9/10

Throughout his expansive two-and-a-half decade long career to date, Sufjan Stevens has always been seen as one of the more inventive and explorative names doing the rounds. While largely honed towards a more alternative folk agenda throughout the years, he has also been keen to invite a more diverse entity into his work, creating these wonderfully broad and innovative releases in the process. But after a string of personal tragedies so far this year, he returns with his tenth studio album 'Javelin', a record brimming with raw and heartfelt emotion.

After suffering the death of his partner Evans Richardson in April this year, he was also recently diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome in the months leading up to this new full-length, giving 'Javelin' an entirely new context to anything he has previously shared. But despite the sheer pain and loss he has felt these last few months, his latest outing stands as one of his brightest and most euphoric to date. Finding joy and rejuvenation through his personal pain, this new collection continues to shine and illuminate through it all.

While the headlines surrounding Sufjan Stevens' recent personal life has been noting short of devastating, 'Javelin' sits as a shining light within his repertoire to date. With such a warm and inviting sense to its conception, he continues to present himself as one of the modern era's most beloved songwriters.