Singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens wows on โWill Anybody Ever Love Me?โ, the second single from his 10th solo album, Javelin.
Talent, talent, talent.ย That is what alternative singer/songwriter ๐ Sufjan Stevens possesses.ย Ahead of his 10th studio album, ๐ฟ Javelin, the ๐ Academy and Grammy award-nominated musician has faced the health challenges of Guillain-Barrรฉ syndrome (GBS), and has been unable to promote the project ๐ข. The good news is that Stevens is rehabbing, working towards recovery, and the brilliance of the music, specifically second single, ๐ต โWill Anybody Ever Love Me?โ, speaks for itself.
โWill Anybody Ever Love Me?โ begins stripped, reminiscent of Stevensโ folky music moments ๐ช. ย As always, he plays his own instruments. The record commences with a simple, rhythmic accompaniment carried by guitar (or similar acoustic string instrument) supporting his hushed, expressed vocals, and itโs more than enough.ย Soon enough, piano joins the mix in the pre-chorus, with Stevens maintains his hushed vocal approachย (โTie me to a tiny wooden raft / Burn my body, point me to the undertowโ). The initial chorus that follows grows a bit bigger in scope, but still, Stevens remains cool, calm, and collected โ even keeled:
โWill anybody ever love me?
For good reasons
Without grievance, not for sport
Will anybody ever love me?
In every season
Pledge allegiance to my heart
Pledge allegiance to my burning heart.โ
Following the first chorus, a more colorful soundscape arrives. In the second verse, not only is the arrangement and production more ornate instrumentally, but Stevens also adds vocalists who harmonize with him. The lyrics continue to shine brightly, with Stevens singing in the final couple lines of the verse, โTake my suffering as I take my vow / Wash me now, anoint me with that golden blade.โ Expectedly, the second chorus is much grander โ absolutely stunning with its vocal layers and the instrumental touches. Furthermore, the outro is also incredibly ear-catching, highlighted by the lyric, โMy burning heart,โ as well as supporting vocalist singing the titular lyric.ย We wish the man, Sufjan Stevens, a speedy recovery.ย As always, the music slaps โ in the most refined, sophisticated way possible!
๐ Sufjan Stevens โข ๐ฟ Javelin โข ๐ท Asthmatic Kitty โข ๐ 10.6.23
[๐ท: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Asthmatic Kitty; OpenClipart-Vectors, PIRO via Pixabay]
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Sufjan Stevens, Javelin | Album Review ๐ฟ · October 21, 2023 at 8:00 am
[…] ๐ต โWill Anybody Ever Love Me?โ begins stripped, reminiscent of Stevensโ folky music moments ๐ช.โฏ The record commences with a […]
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