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Post by Josh on Dec 23, 2007 8:29:15 GMT -8
Nate, thanks for tipping me off to the music of "Sufjan Stevens".
A couple of thoughts and questions:
Stevens has got the whole "haunting americana" thing down like no other, at least in the hard core folk genre. Listening to the cd in the car on the way to work the last few days I was practically mesmerized- jumping to heights of spritual and relational ecstasy and then falling into gut-wrenching chasms of familial heartache and back again.
A couple favorites:
The Mistress Witch- I love this one musically, and I couldn't help but thinking of my students for some reason (and on Romulus)
Casimir Pulaski day- "Incarnational" is the single word for this song in my mind.
Decatur- I just love the theme of finally realized gratitude in this song.
John Wayne Gacy, Jr- Unless you are ready to fully realize all the implications of James 2:10, then do not listen to this wrenching song. I was literally overcome with a flood of conflicting emotions. What a doozy, Nate. Hardcore and immensely powerful. But I'll skip it 9 out of 10 times.
The Transfiguration- Man, I wish he'd do the whole bible like this! Talk about "Bible as Folk Song".
To Be Alone with You- "Incarnational" again with a shameless personal intimacy with Christ worn on the sleeve for Rolling Stone and all to see
Godbird- Just beautiful.
A couple questions:
He's going to make an album for every state? Is that still on? And am I right in remembering that Oregon is next?
How'd you hear about him?
What are your favorites?
Anyone else heard of him?
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Post by meghan on Dec 23, 2007 15:19:37 GMT -8
Yay! I love Sufjan.
I post on some message boards online, so I just heard about him through the grapevine, when "Michigan" came out.
I love most of his stuff, although his Christmas CDs are awesome and heartfelt. He used to make these Christmas CDs just for friends and they got passed around on CD-Rs and pretty soon a ton of people had them. As in- a friend I just know from the internet copied two years worth and sent them to me on a CD-R. Last year he released it all in a box set, and it's VERY awesome. Definitely worth the money.
Another favorite is a live version of The Star Spangled Banner that he did. You just have to listen to it. I have it, so I can make a copy if anyone wants it.
Stevens has said he wants to do all 50 states, but i haven't heard anything in a long time. The rumor was that he was going to do all the States he's lived in. So he grew up in Michigan, lived in Illinois, etc. And I heard that Oregon was next as well. But, then again, I haven't heard anything in a long time, so who knows. I've always heard that some of these might be EPs instead of full length CDs. Who knows.
Stevens just has a way with telling stories- he can take any subject and just write a song. NPR had him on sometime (I can't even remember when it was) and asked him to write a song about a random town- they picked one somewhere in the south. He researched and found out that there was some endangered bird that lived in the area, so he just wrote a song about it.
If you EVER get the chance to see him play, you have to. He runs around in this crowd of creative musicians, including the Danielson Famile, who are just a quirky bunch of people who make very interesting music and put on some fun shows- Dressed up as tress or nurses uniforms, etc. When we saw Sufjan play a couple years ago (right after Illinois) came out, they were all dressed up in homemade Cheerleader uniforms. There are a lot of musicians on the Sounds Familyre or Asthmatic Kitty record labels who are doing some really fun stuff. A lot of them tour together and play in each other's bands.
Anyway- tons of fun.
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Post by christopher on Dec 23, 2007 23:09:19 GMT -8
Ok, you got my interest piqued. Anywhere I can hear some samples?
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Post by meghan on Dec 24, 2007 8:48:07 GMT -8
I couldn't find an official sufjan website/myspace with tracks, but I found an unofficial one with lots of tracks: www.myspace.com/1randommusicaccount for more information on sufjan: www.asthmatickitty.comwww.soundsfamilyre.comAnd I forgot to say that one of my favorite records of his is Seven Swans, a much quieter, more contemplative, spiritual record. I don't get to listen to it much because I have it on vinyl, but it has some GREAT songs on it. I thought about it and some favorite sufjan songs: They Are Night Zombies! That Dress Looks Nice On You Come On! Feel the Illinoise! John Wayne Gacy, Jr. For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti By the way- Sufjan did quite a bit of previous stuff before he all Americana. He has two CDs called Enjoy Your Rabbit and A Sun Came. Enjoy Rabbit is REALLY different- electronic and creepy, so don't expect any sort of statedom goodness. A Sun Came is a little more indie rock. He was also in a band called... Marzuki quite a while ago.
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Post by Josh on Dec 26, 2007 20:42:33 GMT -8
I kinda knew a bit about Danielson Famile but didn't know they were connected. That's very cool.
Do you listen to Danielson Famile? Are they good? Any recommendations?
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Post by meghan on Dec 27, 2007 20:55:54 GMT -8
I only have a few random mp3s and Ships, which I think was their latest. They're certainly not everyone's cup of tea, so I would try to find some free listening stuff online. Maybe go to the sounds familyre website. There's the Danielson Famile and Brother Danielson (which I guess is Daniel Smith, i think that's his name, more solo).
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Post by Josh on Jan 6, 2008 21:54:26 GMT -8
You know, the name Daniel Smith sounded familiar. I have this documentary on underground christian rock, and I found a chapter where he is interviewed. Interesting stuff.
I was talking with Nate and Rachel and they've been to see Sufjan several times, btw.
I'm definitely game for the next concert in the area, so keep me informed.
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Post by Josh on Apr 4, 2008 17:59:22 GMT -8
Nate and Meghan,
I picked up "Michigan" this week and have been listening to it quite a bit. Quite melancholy and "entrancing". It keeps echoing in my mind even when not listening to it.
I got this one first because the only song I already knew was "Romulus"
I think my favorite so far is "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" and "Oh God Where are You Now?"
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paul
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Post by paul on Jun 8, 2008 2:28:07 GMT -8
Josh, with my pride and ego intact, I was hoping I was going to mention Sufan to you and think you hadn't heard him before. I'm really glad there are people in this online community that are in touch with his music. I first heard about him from one of my "thinking" christian friends last summer. I find his music mesmerizing as well. I read somewhere that he used to lock himself in his bedroom and write songs and then play the instruments for each of the songs including all the arragements at a very early age. Needless to say, he is very bright, maybe a prodigy. I saw him on OPB "Austin City Limits" once, every one was wearing butterfly wings. Don't ask me why,...but they looked cool.
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Post by meghan on Jun 10, 2008 20:16:08 GMT -8
If you're interested, anybody, there's a documentary out about the danielson famile, and it's really very good. It gave me a whole new appreciation for their music and I think it gives a very good insight into underground christian music. ummmmm. let me see if I can find the name of it. Stephanie and I found it on netflix, so I know they have it. So i looked it up on imdb and i think it's called "Danielson: A family movie"
Like I said- good insight into Christian indie and Danielson. but, if you're in it for Sufjan, he makes appearances and it talks about his involvement in the Famile.
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Post by Josh on Jun 13, 2008 19:07:01 GMT -8
Where did you see it, Meghan?
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Post by meghan on Jun 16, 2008 14:59:15 GMT -8
Netflix.
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Post by nathaniel on Jun 20, 2008 6:34:05 GMT -8
i saw the "butterfly wing" tour live up in seattle, and i'll never be the same. it was a real face melter. pure inspiration.
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Post by Josh on Dec 28, 2009 20:54:11 GMT -8
Got Sufjan's album Seven Swans for Christmas. I really dig it! Very moody, brooding, and folky... great to listen to with a coffee on a winters day.
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Post by Josh on Oct 16, 2010 16:46:39 GMT -8
I just noticed he has a new album (as of 2010). Anyone heard it?
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Post by Josh on Nov 9, 2010 18:23:38 GMT -8
I just read somewhere that Bill Mallonee played with Sufjan at some point. I wonder if that's true. Bill? (I'm trying to lure him to the forums )
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