A Look Back: Going to College with Sufjan Stevens

Not only did I graduate the same year from the same college as singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens (pictured above, with book in hand) -- we shared an advanced poetry class our last semester.  He was a prolific writer even then and -- among his many collegiate projects -- wrote, illustrated, designed, and published a literary magazine, Moxie, as a part of his senior independent study.

I was absolutely thrilled when he hand selected and approached me about publishing one of my poems in his zine.  I have posted photographic evidence below for posterity (see my piece in the bottom, left-hand corner).

A Look Back: Marzuki Album Review

My first post-college journalistic/music critique endeavor included a review of indie folk band Marzuki's No One Likes a Nervous Wreck for West Michigan's now-defunct Fuse Magazine (see part 1 above).  The piece was published in Fuse's July/August 1998 issue (see part 2 below).  The folk quartet was Sufjan Stevens' college band, named after Stevens' own brother.

Concert Cataloguing

Since I began this blog, I have endeavored to capture the concerts that I have attended.  However, I enjoyed many, many shows prior to the birth of this blog in early July 2006.  I have also inadvertently failed to properly record performances, here and there.  In an effort to catalog each concert I have attended, I have located ticket stubs for shows that I have not yet posted on this blog and listed them below.  There are, of course, countless concerts for which I have no stubs or evidence of attendance.  In the days ahead, I will attempt to compile memories, as well as physical memorabilia (photos, autographed posters, autographed CD booklets, etc.) and log the missing shows as best I can.  The following, previously-omitted concert listings appear in alphabetical order, by artist.

dc Talk - Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mich. - Mar. 12, 1996
dc Talk - The Delta Plex, Grand Rapids, Mich. - Oct. 27, 2001

Gavin DeGraw - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Feb. 6, 2004

Eisley - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Mar. 24, 2006

Patty Griffin - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. - May 14, 2005
Patty Griffin - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. - May 1, 2007

Alison Krauss & Union Station - Sommet Center, Nashville, Tenn. - Aug. 25, 2007

Lifehouse - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - July 7, 2003

Sarah McLachlan - Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville, Tenn. - July 28, 2004

Mute Math - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Apr. 20, 2005

P.O.D. - The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, Mich. - Oct. 29, 2001
P.O.D. (opening for Linkin Park) - Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville, Tenn. - Feb. 29, 2004

Regina Spektor - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. - Nov. 14, 2007

Sixpence None the Richer - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Feb. 16, 2003

Sufjan Stevens - Mercy Lounge, Nashville, Tenn. - Sept. 23, 2005

Switchfoot - Rocketown, Nashville, Tenn. - Oct. 28, 2003

Stevens, Smith shows wrap up year

On Nov. 11, I saw indie folk darling Sufjan Stevens play the Ryman Auditorium once again.  Finishing the live performances of my listening year, I witnessed punk poet Patti Smith (above) in person on Nov. 13.

Hot Picks: Out Today

Lana Del Ray (above) : Paradise

Sufjan Stevens : Silver & Gold

 

Hot Pick: Out Today

Sufjan Stevens : All Delighted People (on CD)

Hot Pick: Out Today

Sufjan Stevens : The Age of Adz

 

Best of 2009

FAVORITE 3 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR: The Civil Wars - Live at Eddie's Attic; Ingrid Michaelson - Everybody; Derek Webb - Stockholm Syndrome

BEST NEW ARTIST: The Civil Wars

MOST IMPORTANT SONG: Derek Webb - "What Matters More"

BEST CONCERT: Coldplay, Sommet Center, Nashville, Tenn., June 6

BEST BACK-FROM-THE-DEAD CONCERT: Jennifer Knapp, Belcourt Theatre, Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 18

BEST ALBUM ARTWORK/DESIGN: Mat Kearney - City of Black & White

BEST NOVELTY PROJECT: Sufjan Stevens - The BQE

Hot Pick: Out Today

 Sufjan Stevens : The BQE

 

Following Up on Sufjan

According to this interview, while Sufjan Stevens is wrestling with the questions of life (and music), he is not retiring.

Sufjan 'Over Stated'?

He led us to believe that we could expect 50 state-related CDs. After churning out Michigan and Illinois(e) in a relatively short amount of time, the feat did not seem out of the question for Sufjan Stevens, the prolific, ambitious indie wondergod. But perhaps it is. Stevens recently posted an interview with his labelmate and former Marzuki bandmate Shannon Stephens in which he revealed, "I’m at a point where I no longer have a deep desire to share my music with anyone, having spent many years imparting my songs to the public" and "I sometimes feel I could not, should not, would not participate at all, and that my innocuous music offers nothing new or beneficial to the white noise of it all." Only time will tell...

Stevens' side projects to tide us over

In yet another effort to pacify his insatiable fans as we await his next (solo) studio project, Sufjan Stevens has orchestrated not one, but two new releases. Run Rabbit Run, a string quartet's (re)arrangement of Steven's 2001 electronica album, Enjoy Your Rabbit, is scheduled to release on Oct. 6, while The BQE, the soundtrack Stevens (and orchestra) composed to accompany a film that documents the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, will drop on Oct. 20.

In the Oven

While a student at Hope College, I enjoyed feasting on the music that my fellow undergrads were cooking up in their dormitory laboratories. I remember seeing Sufjan Stevens' folk band Marzuki in concert a number of times. I still own both of their indie releases. After the group disbanded, I continued to keep tabs on Stevens, as well as the band's vocalist, Shannon Stephens. I've picked up all the records that each have since put out, including Ms. Stephens' EP and full-length CD. So, I was excited to recently learn that -- after taking time off to become a wife and a mother -- she has a brand new album coming out on Stevens' label, Asthmatic Kitty Records. The Breadwinner will drop on Sept. 8.

I Am Not a Purist

Blame it on Toby McKeehan (at right), the "musical gumbo" king who forever ruined my tastebuds for "the straight and narrow." I rarely like any pure genre -- I don't like straight pop, I like pop/rock. I don't care for straight alternative, I like alterna-pop. I don't like straight folk, I like folk rock or pop-flavored folk. I don't enjoy straight rap or hardcore, I like rapcore. I don't like straight bluegrass, Americana or blues, I like bluesy, Americana-tinged pop/folk/rock with hints of bluegrass. I was reminded of that this week, while spinning Alison Krauss & Union Station's So Long So Wrong (which I borrowed from my manager's manager, Linda) in preparation for the show I am to see (for free) tomorrow night. I generally get bored with "the straight and narrow" (as it's used in this context). Perhaps that's why some of my favorite artists are Mat Kearney, Over the Rhine, P.O.D., Sufjan Stevens and, of course, tobyMac.

Hot Pick: Out Today

As promised, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell hits shelves today, featuring covers of Mitchell's songs by Sufjan Stevens, Bjork, Caetano Veloso, Brad Mehldau, Cassandra Wilson, Prince, Sarah McLachlan, Annie Lennox, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang and James Taylor. You can check out samples of the original and cover versions here.

Stevens on 'Friend Rock'

I am a proponent of what Sufjan Stevens has coined (or technically adopted) "Friend Rock." What exactly is Friend Rock? Read Suf's amusing essay here.

Best of 2006

TOP 5 FAVORITE ALBUMS:
~ in alphabetical order ~
Mat Kearney - Nothing Left to Lose
Leeland - Sound of Melodies
My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me the Workhorse
Over the Rhine - Snow Angels
Phil Wickham - Self-titled

FAVORITE NEW ARTIST:
Phil Wickham

FAVORITE CONCERT:
Sufjan Stevens with My Brightest Diamond - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 11

FAVORITE SONG:
Nate Sallie - Breakthrough

FAVORITE ARTWORK/DESIGN:
Jennifer Knapp - Live

FAVORITE NOVELTY PROJECT:
Sufjan Stevens - Songs for Christmas

Sufjan Contributes to Joni Mitchell Tribute

Asthmatic Kitty Records reports: Nonesuch Records has invited Sufjan Stevens to open the new Joni Mitchell tribute album. Sufjan will be sharing space on the record with Björk, Prince, Evis Costello and James Taylor. The album, appropriately entitled A Tribute to Joni Mitchell, will be released this spring.

My Two Cents: Songs for Christmas

One thing I love about blogging is that I don't feel obligated to include the objective details that many magazine articles or reviews require. Don't get me wrong -- I've written for various publications for nearly 10 years and I truly enjoy it. It's just nice to be able to say exactly what I want to say in a blog post and nothing more. For amusement and educational purposes, I've written two versions of a CD review below.

THE MORE OBJECTIVE, PROFESSIONAL VERSION:
Fans of Sufjan Stevens will not be surprised by his latest release, Songs for Christmas. The five-disc boxset features the quirky, humorous, contemplative, sometimes-intimate, sometimes-celebratory avant-garde folk music that Stevens' supporters have come to expect from him. Aside from that, it's the pomp and packaging that make this Christmas collection special. Complete with comic strip, stickers, songbook and extensive liner notes, this boxset is undoubtedly the work of the prolific overachiever that many have come to know in this singer-songwriter. A mix of original and traditional carols, Songs offers the gamut -- from sparse arrangements never intended for public consumption to the hyper-lush orchestrations that characterize Stevens' critically acclaimed work. Notable tracks include O Come O Come Emmanuel, Only at Christmas Time, That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!, Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!, Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!), Sister Winter, Star of Wonder, and Holy, Holy, Holy. The five Songs EPs represent Stevens' last several Christmases, from 2001 to 2006, with the exception of 2004 (the year he was consumed with his most successful album to date, Illinois). The first four volumes were actually created solely for the artist's family and friends as a personal gift. Considering the shipping backlog that Asthmatic Kitty Records is experiencing, many folks are grateful that Stevens decided to share his Christmas cheer with those outside of his circle of friends and family this year.

THE MORE SUBJECTIVE, PERSONAL VERSION:
You gotta love Sufjan. What other singer-songwriter would include original sticker and cartoon art in their Christmas album? The five-disc boxset was everything that I had hoped for, musically-speaking: classic Sufjan -- the intimate, the intricate, contemplation and celebration. In terms of artwork and packaging (as well as all the extras), I was pleasantly surprised. Suf's artistic bent (visually) always leaves me in anticipation of the next project. The fifth disc is noticeably more developed, musically, and rightly so -- when he created Vol. V, Stevens knew his fans would be able to purchase the album. (Volumes I through IV were composed as Christmas gifts to friends and family.) Favorite tracks include O Come O Come Emmanuel, Only at Christmas Time, That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!, Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!, Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!), Sister Winter, Star of Wonder, and Holy, Holy, Holy. Songs for Christmas is a must for fans and a joyful education in the ways of Sufjan for those unfamiliar with Stevens.

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Interested in Rolling Stone's review of Songs for Christmas? Click here.

Christmas with Sufjan

I got my Sufjan Stevens Songs for Christmas five-disc box set order in the mail today! Look for my two cents on the Christmas collection in the near future.