Wincing the Illinoise
If this were meant to be some kind of daily thing, I'd have a lot of catching up to do. But it's not. So I don't.
I just got back from the gym and am eating some raw tofu with hot sauce. I heard it's good to eat some protein directly after working out, so there you have it...my own weird way.
I think right about now most of America is glued to teevee sets watching the Superbowl, but not me. I'm cooling off at home listening to one of two great albums I picked up this weekend. Right now Sufjan Stevens' "Illinoise" is on and I am marveling at its paradoxical complexity and simplicity. On the surface it's a collection of folky tunes dancing around the theme of the Midwestern state. But as I dig in to the thoughtful lyrics, smartly structured harmonies hanging on catchy melodies and organic, lush instrumentation, I'm finding that the album is an enormous accomplishment -- it's a rock opera dressed up in folk clothing. I can't wait to catch up with more of his albums. He's a graduate of the New School to boot.
The other album I picked up is "Wincing the Night Away" by the Shins. They been a favorite of mine for a few years now -- I've seen them a couple times in concert and was delighted by their shoutout in Garden State and growing fame. The most recent offering does not disappoint. Their lead singer has a real gift for reaching into melodic places (frequently hitting unexpected lilting high notes) that do more than just get stuck in my head -- they make me deeply, deeply envious. And yeah, their lyrics are none too shabby.
Speaking of music -- Indelible Beancurd is making really decent progress. About a month back Dan came into town again for a final tracking session and since then I've been going into the studio a once or twice a week to mix. We are damn near to completing ten songs -- which almost makes an album. I'd like to do two or three more songs before we finish it all up, but even so I'd put money on a 2007 release.
Well, that's it for now-- I'm up to my ears in reading for the linguistics class I'm taking. Yesterday I tackled some more Noam Chomsky (which I enjoyed reading) and tonight I'll be reading a bunch of poetry from Marianne Moore.
I just got back from the gym and am eating some raw tofu with hot sauce. I heard it's good to eat some protein directly after working out, so there you have it...my own weird way.
I think right about now most of America is glued to teevee sets watching the Superbowl, but not me. I'm cooling off at home listening to one of two great albums I picked up this weekend. Right now Sufjan Stevens' "Illinoise" is on and I am marveling at its paradoxical complexity and simplicity. On the surface it's a collection of folky tunes dancing around the theme of the Midwestern state. But as I dig in to the thoughtful lyrics, smartly structured harmonies hanging on catchy melodies and organic, lush instrumentation, I'm finding that the album is an enormous accomplishment -- it's a rock opera dressed up in folk clothing. I can't wait to catch up with more of his albums. He's a graduate of the New School to boot.
The other album I picked up is "Wincing the Night Away" by the Shins. They been a favorite of mine for a few years now -- I've seen them a couple times in concert and was delighted by their shoutout in Garden State and growing fame. The most recent offering does not disappoint. Their lead singer has a real gift for reaching into melodic places (frequently hitting unexpected lilting high notes) that do more than just get stuck in my head -- they make me deeply, deeply envious. And yeah, their lyrics are none too shabby.
Speaking of music -- Indelible Beancurd is making really decent progress. About a month back Dan came into town again for a final tracking session and since then I've been going into the studio a once or twice a week to mix. We are damn near to completing ten songs -- which almost makes an album. I'd like to do two or three more songs before we finish it all up, but even so I'd put money on a 2007 release.
Well, that's it for now-- I'm up to my ears in reading for the linguistics class I'm taking. Yesterday I tackled some more Noam Chomsky (which I enjoyed reading) and tonight I'll be reading a bunch of poetry from Marianne Moore.
posted by Ethan at 5:03 PM
13 Comments:
Maybe you should hear some Prophet Omega... I think you would also like them more than the Superbowl -- which I have on right now, but am reading my favorite blogs instead:)
ahh..welcome to the fandom of sufjan. his album "seven swans" is heartbreaking. beautiful and simple. he is also excellent live.
have you heard of danielson? it's the band where sufjan got his start...little funkier but pretty good.
Dude...dude...dude.
Maybe you need some more proletariat pastimes?
I feel I have failed somehow, not ever instilling in you at least a vague liking for all that is good and great about sports.
-- jeremy
My sis and I superbowled it a little, trying to assimilate my immigrant ass, right?
Speaking of which (ok, not at all related), I am SO totally behind on your blog, dude! Maybe it's because I'm enmired in my own bloggery?
I feeeeeeel as though these blogs have become a substitute for real human interaction and may, in fact, be eroding the fabric of our society...but oh-so fun.
p.s. Regina Spektor ROCKS!
Hey there,
Our mutual Dutch friend is a huge Sufjan fan and introduced me to him, though not in the flesh. Well, partly in the flesh as we did see one very lovely concert together, in which he was backed up by a huge band all dressed in cheerleader outfits with pompoms and American flags. In fact, one third of F's thesis is about this very album/concept.
So I no longer go to Lin Stud events, so if you're going to the Thursday thing I won't get to see you, but we should totally try to hang out later this term and drink too much.
Damn, I can't believe I made a typo. Me. A typo. I should just get the hell back on the boat.
These visual verification things are way too long. Send money.
http://hypem.com/search/sufjan/1/
Wow, thanks for the comments...and the hypem.com is very cool.
No problem, man.
>
http://hypem.com/search/shins/1/
>
http://music.bustedhearts.com/Illinois%20B-Sides/
>
http://nellmedia.com/mercer/live/moonshinefestival-04-10-10/
Oh, PS: maybe keep it on the pseudo down-low...
http://music.bustedhearts.com/Sufjan%20Stevens%20-%20Avalanche/
Rosie Thomas & Sufjan: Say Hello
http://iguessimfloating.blogspot.com/2007/02/rosie-thomas-say-hello-duet-with-sufjan.html
More Rosie:
http://downloads.pitchforkmedia.com/Rosie%20Thomas%20-%20Much%20Farther%20To%20Go.mp3
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