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Posted by: Bjork Jun 30 2020, 02:02 PM

Announcing THE ASCENSION, the new studio album by Sufjan Stevens
available on September 25th.

First single “America” available July 3 @ 9AM EDT.

1. Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse (5:19)
2. Run Away With Me (4:07)
3. Video Game (4:16)
4. Lamentations (3:42)
5. Tell Me You Love Me (4:22)
6. Die Happy (5:47)
7. Ativan (6:32)
8. Ursa Major (3:43)
9. Landslide (5:04)
10. Gilgamesh (3:50)
11. Death Star (4:04)
12. Goodbye To All That (3:48)
13. Sugar (7:37)
14. The Ascension (5:56)
15. America (12:30)

The Ascension will be available on streaming, digital, CD, cassette, 2xLP black vinyl, and first-pressing 2xLP clear vinyl with tip-on gatefold. CD and vinyl include a 16-page booklet of original drawings by Sufjan

cannot wait <3 <3 <3

Posted by: blacksquare Jun 30 2020, 02:02 PM

01 Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse
02 Run Away With Me
03 Video Game
04 Lamentations
05 Tell Me You Love Me
06 Die Happy
07 Ativan
08 Ursa Major
09 Landslide
10 Gilgamesh
11 Death Star
12 Goodbye To All That
13 Sugar
14 The Ascension
15 America

https://asthmatickitty.com/announcing-the-ascension-a-new-studio-album-by-sufjan-stevens-available-september-25/

I am dead.

Posted by: blacksquare Jun 30 2020, 02:05 PM

America Youtube link — premieres on Friday.

https://sufjanstevens.ochre.store/release/195767-sufjan-stevens-the-ascension?format=573923

This amount of music this year? Incredible. I know it has been years since Carrie & Lowell, but for some reason I still didn't expect another record from Sufjan for a while — instantly my most anticipated record of 2020.

Posted by: blacksquare Jun 30 2020, 02:22 PM

The artwork + the length of 'America' is giving me a false hope of him creating something as fantastic as 'Impossible Soul' — perhaps my favourite Sufjan song.

Posted by: Cremey Jun 30 2020, 02:47 PM

Just came here to post this!
I am also dead and wasn't expecting an album so soon.

Can't wait. The artwork and packaging are incredible. That photo of him on a swing

Impossible Soul is also one of my favourites, would love something like that for America.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Jun 30 2020, 03:26 PM

Never really got into him, but I'll give it a go

Posted by: Bjork Jun 30 2020, 03:30 PM

really curious, from the titles I cannot call it if it's gonna be a folk album or a more electronic album like Age of Adz

Illinoise is one of the best albums in the history of music, songs like Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day or John Wayne Gacy Jr are classics. I recently learnt to play John Wayne Gary Jr on guitar, but still struggling to remember the words

Posted by: n'tAlice Jun 30 2020, 03:49 PM

I’m dead [3]

Just got this in my email and rushed over here to comment.

Sooooo excited. Doesn’t help that the cover instantly reminds me so much of The Age of Adz and we all know how fantastic that record was.

Okay so I guess I will have to listen to that now 😭

Posted by: n'tAlice Jun 30 2020, 04:47 PM

okay I completely forgot how STUNNING that Vesuvius - Impossible Soul closing section is.

He's not fucking around indeed

Posted by: mdh Jul 3 2020, 09:53 AM

Very much excited at the prospect of his first “pop” album, him describing his influences for this record as Janet Jackson and Ariana Grande has got me cautiously optimistic.

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 3 2020, 10:31 AM

2 hours until the premiere <3

Posted by: Bjork Jul 3 2020, 11:22 AM

he really said he's been influenced by Janet and Ariana? who else?

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 3 2020, 12:00 PM

can it also be Rosalía as well plz? Come on Spanish language Sufjan

Posted by: Bjork Jul 3 2020, 01:17 PM

oh my this is amazing, bit electronic, but I'd say zero pop, not very Ariana-influenced lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK9EImqaKvI

can this be #1 for 10 weeks instead that useless Derulo song

Posted by: Cremey Jul 3 2020, 02:06 PM

Dead.

Posted by: Cremey Jul 3 2020, 02:08 PM

Incredible. Haunting. Beautiful. Everything I love in a Sufjan song 😭

I could actually see this fitting on The Age of Adz really well, will be interesting to see what the rest of the album’s like.

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 3 2020, 02:27 PM

Incredible. I never doubted him.

America - EP is being released on July 10th and it will have a non-album song 'My Rajneesh'. 12-inch released July 31st. EXCITED x100

Posted by: StupidLove Jul 3 2020, 03:54 PM

I haven't listened to it yet but I will be soon! God this man never gives up releasing music

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 3 2020, 04:02 PM

Why would he give up?

Posted by: Bré Jul 5 2020, 02:42 AM

Oh this is all kinds of wonderful. <3

Posted by: Bjork Jul 5 2020, 06:30 AM

why he would stop?
he's actually not very prolific anymore, 1 album every 5 years these days

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 5 2020, 09:43 AM

Google what he's released in the past 5 years before making such idiotic statements lmao

Posted by: Bjork Jul 5 2020, 09:47 AM

I mean proper solo studio albums, his last one was Carrie & Lowell in 2015 and before that it was Age of Adz in 2010

no need to call names :/

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 5 2020, 09:48 AM

since 2017 alone:

- Mystery of Love
- The Greatest Gift
- Lonely Man of Winter
- Love Yourself
- Planetarium
- The Decalogue
- Aporia

Just because he's not doing a conventional solo LP release every couple of years doesn't mean he's not PROLIFIC. And I would say that about any other artist as well. Very flawed destructive logic that COMPLETELY devaluates a musician's work.

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 5 2020, 10:21 AM

Why does everyone have to conform to society's subjective and (sometimes) flawed perception of what reality should be?! Discrediting the entire existence just because it's a 1 solo LP in 5 years kinda gig. Music is art and it cannot be rushed. Same could be said about SO many other musicians who barely release anything for years. I'd rather wait 10 years and get something absolutely remarkable than have him shit out a mediocre album every year. This mainstream pop culture is way too toxic in that regard.

Sorry but the level of ignorance is triggering me way too much.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Jul 9 2020, 10:00 PM

"My Rajneesh" is out at midnight!

Posted by: mdh Jul 11 2020, 12:09 AM

“My Rajneesh” is miles above “America” (which is also great), absolutely astonishing track.

Posted by: n'tAlice Jul 11 2020, 12:25 AM

let's not go there hun xo

it's amazing but I'd rank America above it clearly

Posted by: Cremey Jul 11 2020, 11:59 AM

Oh my god My Rajneesh 😍

It’s SO Age of Adz, love it. And sampling Vesuvius 😭😭😭 amazing.
Love that this is just a b side, can’t wait to hear more from the album.

Posted by: Iz~ Jul 14 2020, 04:56 PM

'America' and 'My Rajneesh' are stunning, it's good to hear more stuff from Sufjan, I haven't for a little while but I saw a bit of noise about these tracks and they're worth the hype <3

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Aug 12 2020, 05:03 PM

"Video Game" is out tomorrow!

Posted by: Cremey Aug 13 2020, 11:02 AM

Can’t wait to hear that, was hoping we’d get something soon.
This is my most anticipated album for such a long time 😭

Posted by: Bjork Aug 13 2020, 11:19 AM

I liked America but haven't returned much to the song
High hopes as per usual with Sufjan!!

Posted by: blacksquare Aug 13 2020, 01:10 PM

An actual Sufjam!

Posted by: Cremey Aug 13 2020, 02:01 PM

sufJAM



Love this. And definitely more what I was expecting when he described it as his first pop album.
America, My Rajneesh and this are all great, he never disappoints.

Posted by: n'tAlice Aug 13 2020, 09:05 PM

This is incredible.

Not that I expected anything less than that who am I kidding :')

Posted by: dandy* Aug 13 2020, 10:46 PM

Well isn’t this just amazing. What I hoped for and more beyond.

Posted by: mdh Aug 13 2020, 11:26 PM

3/3 wonderful tracks from this era so far. Not quite up to the heights of “My Rajneesh” though that is a career defining track <3

Posted by: Bjork Aug 14 2020, 07:49 AM

Taylor goes folk and Sufjan goes pop!!

Posted by: Juan Carlos Sep 9 2020, 02:01 AM

"Sugar" is the next track to be released from the album and it will be out next Tuesday. This information was confirmed by his label on reddit.

Posted by: Bjork Sep 9 2020, 06:53 AM

The physical release of The Ascension will be delayed to October 2 due to production and logistical delays as a result of the pandemic. It will still be available to stream and download September 25.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Sep 13 2020, 09:14 AM

'Sugar' is out on Tuesday!

Posted by: Juan Carlos Sep 15 2020, 03:00 PM

"Sugar" is available now.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Sep 15 2020, 07:53 PM

I'm not a massive fan of the new one, but I'm still looking forward to the album

Posted by: Bjork Sep 15 2020, 08:53 PM

love it, especially the Don't make me wait part <3

and the video is <3

Posted by: Cremey Sep 24 2020, 02:47 PM

Tomorrow 😭
Feels like Christmas Eve

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 24 2020, 02:57 PM

I KNOW 😭

Posted by: blacksquare Sep 24 2020, 11:17 PM

She's here!

Happy Sufjan day everyone

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 24 2020, 11:27 PM

I want to go to bed so that I can spend the first 80 of my waking minutes tomorrow enjoying this masterpiece for the first time. Fully expecting this to declare monopoly on my ears for the next couple of weeks at least. And I'm here for it 100%.

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 24 2020, 11:28 PM

(Post reserved for a 'this is better than sex' once I've listened to this tomorrow)

Posted by: Bjork Sep 25 2020, 07:30 AM

can't wait to listen
not getting the best reviews though :/ a 7 from Pitchfork

Posted by: Cremey Sep 25 2020, 08:13 AM

Yeah, disappointing review from pitchfork but everything else I’ve seen has been great. Not quite up to the usual Sufjan standards but that was a big ask anyway!

Just had my first full listen through and I’m in love.
It’s exactly the type of album I wanted from him. It’s dense and a lot to take in but I wouldn’t expect or want anything less.

What an opener Make Me an Offer I Cannot Refuse is

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 25 2020, 09:08 AM

7 is not that bad. Although compared to what he tends to get usually, it is indeed pretty low. P4k have been losing touch for a while anyway so who cares.

Posted by: dandy* Sep 25 2020, 10:36 AM

I'm going to need a few more listens of this. It felt a little samey at times when I listened to it this morning, I think I was expecting something a little more varied... still I expect I'll end up loving it like I usually do!

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 25 2020, 01:01 PM

QUOTE(Cremey @ Sep 25 2020, 11:13 AM)

What an opener Make Me an Offer I Cannot Refuse is

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 25 2020, 02:50 PM

I didn't find the album samey at all. It has this Age of Adz flare and is indeed a lot to take in on one listen. As soon as something appears monotonous, it just hits me in the second half. Example: Die Happy.

First listen album track highlights: Lamentations, Die Happy, Ursa Major, Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse.

Looks he is pushing Run Away With Me, at least that's what I'm seeing in the new music playlists on Spotify over here now.

Posted by: dandy* Sep 26 2020, 12:29 PM

This is sounding great today so I retract my comment from yesterday! It's an album you need to concentrate on as there's a lot of details to pay attention to and I need to pay more attention to the lyrics, at the moment the vocals are just another instrument in the layers for me - Ativan has really hit me today though and I found it kinda filler yesterday for some reason! Other initial favourites are Lamentations, The Ascension and Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse. Both of the singles also hit me harder than they have done before also.

Posted by: Bjork Sep 28 2020, 02:35 PM

Seems like the sort of album that needs a lot of effort from the listener
and probably will click with you after you listen a 100 times
in 2026 or something

Posted by: Cremey Sep 28 2020, 03:30 PM

At this rate my 100th listen through will be this week anyway :')
Can't stop listening to it.

Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse, Goodbye To All That and The Ascension are up there with my favourites of his already.
And that transition from Death Star to Goodbye

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 28 2020, 05:31 PM

Yes! Goodbye To All That hit me out of the blue yesterday in the gym. Not a single dud on the 15-track 80-minute record 😭

Posted by: blacksquare Sep 28 2020, 08:31 PM

‘Tell Me You Love Me’ is the Sufjan power ballad I didn’t know I needed.

Posted by: Cremey Sep 29 2020, 09:42 AM

I like to think that one's about me.

My vinyl has just arrived and it's s t u n n i n g.

Posted by: Bjork Sep 29 2020, 11:21 AM

thought the vinyl was gonna be released on Friday?

Posted by: Cremey Sep 29 2020, 11:29 AM

I'm guessing that's its official release date – this was from a pre-order though.
No idea what that'll mean for chart sales though, I'm sure he'll be nowhere without the physical sales added.

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 29 2020, 11:57 AM

Yeah he was already like 71st in yesterday's updates.

STREAM THIS ALBUM OF THE YEAR PEOPLE!

Posted by: dandy* Sep 29 2020, 12:11 PM

I'm surprised that it's doing so poorly - his last album made #4 (which I was surprised about tbh) so hopefully it will climb significantly when people get the physical copies.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Sep 29 2020, 12:12 PM

Well I imagine the last one was also massively boosted by physical sales

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 29 2020, 12:15 PM

The title track and America closing the album is so powerful. I cannot get enough.

QUOTE(dandy* @ Sep 29 2020, 03:11 PM)

Posted by: Bré Sep 29 2020, 12:31 PM

The physical sales should be the vast majority of his numbers so assuming they count to next week's chart he'll show up much higher next week.

I've been a fan of all 3 of the singles so I will have a listen to this, first Sufjan album I will have heard in full!

Posted by: Bjork Sep 29 2020, 01:14 PM

Really? You've missed some of the best albums in the history of music
Personally my #1 is Illinoise, a masterpiece

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 29 2020, 01:20 PM

If you liked the singles (and perhaps Impossible Soul ) then you will definitely like The Age of Adz. Carrie & Lowell is stripped back and also incredible. Is there even a 'bad' Sufjan album? (The answer is 'no' btw)

Posted by: Bjork Sep 29 2020, 02:37 PM

guess the tracks being so long doesn't help with streaming figures

Posted by: Cremey Sep 29 2020, 04:36 PM

I’m not even sure which of his albums is my favourite. The last three (four now) have all been incredible.
I think Carrie & Lowell might just edge it at the moment, but The Age of Adz, Illinoise and now this are up there.
Also adore Seven Swans but I don’t think it’s quite in the same league as those four.

Posted by: Cremey Sep 29 2020, 04:37 PM

Impossible Soul really is the ultimate song though

Posted by: dandy* Sep 29 2020, 04:44 PM

Illinois is my favourite still, I can still recall just how floored I was when I first heard it. The progression in musicality from his earlier albums was just such a leap - I still think it's probably the most interesting and varied album I've ever heard, so many wow moments.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Sep 29 2020, 04:44 PM

I'm looking forward to listening to his *massive* Christmas compilations this year!

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Sep 29 2020, 07:27 PM

I must admit that I'm not quite as intimately familiar with his earlier work before Illinois but I should have another spin or 5 definitely while I'm in the Sufjan mood 24/7. The Age of Adz (All Delighted People EP to be exact) made me a stan but John Wayne Gacy Jr and Chicago are two of my favourite songs of his still. Truth be told though, Impossible Soul is indeed the masterpiece the world doesn't deserve. Fourth of July still makes me so emotional and I would like to put it out there as one of my ultimate favourites.

In other words, I have no idea how to rank his last 3 albums The Ascension not included because they are all so different.

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Oct 2 2020, 01:02 PM

That guitar (?) solo in the middle of Landslide just took my wig, threw it on the ground and stepped on it repeatedly. I don't remember that solo being there and it's my 50th listen. 😭

Posted by: Bjork Oct 2 2020, 01:24 PM

Illinois has the holy trinity of John Wayne Macy Jr-Chicago-Casimir Pulaski Day, that's impossible to beat

I also really like Seven Swans too, it's all banjo songs, with To be Alone with You, being one of his best songs ever.

I actually also like a lot the All Delighted People EP, but mostly cos of The Owl and the Tanager

The only albums I don't like are his Xmas albums with 158 songs each

Posted by: blacksquare Oct 2 2020, 01:30 PM

QUOTE(Cremey @ Sep 29 2020, 04:37 PM)

Impossible Soul really is the ultimate song though

Posted by: dandy* Oct 2 2020, 06:25 PM

My vinyl arrived today and it really is beautiful. The Jonsi vinyl also arrived and that’s pretty stunning too

Posted by: Iz~ Oct 3 2020, 12:38 PM

late (in completing the album, I started when it released but got sidetracked x) but I love this album, particularly the beginning and end of it is super strong

I haven't heard all of his albums but he hasn't captured my attention this much (started with that release of America, what a track) since I was first made aware of Illinois.

Posted by: Bré Oct 6 2020, 07:29 PM

I'm finally listening to this now and it was worth it to hear 'Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse' even if I don't like any of the other album tracks. What a song.

(I'll post again in about an hour when I've heard the rest xox)

Posted by: Bré Oct 6 2020, 08:34 PM

My other highlights from this (alongside all of the singles) are 'Ativan', 'Run Away With Me' and 'Tell Me You Love Me' - the production is excellent on basically every song though <3 (and that transition from 'Death Star' to 'Goodbye To All That' was so smooth, almost didn't realise it was moving on to a different song! not me thinking this was an original observation and reading back through the thread to see Cremey already said that exact thing). Think this album narrowly edges out Fleet Foxes as the best release from last week for me.

'Make Me An Offer I Cannot Refuse' tho still. Instantly my fave song I have ever heard from him.

Posted by: WhoOdyssey Oct 6 2020, 08:36 PM

Absolutely adore this album, though I've only listened to the odd (mainly recent) Sufan single before this - and he has some quite eclectic sounds should I start from his first album?

Posted by: dandy* Oct 6 2020, 09:02 PM

If you want to see his journey then yes start at the beginning... just don't give up before Illinois!

Posted by: Bjork Oct 7 2020, 08:15 AM

I don't rate much the first couple albums, A Sun Came and that electronic one, the name escapes me now...

but Michigan and Seven Swans are both great, I love the sound of banjo, so anything with banjo is great imo... I still remember the first time I heard that song about the Widows and the Fatherless, that was his first songs that really made me a fan...
Seven Seas is his most folkish probably but lots of nice sweet songs...

this is one of his best youtube videos ever:

Posted by: dandy* Oct 7 2020, 01:17 PM

^^
That's one of my absolute favourites of his

Posted by: Bjork Oct 7 2020, 01:20 PM

every time I see that clip, I wanna buy a banjo

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉq Oct 10 2020, 10:10 AM

A f***ing CHRISTMAS Dolly Parton album finished higher than this album. 🤮🤮🤮

Posted by: Bjork Oct 10 2020, 01:35 PM

and even Lana's poems :/

can't believe he only sold 2K

Posted by: Cremey Oct 11 2020, 12:30 PM

Those sales are so low.
Wasn’t surprised at it not charting last week but I thought it’d do much better this week with physicals included.

Strange how Carrie & Lowell did so much better, I would’ve thought this would be the one to do well, being his modest major release after Mystery of Love etc.

Posted by: Bjork Oct 11 2020, 12:46 PM

oh my just went and checked and Carrie & Lowell did 11K
hope do you go from 11K to 2K? :/

Posted by: Bjork Oct 12 2020, 06:59 AM

maybe fans prefer folk-Siufjan?

Posted by: ɥɔʇᴉʍ Oct 26 2020, 01:27 PM

Bumping just because.

Also, Ativan! <3

Posted by: Juan Carlos Feb 11 2021, 05:11 PM

The music video of "Tell Me You Love Me" was unveiled today, which was shot by Luca Guadagnino.

Posted by: Doctor Blind Feb 11 2021, 09:16 PM

QUOTE(blacksquare @ Sep 28 2020, 08:31 PM)

Posted by: b Feb 12 2021, 11:51 AM

idk about y'all but I thumbsup'd the video before it even started playing

Posted by: dandy* Feb 13 2021, 05:43 PM

This album is still growing on me, I'm starting to think it could be potentially his best? Or at least second to Illinois