I'm not a huge fan of Sufjan's, but I can't believe it's only been four years since Illinoise. It feels like a decade or so.

I just got his The BQE and OSSO's Run Rabbit Run, both are very good.

Sufjan is going on an "intimate" tour.

One of those stops is the Crowfoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan.

The show is a week before I leave for California, so I guess it'll be my going away present. I am so amped (new material maybe!?)

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
Sufjan is going on an "intimate" tour.

One of those stops is the Crowfoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan.

The show is a week before I leave for California, so I guess it'll be my going away present. I am so amped (new material maybe!?)

Jealllllllllllllllllllllllllllous.

And FKA, how did you get those so early? They came out in October I thought...

Can you say a bit more about the BQE album?

quote:

Originally posted by musicfanatic:
I'm not a huge fan of Sufjan's, but I can't believe it's only been four years since Illinoise. It feels like a decade or so.

I realized the other day that there are several bands I love whose entire existence has been since Sufjan's released Illinois. For example, if you really want it to seem like a long time, consider that Wolf Parade's first album came out almost at that same time. That two albums, numerous side projects, and a band that has become a staple of the "indie music world".

quote:

Originally posted by anbc:

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
Sufjan is going on an "intimate" tour.

One of those stops is the Crowfoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan.

The show is a week before I leave for California, so I guess it'll be my going away present. I am so amped (new material maybe!?)

Jealllllllllllllllllllllllllllous.

Me too.

The tickets went on sale at 12, and they were sold out in ABOUT an hour. Needless to say, I failed to get one because of this.

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:

quote:

Originally posted by anbc:

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
Sufjan is going on an "intimate" tour.

One of those stops is the Crowfoot Ballroom in Pontiac, Michigan.

The show is a week before I leave for California, so I guess it'll be my going away present. I am so amped (new material maybe!?)

Jealllllllllllllllllllllllllllous.

Me too.

The tickets went on sale at 12, and they were sold out in ABOUT an hour. Needless to say, I failed to get one because of this.

I am a steady member of the Sufjanfan's message board, and there are people that were camped out with their refresh button waiting for tickets and weren't able to get any. Some of these venues were only like 250 person standing room only venues. They sold out fast.

The ratio of his Fan base (especially in the northeast) compared to the capacity of his little tour, is just way too high.

I'm sorry you didn't get any tickets Lawrence. If you are interested, you can write a check for 300 dollars and mail it off to these jerks on Ebay.

What dicks.

Anyways, I came across a very funny clip of Sufjan and DM Stith recoding vocals for DM Stith's song "Around the Lion Legs" on DM Stith's great blog on his website.

Go here and go down to April 19th, "Record Shop Day"... and check out the clip, it's only 25 seconds but it's hysterical.

I haven't been able to get through this clip with a straight face yet.

Yeah...it seems that the amount of tickets released were quite small.

It'll probably be awesome for the lucky few who get to see it though.

Um... um... ummm..........

what?

"Impressionistic symphonic-pop maestro Sufjan Stevens, back this autumn with a new album, had better watch his back."

Those words were typed in this review of Noah and the Whale's (awesome) new album seen here.

Does the Guardian know something everyone else in the indie world doesn't? Or is this some mistake, or are they refering to the BQE or Run Rabbit Run?

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

quote:

Originally posted by anbc:
And FKA, how did you get those so early? They came out in October I thought...

Can you say a bit more about the BQE album?

My copies are promos.

Sorry I took so long to respond, been a busy week and was out. My copy of The BQE only came with the actual DVD documentary. But apparently, the version in stores will have the soundtrack on CD as well as a 40-page booklet or something. It's all composed by Sufjan and they're definitely classical pieces. He uses some typical Sufjan stuff where the flutes flurry and the trumpets play a neat jazz lick. Then he switches things up and the musicians let loose.

The actual orchestra is a small one so they don't ever get too loud. But ultimately, it's pretty good chamber music. As for the actual doc., it's pretty weird—just random shots of the road during different parts of the day. But they show these three really cute girls with hula hoops here and there. So far, I've opted to play the DVD, turn off the TV and just let it play through my speakers.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:
My copies are promos.

...

So far, I've opted to play the DVD, turn off the TV and just let it play through my speakers.

Sounds really great. There was mention of a "bonus" track during the end credits that is another electronic Sufjan number with lyrics. Can you speak on this at all? Is it similar to "You are the Blood" or any other Sufjan song, and how does it stand up within the rest of his catalog?

I'm excited for this, and I'm happy for you getting a promo.

Reading your post, I started to think to myself, "Actually, how much can I speak about this?" Ha, shhhh.

Actually, you are right. There are some electronics in the actual doc. that remind me more of his electronics from his earlier work: light, bright stuff that is nicely meshed in with the classical working. I didn't pay much attention to the ending music but there was some cool stuff going on. I'll pay closer attention to the end credits next time and I will let you know.

It's early and I am sure you know I don't like to the dish judgment too soon but it stands up well with his other stuff. It's not a new album, no and it's not something that will make a decade list. But for true, honest fans like yourself Shad, I think you'll love it.

Bad news.

In a recent interview Sufjan (the interviewee) shared quite a few of his thoughts on his music and interests, I'll let the quotes speak for themselves:

"I’m at a point where I no longer have a deep desire to share my music with anyone, having spent many years imparting my songs to the public. Although I have great respect for the social dynamic of music—that it should be shared with others, that it brings people together—I now feel something personal is irrevocably lost in this process. Now, while I refuse to act wholly on this impulse (I refuse to take my audience for granted in spite of my mood), I’m still trying to find the value of the song in private."

"For myself, I’m starting to fear that music is far too selfish, self-absorbed, and self-interested for the ordinary life. When I’m entrenched in a project, for instance, the dishes are left undone, the bills left unpaid, the house is a mess. I become sub-human. I begin to despise all my bad habits."

Whole interview:
http://sidebar.asthmatickitty.com/archives/2359

This can't be happening; many artists say things like that but then come back roaring with new material for us all to hear. He just played that epic track in concert, and we all saw it and it only made us want more!

ARGH! I don't want Sufjan to be like Mangum or Shields and never follow-up his masterpiece!

I would do anything for another Sufjan album; especially one about California or some other awesome state.

EDIT: Woah, I just went through 3 different stages of grief there - denial, anger, and bargaining!

Wow, that quote is really surprising to me. In fact, the some parts of the quote seem to contradict others. First he says that while he values the social aspect of music, he's starting to think there's something bad about it, that something is lost by making his music public rather than simply enjoying it in private. Then he says that music, presumably publicly shared music, is selfish and self-absorbed, in contrast to music that is not shared with the public. Contradiction number one!

Then, immediately after he's said that public music is selfish and self-absorbed, he complains that his absorption in music projects causes him personal displeasure and interferes with his personal life! Contradiction number two!

I'm not trying to rag on the guy, 'cause I know better than anyone the frustrations of not being able to engage in the activities you most want to due to personal problems; I'm sympathetic, and I don't think anyone should blame him or censure him for his lack of recent output. I just don't think he's making any sense here.

I understood it as he was only going to make music on a more leisurely scale when he felt like it.
He wouldn't be working under time pressures to release to the public or please anyone, and as thus it wouldn't consume his life .
No contradictions there.

I think what he's trying to say is that, not only is he burned out on music but that there's more to life than music. For someone like Sufjan, who is a music genius, I imagine that when he writes and composes he is fully consumed and has very little room for anything else.

quote:

Originally posted by chaos:
I think what he's trying to say is that, not only is he burned out on music but that there's more to life than music. For someone like Sufjan, who is a music genius, I imagine that when he writes and composes he is fully consumed and has very little room for anything else.

Ha! I read that as "he is fully COSTUMED" - which wouldn't be too out of the ordinary for him.

New Sufjan song, debuted recently in Ithaca. Pretty amazing stuff. Enjoy.

http://stereogum.com/archives/...n-ithaca_092181.html