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Sufjan Stevens Calls 50 States Project "Such a Joke"
At the time, it seemed impossibly ambitious: Write an album for all 50 states, each capturing both the obvious glories and flaws, but also the hidden idiosyncrasies of its chosen bit of America. Sufjan Stevens’ first attempt was a gorgeously lush, whispered look at a state most often cast in a harsh, mechanic light: Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State. Next up was another midwestern state, Illinois. With beautiful anthems like “Chicago” and “Jacksonville,” the album shot Stevens to the top of the indie heap, a folk singer as ambitious as he was introspective.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsSufjan Stevens: On the Road to Find Out
On Nov. 2, 2009, Paste magazine released its list of The 50 Best Albums of the Decade, and topping that list was Illinois, the 2005 masterpiece from Sufjan Stevens. Paste’s Kate Kiefer talked to the Illinoisemaker about the album, his 50 States project and his recent orchestral creation The BQE.... read more
Found in: Music, FeaturesThe Best Albums of the Decade (Readers' Picks)
We spent a lot of time brainstorming, voting, arguing and refining our list of The 50 Best Albums of the Decade. But, of course, we got it wrong. Here’s what our readers chose as the 10 Best Albums of the Decade:... read more
Found in: Music, FeaturesAsthmatic Kitty Adds Three Titles to Library Catalog Music Series
Asthmatic Kitty Records is expanding its peculiar Library Catalog Music Series, with instrumental albums meant to soundtrack sleeplessness, memory and carpooling coming later this year.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsSufjan Stevens, The National's Bryce Dessner Contribute to Album for Insomniacs
Sufjan Stevens, who's put his 50 States Project on hold for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, is now creating music about a state of mind.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsPop Montreal Demands More Sujfan Stevens
The house lights came on. And so did the house music. Sufjan Stevens had just given the Montreal a stellar set culminating in crowd-pleaser "Chicago." He'd even come back on stage for a (mostly) solo encore of the haunting "John Wayne Gacy." But the audience wanted more. They shouted. They whistled. They chanted one more song. And by "they," I mean "we." I was as eager as anyone to hear some more. It was a phenomenal show, and we all wanted it to keep it going. It had been too long since we'd heard anything new from one of the... read more
Found in: Blogs, High GravityWatch Three More New Sufjan Stevens Songs
Three more new Sufjan Stevens songs have been revealed through new footage from his performance at Ithaca, N.Y.'s Castaways, Pitchfork reports.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsWatch and Download New Sufjan Stevens Song
Sufjan Stevens continues to build up anticipation with his fans as he performs new tracks during his fall tour. He gave his latest sneak peak last night at Ithaca, N.Y.'s Castaways, as a spectator captured on video.... read more
Found in: Music, News10 Songs That Summon Sleep
There is a lot of road between Athens, Ga. and Decatur, Ga., and to keep from brooding over the gallons of gas that trickle off my gauge or the precious hours of life I spend hunched in the driver's seat during my commute, I rely on music as my one, true beacon of sanity (talk radio as my second). It is my trusty buoy for when I'm stuck in the ebb and flow of Atlanta traffic, or numbed in the limbo of bland highway expanses.... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayFifteen Songs About The Body Parts I Might Sell Just To Own Specimen's Little Horn Speakers
Right this minute, I am listening to music on my laptop's built-in speakers. I cycled through endless pairs of $10 Target earbuds until Santa Claus brought me a half-decent pair of Bose headphones a few years back, my iPod dock of choice was purchased at a store called Linens & Things, and I don't know my treble from a hole in the ground. Needless to say, I am not an audiophile. So why am I so transfixed by the Little Horn Speakers unveiled this week by Chicago-based custom guitar and amp shop Specimen? Well, just look at them. They're gorgeous.... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the Day
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