Sufjan
Stevens is even more eclectic than Costello, drifting as his mood takes him- indie-pop, electronica, a zodiac song cycle, symphony for an
expressway, Christmas songs and a
requiem to his mother. A multi-instrumental, who revels in
collaboration. No tribute album is complete without one of his radical reinterpretations.
My first
purchases, and his most accessible were the "Michigan" and "Illinois"
albums. The concept of an album for each state was a joke, and helped publicity,
but I would have happily bought all 50. Typically the locations are a device to
explore the big themes such as love, family, religious faith and loss.
"Chicago" doesn't mention tourist sights
or favourite haunts, more a buoyant celebration of freedom and exploration from
his youth, recalling past road trips (like Paul Simon's "America"). The
frequent "All things go"
can be considered as a urgent positive step forward, or conclusion that nothing
is permanent. He is destitute, sleeping in a van and selling his clothes, but there
is also an optimism of a rebirth and reinventing himself. Even the regrets ("I made a lot of mistakes") seem
like a stepping stone, a lesson learnt.
The music dispels any ideas of gloom with bright
instrumentation deeply layered. A hurried rhythm, orchestrated brass and strings, and a
uplifting spiritual choir are a joyous assembly. Stevens himself contributes a
vibraphone, bass, piano,
percussion and a wonderful wurlitzer organ.
He would
eventually release five different versions, with typically quirky subtitles, "Adult
Contemporary Easy Listening Version" and "Multiple Personality Disorder
Version", but the album version should be considered the definitive.
"Illinois"
was the critics' album of 2005, a sumptuous delight, repaying regular
replaying. "Chicago" its centrepiece, regularly lent itself to TV (The Politician)and
films (Little Miss Sunshine), predating his work and Oscar nomination
for "Call me by your name".
Sufjan Stevens does whatever he wants, a confounding but
always intriguing enigma. Now when do we get the other 48 states, slacker ?
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_-cUdmdWgU
Hear Next -
"Michigan" and "Illinois" are the obvious classics.
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