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From plattc@optonline.net
Subject Re: sufjan pan
Date Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:56:51 +0000 (GMT)

[Part 1 text/plain us-ascii (3.2 kilobytes)] (View Text in a separate window)

I find the album to be a mixed bag, but it's definitely got a few stunning moments -- the opening track, "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" may have a goofy title, sure, but musically, it's really haunting.  And "John Wayne Gacy, Jr" is just stunning.

I have to be in the right kind of mood to listen all the way through, but it does hold together for me as an extended piece.  The instrumental textures are interesting (yeah, they start to sound the same after a while, but that said, there's a lot going on), and the lyrics are, well, better than you might expect for an concept album about a state.

Overall, I think it's pretty amazing that such a quirky album generated all the buzz it did.

And the Christmas EPs are fantastic.  His best stuff, if you ask me.

Christopher

----- Original Message -----
From: Gene Good 
Date: Tuesday, April 10, 2007 5:33 am
Subject: Re: sufjan pan
To: audities@smoe.org

> I totally agree about the emotional punch.I have pulled this out 
> a lot and 
> it has slowly developed into one of my favorites.It really does 
> grow on 
> you.The minimalistic use of strings,keyboards,and backing vocals 
> help to 
> make this a masterpiece of melancholy.I do believe this is one 
> that will be 
> thought of as a stand out release from this era.It will be 
> interesting to 
> see how far he goes with his "states" project.
> Now ,when I see pictures of him performing with angel wings,I 
> will admit he 
> can be a bit silly.But so far,I love what I hear from him.
> I also enjoyed his Christmas box of eps quite a lot.
> 
> 
> >From: synthhtnys@comcast.net
> >Reply-To: audities@smoe.org
> >To: audities@smoe.org
> >Subject: Re: sufjan pan
> >Date: Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:18:49 +0000
> >
> >
> >Ah, you beat me to it. I thought I would have to be the lone 
> voice of 
> >dissent.
> >
> >No, I don't think everything on it is equally great...., no I 
> won't play 
> >this every day til I die kind of musical gem.... no, I don't 
> think the hype 
> >to reality ratio is accurate either, but that is a rare thing 
> when the hype 
> >and reality meet anyway so I don't pay too much attention to 
> that..... 
> >however the sheer emotional punch and lyrical brilliance of 
> songs like John 
> >Wayne Gacy make this better than a lot of recent releases I've 
> heard. I 
> >happen to like his orchestrations and use of a variety of tone 
> colors... I 
> >don't mind the lack of "catchy pop hooks" and the sort of 
> minimalist 
> >atmosphere. I probably will play this for some time... and 
> think it may 
> >well be a future "hidden Gem" than some kind of earth 
> shattering release...
> >
> >One man's meat is another poison..
> >
> >I mean Drake Bell, The Josie and the Pussycats soundtrack and a 
> couple 
> >others here brought out some rave reviews but I found them 
> pretty much 
> >generic "hooky pop" devoid of any interesting musical ideas or 
> original 
> >thought and were the ones that I couldn't sell fast enough...
> >
> >
> >
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> Need a break? Find your escape route with Live Search Maps. 
> http://maps.live.com/?icid=hmtag3
> 
> 

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