Last Night A DJ Saved My Life: SOUND & COLOR: THE ALBUMS, 2015.

Saturday, January 02, 2016

SOUND & COLOR: THE ALBUMS, 2015.

01/sufjan stevens/carrie & lowell

it was mother's day, two thousand fifteen. i told myself i wouldn't cry in public, but i did, couldn't help myself. the journey on bus one had drawn to a close, and as i rose to exit, sufjan stevens sang in my ear, coming through my headphones at peace, solemnly,

"...we're all gonna die..."

i missed the states projects. and i adored the sisyphus project. age of adz? my everything. so i came to this new sufjan project with some expectations, knowing what i wanted and was going to get. and i didn't get any of that.

a new sufjan album was going to be in heavy rotation for me regardless of the direction or tone. but what i got here was something i did not expect: a connection and a tool to help me get through and process something similar that i had yet to tackle head on.

sufjan lost his mother prior to this album's creation and release. and when she died, like many of us, his mind raced to the good times, the missed connections, and the things that were left unsaid. with carrie & lowell, sufjan is not fantastical, and is grounded; alone in his thoughts and patient, seeking clarity to process his mother's death and his own station in life. there is no rage, there is no clutter, and there is no noise, just peace.

it's admirable and relatable, with a warmth that is incredibly moving.

and a beautifully human experience.

transcend.

KEY TRACKS: should have known better/fourth of july/john my beloved

02/kendrick lamar/to pimp a butterfly

03/tame impala/currents

04/miguel/wildheart

05/bully/feels like

06/speedy ortiz/foil deer

07/chvrches/every open eye