![]() Scour the web and you can find his unofficial releases, including Volume 8’s weird pit stop at an electronic North Pole. From 2001 onward, Stevens has been releasing Christmas compilations of both traditional classics and original creations. There’s a reason Sufjan Stevens has so many Christmas promo photos: the folk icon loves December like none other. “That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!” from Ding! Dong!: Songs for Christmas, Vol. “I must do myself a favor and get real, get right with the Lord,” becomes the refrain near the end, and you can’t help but wonder if the song’s lyrical and aural direness (it’s rife with mentions of rifles, rings of fire, prophets, dark ages, and snakes) is a metaphor for Stevens’ frame of mind when he wrote it. Things kick into higher gear about two-thirds of the way through, with laser-beam blips and frantic beats underscoring the gravity of his message. On “Get Real Get Right,” Stevens encourages listeners to “get right with the Lord” over foreboding synth notes, weaving together an ominous tune that’s far heavier and more thought-provoking than your standard dance-pop fare. ![]() Backyard BanjoĪlthough 2010’s The Age of Adz marked a dramatic departure for Stevens in a sonic sense, finding him dabbling in unprecedented electronic beats, the lyrical content proved to hold some familiar themes. “Chicago” is, simply put, a slice of road trip perfection it wholly encompasses the feeling of catching that first glimpse of the Windy City skyline as you approach on the highway, winding your way closer and closer to those tall buildings.Īlthough Stevens later admitted that the 50 States Project had been a promotional gimmick that he was never likely to finish, this song’s longevity and place in the indie rock canon (thanks in no small part to its use in the 2006 road trip film Little Miss Sunshine, ironically set between New Mexico and California) have never been up for debate. Sufjan Stevens’ much-talked-about and very ambitious plan to record an album dedicated to each of the 50 states never really made it out of the Midwest, but at least we have jangling, grand classics like “Chicago” (and the ambiguous, all-encompassing phrase “all things go” that has since been co-opted by Nicki Minaj) to show for this period in his artistic output. Stevens is heralded for the comfort he brings us and the solitude he indulges in when we have no one else to turn to but are in need of a good cry - from happiness or depression or anything in between. His music shines light on the power of horns, banjo, piano, and even religious themes as never heard before. ![]() Sufjan Stevens is one of the greatest songwriters of our time. Instead of cowering in fear from ideas that don’t yet make sense, he throws himself at the drawing board, getting his hands dirty regardless of how much prior experience he has in a given field. His imagination is constantly running rampant. ![]() The banjo-toting singer-songwriter is busy off the tour route moonlighting as a dancer, a filmmaker, a composer, a collaborator, and a music fan himself. No matter what, he gives it his all.įor one, Sufjan Stevens stays inexplicably busy. The man puts his heart into making his performance a full endeavor. Let’s not forget the handful of times he’s thrown Christmas shows, either, or the hundreds of inflatable elves he throws into the audience there, too. He faces audiences with a set of feathered wings strapped to his back four times the size of his body. He dances awkwardly in neon duct tape and strands of lights. The man films videos of himself playing banjo on a farm with a curled baseball cap on his head. It’s been nearly 30 years since Sufjan Stevens first appeared on the music scene as a solo artist, but it’s still difficult to think of him as a real person. This article originally ran in 2015 we’re dusting it off in celebration of Sufjan Stevens’ birthday on July 1st.Įver felt overwhelmed by an artist’s extensive back catalog? Been meaning to check out a band, but you just don’t know where to begin? In 10 Songs is here to help, offering a crash course and entry point into the daunting discographies of iconic artists of all genres. The post Sufjan Stevens in 10 Songs appeared first on Consequence.
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