Week 10 - Sufjan Stevens Mega Post!
Sufjan Stevens is an indie folk/rock artist who is most well known for kick-starting the folk revival in the independent music scene. He plays banjo, guitar, drums as well as other instruments and often plays them all himself when recording (using multitrack recording). His early works feature electronica elements, but in all of his work, he is known for grand melodic arrangements, a variety of insturments, and making use of employing different time signatures. He debuted his first album, "A Sun Came!" with Ashmatic Kitty Records in 2000 (which was founded by himself and his stepfather) but did not reach broader success until he released two albums in what would have been part of a "50 States Project" - "Greetings from Michigan - The Great Lake State" and "Come On, Feel the Illinoise!" The latter in particular includes his biggest hit to date - "Chicago" - which was featured as the theme to the 2006 Sundance hit movie "Little Miss Sunshine", and the album itself reached #1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart. His recent album, "The Age of Adz", revisits the electronica he began with, which I was personally slow to come around to, but going to his concert changed everything for me and now I love it.
There is also an inherent spirituality to Sufjan Stevens' music, as he makes a shitton of Biblical references in his work. But what I like about him is that unlike many others, he is not a preacher. I present this quote: "I don't think music media is the real forum for theoogical discussions. I think I've said things and sung about things that probably weren't appropriate for this kind of forum. And I just feel like it's not my work or my place to be making claims and statements, because I often think it's misunderstood." You gotta respect a guy that knows where to draw that line.
As for I found Sufjan and why I love him so over the past four years, I have gone into great detail at my personal journal including the fucking incredible concert I went to this past Sunday at the Wiltern. Even then I cannot describe how much I love the music. To this day, "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" is my most played track in my iTunes library and the most gorgeous song I have ever heard in my life.
Here are my (many) favorite tracks by Sufjan Stevens and I encourage you to take, listen and love as I have:
For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
Oh Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)
Holland
Jacksonville
Say! Yes! To Michigan!
Casmir Pulanski Day
Chicago
The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts
Decatur, or Round of Applause for your Step-Mother!
They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh!
Ring Them Bells
Dear Mr. Supercomputer
Springfield, Or Bobby Got A Shadfly Caught In His Hair
Adlai Stevenson
The Henney Buggy Band
The Avalanche
Chicago (Multiple Personality Disorder Version)
Heirloom
Enchanting Ghost
The Dress Looks Nice on You
To Be Alone With You
We Are What You Say
I Walked
Futile Devices
Vesuvius