Sufjan Stevens - The Ageof Adz

Tue 12th Oct, 2010 in Music Reviews

Since the success of Michigan in 2003, Sufjan Stevens has been widely accepted as the prince of kooky pop. His devotion to Christmas albums and songs about magic earned him a solid fan base, who he impressed with epic themes and an ambition to write an album about every state in America.
However, this project was perhaps a little too ambitious and last year he confirmed that the project would never be realised.

While the hand-clapping and impossibly long track names of Illinoise were charming, The Age of Adz (pronounced ‘odds’) shows a deeper side to Stevens. Lyrically, each track seems far more personal – possibly due to the lack of geographical theme – and the heavy use of synths and electronic drumbeats gives a darker feel to the album.

However behind the new sound, the old Sufjan is still there, cooing soothingly in your ear and reassuring you that an orchestral crescendo is lying just around the corner.

The first track Futile Devices, provides a gentle introduction to the new record and humours the expectations of previous fans, but things soon begin to change. Tracks such as Too Much, Age of Adz, and I Want to be Well are slightly disconcerting at first listen because of their irregular rhythms and discordant vocals, but the essence of Sufjan wins over in the end. Standout tracks include Vesuvius and Impossible Soul, proving that Stevens’ melodic charms really are his strong point.

It is hard to say yet whether this record is different enough to earn Sufjan Stevens new fans, but old fans will not be disappointed – if a little bit surprised.