All things go…(?)

I miss this guy-

In my best behavior, I'm really just like him

Anybody know what he’s up to?

In case you don’t know who that is, he is Sufjan Stevens, former saviour of music. He released this album-

(This is the illegal cover)

in 2005, and it was pretty much agreed that it was easily the best album of the year. It’s a broad, sweeping epic of an album that traces a wide variety of setpieces encompassing the political, geographical, and social/personal history of Illinois, land of Lincoln (and a certain other president (not referenced in this album)). The musical sounds used to tell this great American epic story were appropriately varied and ornate. From the sweeping strings and pulsing piano of his “hit” Chicago (a song I guarantee you have heard (unless you’ve never seen Little Miss Sunshine or any other indie comedy)) to the folk strum of Decatur (about two brothers reminiscing about a day trip with their stepmother, a song that bears the distinction of having no melody, but two harmonies) to the haunting piano ballad John Wayne Gacy Jr. (about… John Wayne Gacy Jr). Then there’s Casimir Pulaski Day, a completely gorgeous song built on a plaintive acoustic guitar strum that builds trumpets and a chorus of “Da da da”s over a sad tale of a young love lost to “cancer of the bone.” I’ve never really stopped listening to this album. It is probably my favorite of the decade. And it’s not like it’s a one-time flash in the pan either.

Before releasing Come on Feel the Illinoise (or just Illinois for short) he released three other albums:

I believe in Joy

 

A Sun Came, a collection of early recordings was fairly hit or miss, but showcased the young songwriter and musician (several songs were recorded while still a teenager) as being full of exciting ideas. The instrumentation and sounds run the gamut, as is typical of a Stevens recording, from electronic sounds to baroque orchestral and chamber pop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seven Swans may be my least favorite Sufjan album, yet it is still a revelatory piece of work. It is the most sonically unified of any of his albums, all acoustic melodies dealing with his Christian faith. Oh yeah, I’ve pretty much failed if I’ve gotten this far into my  BLOG ABOUT SUFJAN without mentioning his Christian faith. Here is a guy who is completely unironic about his Christianity. It is inescapable and deeply felt in all of his music. For a lot of indie-rock-hipster-elitists, this serves as the Sufjan watershed. Someone openly Christian often gets unfortunately lumped in with the evangelicals who are largely responsible for a certain 8 years of science-denial. But Sufjan, as well as label-mates Danielson (formerly Danielson Famile), wear their faith on their sleeves, not in a way to preach, but simply because to deny this would be a denial of part of themselves. And, inevitably, the themes of Christianity are explored in their music. (I suppose not as worthy of a theme as drunken party hookups to a certain sect). But anyway, Seven Swans proved that the usually epic and romantic Sufjan could thrive just as easily in a simple acoustic setting as well. I just prefer the epic stuff.

I'd do anything for you

Then Michigan. (Actually, IIRC, this was released before Seven Swans, but bear with me). So yes, if you are paying attention, that is two albums named for states. That’s because, with Michigan, Sufjan launced the 50 States Project, in which he set out to write an album about every state of the union. And judging from Michigan vs. Illinois, these albums will not all sound near exactly the same. Michigan is far more subdued than Illinois, occasionally sleepy, but even restrained in the more upbeat and peppy numbers (such as the hilariously titled “Detroit, Lift up Your Weary Head (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)”) In general, Michigan has a far more personal feel as it is Sufjan’s home state. Thus we gets songs like “Radford (For Yia Yia and Pappou)”. However, like Illinois, the album is thuroughly researched and retains an uniquely American feel, Sufjan simply feels more involved in this outing.

 

So that is 2 states down. 48 to go. Sufjan, you are 1/25 of the way there!

And what has Suffy done in the four years since Come on Feel the Illinoise had everyone jamming to songs inspired by the filming of The Night of the Living Dead? Well, no worries, Sufjan has not quite become a reclusive Jeff Magnum (yet). First came the many b-sides and outtakes of Illinois (originally a double-album) released in The Avalanche, which is filled with some tracks that were rightly cut from the album, four alternate takes on “Chicago”, as well as small pieces of wonder such as “Pittsfield” and “No Mans Land.” But all this material had already been recorded. Then in late 2006 he pulled a move that for almost any other artist would be a cheap cash-in, a Christmas album.

Put the lights on the tree (Put them on the tree, Put them on the tree)

 Songs for Christmas was actually a compilation in five volumes. It was comprised of the Christmas album that he had been recording for friends for the past few years. In it were covers of classics (not surprisingly, he favors the more traditionally spritual, including a few different takes on “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”), as well as originals (highlights include “Star of Wonder” and “Get Behind Me, Santa”). But, again, most of these songs were recorded years before.

So what about new material?

It has been few and far between. Sometimes I worry about whether he “still has it in him.”

And then he releases this:

That’s “You Are The Blood” from the recent Dark Was The Night charity compilation. The song is a 10-minute epic that instantly reminds you why Sufjan still deserves to be on the mantle of the “Most Exciting Figures in Music” along with Mr. Yorke and Mrs. Bjork (I know it, I’m a poet).

 

But just give it to me straight, Suf-
Will there be another state?
Or are we letting that go?
That’s fine if that’s what you wanna do
Not gonna hold it against you
How could I?
But will there be any music again?
Or are we following in Mr. Magnum footsteps?
(In which case I will first class you The Diary of Anne Frank)

Somebody clear this up for me.

I miss Sufjan.

I can't explain / The state that I'm in / The state of my heart / He was my best friend

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