The Age of Adz

Sure there’s some nice stuff here and no one ever said Stevens lacked ideas. But I’m telling you that despite this, The Age of Adz is a major misfire from an artist of uncommon depth and talent.

The Age of Adz is not an unqualified success; occasionally it does feel like a little too much, and until the dust has settled it is difficult to say where it will sit in his discography as a whole.

This is an extravagant and undisciplined album that is nearly impossible to digest.

The whole album is a gorgeous mess, and you’ll immediately want to be dragged through it all over again.

But instead of succumbing to trends, Stevens barrels through with another long-form work that requires-- and rewards-- time and devotion.

Like its concluding song, The Age of Adz is occasionally transfixing, but overall inconsistent.