The Age of Adz
Sufjan Stevens
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| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
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1 |
Futile Devices | Sufjan Stevens | 2:13 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Too Much | Sufjan Stevens | 6:45 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Age of Adz | Sufjan Stevens | 8:01 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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4 |
I Walked | Sufjan Stevens | 5:02 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Now That I'm Older | Sufjan Stevens | 4:57 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Get Real Get Right | Sufjan Stevens | 5:12 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Bad Communication | Sufjan Stevens | 2:26 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Vesuvius | Sufjan Stevens | 5:28 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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9 |
All for Myself | Sufjan Stevens | 2:57 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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10 |
I Want to Be Well | Sufjan Stevens | 6:28 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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11 |
Impossible Soul | Sufjan Stevens | 25:34 | Album Only | View In iTunes |
| Total: 11 Songs |
iTunes Review
It was Hunter S. Thompson who wrote, “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” It couldn’t apply more to the work of Sufjan Stevens, who seems to have found a new way of communicating with his 2010 release, The Age of Adz (pronounced “oddz”). After a few gentle guitar notes on the opener, “Futile Devices,” Adz turns towards electronics that connect and splinter Stevens’ worldview and psychic well-being. The percussion turns brittle for “Too Much” and the spacey reverbs laced throughout give things a disjointed feel as the title track, “I Walked” and the choir-doom of “Now That I’m Older” spread out across the universe. “Get Real Get Right” sounds like a dance party where everyone freaks out and speaks in tongues. This child of Talking Heads loves his rhythms but he also loves his avant-garde textures. “Bad Communication” lives up to its title. “Vesuvius” and “All By Myself” find an inner calm amongst the chaos. “Impossible Soul” is an incredibly long closing track that further underscores Stevens’ grand ambitions.
Customer Reviews
Give It Time, Sufjan Fans
When I heard this album would feature more electronics than usual, I cringed. I feared that instead of the beautiful melodies and textures present in albums such as “Illinois” or “Seven Swans”, there would be a wash of unattractive noises and distracting blips. However, after listening to “The Age of Adz” via NPR, I wasn’t displeased. Sufjan does a great job of incorporating synthesized sounds with his usual inspiring melodies and arrangements.
The album commences with what I would call a “traditional” Sufjan track–acoustic guitar, sparse piano lines, and melodic vocals. Shortly thereafter, he hits us hard with overwhelming electronic noises, which dominate the next few tracks. Some may view the electronics as a distraction, but what lies beneath is amazingly Sufjan-esque. Note to all you woodwind and brasswind lovers: some of the arrangements feature flute, trombone, and other instruments, but not as much as in “The BQE” or “Michigan.”
My favorite tracks of this album are the last two. “I Want To Be Well” pleads out to the listener with amazing passion and a phrase that caught me off-guard: “I’m not f***ing around!” Yes, Sufjan does curse on this track (parents beware), but it definitely adds energy to an already moving composition. My other favorite piece is “Impossible Soul”, an epic, uplifting work, which sends the listener into a sonic realm of idealistic prose and highly-edited vocals.
I would highly recommend buying the whole album, regardless of the fact that “Impossible Soul” is an album-only track. There are many repeating themes including the phrase, “Don’t be distracted,” which is a message to the listener as Sufjan ironically spits out an array of electronic distractions. In addition, the flow of the album works nicely, starting off soft, building to a climax, then ending quiet as well, almost like closing the back cover of a great novel.
Daring? Yes. Overdone? No (others may disagree). Like it or hate it, Sufjan has changed directions, and that is not the worst thing in the world.
Friends,
This is an important album.
Buy Beach House instead.
A misguided attempt to evolve which leaves the listener in painful nostalgia for Seven Swan days. Opening track "Futile Devices" is a wonderful tease, but the rest just isn't fair.
Biography
Born: July 1, 1975 in Detroit, MI
Genre: Alternative
Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s
Top Albums and Songs By Sufjan Stevens
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
The Dress Looks Nice On You | Seven Swans | 2:32 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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2 |
To Be Alone With You | Seven Swans | 2:44 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Chicago | Illinois | 6:04 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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4 |
For the Widows In Paradise, for the Fatherless In Ypsilanti | Greetings from Michigan - The Great Lake State (Deluxe Version) | 3:57 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing | Songs for Christmas | 4:43 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Casimir Pulaski Day | Illinois | 5:53 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Too Much | The Age of Adz | 6:45 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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8 |
All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands | Seven Swans | 4:14 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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9 |
Ring Them Bells | I'm Not There (Original Soundtrack) [Bonus Track Version] | 6:20 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Futile Devices | The Age of Adz | 2:13 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
- $9.99
- Genres: Alternative, Music, Indie Rock, Pop, Pop/Rock, Rock, Adult Alternative, Electronic
- Released: Oct 12, 2010
- ℗ 2010 Asthmatic Kitty
