Now crossposting over to LJ, just to annoy everyone over there.
I've been on a giant Sufjan Stevens kick lately, and I blame it on Jeremy giving me a copy of The Avalanche. I can't believe some of these are only B-sides.
I know a lot of people don't like him, and I don't really know why.
This is everything you need to know about Sufjan, in a nutshell:
It's pronounced "Soof-yahn." His parents belonged to Subud, "an inter-faith, non-religious spiritual community." He plays the banjo. He has a very soft voice. His songs are complex and meticulously arranged. A lot of his songs (mostly on Illinois and Seven Swans have strong religious references, but don't let that put you off him--he does it in a way such that it's not beating you over the head with it. He's not preaching it to anyone else: it's his own faith he sings about. Jeremy's not religious and he's got more of his music than I do. And according to WikiPedia, because I am too lazy to reword it: "Beginning with Michigan, Stevens announced an intent to write an album for each of the 50 U.S. states, although in interviews he wavers between utter sincerity and self-deprecating irony when describing the idea."
He also has a funny sort of sense of humor, to wit: Apparently a while back there was news of he and Rosie Thomas having a baby, and Pitchfork reported it, because Pitchfork is a bunch of idiots and indie fucks and I like their logo but their site is slow as hell so I just don't bother anymore. So Sufjan eventually sent a response letter which I think is awesome (as reported by stereogum, which I do like):
A few things:
a) First of all, I would like to thank everyone who called or sent notes of congratulations about the news of my baby. I am so proud.
b) Secondly, the baby is a hoax. I had nothing to do with the baby hoax. I was as shocked as everyone else about the baby. Matthew's story was so convincing I almost believed it myself.
c) Thirdly, something you need to know about Rosie is that she's really weird and she's really funny. When she's not singing songs, she dresses up in a neck brace and wears broken reading glasses and delivers pizza as a dimwit named "Sheila Saputo." This is not the behavior of a normal person. So it's no surprise that she could pull this off, this imaginary baby. But the fact is, Rosie is not carrying my baby. As far as I know, we spent quality time in the studio, not in bed. If Rosie's pregnant, it's not my baby. Maybe it's Denison's baby. Maybe it's an alien baby. I don't know. All I know is that the baby is probably going to grow up to be a clown, or a mime, or a bassoon player or something funny like that. Most babies come out crying, but Rosie's baby is going to be born laughing its butt off.
d) Fourthly, the fact that an internet news site printed a story about my baby without consulting me first is insulting. I mean, it's my baby. Maybe I have things I'd like to say about the baby too. Such as: it doesn't exist.Yours,
Sufjan Stevens
He's pretty awesome. It helps me think of him as an actual dude instead of some soft-spoken, musical demigod.
..Right, so, music. :)
Some of these are more pared-down, intimate songs; others are the complex multi-part arrangements I mentioned before. I think I'll start with my favorite, which is off the B-sides album. I am a sucker for horns. So here we go!
Sufjan Stevens Mini-Sampler
01. The Henney Buggy Band [rcsa]
02. Come On! Feel the Illinoise! [rcsa]
03. Casimir Pulaski Day [rcsa]
04. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. [rcsa]
(Yes, he did write a song about a serial killer. It's beautiful.)
One for Christmas:
05. Sister Winter [rcsa]
And totally his best lyrics ever:
06. Super Sexy Woman [rcsa]
Next time I'll do Sergio Mendes or Of Montreal. Maybe the former, because I've been putting him off.
I have a hole in my pants. :<
Just a little bit more for my lovelies. (I am so procrastinating.)
So today I apparently have a taste for a bit of 70s-inspired funk/R&B (I love me some horns) (and wakachika wakachika). Yeah, I don't get it either. It actually started when I flipped on the TV this morning and caught the end of Jay-Z's "Show Me What You Got," which is really inspired by the Public Enemy song of almost the same name--but they both sampled Johnny Pate's "Shaft in Africa." And I was sitting there watching this video and it occurred to me that the only reason the song is appealing at all is due to "Shaft" (and the other one they sampled, "Malik" by the Lafayette I am too tired to look up the rest of the name of this Band). Jay-Z can kindly go back into retirement.
Then there was the big Kanye West hissy fit (life is so hard, Kanye!). Again, that song would have nothing going for it (in my book) but for Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up."
That is what I've brought for you today.
Oh, and some John Legend. He does use a sample or two but he's got a great voice to back it up. (Whoa Nelson.)
Also on the menu, just because I feel like it, is a weeee bit of The Incredible Moses Leroy, which is unrelated to any of the above (being distinctly 80s-inspired rather than 70s). I've got lots more of him but it would require importing the CD, which would require me to get up out of my chair. Sorry.
Onward!
01. Johnny Pate - Shaft in Africa [RCSA]
02. Curtis Mayfield - Move On Up [RCSA]
03. John Legend - Maxine [RCSA]
04. John Legend - Ordinary People [RCSA]
05. John Legend - Save Room [RCSA]
06. John Legend - Stay With You [RCSA]
07. The Incredible Moses Leroy - Everybody's Getting Down [RCSA]
08. The Incredible Moses Leroy - Transmission C [RCSA]
*Just to clarify, please note that this is all I know of funk/R&B. I guess you call that funk. Seems more funk than soul but as I just said, I don't know what I'm talking about. :D
Next time: Sufjan Stevens? Sergio Mendes?
