To call this 'Christian Music' seems a bit trite. True, Sufjan Stevens is a Christian, and the majority of his songs are about his faith, but I wouldn't call this 'Christian Music.' That label carries far too much baggage (I'm thinking of unfortunate groups like Pax "like 311, only Jesus-centric!" 2:17), and it immediately inclines far too many to write off any music under its rubric. That being said, this is one of the most brilliant Christian musicians I have ever heard.
Sufjan Stevens (SOOF-yan STEE-vans) has made a career out of being an eccentric. He got his start collaborating with the Danielson Famile, a crazed, brilliant Christian family who would break people's minds and musical boundaries with their experimentation. The fact that such amazing craziness could even get released on a Christian label initially spoke very highly of the industry. It has, alas, slid downhill since the late 90's—though the last good Christian label, Tooth And Nail, still carries some innovative gems (Joy Electric, Mae, mewithoutyou, Starflyer 59), it has lost a lot of its initial indie spunk. Like most labels, as it gained recognition for quality acts and increasing album sales, its focus shifted onto demographically targeted album releases. The few super-creative bands left—Joy Electric and Starflyer 59, each headed by a Martin brother—are around still because they were original cuts on the label and still sell out shows.
Luckily, Sufjan signed onto Asthmatic Kitty, a gloriously small label devoted to the gloriously small town of Holland, Michigan. It makes sense: the release that gained Stevens widespread notoreity was Greetings from Michigan: the Great Lakes State. That album was a moving, epic work of love to his home state, warts-and-all. In theory, that was part one of a 50-album project, in which Stevens records an entire album about each state in the U.S. I'm not sure how he'll get an entire album out of a state like Wyoming or Delaware, but that will be his job. Is it pretentious? Sure, but it's brilliant—Sufjan recorded Michigan himself, and played over 20 instruments during its production. Doing that immediately put him on the map for many serious musicians, who were eager to see what he'd do next.
Along came Seven Swans. In a way, it is the opposite of the Michigan album—where he once was jubilant, Stevens is brooding; where he once was in love with people, Stevens is in love with God. Seven Swans is a quiet, intimate work, wholly concerned with Stevens' relationship with God. We're all lucky he didn't fall into the standard Christian Musician trap of emotional over-wroughtness. Rather, Stevens at his most passionate is when he is more or less directly quoting Scripture: the word of God brings him out of his stupor, not any base temporal experiences.
Article comments
1 - The Theory
good review, great album.
i thought, though i could be wrong, that Stevens started Asthmatic Kitty on his own, instead of "signing to them."
Oh, and I highly recommend his second cd, "Enjoy Your Rabbit"... totally different from his third and fourth albums, but equally good if not better than.
2 - Josh
Actually, Asthmatic Kitty's website doesn't say one way or another, but you could easily be correct. If I find out for sure, I'll certainly edit the review.
Oh, and I've heard nothing but good things about his earlier work... as soon as I can find it somewhere at a reasonable price, I'm gonna get my hands on it. Thanks!
3 - Joe D
if I remember right, the AK label is actually a joint venture between Sufjan and his father.
4 - Lenny Smith
Dear Josh:
Very well thought-out comments on "Seven Swans!" Thanks! Yes, Sufjan and his step-father, Lowell, founded and own Asthmatic Kitty. Also, my kids, the Danielson Famile, have been, for years, at: soundsfamilyre.com and on the label: Secretly Canadian. They left Tooth & Nail years ago. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on Wovenhand's "Consider The Birds!"
Thanks for your insights! Lenny
newjerusalemmusic.com
5 - Josh
Wow. I stand corrected about AK records. And, frankly, all the better -- bands and artists make out so much better distributing their own music. As for New Jerusalem Music, I most definitely need to check it out. I never owned at Danielson Famile CD's, only the tracks on various TNN and 7Ball samplers, but they were always extraordinarily creative.
Thanks for all the pointers; you guys rock.
6 - stas
for those understanding russian:proizvedenie nosit yarko vyrazhenny neprikryto ohuenniy harakter-you know what i mean-pohozhe kogda ochered' doydet do 50 shtata suf'janu pridetsya pisat' pro 51-iy naprimer ukrainu- privet, hohly.
7 - Rodney Welch
Great review, Josh, wherever you are. I'm a late arrival to the Sufjan party, but you captured the sound and feel of this record perfectly.
8 - kat
this is a great review of a truly great album, but i just wanted to politely point out one small mistake - you wrote:
'"The Transfiguration" is a straightforward rendition of Christ's last appearance before the eleven disciples as he ascends into heaven.' --
but it isn't, it's based on lucas 9:28-36... (the event known to bible scholars as the transfiguration = die verklärung in german..) try listening to it again while reading the passage...
9 - kat
oops... got my german and english a bit mixed up there... i meant LUKE 9:28-36, of course... sorry!