Welsh Rich Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 This is intriguing... I like the fella, but no reason not to read this: Like most recovering record collectors, indie rock snobs, and pop culture junkies, my first encounter with Sufjan Stevens was entirely pleasant. Wandering around downtown on a lazy Saturday, I went into a local record shop where the proprietor was playing Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State, enthusing that it was like Stereolab meets Beck. While there isn't that great of a gap between those two extremes, I understood what he was getting at Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbob1313 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 My god. He's right. I've been completely wrong all along about Illiniose. Thank you, random music writer! You have opened my eyes! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
partyroy Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 That is no random music writer, that is Stephen Thomas Erlewine - whose opinions have pointed me to buying my first Gram Parsons and Uncle Tupelo. While I love Sufjan's stuff, I can see some of Stephen's points... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I tend to agree with a lot of what he said. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 i def disagree w/ him on Seven Swans still Sufjan's best all around album for me, it's absolutely gorgeous Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 i def disagree w/ him on Seven Swans still Sufjan's best all around album for me, it's absolutely gorgeous I've never been able to make it all the way through that one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 that's too bad, it's a stunning mix of Elliott meets Nick Drake sortai genuinely disagree w/ Erlewine quite often tho, so no big surprise. you've read his digs on Bright Eyes i'm sure Dan? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hello_Operator Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Seven Swans is definitely my favorite out of all of them. I see where he is coming from on some of his points, but there's too much about Sufjan for me to love. I love the music, I love his lyrics, I love the way he handles Christianity...it's good to me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 that's too bad, it's a stunning mix of Elliott meets Nick Drake sortai genuinely disagree w/ Erlewine quite often tho, so no big surprise. you've read his digs on Bright Eyes i'm sure Dan?Yeah, his reviews of the last two albums were hilarious. He's got some kind of vendetta against Coberst. As for Sufjan, I kind of enjoy him but I can't envision a circumstance in which I'd care about anything he releases in the future (aside from an Iowa album if he gets that far). Or, for that matter, a circumstance in which I'd want to listen to one of his previous albums. I'm not sure why, but I'm very tired of him and his cutesy shit. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I disagree with Erlewine pretty often, but on the subjects of Oberst and Stevens, I'm with him 100%. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mjpuczko Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 totally agree dan. the 1st few times i listen to sufjan i thought it was good then got bored w/ it after a month or so. i don't ever see myself listening to an album of his again. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I tend to agree with this guy, actually. Maybe his states project will have more appeal when he tackles the really "tough" issues like statehood for DC and Puerto Rico. Only 48 more albums to go until we get to those gems, baby!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Kalle Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I can definately see where he's coming from and I do agree with some of the things he says but I still love Sufjan's music just the same. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 while i have grown a bit tired of Sufjan lately (dunno if i'll even bother buying The Avalanche), dude is still majorly talented... that and i still listen to Seven Swans quite often, even if just like 6-7 tracks. the backlash against Sufjan happened a lot quicker than i expected people will say the same thing about The Arcade Fire after their new album as well Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 people will say the same thing about The Arcade Fire after their new album as well I'm sick of them, too. Of course I listened to their record way, way too much so that one's my fault. I'm scared that their new one will be a giant disappointment, but I'm hopeful. Is that out this fall or next year? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 people will say the same thing about The Arcade Fire after their new album as wellHeck, I was saying stuff like that after their first one. Never understood what all the fuss was about. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I'm listening to The Avalanche right now, so obviously I disagree. I burned a copy of the Christmas albums for my sister yesterday, which is cool because we usually have divergent musical tastes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
explodo Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Christianity is for the birds! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Duck-Billed Catechist Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
solace Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Heck, I was saying stuff like that after their first one. Never understood what all the fuss was about. did you ever see them live? i didn't "get it" either until i saw them live, and the 2 times since then only confirmed my thoughts. easily one of the best new bands i've seen live in years. last time i got that feeling from seeing a new band live was when i saw At The Drive-In in '99 but i love the record too.and Daniel, most likely early 2007, but they have almost 15 songs done now. the new songs i heard last year sounded killer, but who knows what they'll end up like in the studio. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lizish Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 but i love the record too.and Daniel, most likely early 2007, but they have almost 15 songs done now. the new songs i heard last year sounded killer, but who knows what they'll end up like in the studio. I wonder if they'll include The Safety Dance on the new one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brianjeremy Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 I never got into Illinois. My ADHD-crippled brain just couldn't take it. The music just struck me as bland and his voice never clicked with me. It's in my re-sell stack that I need to take to the record store. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 did you ever see them live? i didn't "get it" either until i saw them live, and the 2 times since then only confirmed my thoughts. easily one of the best new bands i've seen live in years. last time i got that feeling from seeing a new band live was when i saw At The Drive-In in '99.So you're saying, I'm not listening to them right, and I should try again? I've seen them on TV, and they annoyed me. I wouldn't pay to see them live, because I don't like their record. Wow. Did I just sound like Aman? That was kinda scary. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wheelco Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Thank you, random music writer! You have opened my eyes!new Bud commercial, Real Men of Genius "Here's to you, Mr. Random Music Critic Writer" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
random painted highway Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 Erlewine said that? Aw man. I thought he was cool. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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