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CibbuanoSufjan Stevens - An avalanche of artistry
June 21st 2006 03:48
Sufjan's back
Ok this review has been a long time in coming. Like... since a few days after I first reviewed Sufjan Stevens. But, in researching for my artist review of Sufjan Stevens, I found out that the American folk artist was about to release another album, entitled The Avalanche. While the album was new material, it isn't a new album per se, but marketed instead as those songs cut from the final track listing of his previous release, Illinois. Nevertheless, the album is in no way a half-hearted release, but rather ensured to be created properly, even to the point that several tracks were redone to some extent in order to ensure that they are at their full potential.
The Avalanche
This album is definitely the best of both worlds, combining Sufjan's previous work, with the electronic-infused jazz and classical jazz from Illinois. Dear Mr. Supercomputer sounds like it was made by Sufjan by himself with a keyboard and computer, where Adlai Stevenson is reminiscent of the full-band experimentation Sufjan began with The Man of Metropolis in the last album. The album goes in a few too many directions for comfort, from the trumpet and electronic-based jazz-folk to the banjo and piano folk, separated by interlude tracks that appear to have no real point.
Several reviews I have read on the album seem to lament that this album contains the cutoffs of Illinois rather than the much-favoured Seven Swans and I can see their point. Where the latter is a memory of much simpler instrumentation from Sufjan and a much more folk styling, Illinois sees Sufjan in a much more complex and somewhat disoriented light. The Avalanche has become a combination of the two, a sign of a constantly evolving folk artist who is trying to unleash his emotions and ideas through so many different individual stylings. Perhaps the middle-ground has been found, and yet it remains slightly awkward, an almost battle between two vastly different genres. It is definitely an album to behold and appreciate, but this is only one step in Sufjan's continuing journey.
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Comment by amy
'Chicago' always makes me SO nostalgic and I've never even been there.
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Comment by Anonymous
it's "soof-yahn" not "suhf-juhn" like they pronounce it.
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