Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell

great mastering; the ambient crescendo on the 14 minute ver of forth of july really sounds magical... unfortunately my side A was a bit noisy, but IMO the high quality packaging really makes up for it, you can really tell how much care went into it. really can't complain for the price, they could have easily charged $50+ for this

one of those albums that stay with you for years and years after you first listen to them. favs: Eugene, drawn to the blood, John my beloved, no shade in the shadow of the cross

Found a copy in very, very good condition this afternoon…50p!

No download included, but it looks like it’s never been played. Can’t detect any spindle marks. Vinyl looks pristine

A real sonic upgrade from the original pressing - phew! Package is beautiful too: glossy booklet and sturdy outer box,

Great album. Beautiful songwriting and production. My copy is perfect, it just sounds fantastic.

Not perfect, no skips atleast. But sometimes the sounds or out of proportion. The high notes sound horrible. Depends on your system probably. I’d recommend getting a normal black pressing.

Went through 4 copies and all of them had terrible crackling sound on the first two to three tracks on side C. 7 out of 8 records had visible scratches that made tick noises. Really disappointed with the quality control. Shame cause the packaging that the records come in is beautiful.

Utterly flawless. Barely any warping, if any at all. Little to no surface noise, no pops or skips. Slipcase is really sturdy and the colour on the vinyl itself is beautiful. Worth buying for Fourth of July (Version 4) alone. Get it if you can!

Bought the black vinyls new from the online store in Fall 2025. Disc 1 is a great pressing, Disc 2 Side A has BAD popping on the first two songs (the Death with dignity and Should have known better demos) that make it hard to enjoy the beautiful music.

The materials it comes with are pristine, thoughtful, and beautiful. A great album that I love very much, but very disappointed with all of the popping.

Regarding this black, 10th anniversary limited double edition, I am thrilled with it. Sufjan has had time to reflect, and despite reservations clearly expressed in his inner sleeve essay, this is the result: EXPANDED. The Fourth of July, version 4 is physically, finally, powerfully, released – eight seconds short of 14 minutes.

SOUND. There is a sound in the background when all is quiet, the best way I can describe it is a quiet sound like air escaping a tyre. This 'sound' ceases between the tracks, so I assume it is something to do with the recording – it’s not the vinyl. I’d be interested to hear if anybody know what causes this. Other than that, the black is shiny, flawless as you’d expect new vinyl to be. No scratches or warps, the vinyl is heavy, you feel the quality. The actual sound production (apart from that ‘air’ sound, which really is mostly unnoticeable) is superb, crystal clear, the high notes ping and when there is bass, it is a good resonant bass with no distortion. I am aware of the history of the Asthmatic Kitty reviews. As I often say, it is a minefield, discussing these disagreements online. Hence my description of the record I have: thrilled.

ART. Sufjan’s mission with this album is an astounding declaration of love for his mother, of Love itself and a soul searching for meaning. It is a pure / honest musical achievement, the use of his immaculate voice to represent life through art is exactingly pursued. I was riveted reading Sufjan’s ESSAY, hence my attached review in the reply. Every paragraph and word is perfectly placed to convey his doubts regarding this album. I can understand his views, of course I respect them, though I don’t fully agree. His central statement, that “ . . . the world is chaos . . . in a universal bedlam” is a theme universally explored and debated, with opposing views. The essay is a good balance to his more romantic / poetic approach of the C&L album, it grounds Sufjan’s position. His doubts and admittance to the unbearable weight of futility and grief, in a way, they add more edge and depth to the music.

The 12” ‘book’ insert is like a family photograph album – endless photographs, which specifically mean little to those unrelated to Sufjan. It’s odd in a way, including such an item for strangers; but also right, intimately inviting us in, many will relate to this document of ‘family’. And there are the photographs of Carrie . . . + what Sufjan tells us about Carrie. The music, pictures and writing all come together as a testament of how the intensely personal transcends to become relevant to all. Along with further references to a time past and place (Oregon?). The settings are beautiful, with a child growing up, all smiles, underneath is another story . . .

The other half of the album’s title, Sufjan’s stepfather, Lowell, brought Sufjan up, encouraged the music, runs the Asthmatic Kitty record label: that support is immense. Much of Sufjan’s Struggle in the C&L album is to understand the events surrounding Carrie. So a seeming imbalance; but no doubt both, in their presence / absence have their influence.

PACKAGING. The box, gatefold sleeve, essay and LYRICS are all present and perfect.