The Age of Adz
by Sufjan Stevens
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 183 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 164 out of 183
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 183
  3. Negative: 10 out of 183
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  1. All_ButTrU4
    Jan 31, 2021
    7
    This album feels old. Not as in a classic(it's doomed tp become an indie gem)but that it feels lived in . Sufjan exploit into electronica is as quintessential as his sparse folksy indie albums. The lyrics still aim for the the heart as he examines cliche themes such as heartbreak and love as if he'd just discovered them. The nilhistic opener tries to convey the albums theme with greatThis album feels old. Not as in a classic(it's doomed tp become an indie gem)but that it feels lived in . Sufjan exploit into electronica is as quintessential as his sparse folksy indie albums. The lyrics still aim for the the heart as he examines cliche themes such as heartbreak and love as if he'd just discovered them. The nilhistic opener tries to convey the albums theme with great accuracy. This album is so well sequenced to not appreciate in it's whole form seems like an injustice from the long self titled song or upbeat" too much to ask" or nostalgically forlorn "Now I'm Older." The combination of simplicity and orchestration creates a frantic demanding out put worth recognition and attention as shown in the animal collective-esque "all for myself". Favourites:age of adz,now im older,all for myself, futile devices.… Expand
  2. Lopesito27
    Jan 23, 2021
    7
    Ridiculously bad at times, ridiculously good at others, The Age Of Adz won't leave anybody indifferent. It has some songs that want to come across as experimental but fail to offer anything pleasant. These sounds are sometimes so awful they completely distract you from the lyrics. Usually, though, Sufjan is not only able to make weird sonics work overwhelmingly well, but he also achievesRidiculously bad at times, ridiculously good at others, The Age Of Adz won't leave anybody indifferent. It has some songs that want to come across as experimental but fail to offer anything pleasant. These sounds are sometimes so awful they completely distract you from the lyrics. Usually, though, Sufjan is not only able to make weird sonics work overwhelmingly well, but he also achieves grandiosity with them.… Expand
  3. markymark
    Sep 23, 2018
    9
    Don't be put off by some reviews saying The Age Of Adz is too inaccessible or weird. The electronic aspects only add to songs that are as tuneful, melodic and lovable as ever. Lyrically and thematically this is the most honest and personal album Sufjan has ever made and I love it just as much or more than anything he's done before. It's different to Illinois, but no less amazing orDon't be put off by some reviews saying The Age Of Adz is too inaccessible or weird. The electronic aspects only add to songs that are as tuneful, melodic and lovable as ever. Lyrically and thematically this is the most honest and personal album Sufjan has ever made and I love it just as much or more than anything he's done before. It's different to Illinois, but no less amazing or treasuable. It does take a few listens (at least) to fully appreciate though.… Expand
  4. Tuneison
    Jul 30, 2018
    6
    I listened to this mainly because I love Steven's work on the soundtrack to Call Me By Your Name. Honestly, the only song with a similar dreamy production to those tracks was Futile Devices which was conveniently remixed on the Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack. Outside of that most of this album is just forgettable with many of the songs sounding very similar and, lyrically were veryI listened to this mainly because I love Steven's work on the soundtrack to Call Me By Your Name. Honestly, the only song with a similar dreamy production to those tracks was Futile Devices which was conveniently remixed on the Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack. Outside of that most of this album is just forgettable with many of the songs sounding very similar and, lyrically were very similar. Not a big fan of this, just thought it was a whole lot of production for not a lot of pay off lyrically.… Expand
  5. AkumaJack
    Feb 7, 2018
    8
    Great album from Sufjan Stevens.
    A departure from his classic folk-ish sound to a more electronic one. The only acoustic songs are at the start (futile devices) and one part of Impossible Souls.
    Every other track is full of sounds and chaos.
  6. sratomasfer
    Apr 10, 2017
    8
    Sufjan displays his versatile talent in this folktronica masterpiece. I will say, the 25 minute outro is a bit of a chore to get through but man... does this album have some sweet moments filled with choral singing, synthesizers, and drum sequencers. A must listen.
  7. greekmatthew
    Mar 12, 2017
    10
    The lyrics are emotional and longing, and Sufjan Stevens ties it in with unique sounds tied in with brass and woodwind. This could very well possibly be his best work.
  8. jhams311
    Jun 7, 2015
    10
    Its hard to find something more thrilling to listen to than a devout Christian songwriter repeatedly cry "I'm not **** around". "Too much" sounds like idioteque from Kid A, in a weird and awesome way. 10/10—"I want to be well", "Too much", "Impossible soul"
  9. Domina
    Jun 30, 2014
    10
    Most definitely a 10. This is Sufjan's most evolved album to date. Whilst some fans of his may find it strange or even disconcerting, those who heard his All Delighted People EP, probably heard a hint that changes were on the horizon. That evolution is wondrous to behold, provided you're receptive to change. This album is a bit more lyrical in parts, electronic in others, but alwaysMost definitely a 10. This is Sufjan's most evolved album to date. Whilst some fans of his may find it strange or even disconcerting, those who heard his All Delighted People EP, probably heard a hint that changes were on the horizon. That evolution is wondrous to behold, provided you're receptive to change. This album is a bit more lyrical in parts, electronic in others, but always pursuant to the self. I remember I loved it from the first. Keep an open mind and you may find yourself pleasantly surprised.… Expand
  10. cloudxchamber
    May 20, 2012
    9
    Without losing a single flute trill from his last two proper albums, Sufjan has shifted his sound to a unique meld of his signature orch-pop with a dark and dramatic glitchiness that suits him well and, all in all, combines to make a finely crafted album that will be remembered among his best. It is, in all respects, a breakup album, but while an idea like this could have easily led to aWithout losing a single flute trill from his last two proper albums, Sufjan has shifted his sound to a unique meld of his signature orch-pop with a dark and dramatic glitchiness that suits him well and, all in all, combines to make a finely crafted album that will be remembered among his best. It is, in all respects, a breakup album, but while an idea like this could have easily led to a set of unlistenably dull or, knowing Sufjan, more likely overindulgent, songs, each song is finely crafted, unique and refined to a standard almost beyond their Illinois counterparts. "Too Much" starts off as a calm song that could have been taken from almost any of his past albums before building into an anxious climax; "I Want to Be Well" saves the second half of the album from a potential dreariness with a fast beat and jumpy melody, and the 25-minute epic intricately detailed "Impossible Soul" brings the whole thing to a fantastic ending. Overall, simply an excellent followup to Illinois.… Expand
  11. Greatbeallo
    Jan 26, 2012
    9
    Sufjan is one of the greatest songwriters of this generation, and The Age of Adz is one of his most extravagant ventures. I feel like Sufjan explored some of the darker elements of his mind on this album. Insanity, lust, rejection, self doubt, and the apocolypse are just some of the themes he delves into. I wouldn't recommend this album to someone who is unfamiliar with Sufjan, but forSufjan is one of the greatest songwriters of this generation, and The Age of Adz is one of his most extravagant ventures. I feel like Sufjan explored some of the darker elements of his mind on this album. Insanity, lust, rejection, self doubt, and the apocolypse are just some of the themes he delves into. I wouldn't recommend this album to someone who is unfamiliar with Sufjan, but for those who are familiar with his other works, Age of Adz is another great addition to his already stunning discography.… Expand
  12. Zegilgamesh
    Jan 2, 2012
    9
    "Futile Devices", the album's dark, haunting intro leads as a foreboding to the oncoming apocalypse. "Too Much" is an upbeat track featuring bubbling percussion and an orchestra of synth. "Age of Adz" is an apocalyptic cry that brings on a full explosion of operatic pleasure in the newfound destruction. "Too Much" retreads the percussive ideas found in "Too Much" with cautious optimism."Futile Devices", the album's dark, haunting intro leads as a foreboding to the oncoming apocalypse. "Too Much" is an upbeat track featuring bubbling percussion and an orchestra of synth. "Age of Adz" is an apocalyptic cry that brings on a full explosion of operatic pleasure in the newfound destruction. "Too Much" retreads the percussive ideas found in "Too Much" with cautious optimism. "No That I'm Older" is Sufjan howling at the moon surrounded by angels of death. In "Get Real Get Right", trumpets blare and flutes flutter while Sufjan sings with desire and hunger without an overblown passion. while in "Bad Communication" is almost a reprise to gather his thoughts and emotions. "Vesuvius" is a beautiful song about following ones heart (but without sounding clichéd). "All For Myself" is a piece that could've made it's way onto one of his older works, capturing his trademark cheer. "I Want to Be Well" begins fairly tame, but grows into an explosion of words and ideas. "Impossible Soul", the final track is a 25 minute cinematic experience that sounds like it could've made it's way to the Dark Side of the Moon. Truly an excellent work by Sufjan Stevens.… Expand
  13. Aradessa12
    Nov 19, 2011
    10
    I love Sufjan Stevens!! This album is a new thing I've hear from him. You're used to sweet soft sounds but here you have a new side of him. And this is noise but good noise. ALL music is noise. He put a new darker side to his music on his album. I think very well job. As sad in I want to be Well, He is not **** around.
  14. Amos982
    Nov 6, 2011
    7
    The Age of Adz is a really tremendous feat for Sufjan Stevens. He's put together this massive, huge, record spilling over with content, and it stands up. Its not perfectly coherent, but songs like the title track and impossible soul are so majestic and explosive it makes up for its faults, and delivers on most fronts.
  15. bonniewithbeer
    Aug 27, 2011
    9
    Such a thrilling album, it really took me a while until I fully appreciated it's genius but well worth the listening effort. The combination of all Sufjan's learned over his previous albums, especially Enjoy Your Rabbit, Illinois, and The BQE, is amalgamated to become what I consider his finest piece. The song that displays the strengths of Sufjan's songwriting and production skills is ISuch a thrilling album, it really took me a while until I fully appreciated it's genius but well worth the listening effort. The combination of all Sufjan's learned over his previous albums, especially Enjoy Your Rabbit, Illinois, and The BQE, is amalgamated to become what I consider his finest piece. The song that displays the strengths of Sufjan's songwriting and production skills is I Want to be Well. The crisp clasps of percussion juxtaposing the extended trills of flutes really does it for me.… Expand
  16. lastchance
    Aug 10, 2011
    10
    The first time I left a review for this album I was dumb struck by all the great reviews it was getting upon it's release. It took me a lot more time than usual to get into this album. There is so much depth and levels to this album that it just takes some time to fully digest it. At this very moment it is now my very favorite album in the world. I've seen him on tour with this albumThe first time I left a review for this album I was dumb struck by all the great reviews it was getting upon it's release. It took me a lot more time than usual to get into this album. There is so much depth and levels to this album that it just takes some time to fully digest it. At this very moment it is now my very favorite album in the world. I've seen him on tour with this album and it was my most very favorite tour ever! I can't say enough good things!… Expand
  17. louis-wilkinson
    Aug 1, 2011
    10
    I have never heard such sounds!!
    When I was hearing it I was thing"dam,you gt to know about music to do this album.
    The only problem I found was that no songs are as good as Impossible soul.
    But anyway It is pretty good!
  18. thestephenkent
    Jul 5, 2011
    10
    this is quite possibly my favorite sufjan album. it's actually disappointing to me how many people were expecting a quote-unquote normal album after the past few things sufjan had done. the bqe was anything but orthodox, and all delighted people was basically sufjan's farewell to folk songwriting. some of the lower ratings say that anyone who is a "real fan" can't possibly like thisthis is quite possibly my favorite sufjan album. it's actually disappointing to me how many people were expecting a quote-unquote normal album after the past few things sufjan had done. the bqe was anything but orthodox, and all delighted people was basically sufjan's farewell to folk songwriting. some of the lower ratings say that anyone who is a "real fan" can't possibly like this because it's so different. i guess we live in an era where artistic experimentation and growth are a bad thing, and real fans want their favorite artists to constantly dwell on the albums that made them famous.… Expand
  19. WeAreOne
    Jul 1, 2011
    10
    This album is just as masterful, if not more so, than Illinoise. It's rather sad to see some of these low ratings and general under-appreciation in the critic reviews. This will be remembered at the end of the decade as one of the best albums.
  20. timmcd
    Mar 10, 2011
    9
    This is easily the greatest album that sufjan has made to date. Revolutionary is the way to describe this album. Sufjan has his finger on the pulse of the indie music scene and now that he has gone electronic you will see several more bands going that way. Not only is this album superb musically but is also superb lyrically. This album is the deepest album in terms of emotions and lyrical depth.
  21. jaochim
    Feb 8, 2011
    10
    Great! Sufjan Stevens is a genius, everything he does sounds new, not only the first time you listen to it, but every time. Again, he offers pure magical moments.
  22. sadrans
    Dec 20, 2010
    10
    This is the real beautiful dark twisted fantasy. I was skeptical when I heard samples of the album before its release, but after I downloaded and listened to the whole album a couple times through, I was blown away. Sufjan Stevens has truly reinvented himself as an artist. And despite what some people and critics say, it's still undeniably Sufjan. You can hear his strong sense of melody,This is the real beautiful dark twisted fantasy. I was skeptical when I heard samples of the album before its release, but after I downloaded and listened to the whole album a couple times through, I was blown away. Sufjan Stevens has truly reinvented himself as an artist. And despite what some people and critics say, it's still undeniably Sufjan. You can hear his strong sense of melody, not to mention, through all the electronics, mind you, the alternate instrumentation, i.e. strings and woodwinds, that's kind of his signature. The lyrics, the melodies, the atmospherics, everything about this album is mind-blowing.… Expand
  23. Glowguy
    Dec 1, 2010
    5
    I'm pretty shocked at all the high reviews here and I was also pretty shocked after listening to the album but I wouldn't say it was in a good way. I really love experimental albums and I certainly appreciate what Sufjan Stevens was trying to accomplish, however I think he lacked the focus and polish to pull it off here. There are is a lot of good material on the album don't get me wrongI'm pretty shocked at all the high reviews here and I was also pretty shocked after listening to the album but I wouldn't say it was in a good way. I really love experimental albums and I certainly appreciate what Sufjan Stevens was trying to accomplish, however I think he lacked the focus and polish to pull it off here. There are is a lot of good material on the album don't get me wrong (more than enough to fill an entire album), but in order to get to it you have to endure a lot of rubbish. This album is a bloated beast and will try the patience of all but the most devoted of fans.

    The album is really an extremely frustrating listen because the pattern is repeated on every single track - bursts of really great music interrupted with moments where you wish the album would just end already. Every time I started to really get into a song there is a drastic jarring interruption of electronic weirdness. And most of it doesn't sound modern or innovative, but kind of backwards. He doesn't seem comfortable at all with electronic music and it shows. The whole set of tracks just ends up seeming like a jumbled muddy mess after a few listens. Maybe it will grow on me but I doubt it.    … Expand
  24. Juliang
    Nov 27, 2010
    9
    While not as immediate as his previous albums, the Age of Adz, like many great albums, takes some time to sink in. Once you dive into all of its beautiful subtleties you'll realize it's greatness. A beautiful and sublime piece of art.
  25. Smushbag
    Nov 23, 2010
    9
    I think anyone who negatively reviewed this album negatively perhaps has some sort of agenda against electronic music in general. This album instantly hit me as a contemporary classic. Songs of that burst in vast and complex waves of pretty layers combined with lyrics the likes of which are rarely heard these days. It's electronic music as it should be: Challenging but always fun, cleverI think anyone who negatively reviewed this album negatively perhaps has some sort of agenda against electronic music in general. This album instantly hit me as a contemporary classic. Songs of that burst in vast and complex waves of pretty layers combined with lyrics the likes of which are rarely heard these days. It's electronic music as it should be: Challenging but always fun, clever and beautiful. This album is all three and should not really be thought of with Ilinois in mind. It is a separate entity and a superb one at that. Moments that you know you will end up adoring pop up in every song of the album that slowly endear you to each and every one of them. Masterpiece. Enough said!… Expand
  26. dallasshaldune
    Nov 22, 2010
    10
    This CD is a lot like Illinois, in that both albums are practices in maximizing what is available to use in music. Illinois was more baroque-ly orchestrated while Age of Adz is more electronic and bombast in its orchestrations. I like the direction Sufjan is taking, and "Impossible Soul" is song of the year.
  27. littlehedonist
    Nov 18, 2010
    10
    This album was an unexpected delight after _The_BQE_, which was good, but not very accessible. _The_Age_of_Adz_, on the other hand, is charming and energetic. Lyrically, it is thoughtful and transcendent, and it suggests the complexity of human emotion without making lists of grievances. Sonically, it is dense and lush, but so skillfully crafted that it both surprising and listenable. "IThis album was an unexpected delight after _The_BQE_, which was good, but not very accessible. _The_Age_of_Adz_, on the other hand, is charming and energetic. Lyrically, it is thoughtful and transcendent, and it suggests the complexity of human emotion without making lists of grievances. Sonically, it is dense and lush, but so skillfully crafted that it both surprising and listenable. "I Walked" is, I think, the loveliest song of the year.

    Further, I think it's interesting that people are calling this album just an experimentation of noise of experimentation's sake. No, that was _Enjoy_Your_Rabbit_ or possibly "The BQE." Anyone with even a cursory familiarity with Stevens's work would know this.    … Expand
  28. lazerface
    Nov 5, 2010
    9
    This is not my favorite sufjan stevens album...
    it is my second favorite. I always like it when a musician breaks off into different genres and tries new things. some might find the Experimental nature of the album in audible, but i have loved every single beat of it.
  29. JamieValerio
    Oct 27, 2010
    1
    I was appalled by the quality of this album. Especially, "Futile Devices" which is quite average in a sense that it sounds the same as every other song on the album except it has added nihilism which makes the overall quality of the album inappropriate and downright shameful to be called The Age of Adz.

    But that's just my opinion,
    - Jamie Valerio
  30. iamx
    Oct 26, 2010
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's a terrible mess. Most of the song is bad .. I do not know what else to Vic wrote assessment is probably more apt. His previous work and know the experience of The Age of Adz it or not going to find.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

95
#95 Best Album of 2010
21
#21 Most Discussed Album of 2010
17
#17 Most Shared Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 33
  3. Negative: 0 out of 33
  1. CMJ
    Jan 11, 2011
    70
    The combination is ethereal and transcendent.
    Read full review
  2. Los Angeles Times
    Dec 23, 2010
    88
    Stevens ventures widely on this 85-minute disc to find the best way to express what turn out to be basic home truths.
    Read full review
  3. cokemachineglow
    Dec 21, 2010
    70
    Where he used be be so proficient at letting us hear the sound of his sad, sad heart, the directionless elliptical clutter that defines The Age of Adz just sounds to me like he's manufacturing an idea of what a sad heart might sound like. What's worse, it sounds self-indulgent.
    Read full review
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