The album is a departure for Stevens in that it's inspired by real-life events, namely his rough relationship with his estranged mother, Carrie, and his better one with stepfather Lowell Brams. His previous albums were often conceptual in nature. He's written entire albums about Michigan and Illinois, created an electronic album about the Chinese zodiac and written a collection of biblical songs.
Of course, with this personal experience as inspiration, "Carrie & Lowell" hits a lot of low notes and delves deep into loneliness. Known for his haunting, layered sound and intricate lyrics, Stevens' has been embraced by music critics everywhere and his new album has seen similar success since its recent release Tuesday, March 31.
Tickets for his Friday night show at the Academy sold so well that a second night was added on Thursday. There are still plenty of tickets available for Thursday night's show. This will be the Brooklynite's first stop on a U.S. tour set to last through the summer.
Sufjan Stevens
Thursday, April 9 and Friday, April 108 p.m. | $35-40
The Academy of Music
240 S. Broad St.
(215) 893-1999