Sufjan Stevens offers up his most emotionally charged and accessible record to date with Carrie & Lowell (Asthmatic Kitty). Stripped and void from the electronically driven element of his most prior releases, Sufjan gets intimate and brings a gut-wrenching record filled with fear, despair, and often the unknown.

Being a long time Sufjan fan, like most, it is notable his extreme growth as a songwriter and musician. Carrie & Lowell proves to be his most honest and heartwarming album to date. Stevens has always been a great story teller, but this time, he manages to outdo himself. The carefully crafted songs are intertwined with intrigue and passion; allowing him to let his guard down.

“Death with Dignity,” the first piece on the album, sets the tone of his re-found musical roots. Personally for me this is perhaps how Sufjan shines the most. Without any distractions, the focus is brought on his vocal work, and intricate instrumentation that streams throughout the album. His ability to write songs that will literally bring you to tears, is haunting in its own right. “Should Have Known Better,” acts as a personal song to his mother who abandoned him at a young age; “She left us at that video store,” sings Sufjan, as you can feel his pain. No lyric has ever felt so real that you can actually experience the despair in his voice.

“All of Me Wants All of You,” is startling with its perfection, both in music and production. The harmonies are heavenly, as they weave throughout the guitars. This theme carries out effortlessly and flawlessly in Carrie & Lowell; most notably on “Fourth of July;” which is possibly the best song Sufjan has ever penned. Stevens heartbreak and fear are at the forefront as he lays his feelings on the table. “We’re all going to die,” he croons with a believable force behind him, and a dark piano accompanying in the background.

To be honest, it’s almost hard to review Carrie & Lowell. I find myself sitting here, just listening to these skillfully crafted songs, and taking it all in. With every listen, these tracks send chills down my spine. It is so gorgeously created that I don’t want to miss even the slightest harmony.

Nearing the end of the album is the title track, “Carrie & Lowell,” which hints at elements of older Stevens in his most formative years, banjo in tow. That being said, the song still manages to keep up with the overall theme and musical aspirations of the record. This proves each song has been carefully placed, without any puzzle pieces missing.

Carrie & Lowell is Sufjan’s finest masterpiece to date. Somehow he always manages to outdo himself, but in this case, he has gone above and beyond to create an album that will stir up every emotion in your mind, and make you ponder the most intricate of questions about everything you fear, doubt, love, and admire. Sufjan is not only a musician, but he is an incredible storyteller and songwriter that stops at nothing to get his point across; even if that means exposing his most inner insecurities and fears for the world to hear. That’s okay though, what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, right? Sufjan let’s us know that we’re not in this alone. We’re never alone.