Carrie & Lowell
by Sufjan Stevens
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 600 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 552 out of 600
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 600
  3. Negative: 36 out of 600
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  1. djyannoushka
    Apr 22, 2023
    10
    a very precious album to me, sometimes music gives you so much emotion that it's hard to be anything else for a while and this what this album is to me. incredibly sincere and full of sorrow, but with such light and hopeful melodies too, it breaks my heart and molds it back again
  2. shad0w0711
    Aug 15, 2022
    7
    I found a lack of energy and some tracks are a tough to listen to, maybe one day I'll understand whats so great but great albums come together with a moment that can't be reproduced, this feels like Sufjan could put a few more albums out like this in his lifetime however another album like Illinois, I doubt as that was some kind of miracle.
  3. HugoMR
    May 23, 2022
    10
    A perfectly crafted album using a minimal set of tools and the result can't be put into words. Magnificent from the very first chord to the last word. The concept of the album is so crystal clear that you may visualize Sufjan's sorrow without knowing he's still coming to terms with his grief.
  4. CordRafael
    Feb 17, 2022
    9
    so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil so p deixar no perfil
  5. LasseLong
    Nov 14, 2021
    10
    A beautiful album to float away in to. The amazing lyrics work very well with the cold, sad and calm instrumentals. The best thing about this album is the way Sufjan can put you in a time and place and make you feel the things he sings about.
  6. Hexisaname
    Nov 7, 2021
    10
    This is my favorite album to date, the atmospheric tone throughout the album is immaculate
  7. reyster
    Sep 17, 2021
    10
    This album is magical. It will surely bring you to a rain forest. It feels like I live in a treehouse.
  8. echoyang0515
    Jul 25, 2021
    10
    one of the greatest ablums in 2015，The album is so beautiful and sad, and though it's a tribute to his mother, Sufjan has not been Mired in endless grief, he finds something more hopeful, and in a gentle chant, all the memories sparkle again, condensed for a moment into eternity.
  9. All_ButTrU4
    Jan 31, 2021
    9
    This album is emotional exhaustion. It explores the human condition through it's darkest lense:death. It uses loss as a muse and tries to reconcile through it guilt,resentments, wrongs, promises,loves, hopes,realities. Everything we wake for or go to sleep to avoid . This is a eulogy to everything you wish u had. The entire album from the scrapbook coverart of his parents to theThis album is emotional exhaustion. It explores the human condition through it's darkest lense:death. It uses loss as a muse and tries to reconcile through it guilt,resentments, wrongs, promises,loves, hopes,realities. Everything we wake for or go to sleep to avoid . This is a eulogy to everything you wish u had. The entire album from the scrapbook coverart of his parents to the information we know about his parents love story make this album so much more than music. The delivery is just as raw. He goes away from the electronic decadence of his previous release "age of Adz" or the complexity of the abandoned 50 states project. In this record he just lets out his feelings and lets them carry the weight of the song. From the regret of"should've known better " or loathing of "all of me wants all of you" to the grief of "blue bucket of gold". This is truly great manifesto on death. I will never forget it even though i won't repeat it much due to the emotional exertion. Favourites:all of me wants all of you, the only thing,death with dignity &no shade in the shadow of the cross… Expand
  10. Lopesito27
    Jan 23, 2021
    9
    This is a hauntingly beautiful and intimate experience, although it might be a little too monotone for someone who's not into it. It also always finds a way to elevate its worse tracks.
  11. rjrjuddhhdh
    Dec 23, 2020
    10
    Sufjan Stevens has a special place in my heart. This album feels like "Home". I can see myself in my 70's crying my eyes out to a vinyl copy of this piece of art.
  12. AntonieMorello
    Apr 21, 2020
    10
    An amazing and revolutionary álbum in Sufjan’s Career . An excellent sound to discover what’s behind the author, Sufjan proves why is one of the most important artists of the century
  13. kermie_the_frog
    Dec 26, 2019
    10
    Beautifully penetrating record. Sufjan's hushed vocal delivery and hazy production style make the perfect atmosphere for some of Stevens most crushing and poetic lyrics of his career.
  14. lippert18
    Nov 13, 2019
    10
    One of the best albums I've ever listened to.

    Should I mention 1 favorite song: Fourth of July
  15. Dididi
    Jul 19, 2019
    10
    Truly remarkable. Thats all i have to say. He captured the essence of losing someone so perfectly.
  16. Andremax
    Mar 11, 2019
    8
    Carrie & Lowell is dense but sweet and melodious. Death's lyric theme is submerse in nice and well constructed melodies.
  17. Tuneison
    Sep 24, 2018
    8
    I'm not crying, you're crying! Seriously, what a fantastic album that completely gets you inside the head of Sufjan and, understand just who these people were to him. I wish it didn't mellow out as it when along but, it was still fantastic.
  18. XReviews
    Jul 11, 2018
    10
    Sufjan Stevens is a GENIUS. His music is freaking awesome, it's great for chilling out, our favorite tracks are:
    - Death with Dignity
    - The only thing
    - Should have known better.
  19. TheAeroNaut
    May 3, 2018
    9
    One of the most raw and beautifully haunting album's out there. Sufjan Stevens created a masterpiece, truely one of his greatest works
  20. lightheat
    Oct 31, 2017
    10
    I tend to think of myself as pretty hardened when listening to music. A good movie might elicit a few tears from me from time to time, but music rarely does. This one hit me like a dump trunk.

    Listening to this album is akin to watching the "Baby Mine" scene from Dumbo on repeat for 45 minutes straight. It's emotionally trying to get through songs like "Fourth of July," particularly if    I tend to think of myself as pretty hardened when listening to music. A good movie might elicit a few tears from me from time to time, but music rarely does. This one hit me like a dump trunk.

    Listening to this album is akin to watching the "Baby Mine" scene from Dumbo on repeat for 45 minutes straight. It's emotionally trying to get through songs like "Fourth of July," particularly if you have an ill or passed mother. His love and longing for "the spirit of his silence" is clear in every song, even when singing about her frequent missteps, and that makes it all the more poignant.

    Quite a departure from albums like Illinois, with its minimalist production, dreamy instrumentals, and Sufjan's signature soft voice, this album has been boiled down to just the essence of emotional catharsis. It's beautiful. Grab the tissues.    … Expand
  21. AkumaJack
    Sep 22, 2017
    9
    This album is extremely good.

    I have to put 150 characters in the review. So i'll write it again:

    This album is a gem. You should listen to it - 150
  22. Pirante
    May 4, 2017
    10
    I thought this was a tremendously moving piece of work that told a beautiful, sad story in a very straight forward way. Very powerful, highly recommended.
  23. Unbiasedforreal
    Apr 21, 2017
    10
    It's honest and it's raw, but beautiful nonetheless. Though it may seem minimalist, it's that same quality that makes the album work. Sufjan did good, so good that that you feel what he feels and not a lot of artists can't do that, he's sincere that way. It's weird how this has an identical rating as Illinois, because I prefer this, it's more real and earthy. Last thing, he's a poet and aIt's honest and it's raw, but beautiful nonetheless. Though it may seem minimalist, it's that same quality that makes the album work. Sufjan did good, so good that that you feel what he feels and not a lot of artists can't do that, he's sincere that way. It's weird how this has an identical rating as Illinois, because I prefer this, it's more real and earthy. Last thing, he's a poet and a unnoticed guitar hero.… Expand
  24. greekmatthew
    Apr 5, 2017
    10
    Carrie and Lowell displays some of Sufjan's most intimate emotions. His songwriting is creative, deep, and on a level that musicians seldom come close to meeting. This is the perfect album for a dark and rainy night, and will provoke some of the most unique feelings that any album has to offer.
  25. gibusmann
    Feb 1, 2017
    10
    This record is simply the best indie record of the decade. Very few albums come close to Carrie & Lowell, not only in the beauty of the songs and instrumentals, but in the emotional content. You can hear Sufjan's Soul and his sadness over his mother's death as each song progresses. The background of Sufjan's bedroom air conditioner whirring brings a humanity to it that the lyrics andThis record is simply the best indie record of the decade. Very few albums come close to Carrie & Lowell, not only in the beauty of the songs and instrumentals, but in the emotional content. You can hear Sufjan's Soul and his sadness over his mother's death as each song progresses. The background of Sufjan's bedroom air conditioner whirring brings a humanity to it that the lyrics and content already amply provide, and perfect an otherwise instrumentally phenomenal album. Overall, Carrie and Lowell is Sufjan Stevens' best record, by quite a margin. I'd highly recommend listening to this album several times, even if it doesn't "Click" with you, for the first time.… Expand
  26. sratomasfer
    Jan 30, 2017
    10
    This is Sufjan's best album which says a lot considering his vast and acclaimed discography. But with this album, we're not seeing a new form of Sufjan like we typically do with every new album he puts out. We're getting his story that he's built his career around only this time... that's it. He's not incorporating his story into some greater artistic theme, he's just telling his story. IThis is Sufjan's best album which says a lot considering his vast and acclaimed discography. But with this album, we're not seeing a new form of Sufjan like we typically do with every new album he puts out. We're getting his story that he's built his career around only this time... that's it. He's not incorporating his story into some greater artistic theme, he's just telling his story. I dare anyone not to cry while listening to this record as he recalls his schizophrenic, alcoholic mother who abandoned him as a child and her death. This is a record that will, without a doubt, be remembered for decades.… Expand
  27. Ricko
    Nov 26, 2016
    8
    This is my introduction to Sufjan Stevens. I knew nothing about him but the reviews for "Carrie & Lowell" were too good to ignore. Now I have been burnt by trusting reviews before but decided I'd go out and buy this album without having heard a single note from it. I can't say I've been surprised that the record is pretty decent as all the reviews told me this in advance. Considering theThis is my introduction to Sufjan Stevens. I knew nothing about him but the reviews for "Carrie & Lowell" were too good to ignore. Now I have been burnt by trusting reviews before but decided I'd go out and buy this album without having heard a single note from it. I can't say I've been surprised that the record is pretty decent as all the reviews told me this in advance. Considering the album focuses almost exclusively on the songwriting and the production is minimal by todays standards, Sufjan Stevens really puts together a really good collections of tracks. Musically, it's predominently beautifully finger picked guitars layered with dreamy vibes and floaty vocals. Really interesting listening for a such a basic setup. I've not yet listened to this intently while reading and studying the lyrics, this is something I plan to do when I have more time, but even just listening casually, it's full of intriguing lyrics. I still haven't listened to any of his other albums as I'm still getting into this one. I'm not sure it it's quite as amazing as the reviewers have suggested but its definitely well worth repeated listens and is highly enjoyable.… Expand
  28. frienderman
    Jul 3, 2016
    10
    Perhaps the most devastating, haunting, beautiful, reflective and profound collection of poetry that has ever been recorded; Carrie & Lowell is nothing short of perfect.
  29. matttyc123
    Mar 31, 2016
    10
    Beautiful, beautiful music. Lyrics are depressing while still remaining hopeful, the simple instrumentation matching along with it perfectly. Tear jerking moments throughout as Sufjan rips his heart out of his chest, sets it on fire (but like a peaceful fire), stomps on the ashes, and a single rose emerges from what remains.

    Fave Tracks: Death With Dignity, Should Have Known Better, The    Beautiful, beautiful music. Lyrics are depressing while still remaining hopeful, the simple instrumentation matching along with it perfectly. Tear jerking moments throughout as Sufjan rips his heart out of his chest, sets it on fire (but like a peaceful fire), stomps on the ashes, and a single rose emerges from what remains.

    Fave Tracks: Death With Dignity, Should Have Known Better, The Only Thing, No Shade in The Shadow of The Cross, Blue Bucket of Gold    … Expand
  30. Patroclus
    Mar 14, 2016
    10
    For many reasons, this was my favorite album of 2015, and of the last decade. Sufjan turns his lyrical talent inwards to create a truly empathetic album. We share in his pain, but also a sense of hope. When I saw him perform live he joked with the audience that they gave him support, while he in turn shared his misery. I think the support goes both ways.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Album of 2015
18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2015
41
#41 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. New York Daily News (Jim Faber)
    May 1, 2015
    80
    The impeccable music Stevens has created gives shape to the chaos of his emotions.
    Read full review
  2. Under The Radar
    Apr 16, 2015
    85
    As always, Stevens' precise details makes his songs ring through with truth. [Apr - May 2015, p.87]
  3. Magnet
    Apr 15, 2015
    90
    The bona-fide masterpiece that Stevens' career has culminated in, and likely the one that will come to define his career. [No. 119, p.58]
See all critic reviews »