Sufjan Steven's "Javelin"

Sufjan Stevens, well known for involvement with the soundtrack for Call Me By Your Name and his song "Chicago," released a new album, Javelin, dedicating it to his lover who passed away.

Stevens became well known with the release of "Chicago" in 2005, having featured in Veronica Mars, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Politician. The song was a part of the larger album Illinois which focused on what it was like to live in the state.

My personal favorite album from him is A Beginner's Mind, an album he crafted with Angelo De Augustine. "Back to Oz" is a perfect relationship between melancholy and upbeat and makes for the perfect movie soundtrack song. The song does refer to the sequel Return to Oz so it does make sense that the dream-like instrumentals backing Steven's voice sound straight out of a movie. The song was written to represent the characters erosion of reality and try to capture that existentialism in a single song and it perfectly crafted.

Steven's latest album, Javelin, came with a dedication and a coming out post. On Instagram, Steven's dedicated the album to Evans Richardson, his lover who passed away in April of this year.

Stevens had been private about his personal life since the release of Illinois in 2005, with most of the content in this album focused on the end. He is a pro at telling complex stories in simple and raw manner. This album almost only features Stevens and his instrumentation and while it seems like a pop song on the surface, reveals folk instrumentation as you continue to listen.

The album is absolutely gorgeous and heartbreaking. If you haven't already taken a listen you can listen to it below.