Sufjan Stevens Picks Next State?
Indie rock's John Philip Sousa talks to Filter.
FILTER: Have you found people clamoring for you to write about their state?What, did you think he'd actually tell us?
SUFJAN STEVENS: It happens all the time. What I find most interesting is that my proposition has inspired all kinds of civic pride all over the U.S. People start telling me anecdotes about their small town or their university, their regional flower festival, or their beauty pageant. There is this sense of pride and ownership; feelings of a stronger identity of where they come from. I think that's interesting, because I never intended this to be about civic pride, but it's inspired a little bit of that all over the country.
FILTER: Do you have a plan as to where you want to go next with the state project?
SUFJAN STEVENS: I finally do, yes. But I probably shouldn't say.
If you haven't yet heard the sequel to the best record of 2005, stream a quarter of Avalanche here (MOV). Asthmatic Kitty will be releasing more chunks of Illinois 2: Esoteric Boogaloo in the coming weeks.
UPDATE: Avalanche Pt. 2 stream is here. (Even Wired's on board!) MANY of you e-mailed to say you had it on "good authority" that NJ was the next state; one reader claimed the album was already completed! NJ? I hope there's a song about Jon Stewart.
Posted at 10:17 AM
Tags: Jon Stewart | Sufjan Stevens
i hope it's new jersey.
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i'm getting a little sick of his research projects. I'd rather he drop the whole state schtick and write about something from the heart, perhaps how he was about to come out of the closet and then became a born again christian. that'd be compelling, not songs about New Jersey.
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I felt the same way when I heard Seven Swans. But THEN I heard Illinois, so I have no problem if the next 48 albums are gonna be that good.
If he stops now, he'll be the David Blaine of spiritual indie folk.
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He annoys me. I'd wish he'd go away.
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He will NEVER make 48 more state albums. Never. I don't care if he does anyway. Sufjan Stevens sucks! Just in case you all forgot.
Bye now.
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this guy blows. stop encouraging him.
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maybe after he is done the 50 states he can move on to the ten provinces of Canada? Just a thought.
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Does he really think that he is responsible for people feeling civic pride?
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Well, as far as writing from the heart goes.. I think you're confusing "writing from the heart" with "autobiographical" writing. Yikes, that was presumptious of me (even given your example of him comin' outta the closet etc.)Perhaps there is no confusion, you simply do not know the difference. If that's the case, pretend I don't either and I will too, between us. If you did confuse the two-- I think fictional or nonfictional writing are types of writing missing from rock lyrics all too often, especially done as well as Stevens does.
If I have to hear why Christ Martin wrote another song for Gwyn, or another Ashlee Simpson "song straight from my heart/ script of my life" I think I'd go mad( which is just a hyperbolic way of crying "boring!!")
I don't know why it got so cool for lyrics to be about nothing or ourselves, or in the case of Nirvana (and the listless bands that have followed) both, together, holding hands till the rapture (that is, if you're post-tribulationist dispensationalist [I kinda wonder if sufjan is...nah..)
These kinds of writing projects are what will make his lyrics and to a lesser degree his music listenable in twenty years (listen to Nick Cave, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, The Butthole Surfers.. hear the mostly meticulous efforts of each of these “timeless” artists – writing about the world through their walk through it, not JUST their walk through it.) In comparison, listening to Sebadoh’s albums is painfully embarrassing these days.
Hell, if I could get away with it I’d write about my dogs and my wife and Jesus' miraculous incarnation and the redemption of man, but I can’t, and I wouldn’t expect Sufjan to either.
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i heard rumors about minnesota.
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Oh thank you Sufjan Stevens!
Here I was wallowing in self-pity, cynicism, and a seething resentment of my hometown, my corner of the country.
But THEN I read of your plan to write an album about all fifty states and I remembered about the flower festival, the state fair, the child's beauty pagent I judge for, the best barbeque this side of the Mississippi. I once again identified myself with my state and my heart swelled with the kind of civic pride that only an artist of your BRILLIANCE could inspire.
Thank you Sufjan, thank you.
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Illinois 2:Esoteric Bugaloo? I'm calling it that.
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minnesota? what's wisconsin, chopped liver?
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He told Nic Harcourt on KCRW's MBE six months ago during a live set that he was writing music for two states simutaneously. One was Delaware. I forget the other one.
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As much as I hate the whole idea of undying American patriotism, I don't mind the idea of Sufjan Steven's 50 States project. As long as he continues to write good music, and head further towards a middle ground of that jazzy, electronic stuff and the mellow banjo ballads.
http://www.musictimes.com.au
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I could see vermont as a top prospect for some reason.
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If it's not Wisconsin, then someone has a geography problem.
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wah wah i hate sufjan stevens because he's successful. he thinks he's sooo good.
(but if pitchfork hates the next album, i'll probably like it and start defending him)
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My goodness...such hostility.
There's proof right here in these very comments: people wishing the Great Sufjan would write songs about their own boring ass states. It's because we enjoy listening to music we can relate to, and this guy's lyrics do an excellent job at hitting home, so who would be better at musically illustrating our OWN homes than him? Take the songs "Romulus" and "Casimir Pulaski Day"... I've never been to Romulus and I don't know who the hell Casimir Pulaski is, but these songs beautifully portray youth, love, shame, and death. That's something extremely relatable. This isn't just a patriotic research project of his. It's his life and all our lives, too.
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Everyone's so harsh towards Sufjan. As to all who've been saying he won't make 48 more, it's probably true. He admitted it himself on more than one occasion, but other solutions have been thought of. In an interview from a certain magazine whose name I forget, Sufjan claimed he may produce or help other bands record some of them. There was also a rumour that was proved true by Asthmatic Kitty (his record label) that in a compilation that included Sufjan, one liner note suggested: "I guess he actually won't do all 50." It was later taken out to say something less informative, but that doesn't matter. I also don't understand the boredom of the 50 states project. He already has three solo albums, along with extra material that isn't so hard to come by (The O.C. releases "To Be Alone With You," dare I mention), and there is no ultimate force keeping you from taking the CD out of your Walkman, or however you listen to Sufjan. I find the project lovely, because I have affiliations with both Illinois and Michigan, and got chuckles from seeing some of the songs: namely "Oh Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head," or "Casimir Pulaski Day," (which for the uninformed is a holiday in Illinois for a civil war. I remember it because I was given school off when I had my childhood there). It's a heartwarming project, so get off his back.
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Everyone's so harsh towards Sufjan. As to all who've been saying he won't make 48 more, it's probably true. He admitted it himself on more than one occasion, but other solutions have been thought of. In an interview from a certain magazine whose name I forget, Sufjan claimed he may produce or help other bands record some of them. There was also a rumour that was proved true by Asthmatic Kitty (his record label) that in a compilation that included Sufjan, one liner note suggested: "I guess he actually won't do all 50." It was later taken out to say something less informative, but that doesn't matter. I also don't understand the boredom of the 50 states project. He already has three solo albums, along with extra material that isn't so hard to come by (The O.C. releases "To Be Alone With You," dare I mention), and there is no ultimate force keeping you from taking the CD out of your Walkman, or however you listen to Sufjan. I find the project lovely, because I have affiliations with both Illinois and Michigan, and got chuckles from seeing some of the songs: namely "Oh Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head," "Romulus," or "Casimir Pulaski Day," (which for the uninformed is a holiday in Illinois for a civil war. I remember it because I was given school off when I had my childhood there). It's a heartwarming project, so get off his back.
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My money's on Wisconsin, but Minnesota wouldn't surprise me either. Logically and geographically, they make the most sense. Maybe Indiana. For sure another midwest state.
Plus I'm from Wisconsin and live in Minnesota and I want my civic pride back, damnit.
signed,
Not-so-indier-than-thou
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justin - to be alone with you isn't an OC exclusive or "extra material". the song is on seven swans.
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Shut up all of you,
None of you should have any civic pride because your country is the bane of the Earth. Sufjan Stevens is a shining light in the one, big, shithole that is the USA.
Word.
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his 50 states project was kind of a joke, guys.
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pppft what ever leave sufjan alone.
hes beautiful and so are his songs.
dont be jelous because you arnt creative and cool like him
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This is to all the pretentious people who suck on Sufjan's nuts: Just pull his ballsac from out of your mouth and ears, and listen to his nonsense. Give Pajo a listen. There is some folk for you.
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you are all such poor christians. Sufjan would be disappointed.
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Why is it worth arguing over? Sufjan Stevens is a brilliant musician, whether he plays the style you prefer or not.
He writes his own songs, plays his own instruments, and even owns his own label. That's an accomplishment, I don't care who you are.
He does it all and he does it GOOD! I respect him very much and find him to be ambitious. Let the man create his art and get off his back about it. I'll buy his cd, no matter what state it is.
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