b-sides: Sufan Stevens
It's only 10:00 in the morning and I'm already inspired! Thanks mostly to Each Note Secure, who has posted a brand new Sufjan Stevens song from the upcoming Asthmatic Kitty compilation, Mews Too. It is much appreciated!
The tune, called "Opie's Funeral Song," actually isn't brand new. This is its first studio recording, but I have a live recording from 2003 at Judson College, soon after the release of Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State. It's got a preamble as well, in which Sufjan (Soof-yan as he says) reveals that it's about the death of a foster kid in middle school whom nobody really knew, and how the death was a revelation for the students. It's got some very interesting lyrics, about fire in trees and holes in our heads, and being invited for once. You make it beautiful, friend.
live at Judson College, 11/19/2003:
Sufjan Stevens - Opie's Funeral Song (live)
Looking for this song, I discovered some other relevant Sufjan rarities, including some tracks from the first Asthmatic Kitty compilation, To Spirit Back the Mews. Stevens contributed four tracks to the disc, which vary considerably and wonderfully. "God'll Ne'er Let You Down" is what I'd like to call "classic" Sufjan, but clearly that's impossible given the distinct nature of each of his albums. It's Sufjan acoustic and hushed, with some pretty keyboard flourishes at the end. But like all his music, it isn't exactly relaxed. At the other end of the spectrum is "The First Full Moon," a thoroughly electronic affair akin to the more experimental Enjoy Your Rabbit, but still accessible. As with his other songs, it's got a progression which repeats ad infinitum, only reworked and distorted throughout the song. Something about it seems a bit amateur, but not in a bad way - I'd say that has only made it more endearing.
From To Spirit Back The Mews (buy):
Sufjan Stevens - God'll Ne'er Let You Down
Sufjan Stevens - The First Full Moon
And while we're at it, here's the gorgeous "Borderline" from The Dress Looks Nice on You 7" in all it's warm crackly vinyl glory. This is a favorite - if only I could find a copy of this single.
Sufjan Stevens - Borderline
***
Angels Twenty has an old Feist song!
Hey, I posted a Joy Division cover yesterday! Looks like Chromewaves copied me, he's got Low's rendition of "Transmission." I love Chromewaves.
And I gotta recommend Annie Proulx's Close Range, from whence the short story "Brokeback Mountain" came. Not that it's real similar, but these Wyoming stories remind me of how much I loved Cormac McCarthy's border trilogy.
Enjoy!
It's only 10:00 in the morning and I'm already inspired! Thanks mostly to Each Note Secure, who has posted a brand new Sufjan Stevens song from the upcoming Asthmatic Kitty compilation, Mews Too. It is much appreciated!
The tune, called "Opie's Funeral Song," actually isn't brand new. This is its first studio recording, but I have a live recording from 2003 at Judson College, soon after the release of Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lakes State. It's got a preamble as well, in which Sufjan (Soof-yan as he says) reveals that it's about the death of a foster kid in middle school whom nobody really knew, and how the death was a revelation for the students. It's got some very interesting lyrics, about fire in trees and holes in our heads, and being invited for once. You make it beautiful, friend.
live at Judson College, 11/19/2003:
Sufjan Stevens - Opie's Funeral Song (live)
Looking for this song, I discovered some other relevant Sufjan rarities, including some tracks from the first Asthmatic Kitty compilation, To Spirit Back the Mews. Stevens contributed four tracks to the disc, which vary considerably and wonderfully. "God'll Ne'er Let You Down" is what I'd like to call "classic" Sufjan, but clearly that's impossible given the distinct nature of each of his albums. It's Sufjan acoustic and hushed, with some pretty keyboard flourishes at the end. But like all his music, it isn't exactly relaxed. At the other end of the spectrum is "The First Full Moon," a thoroughly electronic affair akin to the more experimental Enjoy Your Rabbit, but still accessible. As with his other songs, it's got a progression which repeats ad infinitum, only reworked and distorted throughout the song. Something about it seems a bit amateur, but not in a bad way - I'd say that has only made it more endearing.
From To Spirit Back The Mews (buy):
Sufjan Stevens - God'll Ne'er Let You Down
Sufjan Stevens - The First Full Moon
And while we're at it, here's the gorgeous "Borderline" from The Dress Looks Nice on You 7" in all it's warm crackly vinyl glory. This is a favorite - if only I could find a copy of this single.
Sufjan Stevens - Borderline
***
Angels Twenty has an old Feist song!
Hey, I posted a Joy Division cover yesterday! Looks like Chromewaves copied me, he's got Low's rendition of "Transmission." I love Chromewaves.
And I gotta recommend Annie Proulx's Close Range, from whence the short story "Brokeback Mountain" came. Not that it's real similar, but these Wyoming stories remind me of how much I loved Cormac McCarthy's border trilogy.
Enjoy!
by brian at 1/29/2006 02:25:00 AM
2 Comments:
thanks so much!
hey, you mentioned that judging by traffic, people liked your borderline post. do you mean visits to your blog (which I know how to track) or downloads off ezarchive, which i have been wondering how to monitor. do you know? thanks! i like it too and will declare thusly with a comment.
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