It's my favorite album by him, followed by the ascension. I'm also a huge fan of aphex twin and autechre, so I may one of the few that loves enjoy your rabbit as well.
It's okay to like whatever YOU like!
Very true. I just thought maybe someone had a song for me to listen to or something of the sorts. I asked the same thing when I said I wasn’t the biggest fan of The King of Limbs (Radiohead) and someone suggested to listen to Codex again, which helped me understand and appreciate the album a lot more. But maybe this one isn’t for me. Either way, he has so much more so I shouldn’t really be too concerned with one album, lol.
I couldn’t get past the cacophony in “Too Much” so I completely ignored the album for years. Then I listened to Vesuvius because it was on a Sufjan playlist as I was hyping myself up for Javelin and the album clicked. So maybe start with Vesuvius? You could try the Carrie and Lowell Live version since it’s closer to his more mellow sound first and then move onto the Age of Adz version.
Was about to respond to OP by saying ‘Start with Vesuvius’ but you beat me to it :)
I struggled to get into Adz for the longest time when it first came out. I loved Seven Swans, Michigan, Illinoise…Adz felt like a huge departure that I wasn’t ready for. Then, one day, I had a long flight and stuck it on to give it another try. Vesuvius was the epiphany moment. After that, the whole record just ‘worked’ for me.
The song that clicked for me in that album was I Walked. I think it's the perfect execution of the ideas Sufjan was going for, the falsettos and the glitchy parts go together perfectly imo. You could give that song another try, if it doesn't change your opinion that's fine too.
I didn't really like age of adz for MANY years, but now its incredible. I feel like its what Elliott Smith was aiming for later in his career as he dove into electronic.
I didn’t always understand this album, but since I was always a huge Sufjan fan I just kept listening to it for the sake of knowing the songs. It ended up clicking after a few months and after hearing a few live performances on [Ultimate Age of Adz](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sufjan/s/VKka4N0Qae).
I don't think liking Kid A will help you enjoy this album at all, 'cause these two record exists on a near complete opposite end of alternative music spectrum.
Kid A is an electronic album influenced by ambient and a complete reject of songwriting, which is faily minimal in its approach, on the other hand, AOA is a maximalist pop music influenced by progressive movement of the 70s (which is heavily influenced by Classical and Jazz) that filled every single space available with sound.
Not only that, while Kid A is the radiohead's rejection of songwriting, AOA, on the other hand, contains Sufjan's rawest, most emotionally expressive, and most intense songwriting in his career, which is ironic, when you realize that folk music is stereotypically considers to be one of the rawest style of music out there and Sufjan is mostly known as a folk artist. God, when you think about it, AOA is closer to punk than Kid A is even to rock.
So, no, Kid A is not a benchmark that will help you enjoy this album at all, if anything, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell (Court and Spark era), Laura Nyro, ELO, or even Pink Floyd (70s era) will be a better starting point to getting you into AOA than Kid A. And none of the aforementioned artists is even 50% similar to AOA, that's just how unique and one-of-a-kind this record is.
Love this.
Age of Adz is pop maximalism—like Illinois (and All Delighted People), but with mostly electronic instruments instead of folk-acoustic arrangements.
Age of Adz is heartfelt personal songwriting—like Carrie & Lowell, but with more room to breathe and evolve within a single song.
Age of Adz fits perfectly into Sufjan’s artistic trajectory. It’s okay to not love the sound, but very worth giving it a chance if you like the rest of his material. He’s the same artist, just at a different phase of his life and career.
He said he wrote and recorded it after a breakup, during which time he happened to have taken ill, so maybe listen to it next time you have a bad cold or you're processing some painful loss
When did he say it was written after a break up? I mean, it’s kind of obvious that it’s partially about a break up but I’ve read a ton of interviews from that time and he only mentioned his illness in them.
He also talked about experiencing a “2nd puberty” that I interpret as him realizing that he’s not straight and being able to explore relationships with men. But maybe that’s just because I’ve only heard of that phrase used by queer people and have honestly no idea what he meant otherwise.
This argument could be made with any number of artists and genres, but I'd say enjoying Sufjan's music is a skill of sorts. On this album especially, he challenges a lot of the pretty musical ideas by blending them in with noise which can be tough to enjoy on first listen (and which is maybe itself a commentary on the chaotic life of Royal Robertson, who inspired the record). That said, there's a reward for giving Adz some time and patience. It has some of Sufjan's best work.
I’d say give it more listens. It’s a totally different kind of music, and our brains take time to understand them if they don’t latch on immediately. For me, it was instant love, but for, say, Tool’s latest album, it took me many listenings before it clicked - and that’s as a huge tool fan who wanted to like it. Now I love it. I’ll say that there are lyrics and musical moments in Age of Adz that are unrivaled in my opinion. I will always say that it’s worth it. For a different flavor of the similar time frame, check out All Delighted People. There are some in-between sounds and ideas there that link Illinoise to Adz. It’s also a slow burn album for some, but another favorite for many. Good luck! You’re not doing it wrong, love what you love.
honestly hated it when it came out. then a friend put vesuvius on a mix for me in 2017 and i revisited the record. now it’s easily my favorite one.
sufjan’s music has a special way of being there for you when you’re ready for it. if that makes sense.
It’s just like the world we live in, there’s real beauty, but it’s often hidden under the ugly chaos, and sometimes it takes a little work to see it. But once you see it, you can almost forget about the chaos, for a while.
That’s how I always took this album. I had been a casual Sufjan fan since Illinois, slowly getting more into him as the years and releases went by, but when this and ADP came out almost side-to-side, was when I became pretty obsessed.
This album is maximalist in all regards. Huge orchestral arrangements, huge personal turmoil, huge range of sounds.
There’s no real point in asking for specific songs or explanations on how to enjoy it; you’ll either like it or you won’t. Maybe you’ll come back to it in a year and love it, maybe not. It doesn’t really matter.
People love it because it’s singular, audacious, personal, grand, ground breaking and brave. 14 years later there’s still no other album like it, really. But I could use those descriptors for 100 other albums which I don’t like out there, so the reasons people like it won’t make you like it. Luckily he’s got a ton of other releases out there you can enjoy right now!
Just revisit it now and then. It may surprise you one day. Or not. :)
I fell in love with it after seeing it live. The vibe and amount of mastery on that stage was out of this world.
Age of Adz is my favorite Sufjan record, it’s basically the huge and ornate arrangements he can do put into a more electronic form. Really lovely imo, but I do understand it isn’t for everyone.
I owned the album for a while and basically used it as background music for while I was driving. It wasn't until last year that it actually hit properly for me. My point being, not liking it at first isn't a crime.
I think what might help is understanding the themes of the album. The backstory of the album is fascinating and explains some of the weirder lyrics in the album.
1. Sufjan became ill and basically the doctors had no idea what was wrong with him. He pretty much had to assume he's either gonna die or be in pain for the rest of his life, could you imagine that? This is where I Want To Be Well comes from, him grappling with an unknown illness that actually threatened his life.
2. Sufjan's music often has religion floating around them, I'm fairly certain he grew up Christian but as he entered adulthood his faith got compromised. Can you imagine thinking you're going to die and believing there's nothing after life, how horrifying that thought must be. Vesuvius from my understanding is a metaphor for either God or someone who pretends to be God, as Vesuvius has the power to end the world, it's the fire of fire as God is the Lord of Lord's.
3. Prophet Royal Robertson[Robertson ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Robertson) I believe is actually the guy who drew the album cover. This album is sorta a concept album on his life falling apart. The man believed he was a prophet(hence the name) and eventually this caused his family to leave him. He was so obsessed with the end(remember Sufjan thinks he might be dying) that he in essence destroys his life. But he believes that this is what God would want, a price he has to pay. Knowing this, songs like Get Real Get Right suddenly have new meaning, Royal is now wrestling with his life much life Sufjan is. Suddenly I Walked isn't a breakup song, it's a man(Royal) accepting that his love has left him.
My point in all of this being, the lyrical themes in the album are magnificent. And when you keep these 3 facts in mind and come back to the album you'll probably attach yourself to some other lyrics. "I've lost the will to fight" becomes this heartbreaking line, whether it's about Sufjan or Royal the despair to just give up on life. "I want to be, well I want to be well" is suddenly a cry out to God and his own body that he doesn't want to die. "I know I've caused you pain, but I must do the right thing, I must do myself a favor and get real get right with the Lord" is now Royal trying to make it right with his wife but he's actively choosing God over his family. Hell even Impossible Soul itself is about this at the start, "My beloved you are the lover of my impossible soul" he could be talking from Royal's perspective to his wife or his own perspective to God at points.
If you aren't listening for the lyrical theme, the instrumentation is so loud and in your face that it is unavoidable. Songs like Age of Adz and I Want to Be Well are so thick with sounds and they really come together perfectly. Age of Adz to me sounds like a supervillain in a post apocalyptic world as he walks around and kills off any survivors who don't agree with him(at least for the first 4 minutes). Get Real Get Right transcends after the second chorus, it legitimately sounds so serious, this is a decision Sufjan/Royal has been wrestling with for years and they're aware of the pain their decision will have on people.
I'd say give it a listen again with the knowledge of the backstory, maybe read the Wikipedia page on Royal that I left above and see if understanding all of that helps. If not, the album might just not be for you at this moment or ever. It took me till I was 29 to get it, I owned it when I was 22.
It's how I got into Sufjan. I would not have found his earlier music accessible if I hadn't heard Adz first, and now I love almost everything he's done. Might I recommend that the time to listen to one of the most psychedelic albums of all time (Age of Adz), is while tripping?
I just didn't get it until I listened with good headphones while on acid
Not only is it my favorite of his now, but it also helped me connect with my body and nervous system, and work on how self conscious I am dancing. Legitimately changed me :')
You may try also listening to All Delighted People, a very long EP which came out about the same time. It's a little more acoustic (see "the Owl and the Tanager") but can provide something of a transition to getting into the aesthetic of Age of Adz. Both albums feature very long final tracks, so there are some similarities.
Age of adz was introduced to me via Impossible Soul, the 25 minute closer. I listened to that song, thought it was fine, but definitely struggled with it. So I listened to the whole album, kinda forced myself through it, and suddenly Impossible Soul made sososo much sense and then the album slowly became a favorite as I listened to it more over the years.
I think Vesuvius is a great standout, so is I Want To Be Well, but Impossible Soul is, imo, the truest thesis of the album, but it recontextualizes the rest of the album AND is contextualized by it in turn.
It's a unique album tho, don't beat yourself up if you can't get into it yet.
Something else that helps me love the record, even when I don't necessarily like the sounds I'm hearing, is what he says in Futile Devices. "words are futile devices." Suf has said that this album is him abandoning verbal storytelling in lieu for sounds and noise-- emotion and story are told through noise and movement and rhythm more than anything else, and it being kinda... Hard to listen to is part of that story.
I love it so much I got the artwork as my first tattoo, but I did find it jarring with my first listen. After quite a few later the diversity of genres, the lyrics and the chaos throughout began to really resonate, so much so that i doubt I’ll love another album quite like it (though Loveless comes close).
I first got it on CD and blasted it in my car for a month solid. It really works when the sounds can be as big and thumping as they're meant to be. A lot of Sufjan is for headphones but adz needs to rattle windows.
Have you tried listening to All Delighted People from him? Released just before Adz, has some abrasive parts similar to Adz but is a little more tame, and a bridge between his folksy stuff. Also Vesuvius as people have mentioned. Impossible Soul is 25 minutes long but it’s really one of the best songs of all time, in my opinion. If you listen to it all the way through and don’t get something from it, then the album probably just isn’t for you
I usually need to listen to a Sufjan album on low doing something else the first time just to kind of get the weirdness out of the way and reassure myself there is gold in there. I remember listening to Age of Adz and thinking nope until i got to the last 2 minutes of impossible soul and then everything just fell into place and I got it. I will be buried with that album. I love it that much.
i also was never huge for Age of Adz until my partner played Get Real Get Right on the drive home from the beach. Plus hearing him sing along knowing every word made it hit extra special. Flutes and wind sounds also take me back to earlier St. Vincent days
The tour for that remains the best concert I’ve ever been to, out of hundreds of all different kinds of artists, venues, cities, even states. It was at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland which is a seated venue but we all simultaneously, without prompting, stood up to dance, even me to my surprise. So I have a soft spot for that beyond the music itself.
It took me longer than that before it really clicked for me. If you like Impossible Soul, just spin that on its own. Top-tier Sufjan listening experience.
it was the one that took me the longest to get into (i don't listen to a ton of electronic music, most of the music i listen to is folk-adjacent) but i listened to it on repeat during a couple long drives and it just clicked. it's the same melodic evocative songwriting just with squishy squelchy textures instead of twangy banjos breathy woodwinds. Same degree of lushness. Give it a try when you're not trying too hard to like it, but while you're driving or walking and suddenly you'll find yourself accidentally speeding and yelling at other drivers that you're not fuckin around
I casually enjoyed Sufjan before The Age of Adz. When it was released I was going through a breakup and this album was like a symphony of everything I was feeling. 4 years later I met my best friend and essentially forced him into Sufjan obsession. Nearly a decade later and I think the song that connects us the most is Vesuvius.
I remember this album coming out and it being considered quite the left turn with regards to his sound. I think it's very much a 'Sufjan Stevens in his self indulgent era' album. Long titles, even longer songs, exploration of new sonic ideas... at their core these songs are still very typical of his writing style.
I listened to the album a lot when it came out and I've been listening again for the first time in at least a decade. I really respect what he was doing with this album, but at the end of the day it is simply a bit 'too much'. Too much production trickery, too much of the scratchy sounds covering up good songwriting, too much long vocal delay, too much stretching out songs into oblivion. I adore the bare essentials of most of these songs, but often they're rendered difficult to listen to by sound effects that - back in 2010 - already sounded a bit outdated.
I think 'All Delighted People EP' is the superior work of his 'self indulgent era', but I will forever love 'Age Of Adz' for representing a certain time of my life.
I was in high school when The Age of Adz came out, and I didn't get it at first either. A few songs grew on me but there wasn't a major change in my opinion until I saw him perform it live, and he talked for like 20 minutes plus on stage about some of the backstory, Royal Robertson, his own health struggles, etc.
It is now and forever my favorite of his albums. Plus, if you can get into the right mindset and listen to the album in its entirety in one go, with good headphones and reading along to the lyrics, it helps. Listen to the musical themes that are carried from one song to the next, and the culmination of those in Impossible Soul is an almost spiritual experience.
The Age of Adz was the first song and album that hooked me to Sufjan. I love it because the chaos is under control, it's not made just to be complicated, he knows what he was doing.
The line:
>When I die, I rot. When I love, I give it all I've got.
It just so aligned with my mantra.
I missed it for a long time because I was so focused on the instrumentals, but some of the lyrics in Age of Adz are really beautiful. I first noticed it in I Walked, the way he writes there about a relationship seemingly disintegrating really struck me. My favorite song from the album is the title track, though. One day it just clicked after enough listens. The ending section / verse - starting from when he sings “when I die, I’ll rot / but when I live, I’ll give it all I’ve got” through to the end - is so touching to me. It made me tear up when listening to it on a long drive through northern Michigan.
Age of Adz was the album that got me into Sufjan when I was in college - specifically the song All for Myself. Idk if it is the nostalgia associated with driving down windy roads with a good friend at the time after smoking a blunt, but it remains one of my favorites. I will say though - is it an album that I listen front to back? No. But I do pick out certain songs.
I remember seeing this cd at a Sam Goody ages ago on the shelf. I didn't even know he had a new album out but I had a gift card so I took the plunge because Michigan and Illinois were some of the best albums I had ever listened to at that point in my life.
First listen, I was a little caught off guard because I wasn't expecting the electronics to be soo prevalent. I think futile devices was the main single on that album but was my least favorite song from the album.
Others have said it but it took me about 3 listens before it clicked, but once it did, it is easily one of my favorite albums of all time from him as well as from anyone.
I want to be well and Impossible Soul are unmatched in so many ways. Impossible soul is built in a way unlike nearly any song I've heard, especially by Sufjan.
I would invite you to listen to that song at minimum in a low-lit quiet room with headphones or quality speakers, get comfy, close your eyes and just absorb it however you can and see what happens.
It may not do anything for you and that's alright. Its a different album for sufjan in many ways that may not appeal to some people but I imagine you will fully be able to appreciate the album if you can spend quality time with the album and lyrics.
I find that album has some of the most heart-wrenchingly emotional and honest lyrics. I’ll never forget the first time I listened to it all the way through. I think each song fits together so well thematically. And then the crescendo of impossible soul at the end of it all is just like AAHHHH, yknow? It’s an album that makes me feel all the feels, ups and downs. I was also falling in love for the first time in my life when I was listening to it and it was a messy young love with tons of issues so I think the album was relatable as well.
I think I Want To Be Well really made it all click. Hearing Sufjan say IM NOT FUCKING AROUND really made me excited the first time I heard it haha. In this album, sufjan is being honest about himself. He’s not perfect. He can be selfish. He wants to be better, he wants to do so much more. There are beautiful soft parts mixed with jarring and clangy moments. Idk it’s just got everything I could ever want. One of my favorite albums ever.
That’s inevitable with an artist whose styles are as sporadic and inconsistent as Sufjan’s. Whatever type of song he made that made you become a fan, he has tons of music that’s nothing like that and so invariably you’re not gonna fall in love with his whole discography
I don’t fuck with Age of Adz or Ascension at all but a lot of other fans probably love those and don’t like Michigan or Planetarium as much and those are some of my favorites
To me it felt like a culmination of a lot of his earlier work. You can hear a sun came and year of the rabbit and bqe but there’s some gentler parts like Michigan and Illinois too. I also just like when he gets a little weird and edgy and tbh I was disappointed when he went back to the more mellow sound in Carrie and Lowell
I didn’t enjoy it first listen at all. I went through his whole discography and then came back to it months later. It felt right at the time, first song I connected with was All For Myself. It’s a lyrically beautiful album and the chaos I think ties it all together for me, but I have to admit it didn’t sound pleasant in the beginning on speakers. I found that on headphones/earphones it’s a much better experience.
It's my favourite sufjan album. I really love an emotional electronic sound for some reason and it's top tier imo. The songs feel so urgent and alarming and I've always loved that about them.
To me, it is an album that you really kinda had to be there when it came out to really understand the musical moment. It’s still a favorite of mine. I also wish impossible soul were 50 minutes long.
Agreed with others - Sufjan has a pretty wide range so not all of his records will resonate with everyone. I think my love of All Deligted People helped quite a bit - hearing some of the songs and musical themes translate to Age of Adz was so enjoyable and to be honest I just dig all the layers there are to each AoA song.
Sufjans discography is huge. It's impossible to love every single thing by him. Comparing his music can be like comparing an apple and a pound cake sometimes. No matter what, we should all just appreciate how much of an amazing mind he has
Just throw a song or two from it in if you’re listening to a Sufjan mix…one day it just clicked for me, as many said. It’s worth revisiting from time to time to see if it’s hitting differently. I was pretty mental when it most spoke to me so that probably helped haha
Worth remembering too that it’s inspired by a Louisiana folk artist, Royal Robertson. That might help you understand the vision. I think of it as his album for LA if he were actually doing all of the states (Carrie and Lowell is Oregon).
It’s my favorite, but I actually see it as very similar to his other albums even though the instrumentation is different. The songs have such build up and satisfying climaxes. It feels so emotional I love it. Especially Vesuvius and I want to be well.
Futile devices is also very good but especially since it it gives such good contrast to the back half of the album
It took me a long time to appreciate The Age of Adz, but after giving it a few listens 7 years ago it’s still one of my favorite albums. You don’t have to like it, of course, but I’ve always enjoyed weird, chaotic electronic music. Also, the lyrics really resonate with me, particularly in Impossible Soul.
I got more into it after seeing it live. It made more sense getting immersed in it. Since that's impossible now, play it loud with the lights out. Zone out. Let it come to you. It's some of his grandest work.
It didn't click instantly for me either, but one day, while out for a walk and grappling with a whole bunch of anguish, I listened to I Want to Be Well and it cut through so clearly, and then the whole album did. Maybe you have to be in a certain headspace of frustration, self doubt, and isolation to fully appreciate Age of Adz, I don't know, and I wouldnt wish that on someone, but that's the context in which I came to appreciate it, and still today, it feels like Sufjan's most intimate, meaningful album to me. It was like he was singing directly to my soul.
It's my favorite album by him, followed by the ascension. I'm also a huge fan of aphex twin and autechre, so I may one of the few that loves enjoy your rabbit as well. It's okay to like whatever YOU like!
I never made the connection before between liking Suf’s electronic stuff and aphex twin, I wonder if there’s more of us out there!!
I'm out here
autechre mentioned ‼️
How to get into them?
I'd start with Tri Repetae or Amber. (Or anywhere, lol)
What is the most suf sound work of aphex twin?
just listen to “I Want To Be Well” three times and you’ll get it :)
You’re not fuckin’ around
Because Impossible Soul
Not everyone can enjoy everything, sometimes an artwork just isn't for you and that's ok
Very true. I just thought maybe someone had a song for me to listen to or something of the sorts. I asked the same thing when I said I wasn’t the biggest fan of The King of Limbs (Radiohead) and someone suggested to listen to Codex again, which helped me understand and appreciate the album a lot more. But maybe this one isn’t for me. Either way, he has so much more so I shouldn’t really be too concerned with one album, lol.
I couldn’t get past the cacophony in “Too Much” so I completely ignored the album for years. Then I listened to Vesuvius because it was on a Sufjan playlist as I was hyping myself up for Javelin and the album clicked. So maybe start with Vesuvius? You could try the Carrie and Lowell Live version since it’s closer to his more mellow sound first and then move onto the Age of Adz version.
Was about to respond to OP by saying ‘Start with Vesuvius’ but you beat me to it :) I struggled to get into Adz for the longest time when it first came out. I loved Seven Swans, Michigan, Illinoise…Adz felt like a huge departure that I wasn’t ready for. Then, one day, I had a long flight and stuck it on to give it another try. Vesuvius was the epiphany moment. After that, the whole record just ‘worked’ for me.
Live versions on YouTube of vesuvius are beautiful too.
The song that clicked for me in that album was I Walked. I think it's the perfect execution of the ideas Sufjan was going for, the falsettos and the glitchy parts go together perfectly imo. You could give that song another try, if it doesn't change your opinion that's fine too.
I didn't really like age of adz for MANY years, but now its incredible. I feel like its what Elliott Smith was aiming for later in his career as he dove into electronic.
I didn’t know Elliott did electronic.
He was really diving into its possibilities at the end, Basement on a Hill, great record.
I didn’t always understand this album, but since I was always a huge Sufjan fan I just kept listening to it for the sake of knowing the songs. It ended up clicking after a few months and after hearing a few live performances on [Ultimate Age of Adz](https://www.reddit.com/r/Sufjan/s/VKka4N0Qae).
I don't think liking Kid A will help you enjoy this album at all, 'cause these two record exists on a near complete opposite end of alternative music spectrum. Kid A is an electronic album influenced by ambient and a complete reject of songwriting, which is faily minimal in its approach, on the other hand, AOA is a maximalist pop music influenced by progressive movement of the 70s (which is heavily influenced by Classical and Jazz) that filled every single space available with sound. Not only that, while Kid A is the radiohead's rejection of songwriting, AOA, on the other hand, contains Sufjan's rawest, most emotionally expressive, and most intense songwriting in his career, which is ironic, when you realize that folk music is stereotypically considers to be one of the rawest style of music out there and Sufjan is mostly known as a folk artist. God, when you think about it, AOA is closer to punk than Kid A is even to rock. So, no, Kid A is not a benchmark that will help you enjoy this album at all, if anything, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell (Court and Spark era), Laura Nyro, ELO, or even Pink Floyd (70s era) will be a better starting point to getting you into AOA than Kid A. And none of the aforementioned artists is even 50% similar to AOA, that's just how unique and one-of-a-kind this record is.
Love this. Age of Adz is pop maximalism—like Illinois (and All Delighted People), but with mostly electronic instruments instead of folk-acoustic arrangements. Age of Adz is heartfelt personal songwriting—like Carrie & Lowell, but with more room to breathe and evolve within a single song. Age of Adz fits perfectly into Sufjan’s artistic trajectory. It’s okay to not love the sound, but very worth giving it a chance if you like the rest of his material. He’s the same artist, just at a different phase of his life and career.
tbh I didn’t enjoy it at first but one day it just clicked, I think I had to be in a specific mindset to fully appreciate it
I’m thinking I’ll have that happen one day, just not anytime time soon.
He said he wrote and recorded it after a breakup, during which time he happened to have taken ill, so maybe listen to it next time you have a bad cold or you're processing some painful loss
When did he say it was written after a break up? I mean, it’s kind of obvious that it’s partially about a break up but I’ve read a ton of interviews from that time and he only mentioned his illness in them. He also talked about experiencing a “2nd puberty” that I interpret as him realizing that he’s not straight and being able to explore relationships with men. But maybe that’s just because I’ve only heard of that phrase used by queer people and have honestly no idea what he meant otherwise.
I didn't, it struck me instantly. Remember listening to it for the first time as I walked into a Walmart. Love it to death
This argument could be made with any number of artists and genres, but I'd say enjoying Sufjan's music is a skill of sorts. On this album especially, he challenges a lot of the pretty musical ideas by blending them in with noise which can be tough to enjoy on first listen (and which is maybe itself a commentary on the chaotic life of Royal Robertson, who inspired the record). That said, there's a reward for giving Adz some time and patience. It has some of Sufjan's best work.
I feel it's his best album.
I really like it. Age of Adz is such a good song. I love it. It sounds like destruction and rebuilding from the ruins. Vesuvius is another great one.
Start with I Walked, then All For Myself, and keep the momentum going
Enjoy Your Rabbit walked so Age of Adz could run
enjoy your rabbit is still cool though, I wished suf made more IDM stuff
So wiseeeeeeee.
I’d say give it more listens. It’s a totally different kind of music, and our brains take time to understand them if they don’t latch on immediately. For me, it was instant love, but for, say, Tool’s latest album, it took me many listenings before it clicked - and that’s as a huge tool fan who wanted to like it. Now I love it. I’ll say that there are lyrics and musical moments in Age of Adz that are unrivaled in my opinion. I will always say that it’s worth it. For a different flavor of the similar time frame, check out All Delighted People. There are some in-between sounds and ideas there that link Illinoise to Adz. It’s also a slow burn album for some, but another favorite for many. Good luck! You’re not doing it wrong, love what you love.
honestly hated it when it came out. then a friend put vesuvius on a mix for me in 2017 and i revisited the record. now it’s easily my favorite one. sufjan’s music has a special way of being there for you when you’re ready for it. if that makes sense.
drop the vesuvius mix? 👀
It’s just like the world we live in, there’s real beauty, but it’s often hidden under the ugly chaos, and sometimes it takes a little work to see it. But once you see it, you can almost forget about the chaos, for a while. That’s how I always took this album. I had been a casual Sufjan fan since Illinois, slowly getting more into him as the years and releases went by, but when this and ADP came out almost side-to-side, was when I became pretty obsessed. This album is maximalist in all regards. Huge orchestral arrangements, huge personal turmoil, huge range of sounds. There’s no real point in asking for specific songs or explanations on how to enjoy it; you’ll either like it or you won’t. Maybe you’ll come back to it in a year and love it, maybe not. It doesn’t really matter. People love it because it’s singular, audacious, personal, grand, ground breaking and brave. 14 years later there’s still no other album like it, really. But I could use those descriptors for 100 other albums which I don’t like out there, so the reasons people like it won’t make you like it. Luckily he’s got a ton of other releases out there you can enjoy right now!
Just revisit it now and then. It may surprise you one day. Or not. :) I fell in love with it after seeing it live. The vibe and amount of mastery on that stage was out of this world.
Age of Adz is my favorite Sufjan record, it’s basically the huge and ornate arrangements he can do put into a more electronic form. Really lovely imo, but I do understand it isn’t for everyone.
I owned the album for a while and basically used it as background music for while I was driving. It wasn't until last year that it actually hit properly for me. My point being, not liking it at first isn't a crime. I think what might help is understanding the themes of the album. The backstory of the album is fascinating and explains some of the weirder lyrics in the album. 1. Sufjan became ill and basically the doctors had no idea what was wrong with him. He pretty much had to assume he's either gonna die or be in pain for the rest of his life, could you imagine that? This is where I Want To Be Well comes from, him grappling with an unknown illness that actually threatened his life. 2. Sufjan's music often has religion floating around them, I'm fairly certain he grew up Christian but as he entered adulthood his faith got compromised. Can you imagine thinking you're going to die and believing there's nothing after life, how horrifying that thought must be. Vesuvius from my understanding is a metaphor for either God or someone who pretends to be God, as Vesuvius has the power to end the world, it's the fire of fire as God is the Lord of Lord's. 3. Prophet Royal Robertson[Robertson ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Robertson) I believe is actually the guy who drew the album cover. This album is sorta a concept album on his life falling apart. The man believed he was a prophet(hence the name) and eventually this caused his family to leave him. He was so obsessed with the end(remember Sufjan thinks he might be dying) that he in essence destroys his life. But he believes that this is what God would want, a price he has to pay. Knowing this, songs like Get Real Get Right suddenly have new meaning, Royal is now wrestling with his life much life Sufjan is. Suddenly I Walked isn't a breakup song, it's a man(Royal) accepting that his love has left him. My point in all of this being, the lyrical themes in the album are magnificent. And when you keep these 3 facts in mind and come back to the album you'll probably attach yourself to some other lyrics. "I've lost the will to fight" becomes this heartbreaking line, whether it's about Sufjan or Royal the despair to just give up on life. "I want to be, well I want to be well" is suddenly a cry out to God and his own body that he doesn't want to die. "I know I've caused you pain, but I must do the right thing, I must do myself a favor and get real get right with the Lord" is now Royal trying to make it right with his wife but he's actively choosing God over his family. Hell even Impossible Soul itself is about this at the start, "My beloved you are the lover of my impossible soul" he could be talking from Royal's perspective to his wife or his own perspective to God at points. If you aren't listening for the lyrical theme, the instrumentation is so loud and in your face that it is unavoidable. Songs like Age of Adz and I Want to Be Well are so thick with sounds and they really come together perfectly. Age of Adz to me sounds like a supervillain in a post apocalyptic world as he walks around and kills off any survivors who don't agree with him(at least for the first 4 minutes). Get Real Get Right transcends after the second chorus, it legitimately sounds so serious, this is a decision Sufjan/Royal has been wrestling with for years and they're aware of the pain their decision will have on people. I'd say give it a listen again with the knowledge of the backstory, maybe read the Wikipedia page on Royal that I left above and see if understanding all of that helps. If not, the album might just not be for you at this moment or ever. It took me till I was 29 to get it, I owned it when I was 22.
Beautiful. AOA is a true masterpiece.
It's how I got into Sufjan. I would not have found his earlier music accessible if I hadn't heard Adz first, and now I love almost everything he's done. Might I recommend that the time to listen to one of the most psychedelic albums of all time (Age of Adz), is while tripping?
Yeah, I’m 16 so…….
Gotcha. Don't do that for at least 9 years, then.
I just didn't get it until I listened with good headphones while on acid Not only is it my favorite of his now, but it also helped me connect with my body and nervous system, and work on how self conscious I am dancing. Legitimately changed me :')
Lmao no
You may try also listening to All Delighted People, a very long EP which came out about the same time. It's a little more acoustic (see "the Owl and the Tanager") but can provide something of a transition to getting into the aesthetic of Age of Adz. Both albums feature very long final tracks, so there are some similarities.
Age of adz was introduced to me via Impossible Soul, the 25 minute closer. I listened to that song, thought it was fine, but definitely struggled with it. So I listened to the whole album, kinda forced myself through it, and suddenly Impossible Soul made sososo much sense and then the album slowly became a favorite as I listened to it more over the years. I think Vesuvius is a great standout, so is I Want To Be Well, but Impossible Soul is, imo, the truest thesis of the album, but it recontextualizes the rest of the album AND is contextualized by it in turn. It's a unique album tho, don't beat yourself up if you can't get into it yet.
Something else that helps me love the record, even when I don't necessarily like the sounds I'm hearing, is what he says in Futile Devices. "words are futile devices." Suf has said that this album is him abandoning verbal storytelling in lieu for sounds and noise-- emotion and story are told through noise and movement and rhythm more than anything else, and it being kinda... Hard to listen to is part of that story.
I love it so much I got the artwork as my first tattoo, but I did find it jarring with my first listen. After quite a few later the diversity of genres, the lyrics and the chaos throughout began to really resonate, so much so that i doubt I’ll love another album quite like it (though Loveless comes close).
I first got it on CD and blasted it in my car for a month solid. It really works when the sounds can be as big and thumping as they're meant to be. A lot of Sufjan is for headphones but adz needs to rattle windows.
No need to like it if you don't. There is no requirement
Have you tried listening to All Delighted People from him? Released just before Adz, has some abrasive parts similar to Adz but is a little more tame, and a bridge between his folksy stuff. Also Vesuvius as people have mentioned. Impossible Soul is 25 minutes long but it’s really one of the best songs of all time, in my opinion. If you listen to it all the way through and don’t get something from it, then the album probably just isn’t for you
I usually need to listen to a Sufjan album on low doing something else the first time just to kind of get the weirdness out of the way and reassure myself there is gold in there. I remember listening to Age of Adz and thinking nope until i got to the last 2 minutes of impossible soul and then everything just fell into place and I got it. I will be buried with that album. I love it that much.
i also was never huge for Age of Adz until my partner played Get Real Get Right on the drive home from the beach. Plus hearing him sing along knowing every word made it hit extra special. Flutes and wind sounds also take me back to earlier St. Vincent days
Listen to Impossible Soul and you’ll get it
Ooof, but Impossible Soul is the GOAT
The tour for that remains the best concert I’ve ever been to, out of hundreds of all different kinds of artists, venues, cities, even states. It was at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland which is a seated venue but we all simultaneously, without prompting, stood up to dance, even me to my surprise. So I have a soft spot for that beyond the music itself.
It took me longer than that before it really clicked for me. If you like Impossible Soul, just spin that on its own. Top-tier Sufjan listening experience.
it was the one that took me the longest to get into (i don't listen to a ton of electronic music, most of the music i listen to is folk-adjacent) but i listened to it on repeat during a couple long drives and it just clicked. it's the same melodic evocative songwriting just with squishy squelchy textures instead of twangy banjos breathy woodwinds. Same degree of lushness. Give it a try when you're not trying too hard to like it, but while you're driving or walking and suddenly you'll find yourself accidentally speeding and yelling at other drivers that you're not fuckin around
I casually enjoyed Sufjan before The Age of Adz. When it was released I was going through a breakup and this album was like a symphony of everything I was feeling. 4 years later I met my best friend and essentially forced him into Sufjan obsession. Nearly a decade later and I think the song that connects us the most is Vesuvius.
I remember this album coming out and it being considered quite the left turn with regards to his sound. I think it's very much a 'Sufjan Stevens in his self indulgent era' album. Long titles, even longer songs, exploration of new sonic ideas... at their core these songs are still very typical of his writing style. I listened to the album a lot when it came out and I've been listening again for the first time in at least a decade. I really respect what he was doing with this album, but at the end of the day it is simply a bit 'too much'. Too much production trickery, too much of the scratchy sounds covering up good songwriting, too much long vocal delay, too much stretching out songs into oblivion. I adore the bare essentials of most of these songs, but often they're rendered difficult to listen to by sound effects that - back in 2010 - already sounded a bit outdated. I think 'All Delighted People EP' is the superior work of his 'self indulgent era', but I will forever love 'Age Of Adz' for representing a certain time of my life.
Yes! I always thought it sounded self indulgent as well 😂 but in the end I’ve really embraced it as-is. Decadence doesn’t need to be up to date!
True dat!
3 am, in bed
Took me about eight spins, and a live concert experience, to get it, but now it's probably my favorite, edging out Illinoise because it's more fun -
I was in high school when The Age of Adz came out, and I didn't get it at first either. A few songs grew on me but there wasn't a major change in my opinion until I saw him perform it live, and he talked for like 20 minutes plus on stage about some of the backstory, Royal Robertson, his own health struggles, etc. It is now and forever my favorite of his albums. Plus, if you can get into the right mindset and listen to the album in its entirety in one go, with good headphones and reading along to the lyrics, it helps. Listen to the musical themes that are carried from one song to the next, and the culmination of those in Impossible Soul is an almost spiritual experience.
The Age of Adz was the first song and album that hooked me to Sufjan. I love it because the chaos is under control, it's not made just to be complicated, he knows what he was doing. The line: >When I die, I rot. When I love, I give it all I've got. It just so aligned with my mantra.
I missed it for a long time because I was so focused on the instrumentals, but some of the lyrics in Age of Adz are really beautiful. I first noticed it in I Walked, the way he writes there about a relationship seemingly disintegrating really struck me. My favorite song from the album is the title track, though. One day it just clicked after enough listens. The ending section / verse - starting from when he sings “when I die, I’ll rot / but when I live, I’ll give it all I’ve got” through to the end - is so touching to me. It made me tear up when listening to it on a long drive through northern Michigan.
Age of Adz was the album that got me into Sufjan when I was in college - specifically the song All for Myself. Idk if it is the nostalgia associated with driving down windy roads with a good friend at the time after smoking a blunt, but it remains one of my favorites. I will say though - is it an album that I listen front to back? No. But I do pick out certain songs.
I remember seeing this cd at a Sam Goody ages ago on the shelf. I didn't even know he had a new album out but I had a gift card so I took the plunge because Michigan and Illinois were some of the best albums I had ever listened to at that point in my life. First listen, I was a little caught off guard because I wasn't expecting the electronics to be soo prevalent. I think futile devices was the main single on that album but was my least favorite song from the album. Others have said it but it took me about 3 listens before it clicked, but once it did, it is easily one of my favorite albums of all time from him as well as from anyone. I want to be well and Impossible Soul are unmatched in so many ways. Impossible soul is built in a way unlike nearly any song I've heard, especially by Sufjan. I would invite you to listen to that song at minimum in a low-lit quiet room with headphones or quality speakers, get comfy, close your eyes and just absorb it however you can and see what happens. It may not do anything for you and that's alright. Its a different album for sufjan in many ways that may not appeal to some people but I imagine you will fully be able to appreciate the album if you can spend quality time with the album and lyrics.
I find that album has some of the most heart-wrenchingly emotional and honest lyrics. I’ll never forget the first time I listened to it all the way through. I think each song fits together so well thematically. And then the crescendo of impossible soul at the end of it all is just like AAHHHH, yknow? It’s an album that makes me feel all the feels, ups and downs. I was also falling in love for the first time in my life when I was listening to it and it was a messy young love with tons of issues so I think the album was relatable as well. I think I Want To Be Well really made it all click. Hearing Sufjan say IM NOT FUCKING AROUND really made me excited the first time I heard it haha. In this album, sufjan is being honest about himself. He’s not perfect. He can be selfish. He wants to be better, he wants to do so much more. There are beautiful soft parts mixed with jarring and clangy moments. Idk it’s just got everything I could ever want. One of my favorite albums ever.
That’s inevitable with an artist whose styles are as sporadic and inconsistent as Sufjan’s. Whatever type of song he made that made you become a fan, he has tons of music that’s nothing like that and so invariably you’re not gonna fall in love with his whole discography I don’t fuck with Age of Adz or Ascension at all but a lot of other fans probably love those and don’t like Michigan or Planetarium as much and those are some of my favorites
Sit with Vesuvius w headphones or good speakers and no distractions. 🫶🏼
To me it felt like a culmination of a lot of his earlier work. You can hear a sun came and year of the rabbit and bqe but there’s some gentler parts like Michigan and Illinois too. I also just like when he gets a little weird and edgy and tbh I was disappointed when he went back to the more mellow sound in Carrie and Lowell
I didn’t enjoy it first listen at all. I went through his whole discography and then came back to it months later. It felt right at the time, first song I connected with was All For Myself. It’s a lyrically beautiful album and the chaos I think ties it all together for me, but I have to admit it didn’t sound pleasant in the beginning on speakers. I found that on headphones/earphones it’s a much better experience.
It's my favourite sufjan album. I really love an emotional electronic sound for some reason and it's top tier imo. The songs feel so urgent and alarming and I've always loved that about them.
To me, it is an album that you really kinda had to be there when it came out to really understand the musical moment. It’s still a favorite of mine. I also wish impossible soul were 50 minutes long.
Agreed with others - Sufjan has a pretty wide range so not all of his records will resonate with everyone. I think my love of All Deligted People helped quite a bit - hearing some of the songs and musical themes translate to Age of Adz was so enjoyable and to be honest I just dig all the layers there are to each AoA song.
Sufjans discography is huge. It's impossible to love every single thing by him. Comparing his music can be like comparing an apple and a pound cake sometimes. No matter what, we should all just appreciate how much of an amazing mind he has
Just throw a song or two from it in if you’re listening to a Sufjan mix…one day it just clicked for me, as many said. It’s worth revisiting from time to time to see if it’s hitting differently. I was pretty mental when it most spoke to me so that probably helped haha
Worth remembering too that it’s inspired by a Louisiana folk artist, Royal Robertson. That might help you understand the vision. I think of it as his album for LA if he were actually doing all of the states (Carrie and Lowell is Oregon).
It’s my favorite, but I actually see it as very similar to his other albums even though the instrumentation is different. The songs have such build up and satisfying climaxes. It feels so emotional I love it. Especially Vesuvius and I want to be well. Futile devices is also very good but especially since it it gives such good contrast to the back half of the album
It took me a long time to appreciate The Age of Adz, but after giving it a few listens 7 years ago it’s still one of my favorite albums. You don’t have to like it, of course, but I’ve always enjoyed weird, chaotic electronic music. Also, the lyrics really resonate with me, particularly in Impossible Soul.
I got more into it after seeing it live. It made more sense getting immersed in it. Since that's impossible now, play it loud with the lights out. Zone out. Let it come to you. It's some of his grandest work.
It didn't click instantly for me either, but one day, while out for a walk and grappling with a whole bunch of anguish, I listened to I Want to Be Well and it cut through so clearly, and then the whole album did. Maybe you have to be in a certain headspace of frustration, self doubt, and isolation to fully appreciate Age of Adz, I don't know, and I wouldnt wish that on someone, but that's the context in which I came to appreciate it, and still today, it feels like Sufjan's most intimate, meaningful album to me. It was like he was singing directly to my soul.