Radio Free Chicago

Dear Rivers, Please Stop Crapping On My Adolescence Now

Rock critic Dave Marsh raised a few eyebrows back in 1978 when he accused Queen of fascism in a review of their seventh studio album, Jazz. I'm not gonna wade into the waters of Marsh's musical politics or address his opinion of Queen, but I can back Marsh up by saying that I certainly believe a band can tacitly embody a political ideology or a psychological state of mind through their work — and if you'll allow me a brief Marsh-ian conceit, I'm about ready to declare Weezer the world's first truly sociopathic rock band.

Like most everybody else who grew up on and adored 1994's self-titled "Blue Album" and its roiling, angst-ridden follow-up Pinkerton, I cut Weezer as much slack as I could muster for their first couple of half-assed post-2000 albums. But I can pinpoint 2005's execrable Make Believe as the point where they, honest to God, started to creep me out. There's something about listening to "Beverly Hills" or "We Are All On Drugs" that feels like staring into the eyes of a hardened career criminal — nothing but a vast, merciless, unapologetic emptiness. I found myself wondering: If Rivers Cuomo can pass off cold, cursory robotics like "This Is Such A Pity" as heartfelt sentiment, then what else is this guy capable of?

RFC Reviews: Madjo "Madjo EP"

Given the fact that I’m a feminist, what I’m about to say makes me feel dang awful but the fact of the matter is that  I dislike female artists. There’s no possible way for me to make that statement and come across as anything other than a pretentious bitch but I swear, I’ve reasoning behind it and my reasoning has nothing to do with the sex of the musician I’m listening to. You see, I’m a lyrics gal. I love well worded lyrics that I can relate to my life and frankly, I haven’t found a woman that can bring a tear to my eye even half as often as Okkervil River’s Will Sheff has. Couple that with the fact that lower registers are just more audibly pleasing to my ear and you’ve got yourself a dude lovin’ gal.

What can I say? I was a middle schooler in the heyday or Lillith Fair and maybe the schlocky sentiments behind it just ruined a lot of female musicians for me.

That’s not to say there isn’t talent out there – I used to be an avid Cat Power fan and my favorite band for the past year has been Lightning Love. Agent Ribbons’ Chateau Crone is quickly becoming one of my favorite records of the year and early Joanna Newsom will always have a place in my heart (Let’s just not mention Have One On Me). But when a new female musician is introduced to me, I can’t help but feel slightly apprehensive, having flashbacks to the drivel that was Sarah McLachlan’s “Ice Cream”, a song that I truly believe might be the worst thing ever written.

Fellow contributor John asked me if I’d be willing to give the 4 song EP by French-By-Way-Of- Evian-les-Bains artist Madjo a listen and it wasn’t but ten seconds into the jaunty, charming opener “Trapdoor in a Wall” that I found all my misgivings disappear.

 

Madjo - Trapdoor In A Wall

 

“Trapdoor in a Wall” seems to have emerged from a different era, mixing cheerful guitar and layered vocals that contrast Madjo’s gorgeously husky voice. “Je claque des doigts” capitalizes on my weakness for my motherland (Viva la France!) with a shout along chorus that transcends the fact that most of you probably won’t understand a word Madjo’s saying. Does it really matter whether you can understand her or not? The music speaks for itself, weaving a seductive web of snaps and stomps.

Madjo seems to lie somewhere in the ether between early Fiona Apple (only with a jolt of electric energy) and French chanteuse Keren Ann (only with much more sass) but it doesn’t seem to matter what name you drop. Much of Madjo is incomparable, a patchwork of her own foreign sensibilities and her influences, which range from The National and Sufjan Setvens to Bjork and Arcade Fire.

Madjo ends her EP haunting “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”, a tragic story of a song that is the perfect showcase for the range and strength of Madjo’s deeply affecting voice.

 

The only shame here is that Madjo doesn't have but four songs readily availible for you to fall in love with. Come September 13th, however, that will change as Madjo's debut, Trapdoor, will find it's way to shelves near you or, at the very least, the internet.

Early Bird Warning: CAW! CAW! at Empty Bottle in September

Silly Chicago psychedelic indie-rock outfit CAW! CAW! (not to be confused with Cacaw) released its debut LP, Bummer Palace, in May—but I haven’t even had a chance to pick it up. According to the band’s MySpace, it’s available at shows, and the next one they have lined up for Chicago is on September 19^th at the Empty Bottle. Unless something unforeseen happens, you can bet I’ll be there. Why? Because I loved the entirety of the band’s EP “Wait Outside” and because seeing them play at a party last year was both a blast and somewhat of a riot—the cops came, yet CAW! CAW! continued to rock out on their song “Toothless” anyway. At the time, “Toothless” was totally my favorite track from their MySpace page so for me, it was all the more epic.

On top of being tight and writing complex jams, the group pulls off pop sensibility without a hitch.  If you’re in Chicago, be sure to make it to the September 19^th show to see their powerful live show and wild stage antics.  In the meantime, check out their lovable MySpace page (and, if you don’t appreciate this sense of humor, what the bird crap is wrong with you?). Get tickets now to see CAW! CAW! at the Empty Bottle September 19. Since you're gonna have to come to the Empty Bottle to pick up the new LP, here are a few tracks off the EP for you to enjoy until then:

 

 

Organisms

 

Rotten Ghost

Escape the Red Giant

Tim Kasher Finds Love, More or Less

When word came out that Tim Kasher had a new album, let's say these two ears were hesitant. Cursive's Mama, I'm Swollen teetered towards The Good Life territory, which faded the lines between his two projects. A solo album abstractly denotes acoustic and I could not take a triad of musical iterations, hence the hesitation. Or maybe it was that a part of me wants him to move on past the lyrics of domestic disillusionment and heartbreak and finally make an uplifting love song. Something upbeat, sweet in the way Colin Meloy gushes on "Wonder."

Pushing the tape into the deck on "Cold Love" churns out the brightest, practically pop guitar ever heard from Kasher. A riff so shiny it brakes you the way his lyrics could only do before. Before you believe he's polishing up his shoes, going out to stop for that final ring and find happiness through marriage, focus on the tale spun. "The sheltered life of a couple is like living in a bubble." Okay, well...in the words of our venerable Chicagoan in What about Bob?, "Baby steps."

Even if it has been five years since your last taste of Kasher's songwriting, or anything Saddle Creek, pull off that congested music highway for this little green house of an album and listen. The Game of Monogamy features Minus the Bear's Erin Tate, members of the Glacier National Symphony, and Omaha's Matt Maginn and Patrick Newbery. It will be released October 5th via Saddle Creek Records. Special packages include a version with a signed poster, and one that includes an exclusive 7" signed and personalized by Tim Kasher limited to 100.

Tim Kasher will return to Chicago November 20th at Schubas.

Peggy Sue: A Band Aides In Healing The Senses

Peggy Sue (formerly known as Peggy Sue and the Pirates) on Yep Roc records, released their "The Body Parts EP" followed by "The First Aid EP" for free in April of 2010. Both albums are cathartic and stripped to the bare bone of lust, desire and insatiability. Their three members, Rosa Rex, Katy Klaw and Olly Joyce, all hail from Brighton, England and have toured with a number of artists in the UK including Kate Nash, Mumford & Sons and The Macabees.

The vocals have a flux of radiating permeation glistened by alt-folk string and minimal percussion. The delicate lyrics in the track "Clockwork", 'My heart, it beats for you and my mind it thinks for two, but you wear my heart on your sleeve...', take you on galloping and sticking to your skin as you perspire over their lovers leap of infectious melodies. Peggy Sue is a must in your survival kit, whether it be heartbreak or falling in love, their music is meant to soothe you oh so well. 

Peggy Sue - Clockwork

 

Stash it in Your Kit and if you cant et enough of it check out their Daytrotter Session

Ben Sollee And Daniel Martin Moore Colaborate, Break Hearts

I have a confession: I love duets. Not all duets, mind you, but I do have a weak spot for a couple of indie rockers getting together and making magic. The National and St. Vincent? Talk about perfection! Grizzly Bear and Beach House? Yes, please! So when I heard that cellist Ben Sollee was collaborating with folkie Daniel Martin Moore, my interest was piqued from the beginning. Of course, then I heard the record and boy howdy! It was everything I dreamed and more - In particular, the track "Something, Somewhere, Sometime".

Every element of Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore's Dear Companion comes together perfectly on "Something, Somewhere, Sometime" without one facet of the song outshining the other and while their voices compliment each other beautifully and Moore's crafty guitar work is showcased beautifully, what really gets me about the track are the lyrics and melody.

As the men plead for forgiveness in the chorus while explaining their actions in the verses, I can't help but relate the song to every boy I've ever bummed out as the song plays out like more than a few of my failed relationships. Sollee and Moore can't settle down in the song, they miss their intended targets, pass by people they perhaps shouldn't, and although it happens all the time, the behavior repeats in a cycle they're unable to break due to the familiarity of their surroundings. Does this sound familiar to anyone else or is it just me?

The lyrics to "Something, Somewhere, Sometime" read like a letter to any one of my ex-fellas that liked me significantly more than I liked them - So much so in fact that this song makes me want to craft a mix of apology for being a bad girlfriend. No single line ever written is more suited for this task than "If I've wounded you, I'm sorry. I had good intentions." because it's true, I usually do have good intentions, and usually, things don't work out in my favor. In the words of Matt Berninger, I'm so sorry for everything and just like Sollee and Moore, I just want a little forgiveness.

Ben Sollee & Daniel Martin Moore - Something, Somewhere, Sometime

 

 

People Covering Songs I Love: Delta Spirit Edition Part 2 - Featuring AA Bondy!

I never thought I'd get married. I mean, let's face it, I'm 26 and, since I've beem 26, I haven't had a boyfriend. 25? Well, that was spotty too. And let's not even talk about 24. I've never been in a serious relationship and I've certainly never dated someone I was in it to win it with. Regardless, like any girl, I've had daydreams about an ideal wedding. Only my daydreams have never included my perfect dress or  fanciest cake or swankiest honeymoon destination. Instead, my daydreams have more centered on the music that'd play as I walked down the aisle (assuming I didn't high tail it out there before then because we are, after all, talking about the girl who's high tailed it out of dates before due to cold feet). Neutral Milk Hotel, Cat Power, Eisley, Elliott Smith, and Built To Spill all make the cut in true "quirky girl alt-wedding" fashion but the first dance at this non-existent reception of mine would undoubtedly be AA Bondy's "Lover's Waltz".

AA Bondy - Lovers' Waltz

 

So imagine my supreme jealousy when two of my dear friends (and sometimes contriburors!) John and Steph not only had their first dance to the tune but had their first dance to this tune played live by Delta Spirit at the third Daytrotter Barnstormer tour.

Does it get cooler than that? A wedding at a barn, orhcestrated by Brooks Strausse, Pearly Gate Music, Ra Ra Riot, and Delta Spirit? I don't think it does.

Delta Spirit - Lover's Waltz

"Lover's Waltz" just might be the perfect love song. It's certainly the most affecting, simple, and gorgeous love song of our generation and it's a toss up whose version is better - AA Bondy's original or Delta Spirit's slight reworking. I'm tempted to say Delta Spirit's only because of my emotional ties to their version of the tune but regardless, "Lover's Waltz" can't lose, no matter which of these two musicians are taking the reigns.  

Lyrics like "Your shipwreck eyes, they sing to me as we ride a killer whale across a diamond sea" conjure up the type of love that's hard to come by, the type of love that at once makes everything phenomonal and insigificant.

I'm of the mind that "Lover's Waltz" played at a wedding is a good omen, a sign that this marriage will not end in heartache accompanied by a messy divorce. Take note, aging hipsters. It's time to settle down, find that special someone and queue up "Lover's Waltz" for the first dance at your very own wedding.

People Covering Songs I Love: Delta Spirit Edition Part 1 - Featuring Dawes!

For as unique and interesting of a person as I try to be, I sure am predictable. For instance, if I'm reading a book and the cover's obscured, it's safe for you to assume it's a graphic novel, probably about the X-Men. If I'm about to put on a record, chances are it's gonna be folk music. And if I suggest a movie, it'll either have superheroes or zombies in a featured role. What can I say? I like Hellboy and I like Marvel and I love Elliott Smith.

My predictability, as a human, stretches through all walks of my life. My clothes (Minidress and leggings, all day, every day), my hair (Brown with bangs, in varying degrees of bob), and my sleeping patterns (Did the sunrise yet? No? Well, I'll still be awake.). So it's only natural that the same types of songs get spun over and over at RFC HQ. To assist you with understanding, I've made a handy pie chart for you.

You may notice that there's a lot of folk music there, a bit of indie pop, a healthy does of rock n roll, some French pop (Who can resist Francoise Hardy?), and... Novelty covers.

Nothing pumps me up like a band I love doing a song I love, be it a song I genuinely adore or a guilty pleasure track, ala Miniature Tigers' tackling Abba's "Mama Mia" or Lissie's gorgeous rendition of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance". When an artist I love tackles a guilty pleasure song of mine, I feel it's easier for them to come out ahead than when an artist I love covers a song I love by an artist I simply adore.

Enter Delta Spirit's cover of Dawes' "Peace In The Valley".

I don't even need to talk about Dawes and what that song means to me because you can already guess based upon my many blogs lavishing praise upon the Goldmiths. Yes, I love them, I think they're incredibly wise, incredibly charismatic, and cute as buttons. Every track on their debut, North Hills, holds a special place for me, from the heartbreaking "Bedside Manner" to the seething "My Girl To Me" to the somber, depressed "Peace In The Valley". 

Dawes -  Peace In The Valley

Of course, part of what makes each of these songs so incredibly powerful is Taylor Goldsmith's voice so when I saw that Delta Spirit had covered "Peace In The Valley", I was apprehensive to say the least. '

"Peace In the Valley" played an imporant role in my life, earlier this year. I was displaced. Lost my job. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with my life, let alone where I was going to live. So I returned to my homestate of Michigan to suss things out. Dawes was - and still is - a staple in my daily listening and during this time, when I was helping my stepmom move into her new house, "Peace In The Valley" caught my ear. In particular, the following lines - "Our actor ends his love song as all these lovers sit and stare - If I don't find peace in the valley, it's because there wasn't any there."

Delta Spirit - Peace in the Valley (Live At Daytrotter)

First hearing Delta Spirit's version of the song was jarring to say the least but after a fair few repeated listen, I realized I loved it - It's not who sings the song that matters in this case. Rather, what's important is that they understand the meaning behind the song, that they feel what Goldsmith feels when he sings it. I believe that Delta Spirit get it. And it shows. The band manages to leave all of the beauty of the original intact and let each lyric hit with the impact Goldsmith had intended.

It took a while for Delta Spirit's "Peace In the Valley" to grow on me but now that it has, dare I say it's surpassed my love for the originality?

I must say that whether it has or it hasn't, it's dang close.

RFC Reviews: Bars of Gold's "Of Gold"

 "Well I was born a cannibal. Not like any cannibal you've seen before. Son of a working man, son of a salesman..."

Terrorhawk was a visceral assault on your senses. Stuttering riffs and a calm Marc Paffi indicated they were just starting, as if feigning the audience right when they were going straight towards you with shouts and a blazing melange of punk, indie rock, and unadulterated joy. This was the last album of Bear Vs. Shark, a post-hardcore group from Highland, Michigan who, along with The Blood Brothers, rate as the most depressing dissolutions of the past decade...

Hence the excitement, hesitant suspense, then euphoric satisfaction when "The Hustle" came up in those glorious time-saver RSS feeds. The freshly minted Bars of Gold reunites Brandon Moss with Marc Paffi along with members of Wildcatting, an instrumental noise group. The track is a six-minute barrage balancing amid post-hardcore, folk, and indie rock. An unassuming, lone banjo picks up the hitch-hiker Brandon on the side of the street. The two continue their merry way before Marc pulls a Paul Revere. Marc's the instigator who's singing teeters between barking and genius; the Jekyll and Hyde of indie rock.

Bars of Gold - The Hustle

No Need To Go To The Library To Check Out These Bad Books!

Last week, the twitterverse dang near exploded with news of Bad Books, the new project from Kevin Devine and Manchester Orchestra. It’s not the first time these two have collaborated and it certainly won’t be the last, as Devine’s relationship with Manchester Orchestra (Not to mention the third part of the best-friends-triangle Devine has with Andy Hull, Brand New’s Jesse Lacey) spans many years and releases, but Bad Books is probably the most noteworthy of the pair's efforts.

 

It was rumored some time ago that the Devine-Hull collaboration would simply be another split EP, in the fashion of the duo's I Could Be The Only One only longer and featuring original material composed specifically for what would become Bad Books. Instead, however, we get treated to a full LP, to be released October 19th. The lead track from the album is making the blog rounds now and is, interestingly enough, a track Devine has been playing in a different capacity for sometime.

Bad Books - You Wouldn't Have To Ask

 

 

Now... I want to like this song. In fact, I want to like everything Devine offers. I think the man's just a wonderful lyricist and quite the pleasant fellow to be around. I think, in it's acoustic version, it was just lovelier. Too much is happening here and it overpowers the more interesting elements. Hull's voice, for instance, is very powerful by nature and takes over the song, leaving Devine nothing more than a background player.

 

 

 

 

What it seems that Bad Books is going to be is Manchester Orchestra featuring Kevin Devine. It seems Devine wants to try something new and that's commendable, but is it so wrong of us to want him to capitalize on the folkier moments of his last full length, Brother’s Blood and leave behind the glossy slickness that not only riddled some of Devine’s previous work (namely, Put Your Ghost To Rest) but is also a signature of Manchester? Devine's strength, as an artist, lies in his songwriting and his acoustic guitar. To bog his gentle voice down with production elements just detracts from his talent.

 

Now, I'm waiting to reserve judgement on Bad Books until their full length drops and despite my immediate displeasure, I am excited to see what the rest of the LP has to offer. Hopefully, it'll be less like "You Wouldn't Have To Ask" and more along the lines of this...

 

 

 

RFC Interviews Music/Food/Travel Journalist Kara Zuaro

Kara Zuaro author of "I Like Food, Food Tastes Good (In The Kitchen With Your Favorite Bands" has been quite the inspiration to me; as a writer she has been innovative in mixing all the ingredients that make for a perfect recipe of music and food, enriching the reader with laughter and insight into all of ones' pleasures. I got the chance to ask her some questions about her career and inspiration.

 

Radio Free Chicago: A little background, Kara, how did you begin your career as a music/food/travel journalist? And who were you influences?

Kara Zuaro: I guess I my career started when I was editor of my high school newspaper -- or rather, when I got in a fight with the principal of my high school about some controversial articles that she wouldn't allow us to run.  The morning I resigned from my post as editor-in-chief and
cut the rest of the day of school marked the beginning of my career in journalism.

In college, I was lucky to be a part of an amazing staff at Notre Dame's Scholastic magazine, and I interned for CMJ during my summers at home in New York.  I wrote my first music reviews and interviews for CMJ, and when one of my CMJ editors got a job at Citysearch, she let me write some restaurant reviews so that I could get paid AND get some free food out of the deal.  I had a couple of secretarial day jobs after college, but my freelance work for Citysearch eventually helped me to get hired at Epicurious.  Epi assigned me my first food and travel features.

I continued to write about music on the side while I was at Epicurious, and that's when I collected all the recipes for my indie rock cookbook, "I Like Food, Food Tastes Good."  The cookbook includes a bunch of stories about bands and food, and when I was writing them, I re-read Michael Azerrad's "Our Band Could Be Your Life" and "Nowhere To Run: The Story of Soul Music" by Gerri Hirshey, which offers a personal look at the lives of people like Otis Redding, James Brown, and Aretha Franklin.  I consider myself more of a music fan than a music critic, and those two books helped me find my voice.

What is the most memorable concert you’ve ever attended?

Gosh, probably Paul McCartney at Madison Square Garden in 5th grade. I remember the room getting darker and this small riser magically lifting Paul and his piano as he played "Fool on the Hill" -- I still get goosebumps thinking about it.  I also remembering asking my dad why the people sitting next to us were smoking such funny-smelling cigarettes.  He gave me a brief and alarming description of what it meant to "get stoned," and explained that we didn't need to smoke marijuana to have a good time.  Pretty awesome setting for a don't-do-drugs speech!

What are a few items essential to your “tour survival kit?

Sleeping bag, pillow, ear plugs, sleeping mask, phone with internet access, facial cleansing wipes, aspirin.  Some dudes have no trouble sleeping splayed out on a stranger's couch without a sheet -- but I need to be wrapped up in something when we sleep.  If I can create a little nest for myself, I can sleep on any floor, anywhere. (A little whiskey before bedtime helps, too.)  Nowadays, your phone provides every map you'll need.  And the cleansing wipes mean you can wash up even if you can't get near a sink or shower.  The aspirin is not only to ease your own pain but also to aid your grouchy hungover bandmates. Bring a lot. I like Excedrin Migraine.

Josh Ritter Rattles Some Locks

One album of 2010 that garnered far too little attention was the latest disc from Josh Ritter, So Runs The World Away. Another perfect showcase for Ritter's storytelling capabilities as a lyricist, So Runs The World Away was equal parts timeless and modern, featuring accessible folk Americana that wouldn't sound out of place when played alongside the likes of legends like Dylan, Guthrie, and Hank the first.

Earlier this year, Ritter released a video for the remarkable track "The Curse", featuring a marionette mummy falling in love with a marionette archaeologist. Now, Josh continues his trend of atypical videos with a "photo essay" by Sam Kassirer for the searingly bitter "Rattling Locks".

Kassirer has this to say about the project:

“This video/photo essay was made exclusively with 120mm medium format photographs taken partially over 2009 US and Europe tours, and partially from a shoot with Josh to capture specific images that the song evokes. Locations include the London Eye, The Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans LA, and a piano tuning shop in Somerville, MA. Hopefully it comes across as sort of scary and a little bit funny.”

As far as we're concerned, the video is a perfect compliment to the song. Just as dark as it is memorable, the monochrome photos have a more cinematic feel than most music videos this side of Lady Gaga, not to mention the fact that "Rattling Locks" is the type of song that takes root in your head and doesn't let go. If you missed the spring release of So Runs the World Away, this ought to convince you to retrace your steps and check it out.

RFC Reviews: Arcade Fire's The Suburbs

 I’ll get straight to the point here. I am convinced Arcade Fire can do no wrong musically. No, haven’t been brainwashed and I’m not experiencing delayed side affects from the cold that kept me from writing this review last week. It’s been more than three years since Neon Bible was released, but The Suburbs was worth the wait.

 The Suburbs shows a more refined and subtle Arcade Fire than heard on their first two albums. There’s still the orchestral depth that originally caught the music world’s attention, but this album replaces distorted electric guitar with acoustic picking patterns and soul-stirring church organ with jaunty piano.

While the album is lighter than the band’s other work, it’s certainly not a watered down version of the Arcade Fire we’ve come to know over the past few years. As usual, the lyrics are fantastic, and packed with themes many musicians wouldn’t dare to touch – and probably wouldn’t handle as gracefully if they tried. Despite the softer feel to the album, there’s a sense of frustration stemmed from unnecessary pretension that can come with suburban life. As someone who’s been stuck in the ‘burbs all summer, I can certainly relate.

Arcade Fire - Sprawl II

Sure, Archie Powell's Gonna Be At Schubas on the 23rd... But So Are We!

It's no secret that Archie Powell & The Exports are hitting Schubas on the 23^rd. You may have noticed that we’ve mentioned it a couple times. Heck, we premiered their single. We showed ya’ll their video. We even gave away some tickets to the forthcoming show!

Well, kids, the time is upon us – In a mere two days, Archie, Adam, Ryan, and RJ will be giving it their all at the Tavern and no fewer than six – Count ‘em! Six! – of your favorite RFC staff members, including Editor in Chief Amber V., will be in attendance, doing what they do best: Snappin’ pics, takin’ notes, and dancing up a storm! (Editor’s note: It is not known if any RFC staff members other than Amber will be dancing up a storm but you’d best believe she’ll pick up their slack.)

We're of the mind here at RFC that nothing beats a good old fashioned rock and roll show and AP&E know how to deliver just that. Taking as many cues from the forefathers of rock like Costello and Westerberg as they do their own original common sense, the foursome is laying the solid groundwork for a long career filled with awesome gutiar riffs, catchy keyboard melodies, and more sing along choruses than you could shake a stick at.

Check out "Enough About Me", if you haven't already, and remember: Life's short. Buy your favorite brunette blogger a drink! (That means me, kids! Just look for the brown haired gal dancin' up that aforementioned storm in a leopard print dress and come say hello with a cold one in hand!)

The show's 18 and up and starts at 7:30. Come see what the fuss is all about! But first, enjoy an acoustic video of Archie performing the forthcoming album track "The Darndest Things". Not that I'm trying to sway anyone's opinion or anything, but this here's my favorite AP&E song, hands down.

 

 

A Surprise from Sufjan

This week has been seemingly endless, I find myself crawling into the weekend with just one desire...to sleep in tomorrow. It seems as though my energy has been completely drained since Lollapalooza only checking out a couple shows and being a bad contributor not able to muster up anything interesting to write about. Much to my pleasant surprise late this morning I was welcomed with exciting news the highly elusive (at least in recent years) Sufjan Stevens had made an EP of new material ready to download.

Stevens' last proper release was way back in 2005 when he still had in mind to soundtrack all 50 states. In those five long years the Detroit native flexed his creative muscles both as a producer and composer. Fans have had tiny tidbits thrown at them sporadically in the form of Christmas tunes and his surreal sounding audio symphony paying homage to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway.

Fast forward to present day, All Delighted People is an eight song EP returning with the hyper intensified cinematic title track clocking in nearly 12 minutes with Stevens singing joyous melodies of his more elated disposition on life. In a truly artistic fashion Sufjan is able to touch upon any sort of subject matter merging a variety of musical influences and styles spanning generations of music. Two versions of “All Delighted People” allows him to break down the song musically rebuilding in two completely different fashions exhibiting a never ending desire to further his musical investigations and ability to produce an avant-garde rehashing while simultaneously saluting an alternate genre of music. My idealistic hope is this is just a breath of what is about to be unleashed..fingers crossed.

Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People