| Javelin | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 6, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Indie folk [1] | |||
| Length | 41:59 | |||
| Label | Asthmatic Kitty | |||
| Producer | Sufjan Stevens | |||
| Sufjan Stevens chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Javelin | ||||
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Javelin is the tenth studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released on October 6, 2023, through Asthmatic Kitty. It received widespread critical acclaim on release.
Stevens created the record mostly by himself in his home studio with contributions by several friends, [2] including harmonies provided by Adrienne Maree Brown, Hannah Cohen, Pauline Delassus, Megan Lui, and Nedelle Torrisi, among others. [3] Additionally, The National guitarist Bryce Dessner played acoustic and electric guitar on the record. [4] According to a press release, the album sees the artist returning to "full singer-songwriter mode" for the first time since his 2015 studio album Carrie & Lowell . [5] It further states that Javelin might feel like a "big team" production at times but assures the listener that every track is a product of Stevens "at home", "building by himself" and creating a sentiment of "'70s Los Angeles studio opulence". [6] The album is dedicated to his late partner, Evans Richardson. [7] [8]
The lead single "So You Are Tired", a "major shift back to the scaled-down, acoustic instrumentation" of Carrie & Lowell, was released on August 14, 2023. While Sufjan penned nine of the tracks on his own, the project also features a cover of Neil Young 's "There's a World" from his 1972 album Harvest . [9] The album release was accompanied by a 48-page book of "imaginative visual" art and 10 short essays tied to the songs. [10]
On Javelin's release day, Stevens posted on Instagram that "this album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson, who passed away in April [2023]". [11] [12]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 87/100 [13] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [14] |
| DIY |  [15] |
| The Guardian | [16] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 10/10 [17] |
| Mojo | [18] |
| NME | [19] |
| Pitchfork | 8.6/10 [1] |
| The Skinny | [20] |
| Slant Magazine | [21] |
| Uncut | 8/10 [22] |
Javelin received a score of 87 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 22 critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [13] Mojo's James McNair felt that Stevens is "still adept at spectacular, if somewhat opaque intimacy" and that "he enchants on 'My Red Little Fox', with its baroque recorders", [18] while Uncut stated that "Javelin sounds like a proper Sufjan Stevens album, picking up the lyrical and sonic threads of Carrie & Lowell and 2010's The Age of Adz ". [22] The Skinny 's Lucy Fitzgerald concluded that the album "gracefully distill[s] a profusion of self-loathing", calling it "a heartsick high. No one yearns like Sufjan Stevens". [20]
Dana Poland of Slant Magazine wrote that "as always, expressions of spiritual and romantic devotion are skillfully intertwined in Stevens's lyrics" as he "bridg[es] the universal and the personal. Javelin doesn't just feel like a return to form—it feels resurgent". [21] Pitchfork awarded the album their "Best New Music" distinction, with Sam Sodomsky writing that "the songwriting feels as raw and direct as ever" as Stevens "seems intent on understanding and being understood, with the purpose of exposing the common thread between his pet subjects: raising the endless questions that lead us to seek meaning in one another, and rejoicing in the euphoria of sometimes finding it". [1]
In his review for AllMusic, Mark Deming concluded that "Javelin is an album about the need to be loved, agape and philia, and Stevens shows that he can write about both without trivializing or minimizing the importance of either. That's a commendable achievement in any creative medium, and the fact that he's done so while creating some of the best music of his life makes this essential listening." [14] NME 's Hannah Mylrea called it "a return to 'full singer-songwriter' Stevens, in a way, but by bringing together sonics from throughout his career and coupling it with frank and intimate lyricism, the gorgeous Javelin feels like a fresh take from the cult hero." [19] Reviewing the album for The Guardian , Alexis Petridis described it as "a holistic album, one that flows rather than fractures" and claimed it, "remarkable, too... carrying the listener along with it as it goes". [16]
DIY 's Ben Tipple wrote that "even on the occasion when the record veers dangerously close to twee (see the nursery rhyme-adjacent 'My Little Red Fox'), it still presents as a delicate insight back to the life of its creator" and it "takes a confident stride back into personal territory and certainly gives [Carrie & Lowell] a run for its money". [15] Matthew Kim of The Line of Best Fit found that "Stevens goes back to what he does best – slightly electronic folk music paired with poetic lyricism – and he crafts yet another masterpiece, distinct from his previous catalogue but just as affecting". [17]
In 2024, Rolling Stone placed the cover art 39th on its list of “The 50 Worst Album Covers of All Time”. [23]
| Publication | Accolade | Rank | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| British GQ | Best Albums of 2023 | — | |
| Exclaim! | 50 Best Albums of 2023 | 3 | |
| Paste | 50 Best Albums of 2023 | 2 | |
| Pitchfork | 50 Best Albums of 2023 | 6 | |
| Rolling Stone | 100 Best Albums of 2023 | 7 |
Javelin sold 4,335 units in the first week in UK. [29]
All tracks are written by Sufjan Stevens; except "There's a World", written by Neil Young
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Goodbye Evergreen" | 3:35 |
| 2. | "A Running Start" | 4:21 |
| 3. | "Will Anybody Ever Love Me?" | 4:09 |
| 4. | "Everything That Rises" | 4:59 |
| 5. | "Genuflecting Ghost" | 3:32 |
| 6. | "My Red Little Fox" | 3:42 |
| 7. | "So You Are Tired" | 4:49 |
| 8. | "Javelin (To Have and to Hold)" | 1:52 |
| 9. | "Shit Talk" | 8:31 |
| 10. | "There's a World" | 2:29 |
| Total length: | 41:59 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Malthusian Mistress" | 1:34 |
| 2. | "Is It My Fault?" | 2:21 |
| 3. | "Fireproof" | 2:03 |
| 4. | "Old Man of the Lake" | 2:55 |
| 5. | "The Kiss of Niobe" | 3:14 |
| Total length: | 12:06 | |
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [30] | 46 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [31] | 33 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [32] | 15 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [33] | 29 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [34] | 5 |
| French Albums (SNEP) [35] | 41 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [36] | 15 |
| Irish Albums (OCC) [37] | 13 |
| Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [38] | 86 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [39] | 14 |
| Portuguese Albums (AFP) [40] | 13 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [41] | 3 |
| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [42] | 36 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [43] | 15 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [44] | 7 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [45] | 2 |
| US Billboard 200 [46] | 30 |
| US Folk Albums (Billboard) [47] | 4 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) [48] | 7 |
| US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [49] | 4 |
| US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [50] | 4 |
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has released ten solo studio albums and multiple collaborative albums with other artists. Stevens has received Grammy and Academy Award nominations.
Illinois is a 2005 concept album by American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens. His fifth studio album, it features songs referencing places, events, and persons related to the U.S. state of Illinois. Illinois is Stevens' second based on a U.S. state—part of a planned series of fifty that began with the 2003 album Michigan and that Stevens has since acknowledged was a joke. It was adapted into a musical, Illinoise, in 2023 and, after playing smaller venues, opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in April 2024.
Laugh Track is the tenth studio album from American indie rock band The National. The surprise album was released on September 18, 2023, having been announced only days prior. The album's material was mostly written and recorded alongside the band's earlier 2023 album, First Two Pages of Frankenstein, with several songs being re-recorded at producer Tucker Martine's studio after honing their arrangements while on tour in 2023. Preceded by the singles, "Weird Goodbyes", "Alphabet City" and "Space Invader", the album features guest vocal appearances from Justin Vernon, Phoebe Bridgers and Rosanne Cash. Laugh Track has received positive reviews from critics.
The Avalanche is a 2006 compilation album by indie rock singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, consisting of outtakes and other recordings from the sessions for his album Illinois, released the previous year. The title song "The Avalanche" was also a bonus track on the Illinois vinyl and iTunes release.
Boxer is the fourth studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on May 22, 2007, on Beggars Banquet Records. Following its release, the album debuted at number 68 on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling about 9,500 copies in its first week.
High Violet is the fifth studio album by The National, which was released on May 10, 2010, in Europe and on May 11, 2010, in North America via 4AD. The band produced the album themselves, assisted by Peter Katis with whom they worked on their previous albums Alligator and Boxer at their own studio in Brooklyn, New York, and at Katis' Tarquin Studios in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The sculpture on the album cover was created by artist Mark Fox, and is called The Binding Force.
The Age of Adz is the sixth studio album by American singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, released on October 12, 2010 by Asthmatic Kitty. It was Stevens' first song-based full-length album in five years, since the release of Illinois in 2005.
American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens has released thirteen studio albums, three compilation albums, three soundtracks, two mixtapes, thirteen extended plays (EP), twenty singles, eight promotional singles, and eight music videos. Through his record label Asthmatic Kitty Records, Stevens released his first two albums A Sun Came and Enjoy Your Rabbit in 2000 and 2001, respectively. For his next two releases – Michigan (2003) and Seven Swans (2004) – the singer partnered with Sounds Familyre Records for the distribution of both releases. Seven Swans was supported by Stevens' debut single "The Dress Looks Nice on You". The same album was reissued in 2009 and included the new single "I Went Dancing with My Sister". His fifth album, Illinois, was his first release to enter record charts, where it reached the lower positions in several countries and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 500,000 copies. The Avalanche, a compilation album consisting of outtakes from Illinois, was released in 2006 and also reached various charts internationally.
Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6–10 is a five-EP box set of Christmas-related songs and carols recorded by Sufjan Stevens between 2006 and 2012. It is a follow-up to Songs for Christmas, which was released six years prior. On October 2, 2012, it was announced that Stevens would release Silver & Gold on November 13, 2012 in digital format, CD and LP boxset. On October 24, 2012, a claymation music video, animated by Lee Hardcastle, was released for "Mr. Frosty Man".
Trouble Will Find Me is the sixth studio album by American indie rock band the National, released on May 17, 2013, on 4AD.
Carrie & Lowell is the seventh studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released on March 31, 2015, by Asthmatic Kitty. It was produced by Stevens, and features guest contributions from Thomas Bartlett, Sean Carey, Casey Foubert, Ben Lester, Nedelle Torrisi, and Laura Veirs.
Planetarium is a collaborative album featuring Bryce Dessner of the indie rock band The National, drummer James McAlister, contemporary classical music composer and arranger Nico Muhly, and singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens. The album was released by 4AD on June 9, 2017. The group announced the recording on March 26, sharing the album's track listing along with the song "Saturn".
The Greatest Gift is a mixtape by Sufjan Stevens consisting of outtakes and unreleased tracks from Stevens' 2015 release, Carrie & Lowell.
Call Me by Your Name: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack to the 2017 romantic drama film, Call Me by Your Name. It features songs by The Psychedelic Furs, Franco Battiato, Loredana Bertè, Bandolero, Giorgio Moroder, Joe Esposito, and F. R. David, with compositions by John Adams, Erik Satie, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Maurice Ravel. American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens composed two original songs for the film, and the soundtrack also features a remix of his track "Futile Devices". Stevens's original song "Mystery of Love" was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 2018 ceremony. At the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, "Mystery of Love" received a nomination for Best Song Written for Visual Media and the soundtrack received one for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
East Atlanta Love Letter is the second studio album by American singer 6lack. It was released on September 14, 2018 by LVRN and Interscope Records. This is the follow-up to his 2016 release, Free 6lack. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including T-Minus, Cardiak, Joel Little and Bizness Boi among others. The album also features guest appearances from Future, J. Cole, Offset and Khalid.
Aporia is an album by American musician Sufjan Stevens and his stepfather, Lowell Brams. It was released through Asthmatic Kitty on March 24, 2020 with a live preview held on YouTube on March 23, 2020.
The Ascension is the eighth studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It was released through Asthmatic Kitty on September 25, 2020. The record was influenced by a range of artists, particularly Ariana Grande and her 2018 song "Thank U, Next".
− ("Subtract") is the sixth studio album by English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran. It was released on 5 May 2023 through Asylum and Atlantic Records. A mostly acoustic album, production was handled by Aaron Dessner on every track, alongside Fred Again, Max Martin and Shellback, who all joined him to help produce lead single "Eyes Closed"; while "Boat" and "Life Goes On" served as the respective second and third singles of the album. It was also released as a visual album, with videos for twelve of the album's fourteen tracks premiering on the album's release date. The album serves as the follow-up to Sheeran's previous album, = (2021), and is his final mathematical-themed album.
A Beginner's Mind is a collaborative album by American musicians Sufjan Stevens and Angelo De Augustine. The album was released by Asthmatic Kitty on September 24, 2021. After being teased by Asthmatic Kitty for several days, the album was formally announced on July 7, 2021, along with its track listing and two singles, "Reach Out" and "Olympus". Daniel Anum Jasper created the album's cover artwork.
First Two Pages of Frankenstein is the ninth studio album by the American indie rock band the National, released on April 28, 2023, by 4AD. The album was produced by The National at Long Pond studio in upstate New York and features guest appearances from Sufjan Stevens, Phoebe Bridgers, and Taylor Swift.
