Come on! Feel the Arkanoise!

July 7, 2005 9:35 AM

Yes, it's the great god bird,
with its altar call.
posted by deafmute (15 comments total)

That exclusive song is pretty darn good. His new full-length album "Illinois" is amazing (easily among my favorite releases of the year so far). Sufjan Stevens is simply one of the most talented musicians creating music today, regardless of age (but for those who keep track, he just turned 30).
posted by almostcool at 9:44 AM on July 7, 2005

I heard this on NPR yesterday, it really caught my ear. It's a very good song.

When they mentioned how it was written, I was expecting a hokey, terrible song, but instead I was struck with just how good it is.

Worth a listen... and the article is really interesting too. NPR rules.

Wish they'd done it with better compression, though. I don't know what compressor they were using, but it's very harsh on the ear, even on my computer speakers. I shudder to think of how bad it must be on a real stereo.
posted by Malor at 10:22 AM on July 7, 2005

Good idea and good song. I'd heard about this project before. Thanks for posting it.

Also, Sufjan Steven's new album, Illinois, is great and everyone should get it.
posted by driveler at 10:28 AM on July 7, 2005

Thanks for this link. I've been putting off buying a Stevens album, but no more, this is a great song.
posted by OmieWise at 10:40 AM on July 7, 2005

If you plan on buying the new album you might wanna run out and get it while is still has the cover with Superman on it. The bonus tracks on iTunes are great too!
posted by TetrisKid at 10:45 AM on July 7, 2005

I've been listening to Illinois non-stop for the last two days; I'd no idea it was part of a grand scheme. This makes me happy.
posted by infidelpants at 10:47 AM on July 7, 2005

infidelipants, Sufjan's Michigan is similarly wonderful. OmieWise, don't make the mistake of a) buying the perpetual last-Sufjan-album-in-the-shop Enjoy Your Rabbit, unless you like electro-squeakery, and b) meeting John Lewis at Adams's Springs. But that you knew.
posted by scruss at 11:08 AM on July 7, 2005

When they mentioned how it was written, I was expecting a hokey, terrible song, but instead I was struck with just how good it is.

I was scared that Illinois would be this way too, especially when I heard of the scheme it was a part of, but S.S. is more than talented enough to prevent that.
posted by invitapriore at 11:29 AM on July 7, 2005

Great song. I'll have to look into his other works. Thanks!
posted by graventy at 11:50 AM on July 7, 2005

Damn you! I was just about to post this...

Yes an amazing song I will be buying an album shortly...not sure if Michigan or Illinois will be first.

More amazingly is the story of the great god bird as featured on NPR and the people of Brinkley having to adapt from Singer Sewing Machines industrialization, to economic hardship now to eco-tourism
posted by aaronscool at 11:59 AM on July 7, 2005

scruss: I went and ordered it as soon as I'd posted here; glad to have independent recommendation. :)
posted by infidelpants at 12:00 PM on July 7, 2005

The Illinois album is amazing. I've seen the new cover art and it's exactly the same, just with Superman removed.
posted by matildaben at 2:17 PM on July 7, 2005

stevens' solo work is spectacular, though varied (hence the warning about "enjoy your rabbit"). the folkestra style he's used for the past few albums is truly amazing, but i hope he uses his talents for diverse musical styles on later states' albums.

if anyone hears and enjoys, and wants more, here are a few other albums he's had his paws all over (or at least into):
liz janes - "done gone fire" and "poison & snakes"
castanets - "cathedral"
half-handed cloud - "thy is a word and feet need lamps"

basically he works on most of asthmatic kitty's releases, or anything that's innocuously religious, blatantly lo-fi folk.
anyway, thanks for the link and the song...i wonder if leaving the great lakes area will change the style and mood of subsequent state releases.
posted by carsonb at 4:32 PM on July 7, 2005

Ah, TetrisKid, would that the extra tracks were on iTunes Canada. And i'pants, sorry for the miss-spelling of your handle.

That NPR song is beautiful.
posted by scruss at 3:56 AM on July 8, 2005

I love Sufjan to pieces. It's also very much worth tracking down the mp3's of his unofficial Christmas Albums, there's about 3 of them floating about the internets and they're stunning!
posted by mrs.pants at 8:19 AM on July 8, 2005