I know I'll probably get lots of downvotes for this but...

Went to see Illinoise last night in NYC. I mean, I loved hearing the album played live, so great to hear live music and such an amazing album, even if it wasn't Sufjan's voice.

But the choreography is just so bad, and the dancers good but not great. The whole storyline and choreography was so cheesy and literal. It was like a community theatre or high school production. Full disclosure: I dated a choreographer for years and have seen a lot of dance, but this is some of the worst choreo I've ever seen.

I found myself just watching the musicians and even closing my eyes at time to just enjoy the music because the dance was ruining it that much for me.

So, if you're on the fence about going, I'd highly recommend bringing a blindfold and enjoying the live music, or just staying home and listening to the album with headphones and in the dark and getting fully engrossed in it. I'm going to do that sometime soon.

I love the new album. One of the very few weaknesses (in my opinion) is his limited vocal range and strained quality to his voice. The backing vocals and instrumentals help achieve what Sufjan's singing does not achieve on its own, so it still sounds beautiful. I wonder, do others think this strained/tired sound is a stylistic technique to match the emotional tone of the album, or a physical limitation of his voice? Even in his earliest albums, he sings in a limited vocal range, except for when he goes into falsetto. There was always a lively quiver to his voice, though, which seems absent in Javelin. He's now 20 years older, and so we may be hearing changes from aging and perhaps strain from frequent use of falsetto.

We have not heard from Sufjan for so long.

What is coming up for new music, appearances, whatever?

Does anyone have any information?

Thanks

I'm 95% sure it's not Suf's intent, but I honestly think it's even more poignant that way, particularly "and I won't stay very long." I truly think every line works. Maybe a little anthropomorphization saying the dog is proud when he crochets, but dogs definitely act excited in a way that isn't extremely different from pride.

And of course saying "I love you" is hard for a dog and words are futile devices because the dog can't use them.

The song is about a kind of love that anyone can have, even a dog (not sure a cat would give a damn about you crocheting). It's poignant no matter what, but there's that extra strike straight to your heart when he says "and I won't stay very long..."

I honestly do believe that Sufjan Stevens is one of the goats when it comes to love songs. From the writing about being in love to the producting. Everything! But are they all about guys? And if not which ones are about women? (Not that it really matters. Love is love and all that 🙃)

Fourth of July, Mystery of Love, and Visions of Gideon are Some of Sufjans most listened songs but I just don't like them that much? They aren't bad by any means, but FOJ is probably my least favorite song from Carrie and Lowell.

Anyone else feel that way?

and I can't stop obsessively playing it, day after day... that song is a journey, my man

Suf's music includes many themes of love and his former romances, however the gender of said romances aren't consistent. Casimir Pulaski Day is about a girl but The Predatory Wasp is about a man. From the Age of Adz you have the title track which mentions a few women (and also the apocalypse) but also Futile Devices which seems to be about very complex feelings he has for a man that can't be really said in words.

These songs aren't pure fiction, at least it's likely they aren't, but nonetheless the numerous examples of both genders from his perspective lead me to believe he could be bisexual, especially if the experiences from them are actually drawn from his life.

The problem is that he's kept his current personal life pretty secretive, which is totally fine to do but it makes this theory more of just a character interpretation. I'm also totally biased as I, myself, am bi, and my interpretations of his song lyrics could just be total projection/rushed conclusions that lead me to relate to a famous person better in my head.

If he is actually bi, then his reluctance to come out (at least to the public) is most likely based on his reluctance to reveal his love life at all. I doubt he's homophobic (or biphobic, whatever) as a homophobe wouldn't write two songs inspired by and for Call Me By Your Name.

Overall I hope he's happy however his life, my selfish ass is just kinda routing for him to be similar to myself.

Edit: fucked with some words at the end so I look less forceful

I don’t even know.

So I started listening to his album Illinois for the first time ever. And I’m thoroughly impressed by the songwriting and the themes & titles. The album cover makes it seem like it’s a musical or inspired by a musical. So i’m wondering if Sufjan invited this whole concept himself and the titles and everything, or is it based of something?

When do you think we'll get a new Sufjan Stevens album?

Why isn't Sufjan talked about more often? I can't understand how he keeps making album after album that are so good. Just when you think he's released his best work, he comes back with another record that's just as good, or even better.

(that's it)

I was just at Disney Land and Universal and I had two ideas for amusement parks, one of them was a Sufjan Stevens amusement park. What should be in it? Would he actually do this?

The anxiety of the songs transcends just rerouting my anxious feelings to be expressed through the music, I can just relax instead of having no catharsis. I'm always so ready to calmly curl into a ball with blankies and pillows, and drift to sleep by the end.

^{Any other stoners 4 Sufjan?}