Listen to Sufjan Stevens’ New Album, ‘Carrie & Lowell’

We’ve already heard a few cuts from Sufjan Stevens’ upcoming seventh studio album, Carrie & Lowell -- “No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross,” “Should Have Known Better” and the title track. The rest of the record, named after Stevens’ deceased mother and stepfather, will hit shelves on March 31, but the whole thing is streaming now via Asthmatic Kitty (courtesy of Pitchfork), and you can take it for a spin below.

Stevens is a challenge to predict: He’s proven equally adept at producing down-tempo electronica, ambitious orchestral numbers and laid back acoustic work. The preview tracks were not an attempt to throw fans off the scent, though, as the songs of Carrie & Lowell are relayed almost exclusively via acoustic guitar, piano and Stevens’ delicate voice.

“All of Me Wants All of You” is not a John Legend knockoff, but Steven’s primarily whispered vocals contain all of the emotional vulnerability of Legend’s radio hit, if not more. The rest of Carrie & Lowell, Stevens’ first album since 2010’s The Age of Adz, carries on much in this way and is a subtly-striking throwback to his work on the lo-fi Seven Swans album.

Stevens will begin a U.S. tour in support of the album on April 9 and will remain busy until June. Check out tour dates and stream Carrie & Lowell below:

Sufjan Stevens 2015 Tour
April 9: Philadelphia, Pa. – Academy of Music
April 10: Philadelphia, Pa. – Academy of Music
April 11: New York, N.Y. – Beacon Theater
April 12: Hartford, Ct. – The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
April 14: Portland, Maine – Merrill Auditorium
April 15: Albany, N.Y. – The Palace Theater
April 16: Cleveland, Ohio – Cleveland Masonic Auditorium
April 17: Columbus, Ohio – Palace Theater
April 18: Indianapolis, Ind. – The Murat Theatre
April 20: St. Louis, Mo. – Peabody Opera House
April 21: Kansas City, Mo. – Midland Theater
April 22: Minneapolis, Minn. – Northrop Auditorium
April 23: Milwaukee, Wis. – Riverside Theater
April 24: Chicago, Ill. – Chicago Theatre
April 25: Chicago, Ill. – Chicago Theatre
April 27: Detroit, Mich. – Masonic Temple
April 28: Grand Rapids, Mich. – Covenant Fine Arts Center
April 29: Toronto, Ontario – Massey Hall
April 30: Montreal, Quebec – Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier/Place Des Artes
May 1: Brooklyn, N.Y. – Kings Theatre
May 2: Brooklyn, N.Y. – Kings Theatre
May 4: Boston, Mass. – Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre
May 5: Washington, D.C. – DAR Constitution Hall
May 6: Richmond, Va. – Altria Theater
May 7: Durham, N.C. – Durham Performing Arts Center
May 9: New Orleans, La. – Saenger Theatre
May 10: Dallas, Texas – Majestic Theatre
May 11: Houston, Texas – Jones Hall for the Performing Arts
May 12: Austin, Texas – Bass Concert Hall
May 13: Austin, Texas – Bass Concert Hall
June 2: San Diego, Calif. – Copley Symphony Hall
June 3: Los Angeles, Calif. – Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
June 4: Los Angeles, Calif. – Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
June 5: Oakland, Calif. – Fox Theater
June 6: Oakland, Calif. – Fox Theater
June 8: Portland, Ore. – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
June 9: Vancouver, British Columbia – Orpheum Theatre
June 10: Seattle, Wash. – The Paramount Theatre
June 11: Seattle, Wash. – The Paramount Theatre
June 17: Eau Claire, Wis. – Eaux Claire Festival
Aug. 14-16: Lyons, Colo. – Rocky Mountain Folk Festival
Sept. 4-6: North Dorset, England – End of the Road Festival