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Will Menzies
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Transatlanticism
The reason I most respect Sufjan as a Christian artist is that his art isn’t exclusively Christian in its themes. He writes from the perspective of the life he’s leading and, while this is informed by his faith, he doesn’t close his troubles, doubts, and pain off from his songwriting based on some ridiculous, overhyped megachurch idea of what art a Christian should and should not make. Sure, Vito’s Ordination Song is downright devotional, but Casimir Pulaski Day is conflicted and doubting and most of his music has no direct allusions to faith at all.
The vast majority of Christian artists make music about only on the subject of God, as if Christians should live in a holy bubble, never encountering anything and repeating “Jesus is great” all day long. Don’t get me wrong,sometimes intense musical focus on one subject for a time can be illuminating, like in Steven Merritt’s 69 Love Songs or Sufjan’s own Seven Swans. But to wilfully close off the vast majority of life from your art seems deceptive. It certainly doesn’t reflect the actual reality of life following Jesus. Sufjan cuts through all that.
Finally, some love for Amnesiac! My personal list:
1. Amnesiac
2. Kid A
3. OK Computer
4. King of Limbs
5. In Rainbows
6. The Bends
7. Hail To The Thief
8. Pablo Honey
Comparing the ‘Gum to the Sydney Morning Herald? Too far.
Can we have a Progress Report on the Knife?
If we’re talking about labels, Steve Albini’s classic article on the financial imbalance of band-label relations is worth a read. http://people.virginia.edu/~jrw3k/mediamatters/readings/cult_crit/Albini_The.Problem.With.Music.pdf
What about independent record labels though? Most of what we Stereogum types listen to is released on labels which are run by musicians, music enthusiasts or self-released by the bands themselves?
I wonder if people who make the ‘big bad music industry’ argument as a justification also refused to pay for albums by Sufjan Stevens (Asthmatic Kitty – Self Run), Animal Collective, Ariel Pink (Paw Tracks, run by AnCo) or The Strokes (Rough Trade – an important independent label that went bankrupt and was resurrected, but has never made big profits)
Honeycomb isn’t on the album. It wasn’t in the album teaser video AnCo put out last month and Domino confirmed it. The tracklist is:
01. Moonjock
02. Today’s Supernatural
03. Rosie Oh
04. Applesauce
05. Wide Eyed
06. Father Time
07. New Town Burnout
08. Monkey Riches
09. Mercury Man
10. Pulleys
11. Amanita
I have no idea why your comment got so many downvotes. There was some great stuff on there. Stereogum just has a tortured relationship with lists.
No offence meant, man. All the best with being a good dad.
There’s still 6 months till Australian summer, but Jonathon Boulet – This Song Is Called Ragged has it wrapped up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un4fv5bjpRk
Can we get a Premature evaluation of Tom’s baby?
Is Donnytillafreshié_ RaptorJohnny Breihan the best baby of 2012?
After what can only be described as a “leak” early yesterday, the new collaboration between Tom and his wife became public early this morning. While some will criticise baby Donnytillafreshié_ RaptorJohnny Breihan for being derivitive (she has her mother’s eyes, her father’s nose) it is likely that, like last year’s The King of Limbs, this one will be a grower. Asked about the birth of sophmore baby, Tom replied “when I first saw her, she reminded me of that Erykah Badu clip”. The sound of crying at 1AM is the odds-on favourite to be Tom’s number one summer jam.
So THAT’s why he’s so one-eyed.
Mr. Abraham, can Damian come out to play?
Come on, next you’ll be telling us Donnytilla and Raptorjesus use fake avatar pics too.
Gene was far from the best
I had a DOG with that problem once.
Although I guess her actual first name’s Shara, so it could work
Yea, but Sufjan thought the name S/S/S&M gave people the wrong impression.
“Creepy Geography Teacher” is going to be THE LOOK of 2012 – Vogue
Kaki King.
I’d say Andy Samberg was the lucky one, but hey.
I have no idea what you’re saying.