum line on this track as well as some soaring melodies and the mix is refreshing. Lamentations was a surprise with some more lively percussion being chopped and mixed across the track. I actually like the song a lot and it is one of the most exciting and dramatic moments early on the record and the pairing of soft vocals and louder instrumentation works well. Ativian also sort of came out of nowhere to be a major highlight for me. The punchy slightly distorted percussion blends perfectly with some of the best vocals I've heard from Sufjan in years. The songwriting is dynamic and the refrains are infectious making for a song that fits its rutime perfectly. Ursa Major is a shorter track but another one I find myself liking quite a bit. It is incredibly lively with high reaching drum kicks and exacerbated backing vocals that give the song another dimension. The whole track is kind of a whirlwind if you let yourself get lost in it, which I highly recommend doing. The last big highlight is the title track The Ascension which foregoes the records tendency on repeated refrains in place of much more dynamic songwriting. The instrumentally is sparse but heavenly and I think most of the records themes are summed up across the track and it feels essential to the whole thing.
If the biggest complaint I had on the record wasn't already obvious let me make it clear that you could cut 20 minutes off of this record in just bland intros alone. Even some of the songs I enjoyed have some major wasted time and I could say that just about every song on the album needed to be shorter. Tell Me You Love Me has absolutely nothing to offer over its first three minutes with a stagnant aimless blur that doesn't amount to anything. In the final minute the song rises and explodes out of nowhere into a genuinely nice and triumphant finale, but getting there can be difficult. Landslide is a good song that brings all the elements I would hope that a good Sufjan deep cut would, but it does so while also working in some of the records most lifeless moments. Death Star is the records 2nd biggest waste of time but it can almost be forgiven. The song is basically an extended intro itself for the next song Goodbye To All That. I can almost forgive it because the thick drums and dramatic vocals work out for a decent song but I would still have prefered the whole section cut in half and turned into one song.
I am a little mad that Run Away With Me isn't a Carly Rae Jepsen song but that isn't the only reason I'm not a big fan of it. I like the stark glittering electronic instrumental but the songwriting falls completely flat. The hook is totally dry and under-performed and the song doesn't have anything particularly memorable or impactful about it. Die Happy is the winner for biggest waste of time on the entire album with the first 3 minutes being a mellow instrumental and the words "I wanna die happy" repeated over and over again until my brain is numb. Even once the instrumental kicks off in an admittedly very satisfying way there is nothing else lyrically on offer and the track never gives you any reason to engage with it. Somehow this isn't even the worst track of the bunch with the absolute mess Gilgamesh. The song is a digital nightmare of cloudy electronics, shaky vocals and uncomfortably sharp production that seems mixed together completely at random. What the hell are the dubstep ass drum drops and short shrill synths, plus you can barely hear Sufjan when his vocals are being manipulated really awkwardly. This may be the worst track I've heard on any Sufjan record including his side projects in a long time.
The Ascension has plenty of moments that reminds you who Sufjan is and why he has the reputation he does. But for a guy who has been known to use length to his advantage both on individual songs and entire records before Ascension is an absolute slog. Saying that an hour of the records runtime is worthwhile would be a big reach and that makes for a lot of time where I am just waiting for sections of the record to be over. I don't have any problems with the sonic or thematic approach for the record necessarily but it clearly needed some refinement to match what we know Sufjan is capable of. Despite my many complaints about the record the bassline of talent shines frequently here and there are a handful of tracks that indie fans are definitely going to want to hear. 6/10
Album Cover Review By Tyler Judson:
I really enjoy this cover. It's super abstract and also fills the space very effectively. It's a lot to look at but it also is very appealing and the colors work together so your not straining to view any certain place. The letting is bold and well placed making it very easy to know what you're about to listen to. This would make a striking print or record cover to be displayed. 8/10
For more indie check out my review of Fleet Foxes Shore here
