The Indie Thread

[blackwasp]

I picked up a copy of "Illinoise" today. I haven't had a chance to listen to all of it yet, but I agree with everyone about "John Wayne Gacy, Jr"...so beautiful. So far I think that this is Sufjan's best release to date.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

i've found, at least for me, "john wayne gacy jr" was the song that stuck out the most at first, but now i think i like "they are night zombies!! they are neighbors!! they have come back from the dead!! ahhhh!" the most.

 

[philN]

"John Wayne Gacy, Jr" is probably still my favorite. But lately I have really been enjoying "Chicago" (despite Pitchfork's mediocre track review) and "The Man of Metropolis" along with pretty much the rest of the album. I keep getting that one part of "Come On Feel The Illinoise" after Carl Sandberg comes to him toward the end and all of the female voices sing that refrain part, stuck in my head. I don't even know what they are singing, but that hook is constantly playing in my head (sort of like "We Tigers" by Animal Collective").

 

[blackwasp]

"John Wayne Gacy, Jr" is probably still my favorite. But lately I have really been enjoying "Chicago" (despite Pitchfork's mediocre track review) and "The Man of Metropolis" along with pretty much the rest of the album. I keep getting that one part of "Come On Feel The Illinoise" after Carl Sandberg comes to him toward the end and all of the female voices sing that refrain part, stuck in my head. I don't even know what they are singing, but that hook is constantly playing in my head (sort of like "We Tigers" by Animal Collective").

The part that really gets me is Sufjan's vocals at the end:

And in my best behavior
I am really just like him
Look beneath the floorboards
For the secrets I have hid

And then you think he's going to sing something else, but you can just hear him breathing. Beautiful.

"Chicago" was the other track that stood out the most to me. Does pitchfork not have an album review up? I couldn't find it.

 

[philN]

"Chicago" was the other track that stood out the most to me. Does pitchfork not have an album review up? I couldn't find it.

It was posted this past week. 9.2! Not too shabby.

 

[philN]

The part that really gets me is Sufjan's vocals at the end:

I don't know which I like more, the last lines and the breathing or the part that leads into the falsetto ("Even more they were boys with their cars, summer jobs, Oh my God, are you one of them?") His falsetto there kills me. So good.

He is playing in Boston two weeks after I head up for school this fall. Looks like I'll be there just in time to catch him, which makes me happy.

If anyone is in the Philadelphia area, you should go to see Woven Hand and Danielson at the Ethical Society on 15th. I hear it's a great venue. It should be a good time. Plus, you'll get to see me and we can mutually enjoy the musical genius of the both people/bands (I don't know if either will have a back up band or not).

 

[nadroj1985]

I agree with Pitchfork -- "Chicago" is kinda boring. I've begun to fall in love with "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades," though.

 

[blackwasp]

^ I was looking for an image of the cover to show someone, and there was only one entry that came up on yahoo. It was a link to the review at Pitchfork, but the image had been taken down. I also couldn't find the review by searching for it on Pitchfork. I wonder if they took it down?

I hope Sufjan chooses Indiana to do next.

 

[nadroj1985]

Try this link. If it doesn't work, there's a link on the main page of Pitchfork that should take you to it. Look at the reviews from the last few days. The image problems probably have to do with the fact that they've had some legal disputes about the Superman on the cover.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/s/stevens_sufjan/illinois.shtml

 

[blackwasp]

Try this link. If it doesn't work, there's a link on the main page of Pitchfork that should take you to it. Look at the reviews from the last few days. The image problems probably have to do with the fact that they've had some legal disputes about the Superman on the cover.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/s/stevens_sufjan/illinois.shtml

Yeah, I found another link that worked earlier, but thanks, that link worked too. Normally I just search for the artist or album on PF but it didn't come up. I was happy that I got a copy with the Superman cover before it sold out.

 

[JaelWasWickedCool]

i love denison witmer. i just felt the need to say that.

 

[nosilla115]

At the moment Im liking:

Hot Hot Heat
Razorlight
Bloc Party
The Killers
The Libertines
Babyshambles
The Subways
Kings of Leon
Kaiser Chiefs
The Future Heads
The Bravery

 

[Meladori]

I'm really digging David Pajo's new album. Anyone heard?

 

[theFijian]

I'm really digging David Pajo's new album. Anyone heard?

A mate of mine has bought it and he says it's good. How would you describe it? He reckoned it reminded him of Elliot Smith.

 

[eutychus]

I hope Sufjan chooses Indiana to do next.

That would be resplendent if he stuck with the Mid-West, but maybe since the whole "Lord God Bird" thing, he's going to tackle Arkansas....or just reserve the song for later. Or be a complete badass and not even put it on an album.

Golly gee, I'm really not sure which option I like the best.

 

[Arnold_Philips]

Rumor has it he's doing a coastal state next.

 

[nadroj1985]

So is anyone coming to the Intonation festival this weekend? Check out the lineup:

>> Saturday, July 16:
1:00 Head of Femur
1:30 Pelican
2:00 The M's
2:45 A.C. Newman
3:30 Magnolia Electric Co.
4:30 Four Tet
5:30 Broken Social Scene
6:30 The Go! Team
7:20 Prefuse 73
8:00 Death From Above 1979
9:00 Tortoise

DJ Stage-presented by Biz3
3:30 Laurent from Pelican
5:30 Will Oldham/Jean Grae
7:30 Will Oldham/Jean Grae

>> Sunday, July 17:
1:00 Thunderbirds Are Now!
1:30 Dungen
2:00 Xiu Xiu
2:45 Out Hud
3:30 The Hold Steady
4:30 Andrew Bird
5:30 Deerhoof
6:30 The Wrens
7:30 Les Savy Fav
8:30 The Decemberists

DJ Stage-presented by Biz3
3:30 Reine from Dungen
5:30 El-P/James McNew
7:30 Diplo

I'm going to be the happiest man alive from 3:30-6:30 on Saturday

 

[theFijian]

4:30 Four Tet

Keiran Hebden is a genius, you must go see Four Tet!

 

[Arnold_Philips]

So is anyone coming to the Intonation festival this weekend? Check out the lineup:

>> Saturday, July 16:
1:00 Head of Femur
1:30 Pelican
2:00 The M's
2:45 A.C. Newman
3:30 Magnolia Electric Co.
4:30 Four Tet
5:30 Broken Social Scene
6:30 The Go! Team
7:20 Prefuse 73
8:00 Death From Above 1979
9:00 Tortoise

DJ Stage-presented by Biz3
3:30 Laurent from Pelican
5:30 Will Oldham/Jean Grae
7:30 Will Oldham/Jean Grae

>> Sunday, July 17:
1:00 Thunderbirds Are Now!
1:30 Dungen
2:00 Xiu Xiu
2:45 Out Hud
3:30 The Hold Steady
4:30 Andrew Bird
5:30 Deerhoof
6:30 The Wrens
7:30 Les Savy Fav
8:30 The Decemberists

DJ Stage-presented by Biz3
3:30 Reine from Dungen
5:30 El-P/James McNew
7:30 Diplo

I'm going to be the happiest man alive from 3:30-6:30 on Saturday

Luckyyyyyyyyy! ::out:::

 

[nadroj1985]

Ah, shut up Eliot. You live in the freaking indie capital of America and get great acts every week. Let me have my moment in the sun.