Sufjan Stevens

Elliott Smith has passed on from this mortal coil, but at least we still have Sufyan! ?

My favorite artist of all time, truly something special.

I like Carrie and Lowell

From Vatsal 03/24/2020 06:38 | #249056

Whats brilliant about Sufjan's discography is that its not just the albums which are spectacular, but the material released around them also form a significant part of his entire narrative. The Avalanche with Illinois and Michigan, The big blowout of All Delighted People right before going electronic on The Age Of Adz; and then there's the Carrie & Lowell era, which could just be the album alone and it wouldn't lack for anything, but then he delivers the Live album and the Greatest Gift, which just makes the whole era so much more than what it already was.

There are a few artists with excellent decade-spanning discographies to begin with, but Sufjan has a unique ability to make even his lessor releases feel and sound important. And my experience of listening to his music is all the more richer for it. Not to mention, even though he has been releasing official studio albums 5-years apart since Illinois, It never feels like he's gone away for that long. Being a Sufjan Stevens fan is one of the most rewarding things that can be done as a music nerd.

Sufjan is a great composer. Always amazed by the beauty of melodies and the depth of lyrics. Favorite songs: Should Have Known Better and - less famous - Size Too Small (from Seven Swans).

What a guy. Pulling out these creative albums, playing all those instruments and composing it all himself. Not even just talented in playing instruments, but I mean in the quality of the albums too and the lyricism. Sufjan is a smart guy and he doesn't hold back on that in his lyrics.
What a beautiful voice he has too. Listen to him in a song then watch an interview, it's quite astonishing how different he sounds. Not the best discography but I can appreciate all the little pieces of work he's done to get to where he is now.

If you haven't listened to him yet, listen to Illinoise or Carrie & Lowell. Those are his best pieces of work I think, although I like Age of Adz a lot it's a bit harder to get into. He pushes in a different direction with each album and I fully appreciate that since if otherwise, it would just get bland.

I can understand why some people wouldn't like Sufjan. His music is on the softer side and delves into the human condition and its woes moreso than other artists. If you put that aside though, you will find a real musical genius who can make you feel strong emotions.

Great musician and very smart composer. I appreciate the variety of his music.

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Folk, Electronica, Pop/Rock...I don't even care about what I'm going to listen, because I know it will be awesome. He's not just another songwriter. He fills every single song he creates with a little of himself, of his beliefs, memories and feelings. Carrie & Lowell is an example of this(an ode to his parents, who had recently died), but all his albums have something beautiful and eternal. Undoubtebly, one of the best artists of the 21st century.
P.D.: In my opinion, "The Age Of Adz" is highly underrated. It's my favourite album along with "Illinois". "Impossible Soul"(a 25-minutes-song, literally 1/3 of "The Age Of Adz") makes worth listening the full album, but the other songs are still great.

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