What Makes Sufjan Stevens Great?

(And Why Should You Bother Listening To Him?)

What Does Sufjan Stevens Sound Like?

I wouldn't know any specific artists that he really sounds like, but I can say that he breaches into at least these following genres:

• Folk
• Electronic
• Orchestral
• Indie
• Rock
• Industrial (The Song "Age Of Adz")
• Choir
• Psychedelic

My Blurb/Rant About Sufjan Stevens:

I first really got into and listened to Sufjan Stevens EP "All Delighted People". The EP has a lot of classic rock, orchestral, and folk singer/songwriter elements to it.

It's also 60 minutes long, so I'm not sure why it's considered an EP, but I will abide by these foolish and bending music labeling rules!

I know a lot of people seem to really define him as indie, but he actually spans across a lot of different genre's. For example, his album "Enjoy Your Rabbit" has some of the most spacey and experimental electronics I've ever really heard.

His album "The BQE" is a near-completely orchestral album, and is comparable to the emotion that Beethoven has in his music.

You know how they say that Beethoven makes babies smarter and all that crap? Well "The BQE" does the same. I use it whenever I need to focus at work and get lots of important things done (As if).

It is superb.

His landmark album for most people is "Come On Feel The Illionoise!", with his massive single "Chicago"; it definitely is a fantastic song. Actually, the whole album is really good and definitely worth your time.

Making young girls cry over him...all over the world...

But I would say that his greatest achievement so far is definitely his album "Age Of Adz". From the psychotic artwork, his perfect blend of folk and electronic music; and his creative use of auto tune rivaling that of Kanye West.

It's an emotional piece of work, and is something that I would consider to be a masterpiece.

I should mention though, that for the first few listens there is so much musical information included that it can all sound the same at first.

Frankly, it's a bit overwhelming. But I guarantee that if you listen to it 5 or 6 times, you'll be hooked and it will become one of your favorite albums (Like it is mine).

Sufjan is incredibly diverse; one of my biggest concert regrets is that I missed him when he came in October 2010 to Vancouver.

My friends rave about it being one of the best and most terrifying concerts they've seen, and I can't wait to see him the next time he comes, even though he seldom goes on tour (probably because his concerts are elaborate works of art consisting often of a dozen musicians).

Songs By Sufjan Stevens That Will Get You Hooked On Him!

I Want To Be Well

Chicago

I Walked

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