“Sufjan Stevens Announces Carrie & Lowell - 10th Anniversary Edition – Out May 30 

This May, Asthmatic Kitty Records celebrates the ten-year anniversary of Carrie & Lowell with an expanded double-LP album that includes seven previously unreleased bonus tracks, a 40-page art book, and a new essay by Sufjan Stevens. The deluxe edition also offers an alternative cover: a full-framed version of the original Polaroid zoomed out to reveal the photo’s caption written in a child’s handwriting—“Carrie & Lowell”—disclosing the source of the album title (it was written by Sufjan’s sister Djamilah). The new edition was designed by Sufjan himself: the 40-page booklet contains various collages of vintage family photos spanning four generations interfused with artwork and drawings (on themes of death, dying, grief and the state of Oregon) as well as landscape photos Sufjan took while traveling across the western U.S. over a decade ago.

The original album is preserved on disc one, while disc two contains 40 minutes of extras, including demo versions of "Death With Dignity,” “Should Have Known Better,” “The Only Thing,” and “Eugene”. Expansive outtakes of “Fourth of July” and “Wallowa Lake Monster” are also included, both featuring a more cinematic mood. The final gem is the original demo of “Mystery of Love”, which was recorded around the same time as Carrie & Lowell. This song was scrapped for the album but later re-worked and re-recorded for Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name.

Carrie & Lowell was the result of an immensely difficult process in which Sufjan’s songwriting – usually a salve – failed him in the wake of his mother’s death. He was eventually led out of a cycle of creative doubt with a rare handover of production duties to Thomas Bartlett. In wrestling with darkness and devastation, life and death, Sufjan was eventually able to begin making sense of the beauty and ugliness of love.

Sufjan toured the album and personally connected his findings with his listeners, a beautiful hand-over of sorts happened - making these songs those of the listeners and their lives and losses and complexities.Since the album’s release the live tour was turned into a live album, so surprisingly celebratory and cathartic as to become something else entirely. Outtakes, remixes, and iPhone notes have been shared via Sufjan’s The Greatest Gift mixtape as well as a collection of “Fourth of July” versions that took one moment from the album and explored its every crevice.

Ten years on, this anniversary edition does things differently to those other treasures. Rather than deconstructing the album or building on it and continuing its legacy, this edition takes the listener back to the moments leading up to and including its release. Carrie & Lowell is presented in its full form once again, alongside a glimpse of the different roads it could have taken. There are new corners to explore, photographic realising of moments previously only lyrically painted, direct reflection from the album’s creator, subtly different weight on certain syllables that speak to Sufjan’s mind right before he shared it with the world.

Carrie & Lowell -10th Anniversary Edition Tracklist

Disc 1:

1. Death with Dignity
2. Should Have Known Better
3. All of Me Wants All of You
4. Drawn To the Blood
5. Eugene
6. Fourth of July
7. The Only Thing
8. Carrie & Lowell
9. John My Beloved
10. No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross
11. Blue Bucket of Gold

Disc 2:

1. Death with Dignity (Demo)
2. Should Have Known Better (Demo)
3. Eugene (Demo)
4. The Only Thing (Demo)
5. Mystery Of Love (Demo)
6. Wallowa Lake Monster (Version 2)
7. Fourth of July (Version 4)

Carrie & Lowell - 10th Anniversary Edition is now available to pre-order / pre-save here. All pre-orders will include a lyric postcard featuring artwork designed by Sufjan. 

“Mystery of Love” may be widely known from the film Call Me By Your Name, but it began as an early demo during the Carrie & Lowell era. Now released as the first single from Carrie & Lowell – 10th Anniversary Edition, this version presents the song in its original, intimate form.

Video directed and produced by Rena Johnson. Original artwork and select photos by Sufjan Stevens. Archival photos and 8mm film provided by Sufjan Stevens and additional assets provided by Rena Johnson.

Ten years of ‘Carrie & Lowell’. Explore the full story in our new comprehensive archive, featuring 'Carrie & Lowell 'and its six companion releases. Photos, video, essays and other materials, gathered in one place for the first time.

WWW.CL.SUFJAN.COM”

- Originally posted by Asthmatic Kitty Records

“Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols 6-10” vinyl box set is available now for pre-order, for the first time since its original release in 2012, via Asthmatic Kitty Records.

More info: “Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10 expands on the tradition of Sufjan Stevens’ first box-set ”Songs for Christmas, Vols. 1-5“ and features nearly 60-tracks that investigate the canon of devotional hymns and holiday pop songs, as well as 18-original songs from Sufjan.

Two versions of the release are available now for pre-order, and will be released on November 1, 2024. The LP box set features an array of holiday-themed bonus items designed by Sufjan and friends and is available exclusively via the AKR shop. The collection will also be available at record stores as a standalone LP set for the first time, featuring all 5 releases (6 LPs) assembled in a slipcase. This version includes just the albums, with the additional holiday merchandise available only with the AKR vinyl box set. 

Inside The Box Set:

• 5 EPs on 6 vinyl records
• Christmas sticker sheet
• Temporary tattoo sheet 
• Three paper ornaments (self-assembly with directions)
• An apocalyptic pull-out poster
• A 44-page songbook with lyrics and chord charts (sing along with your friends and enemies)
• A 20-page Christmas coloring book by Stephen Halker
• Hallucinogenic photographs and psychedelic graphic design
• Extensive liner notes (introductory salutations and an essay on the Christmas tree by Sufjan Stevens, and a few theological words on the End Times by Pastor Vito Aiuto)

In addition to the Silver & Gold LP box set, AKR is excited to offer exclusive merchandise inspired by Silver & Gold. Available for pre-order now, choose from a woven blanket, mock-neck shirt, beanie, mug or the Silver & Gold Songbook (now available separately from the box set).”

The album that Sufjan produced for John Legend, “My Favorite Dream”, is out today. You can listen to it here.

On producing the album, Sufjan said recently to the LA Times; “One of the main reasons I decided to do John’s album is because I hadn’t been able to really work on anything outside of self-care and rehabilitation,” he says. “I finally wanted to get back to work, but I didn’t really have the mental capacity to write my own music. This stuff felt wholesome and pure and safe.”

Sufjan has produced a new album for John Legend, “My Favorite Dream”. It is an album of sing-alongs & lullabies for kids and families. 
The first song, L-O-V-E, is out now. On working with Sufjan, John said; “As I was writing the songs & envisioning what they could sound like fully arranged, I thought, "I wonder if Sufjan Stevens would make a children’s album with me!” I’ve loved Sufjan’s music for nearly 20 years. He’s such a visionary artist, and I knew he would create the dreamy, whimsical soundscapes I wanted. So I reached out. And he said YES. I was so happy because he was my first and only choice. I’m proud to say the entire album is produced by Sufjan Stevens. I’m grateful for his genius. He blessed the album with music beyond my expectations & imagination.“ 

The 20th-anniversary edition of “Seven Swans” is now out and includes two b-sides, “I Went Dancing With My Sister” and “Waste of What Your Kids Won’t Have.” You can hear the album + b-sides here. A special anniversary edition vinyl is available at indie records stores today.

Also released today are two lyric videos for “To Be Alone With You” and “The Dress Looks Nice on You.” They were created by Rena Johnson using artwork drawn by Marzuki Stevens & animated by Stephen Halker with calligraphy by Laura Normandin.

THANK YOU.

In celebration of the 20th-anniversary of Seven Swans Asthmatic Kitty Records are releasing deluxe versions of the album and a new t-shirt on June 21st. You can pre-order here and read all the details here. THANK YOU. XO

The Original Cast Recording of Illinoise will be released digitally by Nonesuch Records on May 31st. You can hear a preview of “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!” and “Chicago (Reprise)” today.

Come On Feel The “Illinoise” Musical is now open on Broadway for a limited 16-week run at the St. James Theatre. Tickets for all dates can be found here.

JAVELIN is out today. Thank you for listening. I love you.

This album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson, who passed away in April. He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy. He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime—precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way.

I know relationships can be very difficult sometimes, but it’s always worth it to put in the hard work and care for the ones you love, especially the beautiful ones, who are few and far between. If you happen to find that kind of love, hold it close, hold it tight, savor it, tend to it, and give it everything you’ve got, especially in times of trouble. Be kind, be strong, be patient, be forgiving, be vigorous, be wise, and be yourself. Live every day as if it is your last, with fullness and grace, with reverence and love, with gratitude and joy. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Thank you. I love you.  XOS

Great location and wheelchair accessible

Looks like I’m getting out of here tomorrow. I’ll continue the work at home and in outpatient therapy. Thanks for following my hospital blog. And thanks for all your prayers and well wishes. Pray for the peace of the world. Be well. Be safe. Be yourself. XOS

Keep it moving

Part of the treatment here includes something called “transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.” TENS. I just call it “the zappers……..!” Watch out for them zappers y'all.

Here’s the new single from my album Javelin, “A Running Start.”

More info here.

THANK YOU. I love you. Peace to you.