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Sufjan Stevens

musicismylife78musicismylife78 Posts: 6,116
edited April 2009 in Other Music
Not sure if people on this board like him. He seems to get crap for the lengthy song titles and the ambitiousness of the 50 states project, but I dont think there is any denying he is hugely talented.

The big, crazy, loud songs like Chicago are great, but I am more impressed with the quiet, soft, songs.

John Wayne Gacy is mindblowing, maybe the most beautiful song ever written about a serial killer, or For the Widows in Paradise-with its banjo, or one of the most devastating songs ever written- Romulus, with each verse being more devastating than the last, hard to listen to it without getting a lump in the throat. The images in that song are unreal. I can imagine, especially the second verse, these kids, sufjan, and his mom, his mom's chevrolet broke down, and they are playing in the snow, and they are all hoping she can stay here for forever, that she wont ever leave. They play in the snow, and touch her hair. I can imagine it being one of the best days of their lives. Then the next day, I assume the mom leaves. WOW! The Vcr line cuts deep as well, the grandfather in a hospital gown. Just the imagery is top notch

I am anxious to get my hands on the next cd, whenever its released and to see what state he takes on next.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • strummersstrummers Posts: 2,611
    He's awesome - amazing live (saw him in Manchester a couple of years ago)!

    Love Casimir Pulaski Day, such a beautiful song!!

    Wish he would come out of the woodwork and do some more stuff, when we saw him he played a song about a bird and said he was working on a bird themed album - wish that could see the light of day as the song sounded fantastic!

    Would be a good opener for PJ as I've heard him on the intro tape for the 2006 Euro tour! ;)
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  • gobrowns19gobrowns19 Posts: 1,447
    Glad to see some discussion. Greetings From Michigan is an incredible album, one of my favorites by any artist, and I also enjoy Feel the Illinoise and Seven Swans.
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  • intodeepintodeep Posts: 7,228
    I have Illinoise and I enjoy it. Not sure if i was blown away by it enough to go get his other stuff.
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  • SchokiSchoki Posts: 5,072
    He´s so good. Love Illinois. Think ge totally catched all the different vibes i experienced while being in Illinois.
    One of my all time fav. albums. Are there any news/rumours about other state albums?
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    I think he's incredibly self-indulgent and in dire need of an editor. Seven Swans is a decent album, but this whole state thing is a complete joke. He's got talent, but he needs to hone it lest he go the way of Axl Rose.
  • strummersstrummers Posts: 2,611
    soulsinging wrote:
    I think he's incredibly self-indulgent and in dire need of an editor. Seven Swans is a decent album, but this whole state thing is a complete joke. He's got talent, but he needs to hone it lest he go the way of Axl Rose.

    Completely disagree - he should stay exactly as he is. Comparing him to Axl Rose is, in my opinion, absurd. He comes across as a lovely geunine person, if slightly naive. He's an honest songwriter with a great style and a beautiful serenity. I'd say he was more aware of who he is and what he wants to do, which is a better way of saying self-indulgent. When you have a talent like his, sometimes self-indulgence can be a good thing!!

    Unfortunately the way it's looking I wouldn't be surprised if we hear anything more from him at all :( .
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  • gobrowns19gobrowns19 Posts: 1,447
    intodeep wrote:
    I have Illinoise and I enjoy it. Not sure if i was blown away by it enough to go get his other stuff.

    I think you'd like Greetings From Michigan...we seem to share a lot of same music interests. [Plus Michigan is more On the Beach than Fork in the Road :p:)]

    But maybe it's because i have a pretty big sense of nationalism [state-ism?] towards Michigan. A lot of the songs are heartbreaking being that they catch a vibe that is very true in much of Michigan today.
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  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave Posts: 42,056
    I never really got into his music. I do remember hearing his album Illinois was pretty popular. Heard his latest single recently which came out in the summer and I dug it a lot, called "Video Game"

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  • Tim SimmonsTim Simmons Posts: 8,076
    America from this record was one of my favorite songs of the year. Album was pretty meh though.

  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave Posts: 42,056
    Tim Simmons said:
    America from this record was one of my favorite songs of the year. Album was pretty meh though.


    I'll have to check that song out :smile:
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  • eeriepadaveeeriepadave Posts: 42,056
    eeriepadave said:
    Tim Simmons said:
    America from this record was one of my favorite songs of the year. Album was pretty meh though.


    I'll have to check that song out :smile:

    meh, it was ok. kinda long at 12 and a half minutes
    8/28/98- Camden, NJ
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