quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:
Good writers, whether they use big words or not, write so that the reader can understand what he's talking about. The purpose of writing is to get across some kind of information. The guy who wrote that article seemed like he was purposefully using abstruse language to seem profound. How fitting is it that Sufjan often talks in interviews about how meaningless abstract concepts are and how important details and specifics are?

I like big words. I use big words in my work. But I find those rock critics who use big words all the time to be folks who are trying to hard to legitimize their trade. Rock critics will never be as respected as, say, classical or theatre critics. That's sad, but I think it's true. But what cracks me up is when, in an attempt to prove that they are just as smart as the smarty-pants theatre critics, they decide to tell us exactly what's what. The fact that Philip Buchan uses fifty cent words isn't what bothers me...it's the gall behind the fact that it is obvious, reading the piece, that only he, Philip Buchan, has the intellectual wherewithal to understand a work as challenging and important as Illinois and only he could explain it to a bunch of turds like us. And I have no idea what sort of wacky existentialism undergirds the last sentence of the piece...but I'm glad that I know can truly understand the record, thanks to good ol' Phil. <Cough>

Personally, I don't think I "get" half of what the reviewer is saying. I guess that's more my problem than his, though. I read hard stuff for a living...a review like this, which takes effort, just doesn't make me want to put the work in. But I'm just lazy that way...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: philosopherEric,

This is long overdue, but I love Sufjan Stevens and this record is GLORY. I guess I like "Seven Swans" a bit more, just because of the lyrical content and I like the whole folk theme, BUT "Illinois" is quite an achievement. It's addicting and I've listened to it straight through five or six times already. There's so much to find in this album. Now I just need to see him live.

I was pretty happy to pick up a Superman-adorned copy of Illinois when up in town about a week ago.

It's not an easy record to listen to, but Stevens' eclecticism and interest in state history are impressive. I plan to give it a few more listens when I can.

Who wants to place bets on which state he'll do next? I, personally, am hoping for Texas (a country-western-themed album could be a challenge for Sufjan, though).

Accounting for human mortality, I doubt that he'll ever finish his 50 States project; even if he completes one a year, he'll be in his seventies by the time he's finished.

Edit: Yay, I'm an Apprentice Guru now!

I heard he's doing Oregon as a Christmas record.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
I heard he's doing Oregon as a Christmas record.

Partial Track Listing:

- "Any Portland in a Snowstorm."
- "It’s a Jolly Holiday with Eugene; shall we visit Aunt Millie in Prescott?"
- "Santa Claus is coming to Scappoose (Formal reception to follow at the Barnstormer B&B)"
- "Detroit, Oregon (pop. 262), Lift up Your Frosty Beer Mugs!"



.

It's looking more and more like PE was right that Illinois will end up the highest reviewed album of the year.

He's on the 'all time top ten' list with 31 reviews. Even if somebody gave it a 0 it'd still have a shot at staying ahead.

Good article on Sufjan at Popmatters today.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
It's looking more and more like PE was right that Illinois will end up the highest reviewed album of the year.

He's on the 'all time top ten' list with 31 reviews. Even if somebody gave it a 0 it'd still have a shot at staying ahead.

I listened to four of the top 5 MC rated albums last week, and I honestly don't care for any of them. I still haven't heard Antony and the Johnsons, but MIA, Sleater Kinney, Clap Your Hands and Sufjan are all on my "huh?" list. Thankfully, I can now borrow discs from my old employer to listen to, so I only paid for the Sufjan. There are a coupla songs on it I like, making it worth keeping, but barely.

Well, I personally really like four of the five top metacritic albums of the year a lot, but don't care for Clap Your Hands.

Knowing what sort of music you like, I certainly wouldn't expect your favorites to end up at the very top. Plain-sounding hook-oriented singer-songwriter music tends to catch critic flak because critics reserve their praise for stuff that sounds like it's challenging the genre.

But you were right in predicting the critics would like Illinois more than any other album this year, so far. (I personally think Illinois is a bit overrated, but it'll still probably maek my top ten).

Antony & The Johnsons I bought the evening before my grandmother passed away in February (not unexpectedly), so I'll never be able to separate the poignant opener "Hope There's Someone" from the emotions around that week. That might have something to do with my love for the album, but I'll probably never know. For now it remains unmoved from my Top 5.

I'm embarassed to admit I get a kick out of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (I really shouldn't); the Sleater-Kinney is still my #1 of '05; MIA I'm up and down on; Illinois gets some stereo time, but it limps to the finish line. I'm a little surprised it's so well-reviewed when you consider — I apologize for repeating myself — the last half-hour is so weak.

Of the top 5, I've heard all of 3 albums, part of 1 (Antony), and none of the other (MIA) because I don't like any form of hip-hop or rap. The few songs I heard from Antony I thought sounded horrible. It's hard for me to believe that people like that kind of stuff. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah I hated. Sleater Kinney and Sufjan I really like though.

Some other highly rated ones I don't like or think are overrated:

Spoon
Books
Eels

I love Spoon (jammin' out to Gimme Fiction now) and the Eels, but we don't seem to agree on much. *shrug* I'm lost on all the hubbub around The Books — even Lemon of Pink — when there's so much more interesting collage work being done outside indie-rock circles. Maybe I just don't get it.

quote:

Originally posted by flem_snopes:

Partial Track Listing:

- "Any Portland in a Snowstorm."
- "It’s a Jolly Holiday with Eugene; shall we visit Aunt Millie in Prescott?"
- "Santa Claus is coming to Scappoose (Formal reception to follow at the Barnstormer B&B)"
- "Detroit, Oregon (pop. 262), Lift up Your Frosty Beer Mugs!"



.

I'm getting a sneaking suspicion that you're pulling our collective leg! However, those aren't nearly as weird as some of the song titles on Illinois, in any case.

A Christmas-themed album for Oregon could work. I liked the carol-esque tracks on Illinois, like "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts".

Excuse me, RavingLunatic? Why don't you like any form of Hip-Hop or Rap? Just curious. I understand that music is completely subjective so you are entitled to your opinions on certain genres but I'd like hear some examples of why. I mean how can you generalize genres of music? Just cuz mainstream rap does give Hip-Hop a bad name doesn't mean its all bad. Right? That just seems so narrow minded of a comment. I refuse to believe someone who is into music can't except forms of music other then indie or whatever else it is you listen to. And...not a hundred percent sure but wouldn't M.I.A.'s Arular be considered Dancehall before a form of Hip-Hop? Not to start anything here...

Sleater-Kinney is great. CYHSY i'm just starting to listen to. A bit derivative, i.e. Yo La Tengo, Pablo Honey-era Radiohead, Gordon Gano-esque vocals, etc. Everyone has their influences. Regardless, hell, I'm digging it. Its turning out to be one of my favorite records this year.

So...Sufjan Stevens' Illinois. I'm from Chicago so I kinda dig the daps Sufjan is giving my hometown.

Fav tracks: Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, Decatur..., Chicago, The Man of Metropolis..., They are Nigh Zombies!!

Since Sufjan lives in NYC now, wouldn't a New York state themed record be next?

Well, I only have two rap albums in my collection..I'd take a whole lot to spur me to buy a rap album.

But I don't consider Arular rap by any stretch of the imagination, it's more 'dance'.

quote:

Why don't you like any form of Hip-Hop or Rap?

I don't know. I just don't. I've tried some stuff, like Madvillain and Prefuse 73, but I just have a visceral dislike of that kind of music. I'm not entirely sure of what the difference is between hip-hop and rap since I don't listen to much of either, but when someone starts talking in the middle of a song it annoys me, and rapping sounds like talking to me. I remember Yo La Tengo had a song off of And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out where the guy singer just started talking for a long time. I could never stand to listen to that either.

Also, there's so much good music out there that I don't have time to check out even when I exclude hip-hop and rap (and metal and jazz) that I don't really mind not being able to get that stuff.

quote:

But I don't consider Arular rap by any stretch of the imagination, it's more 'dance'.

I thought I remembered the word hip-hop being usesd to describe MIA. Is there rapping? Maybe I should check it out. I don't know.

EDIT: Oh, and welcome to the forums CPA.

It's got a sort of hip-hop vibe to it, but she sings, she doesn't rap. I'm sure you could at least listen to a few tracks of it without having to risk any money in it, right?

Rapping is what emcees do. Rap is just a vocal form of expression like singing, skat, or yodeling. Like in painting there different styles: Impressionsim, Abstract, Cubism, etc. Rap is just another form of singing. So I can understand if you don't like rap as a form of singing.

Hip-Hop is a culture that is comprised of B-Boying (dance), DeeJaying (music), Rapping (singing), and Graffiti (art). Since Hip-Hop's conception 30 years ago it has taken on other elements such as clothing, lifestyle, etc.

In a sense, the production of MIA's album is in the style of Hip-Hop, as in the sampling and use of breakbeats. Isn't MIA's boyfriend (or is it husband) the Hip-Hop DJ Diplo? Sampling is a Hip-Hop thing. When De La Soul and Beastie Boys got busted for sampling you knew it was a Hip-Hop thing. In that sense, The Go Team or The Avalanches can be considered in the style of Hip-Hop although they are more dance music.

For all you Indie Rock heads that want to stretch your wings and try on some dope Hip-Hop, check these:

Edan: Beauty and the Beat
Common: Be, Resurrection, or Like Water for Chocolate
The Roots: Things Fall Apart, Organix, or Do You Want More?!?!?
RJD2: Deadringer
Little Brother: The Listening
Murs: 9th Edition
Blackstar: Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Blackstar...
Mos Def: Black on Both Sides
Cannibal Ox: Cold Vein
Aesop Rock: Daylight or Bazooka Tooth
Company Flow: Funcrusher Plus
Dilated Peoples: Platforms
Jurassic 5: Quality Control
Blackilicious: Blazing Arrow or Nia
Foreign Exchange: Connected

...and any De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest albums.

(Hey, isn't this thread about Sufjan Stevens?)

Well, either you like the 'rap vocal' sound, or you don't. Me, I can tolerate it when the backing music is really good (Like with Edan) or they throw in some melodies now and then (Like with Outkast).

It's a bit unfair to say that rapping is just 'talking', but I can perfectly understand why someone wouldn't like it.

Well, I'll try to give MIA in shot in the next few days and come back with a verdict.