This is the continuation of a series exploring my favorite songs from my top 10 favorite artists of all-time. We're now at #9, singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens. Sufjan exploded onto the indie rock scene with 2005's Illinois, the second of his "50 States" project, which won him both the Vague Space artist and album of the year of 2005. I had first heard his exploits a couple years earlier, on the equally brilliant 2003 record Greetings From Michigan (his first "50 States" album) and the 2004 spiritual opus Seven Swans. Sufjan flew up my personal favorites list around the time of Illinois and even made it into some of the comedic VS posts that used to be a staple here (and if I ever had the time or energy to write more of them, would be again). But unfortunately, since the 2006 release of extra tracks from the Illinois session, titled The Avalanche, Sufjan has been virtually silent, with his only new releases the continuation of his annual Christmas albums. And as I was organizing this list of my favorite artists, I found that Sufjan kept dropping further and further down the top 10, barely edging out Okkervil River. So while he certainly should not be ashamed that he is merely #9 on the VS list, it is about time for him to come out with a new album... perhaps one about my own Garden State...
In an article published on February 24, 2008 in New York Magazine, Sufjan seemed to indicate that New Jersey would be the target of his next state project. After Sufjan gave a brief quote about the New Jersey turnpike, he was asked, "So is this the next musical project?" Sufjan replied, "New Jersey, the musical-- an ode to the turnpike."[38]
Here's some more from the wiki entry on Sufjan, which knows him better than I do:
Sufjan Stevens (pronounced /ˈsuːfjɑːn/) (born July 1, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Petoskey, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on the Asthmatic Kitty label, a label formed by himself and his stepfather, starting with 2000 release A Sun Came. His 2005 album Illinois hit #1 in the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.
Stevens is very experimental with his music and he has released albums of varying styles, from the electronica of Enjoy Your Rabbit and the lo-fi folk of Seven Swans to the symphonic instrumentation of Illinois and Christmas themed Songs for Christmas. Stevens makes use of a variety of instruments, often playing many of them himself on the same track,[1] and writes music in various time signatures. He is considered part of the folk revival in indie pop, but his influences are very broad. His music has been likened to electronica[2] and the minimalism of Steve Reich.[3] Also, Stevens' music often has spiritual themes and many songs draw inspiration from Bible stories, most notably on Seven Swans.
Stevens has garnered much interest from the press for his "Fifty States Project",[4][5][6] his aim being to complete an album about each of the states of the US. Stevens has thus far completed two state records, Illinois and his home state record Michigan. Whether he will complete the project is subject to debate but the artist says he remains serious about its completion.[7] In interviews, Stevens has alluded to many different states as his next project, including Oregon, California and New Jersey, however it would appear that this is because he has not yet decided which state he will choose next.[8]
And here's my Top 20 favorite Sufjan songs:
#1. "Chicago" Illinois, 6:04, 2005 (#51 of all-time)
I fell in love again (all things go, all things go)
Drove to Chicago (all things know, all things know)
We sold our clothes to the state (I don't mind, I don't mind)
I made a lot of mistakes (in my mind, in my mind)
You came to take us (all things go, all things go)
To recreate us (all things grow, all things grow)
We had our mindset (all things know, all things know )
You had to find it (all things go, all things go)
I drove to New York in the van, with my friend
We slept in parking lots (I don't mind, I don't mind)
I was in love with the place (in my mind, in my mind)
I made a lot of mistakes (in my mind, in my mind)
You came to take us (all things go, all things go)
To recreate us (all things grow, all things grow)
We had our mindset (all things know, all things know )
You had to find it (all things go, all things go)
If I was crying in the van, with my friend
It was for freedom from myself and from the land
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
I made a lot of mistakes
You came to take us (all things go, all things go)
To recreate us (all things grow, all things grow)
We had our mindset (all things know, all things know )
You had to find it (all things go, all things go)
#2. "He Woke Me Up Again" Seven Swans, 2:43, 2004 (#74 of all-time)
#3. "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades" Illinois, 5:25, 2005 (#82 of all-time)
#4. "For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsalanti" Greetings From Michigan, 3:57, 2003 (#100 of all-time)
I've have called you children, I have called you son
What is there to answer if I'm the only one
Morning comes in Paradise , morning comes in light
Still I must obey, still I must invite
If there's anything to say
If there's anything to do
If there's any other way
I'd do anything for you
I was dressed in embarrassment, I was dressed in white
If you had a part of me, will you take your time
Even if I come back, even if I die
Is there some idea to replace my life
Like a father to impress
Like a mother's mourning dress
If we ever make a mess
I'll do anything for you
I have called you preacher, I have called you son
If you have a father or if you haven't one
I'll do anything for you, I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you, I'll do anything for you
I'll do anything for you
I did everything for you
#5. "Romulus" Greetings From Michigan, 4:41, 2003 (#163 of all-time)
Once when our mother called
She had a voice of last year's cough
We passed around the phone
Sharing a word about Oregon
When my turn came, I was ashamed
When my turn came, I was ashamed
Once when we moved away
She came to Romulus for a day
Her Chevrolet broke down
We prayed it'd never be fixed or found
We touched her hair, we touched her hair
We touched her hair, we touched her hair
When she had her last child
Once when she had some boyfriends, some wild
She moved away quite far
Our grandpa bought us a new VCR
We watched it all night, we grew up in spite of it
We watched it all night, we grew up in spite of it
We saw her once last fall
Our grandpa died in a hospital gown
She didn't seem to care
She smoked in her room and colored her hair
And I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed, I was ashamed of her
I was ashamed of her
#6. "The Mistress Witch from McClure" The Avalanche, 3:24, 2006 (#175 of all-time)
#7. "Come On! Feel the Illinoise" Illinois, 6:45, 2005
#8. "Sister Winter" Peace! Songs for Christmas, 5:04, 2006
#9. "Flint (for the Unemployed and Underpaid)" Greetings From Michigan, 3:43, 2003
#10. "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" Illinois, 6:16, 2005
#11. "Sister" Seven Swans, 6:00, 2004
What the waters wants is hurricanes
And sailboats to ride on its back
What the water wants is sun kiss
And land to run into and back
I have a fish stone burning my elbow
Reminding me to know that I'm glad
That I have a bottle filled with my own teeth
They fell out like a tear in the bag
And I have a sister somewhere in Detroit
She has black hair and small hands
And I have a kettle drum
I'll hit the earth with you
And I will crochet you a hat
And I have a red kite
I'll put you right in it
I'll show you the sky
#12. "They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!!" Illinois, 5:09, 2005
#13. "John Wayne Gacy Jr." Illinois, 3:19, 2005
His father was a drinker and his mother cried in bed.
Folding John Wayne's T-shirt, when the swing set hit his head.
The neighbors, they adored him, for his humor and his conversation.
Look underneath the house there, find a few living things rotting fast in their sleep of the dead.
Twenty-seven people, even more, they were boys, with their cars, summer jobs...
Oh my god. Are you one of them?
He dressed up like a clown for them, with his face painted white and red,
And on his best behavior, in a dark room on the bed, he kissed them all
He killed 10,000 people with a sleight of his hand, running far, running fast to their death
He took off all their clothes for them, he put a cloth on their lips, quiet hands, quiet kiss...
On the mouth...
And in my best behavior, I am really just like him.
Look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid.
#14. "All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!" Greetings From Michigan, 4:33, 2003
#15. "Dumb I Sound" A Sun Came!, 5:48, 2000
#16. "The Henney Buggy Band" The Avalanche, 3:16, 2006
#17. "The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders Pt. I" Illinois, 7:02, 2005
#18. "The Upper Peninsula" Greetings from Michigan, 3:23, 2003
I live in America
With a pair of Payless shoes
The upper peninsula
And the television news
And I've seen my wife
At the K-Mart
In strange ideas
We live apart
I live in a trailer home
With a snow mobile, my car
The window is broken out
And the interstate is far
I drove all night
To find my child
In strange ideas
He's been reviled
In strange ideas
In stranger times
I've no idea
What's right sometimes
I lost my mind
I lost my life
I lost my job
I lost my wife
#19. "The First Full Moon" To Spirit Back the Mews, 4:55, 2002
#20. "Opie's Funeral Song" MEWS Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Collection, 3:37, 2006
I was in Romulus once.
(no Star Trek joke needed)
And the Surfer didn't tip Plaxico well at F&H.
Posted by: LegFuJohnson | July 22, 2008 at 09:10 AM
I was in Romulus last month. The Detroit airport is in Romulus. I didn't even know. Thank you Wikipedia!
Romulus is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 22,979 at the 2000 census. The 2006 U.S. Census population estimate was 24,137. It is home to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. A General Motors plant, Romulus Engine is in the city, which opened in 1976. It is also the setting of the Sufjan Stevens song "Romulus" from his 2003 album Michigan.
In 2007, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport was the ninth-busiest airport in the United States and the nineteenth busiest airport in the world.[6] Metro Airport also serves the Toledo, Ohio, area, which is located approximately 47 miles (76 km) south of the airport, and the city of Windsor, Ontario in nearby Canada.[7]
Posted by: Bill | July 22, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Romulus is really not exciting enough to have 2 (or even 1) comments dedicated to it.
Posted by: DT | July 22, 2008 at 11:18 PM