Band: Sufjan Stevens
Release: 10/2010
Label: Asthmatic Kitty
1. “Futile Devices” – B
2. “Too Much” – C
3. “Age of Adz” – C+
4. “I Walked” – B
5. “Now That I’m Older” – B+
6. “Get Real Get Right” – B-
7. “Bad Communication” – C
8. “Vesuvius” – C+
9. “All For Myself” – B-
10. “I Want To Be Well” – C
11. “Impossible Soul” – B
Comments: S.S has made a return to show business…as the band Phoenix. Not quite, but as you may or may not know, this is an electronically driven piece of work. A bit like when Peter Bjorn and John went electronic…except that actually worked rather well. Sufjan is still pretty much Sufjan of old. He sort of “wow”-ed me with Illinois — not going to lie — though I’d never consider myself particularly fond of his work, holistically. You either have to stick orchestral or go full electronic. None of this half and half BS is acceptable in my eyes. Sufjan thinks since he’s Sufjan he can do whatever he wants. He’s not Radiohead. Some of these tunes are decent throw-away listens. That’s a depressing thing to say given the current music culture, but it’s true. I mean, I have a pretty short listening span so these 4+ minute tunes aren’t ever going to cut it. Even the shorties are just little one timers. Twenty-five minute songs aren’t acceptable…ever.
Grade: B- (80)
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 
Though, most songs I listen to come nowhere near the twenty-five minute mark, I’d disagree and say they are quite acceptable.
I can listen to a complete yes rabbit album in 25 minutes. this is like pullin teeth
I’d just like to say, you’re opinion is good to hear.
That being said, I completely disagree. I don’t understand why you impose such limitations on another person’s art. I suppose it is a matter of taste, but if you are going to review something, you should attempt to judge it a little more objectively.
For me, none of the songs are drawn out too long and the atmosphere of the album is all Sufjan. Just because it has glitchy beats doesn’t mean it sounds like Pheonix. And innovations are made through combining styles, so why not “half-and-half BS?” I felt like the textures were expertly done, and sounds were just thrown in to make things more complex.
But whatever, to each his own.
Ryan,
It does boil down to taste, I’d say.
I was definitely being a little playful by imposing limitations. I’m in favor of artists trying out new things — and beat-to-beat it was an expertly endeavor for Sufjan — that said, the album as a whole feels rather convoluted and too eagerly experimental. I’m not sure that I was looking for Illinois Part 2, but I wasn’t really expecting a departure like this one.
His musicianship is top rate and I give him props for that, but like I said here and in the review…not feeling it.
This is literally a terrible review. When your primary variables for consisdering wether an album is good or bad are how long the tracks are or whether or not it’s ok that someone mixes orchestral and electronic movements, than your ability to critique art is no longer working. In other words, this review is terrible because you are imposing your own understanding of art, which is limited and clearly bias, on something that challenges it, and, apparently, that bothers you- which means nothing in the conversation of whether or not this is a good album. Music changes over time, and that’s normal. According to this review, almost nothing before fifty years ago could be considered “good art”. Considering that, it should be obvious that this review is really silly.
Art is art is art. Rock ‘n’ roll is what I like. “Good art” or “bad art” whatever that even means… art is art is art. I don’t dig this record very much, although it does have some value that some other listener (maybe like yourself) will appreciate. Sorry, I can’t appreciate this as much. I’m not disqualifying it as art. It’s just something that doesn’t please the ears of yours truly.
It doesn’t matter if you like it or not. That’s really the issue here. I don’t even love it. The sounds aren’t that appealing to me yet. But, saying something like, “art is art” is sort of a copout. You can’t really say that and then give songs grade letters. Doesn’t work. Here is why it works in my eyes:
Sufjan reinvents his own sound (big deal right?), but he does it in a way that is original and challenging to the dominant narrative of songwriting. On top of that, he challenges the form of the song and album itself. We expect songs to be only so long, but there is no hard and fast rule for that. Short or long doesn’t necessarily mean good or bad. However, he has 25 minute song that has nearly every dominant motif in it, itself. It’s doing something new, and, on top of that, it’s done really well (especially from a musical and recording perspective). it’s cool if you like rock and roll, but that doesn’t really matter in this conversation. The art conversation has to reconsider, not impose. This is a really good album. This is why people are confused as to what is happening with it. That’s pretty much a historical tradition. Any time someone does something interesting or new, especially when it is good, we reject it at first because it doesn’t fit our original framework. But there are some pretty wild, and astounding things happening with these songs, and the way they are arranged/ recorded. It’s unbelievably creative, and refreshing. On top of that, it’s sort of a glamorous pastiche of good sounds and interesting ideas. And naturally, as Suf has this strength, the lyrics are powerful and well-written. So how could this possibly be a B-. B- is average. Most rock and roll is average- everyone is doing it, and no one is doing anything that interesting with it. Very few people are even trying.
To get real technical, my “grades” range from F- (50) to A++ (100) so this falls above the average (75). Despite my statement, I even gave the last song a B — it’s one of the best songs on here. I’ve heard 9 minute, 13 minute songs before and just have never been excited. It is finely arranged and everything else, as you’ve mentioned. It’s a journey. My opinions aren’t definitive, so you are intrinsically correct in your commentary. The grades — anybody who gives grades are innately going to be given shit — are mere reactions. I sometimes go back and change them upon further listen. They aren’t appraisal or disapproval of “good art” and “bad art”. I find Sufjan’s earlier musical compositions to be much more catchier. That’s not commentary on the kind of innovation you suggest is present on here. Whether he can or can’t, should or shouldn’t, is reactionary talk, not encouragement or dissuasion.
Yeah, well It’s really not a huge deal. It’s just frustrating to see anything be “summed up” after it’s only been out for, ya know, a day or something. And I’m not saying you were trying to do that. That’s probably what makes doing reviews like this challenging here. Thanks for considering my argument. I appreciate that. I can see that you are more so giving sort of a preference scale, and that’s totally cool too. Keep on with it. I’m sure there are lots of people who are on the same page as you, and I can respect that.