tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post8578568481136893422..comments2024-03-02T07:40:22.786+03:00Comments on Only Solitaire blog: Sufjan Stevens: IllinoisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-28355059073911669842018-02-14T09:35:33.515+03:002018-02-14T09:35:33.515+03:00With such reviews you can almost picture George, q...With such reviews you can almost picture George, quill in hand, muttering "poor misguided fools!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-13221157417554160522018-02-06T21:11:59.358+03:002018-02-06T21:11:59.358+03:00I am not sure your reason for wasting your time on...I am not sure your reason for wasting your time on reviewing so many albums of Sufjan Stevens or Carpenters - don't know how to explain ...something like mental sadomasohism. Neshohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11117859964365714742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-42126257050460390722018-02-06T03:34:04.395+03:002018-02-06T03:34:04.395+03:00If a piece of music can't stand up without lyr...If a piece of music can't stand up without lyrics, then I don't think the piece as a whole is worthwhile, is what George seems to be saying. And I like Sufjan a whole lot (more of an Age of Adz kinda guy) but I don't think he's approached the album the wrong way. H. Eliothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12347842628576579981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-82760538661872517662018-02-05T23:04:13.359+03:002018-02-05T23:04:13.359+03:00I agree with all your criticisms, but im surprised...I agree with all your criticisms, but im surprised to see no mention of Come On! Feel The Illinoise! Because even though it has that rosy bubblegum aura, it actually has a dynamic symphonic melody. The song is catchy and the sounds have emotional depht to them. It's definitely a stand out in an otherwise dull album. Does the song do nothing for you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-14591553690763730872018-02-05T20:20:32.939+03:002018-02-05T20:20:32.939+03:00Hmm, I'd have thought Sufjan was more someone ...Hmm, I'd have thought Sufjan was more someone to have a bone to pick with rather than swinging that axe to grind.<br /><br />Also, I've always got the impression that largely Stevens doesn't take himself entirely seriously, hmmm...too right!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-84235121515041206102018-02-05T19:02:48.251+03:002018-02-05T19:02:48.251+03:00Robert is onto something. I get that Sufjan will n...Robert is onto something. I get that Sufjan will never "work" for you as a whole, but your advice on the old site always sticks with me: you should always really try to like a piece of art first; particularly well-reputed ones, I think. Not talking about the lyrics here because you don't like the music, with an artist like Sufjan, means you are not trying. But why bother reviewing it then? Because with Sufjan, the lyrics are what make the music work, contra most artists.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03668933527936622179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-71377923600623819712018-02-05T00:06:21.738+03:002018-02-05T00:06:21.738+03:00I can elaborate on all three points:
1) "Doll...I can elaborate on all three points:<br />1) "Dollhouses" - everything that Sufjan does has a very cuddly and cozy aura to it (his production style and also a result of his playing most of the instruments on his own), the sound has very little depth / volume to it.<br /><br />2) I make it a point to never discuss the lyrics when the music is unappealing on its own. Besides, I don't really think there are any lyrical subjects that could truly be called "unusual" in the 2000s. There's been hundreds of songs written about serial killers and they often flip into something different.<br /><br />3) Quiet and gentle songs very often go on the offense, and, in fact, the impressionists were quite offensive for their age (remember the violent backlash against the genre? it offended plenty of people). I cannot imagine a truly great work of art that wouldn't smash against the senses in at least some way, rather than simply go along with the flow.G. S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05848634884798924824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-47220929619209375292018-02-04T23:21:31.025+03:002018-02-04T23:21:31.025+03:00Sufjan's obviously not your cup of tea (and th...Sufjan's obviously not your cup of tea (and there's nothing wrong with that) but I still find your analogies to dollhouses really bizarre, though the St. Francis comparison is a bit more on point.<br /><br />And no lyrical discussion? I realize they don't connect with you, but it's still pretty unusual for a successful indie album from the 200's to sympathetically detail the life of a serial killer and then flip the song into a meditation on original sin. Oh well, I'll go ahead and mention the Predatory Wasp would be a highlight for me with its appealing folk melody, ambiguous lyrics, and celebratory conclusion.<br /><br />Likewise I must take issue with your claim that "Really great art is always offensive — that is, it goes on the offense." If this is so, then is Jane Austen great art? What about the impressionists? (not that I'm comparing Sufjan to either). But just because something is quiet and gentle surely shouldn't remove it from the realms of great art.Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04758690057578436214noreply@blogger.com