Sufjan Stevens has always written personally, weaving his life story into larger narratives, but here his autobiography is front and center. Carrie & Lowell is a return to the stripped-back folk of Seven Swans, but with a decade's worth of refinement and exploration packed into it.

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie And Lowell

It was never a secret that life is not easy; however, the extent of it definitely wasn’t disclosed upon entry. From learning to walk without falling, chewing without breaking off teeth, and making a phone call without crying, to fighting off negative thoughts about our meager existence and the ridiculousness of a 9-5 work life, life is one heck of a journey.

Stevens' landmark album turns 10 this week. We talked to the players on those sessions for a revealing look at how the album came together.