Sufjan's Next State: N/A
Last month a Stereogum reader got to have lunch with Sufjan Stevens and mutual ex-coworkers from when Mr. Indie Rock 2005 did freelance design for educational children's books. She writes:
I had to say, I was SO disappointed by him because I was such a big fan. He likes making music, but says he's going to take a big break from it. He's the anti-artist and very uninterested in keeping up as a musician. He wants to write or work on a book for the next couple of years. He doesn't get the whole fan thing nor does he see or pay attention to any of the accolades and props he's getting. He said he got tired of his big theme shows and is doing the Time Warner center performance sans costumes). He's glad to distance himself from all of that for a long while.I can understand where he's coming from ... but c'mon, Sufjan, you KNEW there were 50 states. And the costumes were your idea. Don't leave Delaware hanging.
Posted at 8:01 AM
"He wants to write or work on a book for the next couple of years."
Yea! Now that's something to cheer about!
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i actually heard he's working on music right now...but I can't say where I heard that...
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Delaware has already gotten substantial love: the best Drop Nineteens record takes the state's name as its own, with obligatory title track. There's also a great Dambuilders track called "Delaware." Incidentally, The Dambuilders set out 10 years ago to write a song for every state in the union. They got pretty far along, but I don't know if they finished.
...sorry, most of this is the cold medicine talking...
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what f***king jerk. i get so sick of these musicians who "just don't get this fan thing."
it only perpetuates this pretentious notion that this is some kind of precious gift that he is giving us, the unwashed masses.
"oh, this thing? i just made it between writing my books and painting my next masterpiece. i could care less if anyone listens to it. really. sniff."
he's a real jerkstore.
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great. now i won't have to force myself to listen to another sufjan record just to feel cool
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I've been saying he's a douche all along!! vindication!!! I'm sure he's not really a douche, I just don't love his tunes that much.
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Um...I'm not buyin' it.
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give it a rest. til i hear it from Sufjan himself, i'll refrain from the profanities. I for one think he's still producing music like mad. this, is faaalse
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Maybe the guy was having a bad day or something. Sheesh, it was something he said presumably off the record over a lunch with acquaintances. He's been very prolific up until this point in his career-- an album a year.
Regardless of what you think of the guy's music, you have to respect his work ethic. If he was "uninterested in being a musician" I don't think he would take the time to write, arrange, record and mix three records in three years, two of which were intricate, elaborate opuses.
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I suspect the "whole fan thing" is not a direct quote. Plus, why was she so disappointed by him? He can do what he wants--write a book, get a job shelling oysters, whatever. As prolific as he is he's more than entitled to get a little tired and want to take a break. And if my fans sounded as twitty as the one above I wouldn't be that into my fans, either.
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When you guys write, arrange and perform (and wahtever else) an amazing album, or any album, let alone an album focused on a particular and specific theme, after having already done it once, after already releasing a brilliant album and at least one other (i dont feel like fact checking) then you can bitch about how he owes the fans something and maybe you'll understand how much it might take out of your life.
I say get Delaware out, if he takes a break thats fine. music survived with him, it will survive without him for a while.
i'd be very interested in reading his book...
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If the things said about him are true then why would he share it all with a "big fan".
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"...two of which were intricate, elaborate opuses." I almost choked on my tea. Not the substance of the statement, but the jerk-offiness of the phrasing. My point: if i were Sufjan, i wouldn't be into my fans either.
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I've always thought he sucked. Overrated. and I've said it before and I'll say it again:
Down with Sujckin Stevens!!!
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I refuse to learn anything about any state if not by sufjan's voice.
Also, do you guys think that if he does Washington he'll do a touching song about the Green River Killer?
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When I interviewed him for my website, he listed a long set of aspirations to accomplish in his life. Some of them were wild dreams (like opening a restaurant) and some were as simple as teaching.
But from that interview and getting to talk to him after shows, I think he's a genuinely good guy. I can't imagine what it's like to go from his conservative Christian background into the height of hipster fandom. It's got to be a trip.
Also, to get mad at him for putting aside music for the time being (if he decides to do that) is nothing short of selfish. These are people we're talking about - not album machines. Be thankful for what he's released.
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eh... just wait till he's offered the money, then he'll start writing really fast. Win a few awards and he'll she his career take off like no other.
Sufjster
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was that above article right??!
have i been mispronouncing his name this whole time?
its soofyawn?!?!
not pronounced "suf-jin"??
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A musician myself...
I know how much it can wear you down writing, producing, recording and touring. Pretty soon, you're tired of those same routes.
Part of learning to be creative is getting your brain to constantly work. And after a while - your brain needs something new to work with. I'm thinking about packing away the piano and writing a book myself. Or releasing a photography journal.
There's more to life than music.
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Dudes, they were totally "intricate, elaborate opuses." Like Kaddish, except gimmicky, forgettable folk albums.
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what an asshole. there is no god, sufjan.
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Well at least this time next year I won't have to wonder why an album that sounds like a low-budget off-broadway musical has suddenly become the "next big thing".
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wow, piss off j-baby
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So, wait: you hate his music but your pissed he won't make more? I'm concerned about you.
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He could join Daniel Day-Lewis and make shoes.
Anyone up for a concept album about cobbling?
In Delaware?
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'Well at least this time next year I won't have to wonder why an album that sounds like a low-budget off-broadway musical has suddenly become the "next big thing".'
ahhhhh ha ha ha ha ha
thank you, that just made my morning!
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Yesterday, Indie Access Radio reported that this is just a nasty rumor and that Sufjan told them all is still a go.
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I like Sufjan, but what I don't understand is how his album can be #1 of the year on a blog where half of the readers hate it.
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It's all about the backlash!
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People can do whatever they want to. Unless they don't have a lot of money.
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"I like Sufjan, but what I don't understand is how his album can be #1 of the year on a blog where half of the readers hate it."
Yeah, this awfully confusing. I do not understand why people dislike him so much. I am not hearing any valid or concrete reasons for what is exactly bad about his music. Explain.
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People hate trends.
People hate success.
Despite if either of these things occur with validity and justification.
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I am not going to lie this brings a tear to my eye. Though, when I met him he was self depricating about how he just wants to write. He should be allowed to be happy with whatever he decides to do. He has been writing for two or three albums. I seriously doubt he would not put them out soon.
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This is proof, yet again, that internet dullards will believe everything they read and treat hearsay as scripture.
You'd all fail a logical reasoning exam.
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my brothers ex girlfriend knows him, and according to her he is concidering montana, but hes not 100%
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He never intended to do the whole 50 states. It was a flippant comment that made for a great spin and fanned the flame of PR. Now every magazine and newspaper had an angle to work . Here is an ambitious project and something tangible people can get there minds around. Anticiapte what is he going to do for Vermont? I mena really. He'd have to research and live in some of these areas. One could see him crankingout one more maybe. New York since he lived there. But he'd be close to 70 years old to finish out a project like that. Even this album should have been a new state to stay on track. But seems he had to hedge a bit and go with what was already created. Maybe the spin on the story has lost it's edge. But no worries he still managed to get the press he needed to boost the career and land a soundtrack in a movie. Good for you Sufjan. You played the system and you made them work for you. Hats off to anyone who beats it.!
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What a stupid thing to post. You might even want to use spell check on yourself. Sufjan might have been kidding but I doubt it and definitly not flippant in his comments. Time will tell if he follows through on his project. You are a little premature in your dismissing it I think.
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I first discovered Sufjan without being led to it by any "critique sites", and I seriously thought it was the best music I had ever heard.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T LIKE ILLINOISE- try Seven Swans. It's just Sufjan and a guitar. YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT ALL THE HOOPLAH IS ABOUT. Plus, you'll understand where he's coming from. MICHIGAN and Seven Swans were his best albums.
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