Telling a story through song is nothing new, but when the story centers around a theme such as love and loss, it can get repetitive.
Sufjan Stevens’ tenth solo studio album, “Javelin,” is a testament that it does not always have to be this way. Stevens successfully tells ten stories with the heartbreaking theme of love and loss — and the different variations of it.
The first track of the album is arguably the most heartbreaking. “Goodbye Evergreen” is a gut-wrenching mix of a powerful ensemble of instruments and beautiful antiphony. This song was written as a goodbye to Stevens’s partner- who passed away in April 2023.
“This album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson…. He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity and joy. He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime — precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way,” Stevens said in an Instagram post when the album was released.
“Javelin (To Have And To Hold)” is another reflection of his marriage and the loss of his partner. This track discusses the trauma left over from death and the hurt it stirs from his own vows. It also discusses the fault of death between two partners.
“A Running Start” and “Will Anybody Ever Love Me?” are listed back to back in the album — an ironic approach. The former of these songs is about the anxiety and excitement of kissing someone for the first time. Meanwhile, the latter is a plea for love for the right reasons.
Sufjan Stevens also commonly uses Christian imagery in his songs. “Genuflecting Ghost,” “My Red Little Fox” and “Everything That Rises” are three songs that tell a story with this added imagery. For years, this imagery had fans asking who Stevens’s songs were about.
“My love of God and my relationship with God is fundamental, but its manifestations in my life and the practices of it are constantly changing. I find incredible freedom in my faith,” Stevens said in an interview with Pitchfork.
While most of the album basked in the sounds of electronic instruments, “So You Are Tired” is a throwback to his album “Carrie & Lowell,” with the same soft acoustic properties of the song. It is an emotional tale of a partner getting tired of him and their love slowly wasting away.
“Shit Talk” is the longest song in the album — with a duration of eight minutes and 30 seconds. It is similar to “So You Are Tired” as it discusses a relationship slowly withering away. The relationship is doomed, and neither partner has hopes for amendment. They simply have to let the relationship go.
The last song of the album, “There’s A World,” is a cover originally written by Neil Young but with an added folk style to it. It is a perfect ending to the album and wraps it into a nice bow for the listeners.
“Goodbye Evergreen” is my favorite song on the album, but when listening, I found myself loving each song. I had only known Stevens from his hits like “Mystery of Love” — which first appeared in the 2017 film “Call Me By Your Name” — and “Fourth of July.” This album certainly made me fall in love with his voice as well as his style of songwriting.
I recommend this album to anyone and everyone. It is beautiful in many ways and heartbreaking in every other way. You can find “Javelin” on any music streaming service.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
