Sufjan Stevens – Javelin review

Our lives are so public these days, so that whenever anyone who gathers the attention of more than a few people close to them chooses to not give up it’s essence, it seems genuinely odd. Of course we have no right no know, but that Sufjan Stevens, whilst never as awkwardly famous as some of his peers, has largely kept his private existence just that has as these things do, merely intensified the speculation about it.

Even then it was a surprise when Javelin was dedicated to his partner Evans Richardson, who died earlier in 2023. The eulogy which accompanied the announcement was an affecting, heartfelt one, and the record with which it’s now forever associated explores themes both personal and it seems even celestial, ranging from self doubt on Will Anyone Ever Love Me to the heavy religious iconography of Little Red Fox.

Less experimental than previous work like The Age of Adz, the frequent use of close harmony backing vocals often gives a parlour feel, with most songs beginning on one trajectory and then steered gently into somewhere new. The clear highlight though is Shit Talk, a near eight minute rumination on broken down love with Stevens accompanied by The National‘s Aaron Dessner. A rare glimpse behind the curtain, Javelin stirs a fascination for more which the singer may from now on find hard to quench.

You can read a full review here.