The Ascension
by Sufjan Stevens
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 75 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 65 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 75
  3. Negative: 5 out of 75
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  1. fdoppio
    Sep 25, 2020
    8
    amazing album, Age of adz , Aporia , Planetarium into one unity...
    very unique from instrumental side
  2. Billyliar87
    Sep 27, 2020
    9
    After about 7 play-throughs I am settling on a 9. Many would compare this to Age of Adz, and they're not wrong. The opening track "Make me an offer I cannot refuse" is like the climb of a dystopian space mountain rollercoaster that takes you to the darkest corners of his mind. "Run Away with Me" maybe my favorite song by how simply haunting it is. ( I get similar feelings when listening toAfter about 7 play-throughs I am settling on a 9. Many would compare this to Age of Adz, and they're not wrong. The opening track "Make me an offer I cannot refuse" is like the climb of a dystopian space mountain rollercoaster that takes you to the darkest corners of his mind. "Run Away with Me" maybe my favorite song by how simply haunting it is. ( I get similar feelings when listening to the AoA track "I Walked") "Videogame", "Landslide", "Death Star" and "Sugar" are standouts for their urgency and their sweeping soundscapes. "Tell Me you Love Me" and "Goodbye to all of that" honestly remind me of some of the amazing work he did on his Christmas originals on Silver and Gold. They give me chills. Many are commenting on the title track "The Ascension" as standout, and I couldn't agree more. It's another vulnerable and moving piece that is an evolution of his best work from Seven Swans and Carrie & Lowell (Think John My Beloved or The Transfiguration). Overall the album is fully realized, albeit bloated. I hope the world lasts long enough for us to hear these tracks live.… Expand
  3. stormageddon
    Sep 27, 2020
    9
    In the words of Jeremy Clarkson “it’s wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.”
  4. Animelovesstgur
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    Sufjan has made a banger once again and I am happy for it once again in five years.
  5. bigsufjan
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    yesss he did it again
    ativan is my favorite he made for me album of the year
  6. matthewmirliani
    Sep 25, 2020
    10
    Taking cues from Bjork and Beck, Sufjan Stevens delivers this year’s Ghosteen - a haunting, mournful, religious, orchestral, stunning, operatic masterpiece. Equally dreamlike and beautifully unnerving, it echoes Stevens’ memorable work from Call Me By Your Name - glimmering New Wave sounds surrounded by ambient baroque-pop and soft electronica.
  7. coolcrowe
    Oct 19, 2020
    10
    I've been listening every day since it came out and still hooked. This is prime Sufjan; it hits the sweet spot in between a lot of his past work. It's got the electronic experimentation of Age of Adz but at the same time it feels much more grounded and focused. I've seen the word "bloated" used a few times and I have to vehemently disagree; it is no more so than Come on Feel the Illinoise,I've been listening every day since it came out and still hooked. This is prime Sufjan; it hits the sweet spot in between a lot of his past work. It's got the electronic experimentation of Age of Adz but at the same time it feels much more grounded and focused. I've seen the word "bloated" used a few times and I have to vehemently disagree; it is no more so than Come on Feel the Illinoise, for instance. There are a lot of ideas here, but each has its own merit and carves its own place out on this beautiful compilation. Sometimes this album can be a bit darker than some past work but at the end of the day Sufjan always brings it around with revelation and manages to show how true hope and joy can be found even in the most dire and tragic times.… Expand
  8. Guille1293
    Oct 4, 2020
    10
    I was expecting to be a little underwhelmed after the reviews but after multiple listens I can assure this is top Sufjan. It's very long but it never loses time, from the beginning with the best opening track in a Sufjan record, Make Me an Offer I Can Not Refuse to America, the record is full of intricate sounds and depressing/hopefull beautiful lyrics.
  9. Ptster87
    Oct 8, 2020
    10
    A beautiful LP. Closer to Age Of Adz in it's style (but still very different) with intricate, interesting and beautiful arrangements. After several listens it keeps growing on me. Sufjan is back!
  10. kyllbert
    Oct 4, 2020
    10
    Sufjan proves time and again that he deserves his place amongst the musical greats, and The Ascension is the perfect solo project follow-up to his poignant, vulnerable masterpiece Carrie and Lowell. Touches of humanity dabbled throughout a digital fever dream remind listeners of the familiar charm of a Sufjan album with new horizons.
  11. Paullylo
    Oct 7, 2020
    10
    Another great album from one of the most important musicians currently operating .
    Likened to Age of Adz due to its electronic construction which is fair .
    Packed full of his wonderful melodies .
    Potential album of the year for me
  12. jacques69lk
    Oct 17, 2020
    10
    Amazing album. Sufjan Stevens has proved us again to be one of the best artists ever!!
  13. markymark
    Sep 11, 2021
    10
    The Ascension is an epic adventure. It feels like an eventful journey with mountains of highlights; by the time you get to the end, the beginning seems like forever ago, and you have changed as a person. Best part is, you get to start it all over again
  14. Ricko
    Dec 28, 2020
    8
    Sufjan Stevens has been involved in a few releases since, but really "The Ascension" is the follow up proper to 2015's "Carrie & Lowell". It's a pretty amazing record for a number of reasons. Stylistically it is a complete change from the lo-fi, bare bones approach to "Carrie & Lowell". "The Ascension" is an electronic album, closer to the glitch pop of Thom Yorke/Nigel Godrich than theSufjan Stevens has been involved in a few releases since, but really "The Ascension" is the follow up proper to 2015's "Carrie & Lowell". It's a pretty amazing record for a number of reasons. Stylistically it is a complete change from the lo-fi, bare bones approach to "Carrie & Lowell". "The Ascension" is an electronic album, closer to the glitch pop of Thom Yorke/Nigel Godrich than the indie folk of its predecessor. Glitchy as it may be, it's still based in a pop tradition and is full of melody. One could argue that at times it drags on and could do with some editing but it has more than enough interesting ideas to keep the listener engaged across the 80 minutes or so. One of the better records of 2020 and one that I have no doubt I'll be heading back to repeatedly.… Expand
  15. JLuis_001
    Jan 22, 2021
    7
    I'm not and have not been a fan of Sufjan Stevens. Although I hate to use the word, for me he's one of those musicians who's quite overrated. But I respect very much that he's not interested in satisfying any public since he usually explores various genres on his albums.

    After the folk of Carrie & Lowell, he has decided to release an electrop album. His first solo album is 5 years.    I'm not and have not been a fan of Sufjan Stevens. Although I hate to use the word, for me he's one of those musicians who's quite overrated. But I respect very much that he's not interested in satisfying any public since he usually explores various genres on his albums.

    After the folk of Carrie & Lowell, he has decided to release an electrop album. His first solo album is 5 years.

    The Ascension is very different from Carrie & Lowell and it's also different from the last 3 albums that he released, which were collaborations.

    It's true that it can be said that he didn't need to explore so much in this genre, however, her own ambition ends up playing against him.
    I say this because The Ascension is too long and there are several songs that I really think could have been left out.

    And the best moments on this album happen when Stevens is more interested in being atmospheric than sounding like a pop singer.

    I'm not so sure if his fans will love him, but considering they know that he likes to switch styles, I think the reception will be good, I've seen that so far.

    Notable Tracks

    > Run Away with Me
    > Tell Me You Love Me
    > Ativan
    > Sugar
    > America    … Expand
  16. Iamangelo8789
    Sep 23, 2021
    10
    Such a powerful album... Thanks for the memories on this one! There is a lot of tracks that gonna be forever in our minds.

Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Most Discussed Album of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. AllMusic
    Oct 21, 2020
    80
    The Ascension ranks with Carrie & Lowell as his most personal and affecting work to date.
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  2. Under The Radar
    Oct 6, 2020
    85
    The Ascension harks back to the heavy electronics of 2010’s Age of Adz but with adroit focus on the themes of existential dread and the quest for meaning with a bounty of angry yet hopeful songs that satisfy melodically and metaphysically.
    Read full review
  3. American Songwriter
    Oct 2, 2020
    60
    The Ascension, Stevens’ eighth studio album over all, and the follow-up to his highly lauded outing Carrie & Lowell, diminishes the accessibility factor in favor of a more amorphous imprint, one that finds all manner of effects and an ever-constant shift in sounds that drift through practically every selection.
    Read full review
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