Adam KennyThe Great and loved, Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is one of the most prolific song writers of our time. Few people whom have any inclination towards indie or singer songwriter need an introduction into who he is, but for the unitiated, Sufjan Stevens is a singer songwriter hailing from the good ole U.S of A. Sufjan is both critically and culturally loved and adored. No one album is the same with Sufjan Stevens. His most well known album, Carrie and Lowell is a modern classic and an essential listen for anyone interested in getting to know Sufjan Stevens both as an artist and a human being. Stylistically it’s a classic singer songwriter album. It’s a heartbreaking listen, songs like “Fourth of July” and “Death with Dignity” to name a couple will make you crumble apart like an old pastry. A sad, somber and mournful album that you won’t forget about.
Then, you have the likes of “Age of Adz” which is TOTALLY different to Carrie and Lowell. It’s an electropop, synth-pop, art-pop, electro-folk epic. It sounds like something you’d hear from Animal Collective. It features one of Sufjan’s most popular songs, “Futile Devices” which is more inline with what you’d expect from Carrie and Lowell, but the rest of the album is an absolute gauntlet in terms of experimentation. It’s well worth the listen, but I’d recommend listening to some Animal Collective before to get into the mood.
Call Me By Your Name and “Mystery of Love“
Sufjan was always a relevant artist and writer, however in 2017 Sufjan provided some new original work for Luca Guadagnino’s film Call Me by Your Name, which starred Timothy Chalamet. Sufjan provided 2 new original songs, one of which being “Mystery of Love” which is a beautiful song of love and yearning for it. It features gorgeous guitar work with rhytmic and enchanting finger plucking along with Sufjan’s voice haunting the song much like how did on Carrie and Lowell. It was nominated and awarded the Oscar for “Best Original Song”. Sufjan also provided “Visions of Gideon” along with a remix of “Futile Devices”, later reworked by Thomas Bartlett, otherwise known as Doveman. The atmosphere and overall style of the track is drastically different to the Age of Adz version and fits more in line with the style and soundtrack of the film.
Sufjan has been around the block
Sufjan has been around a long time and has been active since 1995. He has blended, jumped, and honed many different musical styles. It would be easier to list the things he hasn’t attempted to do in music. One thing however, that Sufjan became known for over the years was the “50 State” project. The project being Sufjan making an album for every single state in the USA. Sufjan revealed it to be a promotional gimmick years later. And it has become an inside joke amongst fans —that I imagine Sufjan himself enjoys. In the end, the project came and went like smoke in the wind. Although, Sufjan did actually release 2 state dedicated albums. One of these albums went on to become one of his most well known and celebrated albums and that is Illinois.
Illinoise is here!
Sufjan released Illinois on July 4th 2005, which manes this year marks it’s 20th anniversary. Illinois, being a state in America, holds both historical and personal meaning for Sufjan. The intro and of the album “Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illionois” is referencing a real world event where people saw triangle shaped objects in the sky at low altitude but moving at an extreme speed.
The song is short, and holds a single verse in which Sufjan makes religious references and connotations to the sighting. Referencing the evil one, the antichrist through the UFO sighting, specifically through the holy trinity. The interpretation can be taken literally, or, can be seen as ironic interpretation. Much like how Sufjan references Christ and religion, other could cite UFOs, aliens and inter galactic contact. It’s a take on how people view these things, including himself. The song features a lone piano and background singers in its short duration. It’s more like a taste of things to come.
As we move onto the next track, “The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feed Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We apologize for the Incovenience but You’re Going to Have to Leave Now, or, ‘I Have Fought the Big Knives and Will Continue to the Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!” (yes that is actually its name), which is again a short track but gives a much better idea of things to come. It’s a largely melodic track, in which there are no lyrics but harmonizing background vocalists along with a flute and guitar, piano and a myriad of instruments! Horns, trumpets, cymbals! It’s indie folk and chamber folk (also known as baroque folk) at it’s peak.
Illinoise is REALLY here
The first true track on the album is “Come On! Feel the Illinoise! (Part I: The World’s Columbian Exposition – Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits me in a Dream)” (yes, again, actual title). The melody kicks off with a repetitive piano jumping up and down. Quickly, followed by horns and background vocalists with other complimentary instrumentals. The winning formula shows itself here. Sufjan sings alone in the verses, making several historical references such as to Frank Lloyd Wright, an American Architect. Referencing the architectural beauty of Chicago and the mesmerizing bright lights of it all. The song feels as though you’re being brought on a tour by Sufjan and his band. As though the song is acting as an introduction not just to the music that is to come, but to Illinois itself.
The songs transforms in the latter half where the piano does not lead the melody any longer. The strings, horns and trumpets help to stretch the melody out. It slows things down allowing for Sufjan himself to take more time to sing through the chorus and verse. It’s a gorgeous and uplifting song.
The grim truth and history of Illinois
One of the more well known songs on the album comes next, and that’s “John Wayne Gacy Jr.” which tells the tale of the serial killer John Wayne Gacy, whom had killed and raped 33 teenage boys. Some of the bodies he would keep in the basement of his house and then bury them in his garden. Gacy was known for dressing up as a clown and attending charity events. He was a well liked character, helping his neighbours out with small jobs and even participating in local politics. Nobody ever suspected that he’d be able capable of such heinous and horrible acts. Stylistically the track is somber, soft and mournful.
Sufjan towards the end references that he is no better than Gacy, for he also has his secrets and someone should “Look beneath the floorboards for the secrets that I have hid”, which at the time could be in reference to his sexuality which he only fully revealed back in October 2023 as he dedicated his new album Javelin to his late partner Evans Richardson. It’s a horrible event, and shows that Sufjan wants to not only celebrate Illinois but to speak of it in its entirety.
The track “Jacksonville” explores the deep history of Illinois. This time focusing on Jacksonville named after Andrew Jackson —the 17th President of the United States. It was also a stopping point on the Underground Railroad, which was apart of a network that helped slaves escape the South before the Civil War. Sufjan references this at the very start saying “I’m not afraid of the black man running, He’s got it right, he’s got a better life coming”.
There are references to Helen Keller, the Dewey Day parade, Andrew Jackson himself amongst other things. It’s clear that in each track that Sufjan did quite the bit of research for this album. A lot of deep references from the Civil War to modern day culture can be found. As for the music, the vocalists and strings are all here as expected. Sufjan’s voice in the verses have an almost Southern twinge. A banjo being in the forefront of everything else as he sings, it adds a country air to it. It’s a great track, and really stands out.
Chicago, Illinois
Jumping ahead, we then have “Chicago”, one of the largest cities in the United States, and being the major city of Illinois. Chicago is ripe with culture and history. For Sufjan, it holds both nostalgic and unpleasant memories. The song is more autobiographical and details Sufjan’s personal experience of the city. From cross country road trips and selling his possessions to get by in the city. Even living in a van with his friend. Chicago was an escape for Sufjan, but it still wasn’t what he wanted.
The track is lively and full of hustle and bustle much like the city itself. Our usual musical suspects are back here on the track. The verse being minimal but the chorus being this massive swell and burst of excellence. The background vocals and Sufjan come together as they proclaim for themselves and others that “all things grow”. Sufjan has grown since coming to Chicago, which leads to a conclusion that he must leave it behind and move on to somewhere else, that being New York. It’s an amazing track and remains as one of my personal favourites of the album. A celebration of the city, but also an acceptance that it was time for Sufjan to move on from the city as he needed to grow, as all things do.
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! …I think it’s Sufjan Stevens and the American Dream?
“The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts” track is a direct ode to Superman, the man of steel himself. Metropolis actually is a city in Illinois, and is celebrated as the home town of Superman. The track actually comes in with a bit of a rock element, there’s a guitar that helps guide the chorus and verse together at times. It lends an awesomeness to the track specifically for Superman! The lyrics of the track have many references to the a super-hero. He was originally supposed to be on the cover of Illinois but was replaced with the balloons we have in order for Sufjan to avoid any legal issues.
Sufjan goes over Superman and his ideals. He’s the man of steel, the idealized American. He’s truth, kindness and, above all else, heart. Sufjan is attempting to get in touch with his inner Superman on this track. He’s trying to figure things out as he goes on a trip passing through Metropolis. Superman and this picture perfect idea of America acting almost like a guide for Sufjan. Literally and morally. The kryptonian is the epitome of what it means to be a hero, and Sufjan is interested in this idea in a modern American landscape. What would Superman think of America today? Would he be scared like the rest of the people? Would he be able to do anything about it? It’s contemplating the true humanity of Superman, and how even the man of steel fears for what is to come for everyone, for Sufjan.
My neighbours are zombie former presidents?
Illinois is nothing but sheer quality throughout it’s entire 74 minutes run time. However, the song that stole my heart and is something I come back to repeatedly is “They Are Night Zombies! They Are Neighbours! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!”. A majority of the songs on Illinois go one of two ways. Somber, melancholic and soft, or, boisterous, confident and celebratory. The why and how changes of course from track to track, but “They Are Night Zombies! They Are Neighbours! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!” is different. Sonically, the majority of the track is vocal harmonies from the background vocalists and Sufjan. The vocalists are chanting to a military esque cadence in which they pause at every syllable of their lyrics. It’s addicting listening to listen to.
There are references Reagan, Grant and Logan, all previous American presidents. In this case, they’re the dead. It can be interpreted that even in death the effects of the ghosts are still ever present,. Reagan’s economic policies (also known as Reaganomics or trickle-down economics) and their effects still have a hold today in American politics. The zombies in this case not being the presidents, but their influence and impact on society. It’s a conversation about ghost cities and the economic failures felt because of these zombies. The song is moody, there’s an anger and confusion prevalent in the lyrics and harmonies coming through. It’s almost a protest, and I say almost as ultimately it comes down to what can we do? After all, we are not the zombies nor the ghosts in power. It’s an incredible track and is one I revisit often.
The end of Illinois
The album comes to an end with “Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I shake the dirt from the sandalls as I run” which is devoid of any lyrics. It’s an instrumental only track. It starts with a synth and piano working in tandem that slowly swells together. The piano and synths bouncing off one another over and over. It just feels like a finale. Sufjan has no more to say about Illinois, so it is time to say goodbye. It’s a gorgeous track that sounds like something you’d hear at the end of a movie where the main character leaves and goes on to do bigger and better things, but does not forget their time in Illinois. And nor will we, and nor will Sufjan.
The Illinoise has come and gone
Illinois is an absolute classic. 20 years on and it still sounds so fresh. A product of its time in the sense of its ability to identify itself with the Illinois of then, but can still be applied to much of life in general and its difficulties. This is evident to me in “Chicago” where the memories that Sufjan has will always be with him and had a profound impact on himself. There were good times as well bad, but Illinois helped him to grow and become the person he is today.
Sufjan resides now in New York, but the Sufjan that is now in New York would not exist without the Sufjan in Chicago, in Illinois. The city, the state, the people and the culture. It’s a wonderful and insightful deconstruction of Sufjan’s time in Illinois. Sonically, there’s just nothing to complain about. There’s no such thing as perfect album, but this is pretty damn close. An album that’s 74 minutes need to be able to hold your attention and interest. Illinois not only excels at this, but set a standard for me.
Illinoise is a once in a lifetime larger than life album and should be listened to by everybody at least once. It’s truly a brilliant album.
