My top albums of 2015 (so far)

April 18 marked the 9th annual Record Store Day. Record Store Day is recognized world wide and celebrates independent record stores and their significance in their communities. The day also sees special vinyl and CD releases, and other special promotions. To commemorate the day, I looked back on albums that have been released so far this year. In no particular order, my favourites are:

Mr. Wonderful - Action Bronson

Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance - Belle and Sebastian

I love you, Honeybear - Father John Misty

To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper - Panda Bear

Carrie & Lowell - Sufjan Stevens 

Goon - Tobias Jesso Jr.

Photo courtesy of Conson on a CC license

With lots of great albums already released this year, the Toronto Public Library (TPL) can be your one-stop listening destination! In addition to our CD collection check out Hoopla, our digital music and video collection. Also, did you know that the TPL has an expansive vinyl collection? At the Toronto Reference Lirbary up on the 5th floor, there are LPs available for listening.

Carrie & Lowell: Album review

March 31st marked the release of the long-awaited Sufjan Stevens album, Carrie & Lowell. This is his seventh studio album, his previous being released five years ago. In a word (or a few), this album is near perfect, maybe even his best? This may seem like a ludicrous statement, given the success of past albums Illinoise and Seven Swans. These releases yielded gems such as "Casimir Pulaski Day", "Chicago" and "To Be Alone With You".

   

Carrie & Lowell, so-called after his mother and stepfather, sees a return to Stevens' more sparse style with the use of modest instrumentation. With gentle acoustic guitar, intermittent piano, paltry backing vocals, and virtually no percussion, the minimal accompaniment forges and nurtures the honesty and intimacy of this album.

Carrie & Lowell chronicles Stevens' broken relationship with his mother who passed away in 2012 of stomach cancer, but abandoned him and his family earlier when he was one year old. Carrie, who suffered from mental health issues, also battled drug addiction, and substance abuse. Stevens enthralls the listener as he describes the hurt and confusion resulting from his relationship with his mother (or lack thereof), as well as the repercussions of her passing.

Album cover - Sufjan Stevens: Carrie & Lowell.  Asthmatic Kitty (2015).

The album draws haunting illustrations, while tenderly exploring depression, grief, regret, and isolation. In "Should Have Known Better", he sings "The bridge to nowhere/ I should've wrote a letter/ Explaining what I feel, that empty feeling". In the end, there's no grand catharsis for listeners; there's nothing from which to be released. Although there's a level of indignation throughout, Stevens isn't angry. Every time, in his most desperate and inescapable moments, he consoles the listener. In impassioned "John My Beloved", Stevens takes one final breath, allowing the listener to breathe with him.

Stevens candidly sings about feelings of desertion, resentment, and love. This sincerity is apparent throughout his musical career, but is especially evident in this album. Narrative aside, Carrie & Lowell is a solid work. The minimal electric elements delicately blend within the composition, while notably contributing to the album's intricacies.

Sufjan Stevens. Photo courtesy of Joe Lencioni on a CC license

Place a hold on Carrie & Lowell, and in the meantime check out some of Sufjan Stevens' earlier work. If this strikes a chord, check out other similar artists including: Iron & Wine, Great Lake Swimmers, Birdy, Andrew Bird, and Local Natives. 

Sufjan Stevens is playing a sold out show at Massey Hall on April 29, 2015.