What State Will Sufjan Do Next?
Hot shit folkie talks to MTV's You Hear It First:
"I've been working on songs for Oregon and Rhode Island and New Jersey lately, just based on information I've read about their histories. And I'm solicited all the time by people who are proud of where they're from. Texas seems to be a favorite. Everyone's always asking, 'What are you going to do about Texas?' Like it's a big problem or something. People are like, 'What are you going to do, Sufjan? Someone's got to do something about Texas.' Like I'm suddenly responsible for that whole new empire down there."Previously: Stereogum LOVES Illinoise.
Posted at 11:34 AM
poor guy. after the npr thing, some kids were trying to say arkansas was next. the real question is what is he going to say about nebraska. I mean, it's nebraska.
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nyc, fool!
i can't wait to hear a song about the homeless guy and his guitar on the f/v line of the 14th st downtown stop!!
ps first post! wooo
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ugh, second post, so sad.
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Hey Matt ever been to Nebraska? Where are you from?
Oh.
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On Wisconsin! I can't wait to hear a modern segregation song about poor North Milwaukee.
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I am from ohio, and I have been to nebraska three times. you have a lovely state, keep up the good work. I am not dissing nebraska. huzzah for nebraska, land of um what, like prairie, or maybe conor, whatever. as far as material, texas has a lot more to talk about. if it makes you feel better, please replace nebraska with either of the dakotas, or hell arkansas.
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im pulling for vermont.
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You know he is going to put off the "hard" states, like California, New York, Arizona, etc ... for a while.
Rhode Island and Oregan are nice, conservative choices.
Texas will be a bitch, too, despite what he says.
I mean ... you can't do California for a while though ... there's too much riding on it. California should be his break out state ... the one that gets him lots of MTV coverage. What am I talking about ?
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i fear i may not like sufjan after he sings about texas. what will he say about George W. Bush and oil? will he get all christian on our asses and praise the GOP? will he even go there? or will he stick to historical accounts? aside from that, if he does in fact choose to sing about texas, i do hope he gives Austin the praise it deserves.
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Oh My G! wouldn't that be a dream come true for him to do my 3 favorite states all at once next (oregon, rhode island, and new jersey)?
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california rules.
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Yay for Oregon! Let's have it!
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what empire of texas? theres no fucking empire.
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Oh Dover, on the banks of the Delware Bay,
Lay banks of plastic, low APR available today.
North Dakota, with your Rushmore faces so zen,
Oh wait, that's in South Dakota. forget it then.
Oh Connecticut, hmmmmm, isn't that where Yale's at?
Well I'm sure you've got some pretty Danbury hats.
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is anyone else tired of this sufjan bullshit blahblahblah? i'm sick of him already. who gives a flying fuck about his 50 states thing? i doubt he ever finishes, and if he does, the whole idea will be so tired by then that hearing him bleat on about the fucking navajo rug in arizona or the goddamn bojangles restaurant in durham, north carolina will make me want to stab myself in the face. i mean, he's talented and all... but christ almighty, get the fuck over it. the people who worship this record are the same people who worshipped the arcade fire's record last year for six months before realizing that there are only about three good songs on the disc and the rest is pure unadulterated shit.
and i'm done ranting.
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I would like him to do New York and have no songs about NYC on it. That would be f'ing hillarious
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Texas is the next best one to do. We were our own country at one point, there's gotta be a song in that.
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I'm sure he'll spend a lot of time on upstate New York too, you know, like Yonkers and Westchester.
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North Dakota will open with, "We're the Dakota without Mount Rushmore"
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Way to rant, Jack. Except, have you heard the music? Sufjan, unlike Arcade Fire, really IS the real deal. He's been the shit since 2001. And yes, his little (big) project has been getting an inordinate amount of media attention lately, which seems to be the real source of your angst. But it's about time he's gotten the attention. He's deserved it for a while now. So, uh, that's why we're not "over it" yet.
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Possible Oregon songs:
"No, Seattle is in Washington not Oregon"
"You say Oregawn, I say Oregin. I'm right"
"No, the apples are in Washington not Oregon"
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jack, please feel free to begin stabbing yourself in the face at any time.
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"Someone's got to do something about Texas"...indeed.
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I'm neutral/blah on his music, but I think he's dreamy looking.
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Jack, I really like most of Sufjan's records, and I thought the Arcade Fire was terrible. Bad rant.
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Texas is an empire. Austin does indeed deserve credit, but don't discredit the history of the rest of it. A lot of cool stuff went down before George Dubya was around.
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so, from what i hear..
rhode island may be split 12". vermont is more than likely going to be an ep. oregon is the frontrunner for the next full-length. there's no possible way that we can expect sufjan to make a complete album out of each and every state. i, personally, am glad he's doing it this way.
as for the anti-sufjan rants, if you want to stop hearing about sufjan, don't read news about him. that is all.
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and so that's why I think everyone would still like Sufjan after the album and everthing is good and fine
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rhode island is an interesting choice, but will the songs all be about snooty newport and historical providence or will we have songs about coffee milk and how everyone is rude and terrible drivers. i'm sure there will be a buddy cianci song.
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Jack, GREAT rant. Everything you said was so true. I wish I could get back on the indie band wagon but there's been so many overhyped acts lately. I saw hin live in LA a year ago and I was really dissapointed maybe 2 of the songs had a hook but the rest sort of lulled me to sleep...
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Nobody has even brought up his four previous albums that were all good in their own rights. Seven Swams wasn't for everyone but plenty of people with good taste in music quietly appreciated it. The Michigan album is basically considered a masterpiece and I always see people referring to it as an indie essential...if an artist follows up an absolutely amazing album with ANOTHER album of equal to greater quality, I think that will get everyone and their mother's attention. So just wait have some patience and wait until another knockout indie album gets released this year and Sufjan won't be under the media spotlight so much. But alas, there really aren't so many indie albums coming out that manage to be fresh, accesible, and great for most of if not the entire album. Sure, I didn't like how the Arcade Fire was here, there, and everywhere in the media...but that happens when an indie album pleases the indie crowd and breaks into the mainstream crowd. I had the Illinois album months before it was released, before a single review or article on it hit the internet, so it was no surprise to me that it's doing so well. I'll admit a small part of me wouldn't have been pleased to buy the album or be new to it while it's receiving so many raves from every corner of the music world. Plus, the other Jack who ranted should shut his mouth when he is talking to us.
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I am here to throw my hat in for the great state of New Jersey. Possible subjects include the turnpike, bayonne, the smell of sulphur, and jim mcgreevey's gay sexcapades
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some of y'all should read his interview with radar mag (run with a dreamy, dreamy picture!) And I quote:
"If you could change one thing about your fans, what would it be?
Their earnestness. Some of my fans take me too seriously, and take themselves too seriously."
http://www.radarmagazine.com/web-only/the-third-degree/2005/07/state-trooper.php
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WISCONSINWISCONSINWISCONSINSWISCONSINWISCONSIN!!!
What can I say? I love my state.
And also, I'm damn sick of every time any slightly non-mainstream artist gets media attention, they're automatically subpar. Arcade Fire never did much for me. Sufjan, however, is a whole different ballgame.
And I still love Joanna Newsom.
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Typical- someone writes an AMAZING album with great lyrics, music, and it's completely different and you get a couple of idiots who don't like it because- god forbid- MTV has an article on it and the guy gets some (deserving) press. Hey D, nobody wants you on any "bandwagon" you jackass, Jack's (#1) rant my have been crazy- but at least he made his own points- your comment was really foolish, you are the type of person who makes real music fans cringe.
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Wait a tic -- so now people are saying the Arcade Fire really wasn't all that great after all? Damn, I'm glad I've got the Stereogum back-blog to keep me hip! I better start liking this Sufjan dude within the next 10 minutes, before the backlash!
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He could sound like System of a Down for all I care, he would still deserve fans for being so effing HOTT.
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GG Jack.
The sheer amount of press devoted to what basically amounts to a pep squad gone bad is surely a sign of the apocalypse. And if the choice is between 48 (?) more records of Sufjan and the the end of the world then I say bring on the four horsemen and let's get this over with.
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a state that yields an album of shorter song titles.
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Audio for Drinking did a funny "Sufjan Stevens album working titles" thing a few days ago. It was funny.
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I can't wait until he gets to florida. hurricanes, the 2000 election, ted bundy's execution, JEB, katherine harris' makeup and the abortion doctor killings.
oh, how i love florida *sarcasm*.
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I'd love to see Stevens to an album about Texas. When you've lived your entire life here, you realize how gigantic and complex a place like this can be. People look at this state and see nothing but terrible things. And they are right, in some respects. Awful things have come from this place and will continue to do so. But there is so much beauty here as well. Being a farmer or rancher doesn't make you a racist, bigot, or republican. Yeah, there's a lot of that down here. But there's something else underneath.
I'm not saying his next album has to be about Texas. I just think it'd be interesting to get an outsider perspective from someone who won't just focus on the stereotypes. I look forward to it if the album gets made.
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i'll
take
the arcade fire
&
sufjan stevens
over
the pussycat dolls
anytime!
see you at the 40 watt show!
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The Arcade Fire is amazing. I don't know what's wrong with you guys. I heard they're going to do an album for each of the 10 provinces (and an ep for each of the 3 territories). Neat!
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Is he doing D.C.?
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whatever about the music, just havin that pretty face around makes all the attention worth it.
that FACE
and those hands
Sufjan the WINNER
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haha that made me laugh r*obox.
Can't wait till he tries to make an entire album about Alaska. Polar bears, oil spills, cruise ships, and that 70's earthquake would make for an intruiging listen.
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rhode islanders are not bad drivers. it's massachusetts.
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I'm a little late on this whole bashing Jack commenting bandwagon, but all I have to say about Sufjan is that I like it. It's really nice to hear something melodic once in a while.
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The state I'm most looking forward for would be Alaska...I'm Canadian, so I don't have no favo(u)rism for a home state, but I'm sure, that album would be awesome...anyone with me on this one?
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I'm reviving this thread! If he goes through with NJ he'll have done all the states I've lived in except Virginia. Which he probably won't do, because VA is forgetable. But I still <3 it. Go VA!
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i heard a rumor that New Jersey WILL be the next state. someone on a sufjan message board said that they announced it in a magazine article. anyone else hear this???
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i want a maine album. he could sing about fishermen, pine trees, lobsters, bar harbor, the rocky coast, lighthouses,pine trees, cadillac mountain, portland, um, pine trees, moose,whale watching, and pine trees. don't get me wrong, i LOVE maine, there's just alot of pine trees there.
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