Album Review: Sufjan Stevens Has a Wake-Up Call in ‘The Ascension’

In his latest album, Sufjan Stevens' desperate cries for help amid inner battles and dissonance with the world lead to profound self-reflection.

Written by Katie Karp

With Oscar and Grammy nominations, eight solo studio albums, and many collaborative projects under his belt, Sufjan Stevens has become an indie household name. Not having released a solo project in five years, the Detroit-born musician’s return to the spotlight has been highly anticipated. Since his 2015 album Carrie and Lowell, Stevens’ soft, acoustic sound has transitioned toward a more electronic feel due to his use of synthesizers and drums in recent projects like Aporia and his latest solo studio album. While his instrumentals in The Ascension are experimental, Stevens continues to use music as a form of self-exploration. The same themes of vulnerability and desperation as Stevens tries to make sense of the loss of his estranged mother in Carrie and Lowell continue in his attempts to escape his mental health issues and understand the gruesome realities of America in 2020 for his latest project.

In The Ascension, he uses his artistic expression to get in touch with his values as he faces somewhat of an existential crisis during this troubling time. Throughout the record, he explores drugs, religion, love, and philosophy as he tries to make sense of the world and himself, both of which he feels are at a loss to him.

In "Video Games,” one of the singles off the album, Stevens reflects on the lack of fulfillment he feels from fame. The mid-tempo, synthetic sounds of the song reflect his outward commentary on rejecting the standards of living that stars are encouraged to uphold in order to maintain their celebrity status. He compares people's perception of celebrities in the age of social media to those of a "puppet in a theatre,” "personal Jesus,” or even the "center of the universe." In using these metaphors, Stevens makes it clear that he does not want to live solely to maintain his stardom at the requests of fans. This isn’t the first time he has ruminated on fame: in an interview with The Guardian, he said, "Social media has exacerbated celebrity culture and idol worship. It monetizes us, it commodifies human instinct. There's a loss of identity within that transaction." The accompanying music video for this song was choreographed by Jalaiah Harmon, the teen who created the "Renegade" TikTok dance. The video focuses on Harmon, who dances in front of different video game-like backgrounds. Although the way her simulative surroundings change is out of her control, Harmon continues to dance. In many ways, the fleeting, overwhelming fame that a TikTok star experiences embodies what Stevens shies away from in the song.

The pressure that comes with stardom is objectively challenging to handle, yet celebrities rarely voice a desire to forge a path that avoids the spotlight since their success depends on public support. Because it is unusual to hear stars discuss any problems surrounding fame, life in the spotlight seems desirable to those outside of it. By acknowledging this fame and explicitly neglecting it, Stevens seeks to eradicate the parasocial celebrity-fan dichotomy. This enables him to establish a deeper connection with his listeners, sharing a more intimate perspective when touching upon the issues that follow in the album.

Throughout The Ascension, Stevens turns to love as a source of salvation. Never using names or pronouns, he seems to sing about a love that is not a particular person, but an elusive concept. In "Tell Me You Love Me,” Stevens opens up about his inner struggles, whether it be loss of faith, depression, or lack of control. His longing for love stems from his lack of stability:

"Can you tell me this love will last forever? (Tell me you love me)
(My love) As the world turns, making such a mess
(My love) What's the point of it when everything's dispossessed?"

Stevens also sees drugs as a savior from his troubled existence. In “Ativan,” he depends on the titular drug to soothe his anxiety. Over the course of the track, he asks Ativan to "tranquilize,” "revise,” and "sanitize" him.

Halfway through the album, Stevens shifts his focus from his reliance on drugs to his relationship with God in "Ursa Major." He begs God for forgiveness and guidance. "Lord, reveal yourself in mercy / Call off all emergency / And look at things the way I see them / For the beauty of the Earth / It shows us wisdom, love, and rebirth." When Stevens and the world around him are in turmoil, he finds it difficult to love God, but he vows to do so anyway in the hopes of reciprocated love.In "Gilgamesh,” Stevens develops a new outlook on his life. Comparing himself to the protagonist of the ancient Greek epic, he views his hardships as tests he must take on his own personal journey. Just as the literary work focuses on Gilgamesh and the ethical quandaries he faces, Stevens likewise forms his own narrative in the song through his methodical layering of and experimentation with different sounds. "Gilgamesh" not only reveals his new, more optimistic outlook on life, but it also highlights his use of literature and philosophy to make sense of the world.

“Sugar” presents another major turning point in the album. Stevens conveys the message not to allow toxic aspects of the world to affect him: “All the shit they try to feed us / Don't drink the poison or they'll defeat us / This is the right time.” In a Pitchfork interview, the singer-songwriter further explained the song’s meaning: "Feed your soul and speak new life into those around you. Give each other love, respect and sacrifice.” Stevens' message to spread love and take it upon yourself to add light to the world spreads much needed hope during these trying times.

In The Ascension, Stevens learns how to make sense of his inner and worldly troubles during this uncertain moment. He begins the album in a state of desperation, exploring different coping methods and ultimately recognizing that the only way to make sense of everything is not to rely on others but to reflect and change himself. As he sings in the album's title track, "I was asking far too much of everyone around me / And now it strikes me far too late again / That I should answer for myself as the Ascension falls upon me."

REVIEWSAfterglow ATXOctober 2, 2020