Sufjan Stevens made an album so good that I'm only giving it ONE listen: "Javelin" review

Sometimes art is victim of its own success. If you describe grief too well, then you might lose people who don't want to think about grief! Great album, though. ‪@SufjanStevensOfficial‬ @asthmatic
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[@kaiwistoski9858]

The way his grief comes across on this album is so different from his 2016 album “Carrie and Lowell”, which is about the death of his mother who suffered from schizophrenia and who he had an estranged relationship with. Javelin feels like the type of grief that comes from losing someone you truly love, versus the loss of someone who hurt you but feel is a part of you. I think that only adds to the intense feelings this album gives me

[@zTeaTheCoffee]

Javelin basically feels like if Casimir Pulaski Day grew up and became an album

[@jelly_ellipsis]

@@zTeaTheCoffeeYes exactly

[@javiterrazas9825]

You're the most respectful music reviewer on the internet. AVAA

[@JamoboBorg]

A big reason why this album hit me noticeably harder then Carrie & Lowell is that Sufjan clearly felt loved back by Evans. Much of C&L includes his confusion at feeling such grief for a woman he felt abandoned by. His relationship with his mother had been strained enough he'd written about it on earlier albums too. Javelin though, features the warmth of a real love that succeeded as often as it failed, but was clearly worth it enough that the both of them kept at it. That warmth is also what makes it that much more painful when it's taken away. Like leaving a warm building for the cold, Winter air.

[@capricorncreature5809]

Sufjan is a huge Joan Didion fan, so it’s interesting and apt that you made that comparison

[@MorrisKombat]

So glad to see you’re reviewing this one - this record is incredible. I felt the same way listening to A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie - one of the saddest depictions of grief ever presented through art

[@MBezerra100]

That sure was a tough listen.

[@bilalhussein9633]

same, i couldnt even finish the whole record(a crow looked at me), i stopped after the first track.

[@robf1557]

I got to the backpack part of Real Death and broke down completely. Had to take a breather and return to it some minutes later

[@MorrisKombat]

@@robf1557 very real - I had the same experience. Some years later I revisited it and found Ravens broke me in half

[@MostlyLoveOfMusic]

beautiful - I will listen to it many times, perhaps I have an unhealthy relationship with sadness... probably album of the year

[@livingcolorinc]

This album is truly remarkable! Listened to twice in a row the night it was released to really confirm what I heard was as good as I thought. Then proceeded to play the album about a dozen times since! Easily my album of the year for 2023!

[@GForceTechTV]

AVAA, I have known of Sufjan Stevens for a while but never dove into a full album of their before. I saw the thumbnail pop up as I was procrastinating homework and gave the album a spin with no context. Was a beautifully haunting time, I didn't fully sink into it but just let it sit beside me as I read my astronomy textbook. Listening to your review while I do practice problems and learning the grief that went into this project was a really educational experience, I always learn a lot from your videos and feel comfortable going in blind without the background knowledge that an album like this asks for. Really glad I listened to this, thank you for recommending and explaining.

[@JohnnyZBeatZ]

This album is a true masterpiece. One of the best sad albums of this year I love this album but it’s so sad but a great album a masterpiece

[@Thimasehren]

Was waiting for you to cover this. Can’t wait to listen.

[@sarthp]

What a great breakdown Skye. You're one of the greats on music review youtube for sure. This album is achingly beautiful and when I listen closely it's almost too much to bear. AVAA

[@brand7549]

This was a great review of an emotional, beautiful and powerful album. Thank you! Yes, Sufjan Stevens is a really funny guy. He also seems, besides being a genius in his artistic work, like a genuinely good guy.

[@claireblack3148]

Great video! And the staring at the sun quote reminded me of one of my favorite Sufjan lyrics "Stare at the sun to see the sublime/ forgetting the light that makes you go blind."

[@capricorncreature5809]

Didn’t expect you to review this! Glad you did.

[@thomasd5665]

AVAA. Sufjan is far and away my favourite artist of all time. He can talk about things so personal but still lets you share in whatever emotions he chooses to create. I was really looking forward to a proper solo project again and he did not disappoint. A lot of the songs feel reminiscent of his old projects (especially his christmas albums), but still fresh and lush as always. I don't blame you for only listening to the album once, but I love to sit in the melancholy and warmth of his music.

[@secret.dog.powers]

Fantastic review as always Professor. Hope you are well on this rainy day

[@Lyn-dx8jg]

I’ve been following his music, which is heart blowing my mind can barely grasp the idea. Simple words so profound. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights.

[@KyleThomasShultz]

AVAA! Wonderful review and I didn’t even recognize the final song as a cover, learned a lot! I understand why you wouldn’t listen to it again. How painful this album is while remaining unbelievably beautiful has made me listen to it ad nauseum though. I sobbed my first few listens and it’s rejuvenated my perspective on my relationship. Hope to never forget to hold those I love close!

[@neromxxn2252]

Great analysis, i went to listen to this album at a pre-release listening session and I thought it was gorgeous. Now with the context behind it it’s even more harrowing. I Hope Sufjan finds his Peace. AVAA

[@W4LT3Rego]

Great review once again, Prof

[@edwardsmarcom]

I have been listening every day and I've been feeling a strange anxiousness which is very unlike me. I think I'll give a few days off. But it's so beautiful!!!!!! So beautiful.

[@dantesabatto416]

Not sure if I'm allowed to say AAVA since this is the first of yours I've seen, but I loved it. Wonderful review of a wonderful album, in a more "technical" level of analysis but also in the personal sense that this kind of art requires. By the halfway point of the video I was already suscribing.

[@professorskye]

Anyone can AVAA!

[@Thefakemattk]

A review with as much thoughtfulness as the album. Thank you for caring as much as you did. At times, it sounds really difficult for you.

[@mousewifegames]

so rare these days to find something that's thoughtful, serious, and sincere - an instant subscribe!

[@pearlssbu8749]

I felt this same way about a crow looked at me by mount eerie. A horrible story about losing his wife to cancer a real deep horrible walk in the singers shoes while walking himself through his loss. One of my buddies showed me it and it really changed a lot of aspects of my life. My mom fought stage 2 breast cancer and beat it i had a long term girlfriend that im still with anf will marry and i know the exact feelings that you’re feeling. However i did listen to javelin twice and im probably gonna leave it at that. Thanks for the great review. Wish wealth and fortune for you and your wife

[@jaymcgregor4939]

loved this video lots!

[@genxcurmudgeon166]

Everything that Rises is such an amazing song. I really hope you were throwing a subtle joke in there about the orange one.

[@JebeckyBoop]

The last Sufjan album I heard and really grew to appreciate was Carrie and Lowell. I'm quite excited to feel empty and emotionally drained yet again. AVAA

[@Julia-mw1gi]

this is such a heartbreaking yet beautiful album, in my opinion. Probably among my top 3 of this year. Avaa!

[@indigoautumn2827]

AVAA, listening to this record the morning of release with my boyfriend as we made breakfast together was heart wrenching

[@tylermaddux5209]

These videos discussing the art are just as much art as the art you are discussing. Best KZbin channel in the music discussion space to ever be made. AVAA

[@manytinyboxes]

as someone who has lost a loved one, this album tore me apart. absolutely beautiful

[@GSRL03]

J’adore vos analyses et j’ai adoré cet album de sufjan. Dans un des mes récents rêves vous étiez mon prof de français et on discutait de musique après les cours :)

[@professorskye]

Drôle de rêve!

[@freeshipping7]

i heard the album 3 times so far, first just immersed in the sound, then later hearing the lyrics and the third go singing along And i gotta say, that third listen broke me a couple of times, like full on weeping I find it fascinating the emotional reality it presents

[@skaf3413]

AVAA. Totally agree with you, it truly hurts listening to this album all the way through.

[@Meowple]

AVAA! great review, Professor! whens the excelsior review (slauson malone's latest work, its really incredible)?

[@gigatoob]

Thank you for this. I thought Sufjan had stated he was 'retiring' a while back. I think his father who ran his music business was retiring too. I was sad to contemplate that idea. He is a true artist. I am going to delve in more. As a postor below mentioned,. Carrie and Lowell, about his Mother's passing was so powerfully done. Though this is again about losing a loved one, I know his art will transcend and rise up. Thanks again.

[@connordavies1334]

I don't know much about the life of sufjan... was his dad's death (which I know was the inspiration behind that ambient sound album) a push for him to continue with music?

[@horstwollaeger3852]

I am something like a music-reviewer. Okay, i just lay on my lazy bed, and i did listen to it. As a listener. And i felt, it will play an important role in my life! I really adore your words. Greetings from Cologne.

[@johnberesford9906]

This record brought up a lot of underlayerd grief in me, I've had moments in my life where I've had to look at the sun whether I wanted to or not (as so many of us have) Grief isnt something we go through once, but many times over as it moves through us.

[@ruicosta7016]

Great video as always! Professor Skye, I think you would love the brakence album "hypocondriac" released a couple of months ago. It is a beautiful interesction of the spirit of the eternally online generation with a fierce sense of rebirth and transcendence through pain and suffering. At times it feels like a sort of digital buddhist manifesto that worked itself out through a beautiful and refreshing sonic landscape. I would enjoy very much to listen to your opinion on it!

[@kamikekurobane]

I love the way you talked about this record, i would love to hear what you think about the songs that Sufjan made for the “Call me by your name” movie.

[@leodeng99]

AVAA! Love to see the Foucault in the background lol

[@userillusion8378]

avaa. love this review. and yes, he is a funny guy. as someone who can clearly express sadness and grief so fully, he equally embodies being funny and hopeful. he closed his carrie and lowell live shows with a cover of hotline bling replete with dance moves so the audience wasnt sent home totally devastated. well worth checking out

[@paolomasia91]

Avaa Skye. Amazing review! I had a similar listening experience with Ghosteen by Nick Cave

[@adhiantos]

I felt really emotional listening to this album. I thought “Shit Talk” was the resolution of this sadness. Then I read his Instagram post about losing his partner and it literally felt like a javelin stabbed right through my heart 😭 I find listening particularly to the last 4 songs in sequence extremely sad. Shit Talk always gets me emotional.

[@ShinMadero]

The vocal layering, all repeating "I don't wanna fight at all" is heavenly. The highlight of the album for me.

[@user-gp9es3rd3e]

I'm still not over it. Keep relistening to see if I can discern a different resolution which quite possibly says more about my current relationship with loss. It's very very good

[@walterblack1543]

Avaa, you’re aiding my horrific hangover 🙏

[@swallowbug11]

AAVA love this album haven't felt this way over a piece since a crow looked at me, which if you haven't listened to i would 100% recommend.

[@ac85450]

AAVA -- I listened to this album and felt like dying-- like a heavy weight was on my chest and the impending deaths of all the people i will ever love were marching toward me in a black procession, and i had to acknowledge them in some way, but i couldn't because my tongue was eaten out by crows the instant i tried to ask Sufjan if he was okay.

[@Ben-mr6rt]

Love love love this album

[@brightwithspirit]

I feel the same way about 4th of July...its too beautiful, real and intense.

[@Myiic]

This was an amazing album, I'm glad I gave this one a try. Not bad for my first Sufjan Stevens record

[@augustheim2388]

Gotta check out Illinois next!

[@hannahyalea]

If you liked Javelin you’ll like Carrie & Lowell.

[@bamdadbehroozfar6969]

AVAA, if I could switch brains with anyone, professor Skye would be there in my top 5 for sure.

[@superboy305]

Thank U 😊

[@ocarinamonkey1708]

I was crying with this one

[@callummaciver7597]

You ask 'maybe he's one of those guys who sings very seriously but goofs around alot' and tbh from being as familiar with his work as I am I think he's exactly one of those guys. I think songs like Alphabet Street and Christmas Unicorn are good examples of that kind of stuff from him, though admittedly those examples are from Silver & Gold so take them with a pinch of salt

[@trisk8ryridus]

the two singles from this album which was released first made me wonder if Sufjan went through break-up/divorce while writing this album. Went his post about his partner went up, it makes the album 10000x times more sad & heartbreaking

[@SensoriaMaRia]

I'm fighting terminal illness with my devoted partner by my side as I keep falling into the abyss. We face death, daily. My partner cannot listen to Javelin, it's a mirror of our life.

[@mclarensaleenf7]

Just to answer your question of is he playing a banjo? Most of the acoustic strings on this album are from a funny instrument called a guitalin. He played this a lot on Carrie and Lowell as well. They weren’t even made any more and Sufjan had the original creator make him two for the C&L tour (he passed shortly after but I believe his son now makes them). It sounds like it’s in between a banjo and an acoustic guitar. Basically the perfect instrument for Sufjan’s sad albums.

[@5DollarGaming]

I totally understand yours and many other's perspectives when it comes to art like this and finding it almost too effective at being an emotional connection. For me personally, I love listening to this album specifically because it does hurt but its through that hurt that i can work through the love i have for my partner, gain some sense of catharsis and, especially in the case of this album, gain hope about our future. Maybe i have a slight masochist tendencies but I think painful art like this, much like Mount Eerie's A Crow Looked at Me, are so important in showing us we're not alone and allowing us to work through challenging emotions in a finite space cause the album does have an end and that end isn't doom and gloom and is ultimately about healing and hope.

[@troygoss6400]

tears flowed. there is no artist like sufjan.

[@mathewkolakwsk]

Having listened to Javelin a few dozen times at this point, it offers a lot to appreciate poetically - and I’ve been wondering if Sufjan is making the music mostly for himself or for us, his audience… obviously both are true but I wonder how much he is trying to lift US up with his art, as he makes the songs to personally grieve, survive, understand, explore, and transcend. The blues comes in infinite forms and shapes. He can tap into emotional and spiritual feelings through his poetry and music - which is accessible while being ambiguous. There is emotional truth here… it is approachable because of the truth and honesty, while being a puzzle that has no solution, purposefully. Finding a line between approachable imagery and deeper unapproachable thoughts is a tug of war and that’s what I would ask Sufjan if I had the chance - how does that dance/tug of war play out for you because in my mind, it must be extremely challenging (having a set progression for each song with movements that are a formula must help - otherwise it would probably be too much chaos in the creative process…) I also wonder how the album’s artwork and additional writing fits/clashes, said another way, is a companion piece or separate process, regarding what Sufjan is saying with Javelin’s songs. My guess is all of it is intentional - and there are thousands of hours in the crafting process - (or I may be projecting, because I’m that way… constant tinkering and planning and editing - not so much with this comment, thankfully - but if I had more time, I would tinker and edit for hours…) Lastly, I feel like if I had to choose a single masterpiece from Stevens, it is Carrie and Lowell - though this album is another masterpiece in so many ways… we are blessed to have artists like Sufjan, to be able to share this fever dream called life with his unique voice, and I wish him health and the opportunity to find peace and love, and to continue to share his art with us all.

[@gregoryandrus5322]

First time on this channel. Wonderful review. It makes me want to find others you do. But why do so many comments have "AVAA"? What does that stand for?

[@dementedgocart9638]

great analysis i loved this album! if you haven't heard of it before, A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Erie is another fantastic grief album that i hold in the same regard of never wanting to listen to it again. I nearly find it hard recommending the album with how heartbreaking it is, yet at the same time, feel as though everyone should listen to it atleast once. It follows the direct moments after the artist's wife passed away from cancer, being recorded only weeks to months after the passing. it is a beautiful record that is the hardest thing i've personally tried listened to, check it out if you're interested!

[@Travmann777]

After listening to the boops on "My Red Little Fox" a handful of times, they start to sound almost like the rhythmic beeping of hospital equipment.

[@FredBrownist]

AVAA. Thank you

[@JB.3]

yes that's an amazing view . i'd be inspired to just stare out the window all day

[@diy_ke]

AVAA! I think you might enjoy NoNo Boy's new album. Would love to hear your thoughts on it.

[@tereasia]

Thank you! I'm a much older than you diehard Sufjan fan 😊

[@loganwilson5314]

AVAA!

[@jepizarrop]

had the same feeling with a crow looked at me, to real

[@htttppppp]

Books like that prepare you little by little. Not bad to read that. Pre-gieving might sound stupid but not bad at all in the log run. Still, you end up numb at one point. And then you unclog. And then get stuck and so on.

[@poke98578]

Okay can someone please explain what aava means?

[@jeffreyroedel9804]

Album of the Year. Maybe it gets slotted into "Best Alternative Album" or something, but whatever. It's the Album of the Year.

[@jamesroberts6423]

It is an incredible album. AVAA.

[@sprangbrake5938]

The Schindlers List of music albums?

[@fotonuvo]

Brilliant album….not half your age, I’m 61 years young, with better taste in music than my peers. This is my first view of you. Your face clearly shows the album’s impact on your emotions. “Goodbye Evergreen” and “Shit Talk” are masterpieces.

[@harrymcilroy3830]

my friend did you check out the animal collective

[@kida3168]

This one hasn't hit me like Carrie and Lowell did. I think the bells and whistles on the production take away from the emotional oomph that was present on Carrie and Lowell. Maybe I just need to spend more time with it.

[@oddblood-]

I just don't understand when people say an album \ movie is so good I'm not gonna listen \ watch it again

[@SilkShirt]

Sufjan manages tug on those heavy heart strings like how he did with Carrie and Lowell Also, Oneothrix Point Never, please 🥺

[@lululemonbar]

AVAA

[@reubenreynolds617]

avaa

[@wardpaine8194]

Avas

[@trombonemain]

Funny that you say “statistically, you’re about half my age” is funny, because as of today, I am exactly half your age!

[@Absydion]

If this album broke you, do NOT listen to "A Crow Looked at Me" by Mount Erie.

[@ethanlammar5554]

Day 193 of Asking you to Review Achilles Come Down by Gang of Youth

[@lcschrdngr]

hey skye! love your channel, this is unrelated to this album but i have a recommendation that since you love multitudes by stromae i think youll like, listen to adoro bolos by conan osiris, its a portuguese album from 2017

[@c11p]

AVAA

[@munkejens]

AVAA