Chorus.fm Record of the Week Club • Page 59

I'm interested and this is an apt album to bounce this question off — how many people in this thread take interest in lyrics on early listens?

I'm aware that with an artist like Sufjan Stevens I'm probably missing out on at least one aspect of it, especially on those early listens when I'm only taking active interest in sonics. In those stages — and sometimes for years afterwards — lyrics inform my reaction to the music only in a passive and fragmented way, where the odd line or word might jump out at me and provoke some feeling or thought, or have some impact for their musicality and sonic allure. But otherwise I tend to leave them unstudied.

 

I listen to a metric TON of music without lyrics, or lyrics in a language I don’t speak or understand, BUT they are still pretty important for me and good vs. bad lyricism can make or break something for me. With that said, I have trouble focusing on lyrics on a first-listen—in fact, they’re almost distracting from the music and usually something I pay more attention to after spending time with an album.

Sufjan’s lyrics are wonderful. Def not my favorite part of his music, but I do love them. He’s a poetic storyteller and paints scenes beautifully, evokes emotions through characters and settings that I appreciate being a writer myself. I love the vivid color and detail of everything before Carrie and Lowell. His more recent work is a bit more intimate, direct, and vulnerable in terms of lyricism, and while I still enjoy it, I think I personally prefer the earlier style.

 

Listening now.

Absolutely love the maximalist harmonies and polyrhythms throughout this album. So much care and meticulous attention paid to every moment of every track, that even if you cannot find yourself relating to it personally, Sufjan’s own passion and vision shines through in an inspiring way. I’ve said this before but I love being familiar with this album (and his others) and still discovering new things every listen. The fact he composes all of it is just friggin amazing to me, and I’m always keen for more artists who pour that much intention into their work. Give me all of the dense, multi-layered, complex concept albums.

 

Funny story, as a kid I used to just throw on John Wayne Gacy Jr to annoy my younger brother. He was freaked out by that song (rightfully so)

(edit - consolidated multiple posts into one lol)

Despite having heard it half a million times I’m still in love with Chicago and that transcendent ambient outtro

The way the horns and electric guitar line fades into just Sufjan and his acoustic guitar during the second verse of The Man of Metropolis, then the building woodwinds of the outtro. God that is perfection

The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades may just be my all-time favorite Sufjan song

The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders always reminded me a bit of Charlie Brown in a great way lol. The way it opens just brings so much light immediately into the darker second half of the album. And those handclaps! My favorite single moment of the record may actually be around 3:33ish at the drum fill

 

It's always enjoyable reading @OotyPa go all in on a record.

 

It’s a pleasure to do so

last one lol.

I’ve somehow never realized it until now but the last track Out of Egypt into the Great Laugh of Mankind is essentially a Steve Reich song

 

I had it in my head that it was an In C riff but yeah it's definitely a Music for 18 Musicians-inspired track

 

I think I'm by and large in the same boat as you, largely because I'm often not doing super active listening on a first go with a record. Buuuut if/when I am grabbed by a lyric in early listens, even just a line, I will generally go back in and focus on that in subsequent listens.

 

@JM95 you’re up!

 

I'll go for a pure vibe record this week: Bohren & Der Club of Gore's feebly glimmering, ambient-jazz opus, Sunset Mission, released in February 2000.

Discovered this band in about 2008/09 although saw them live for the first time only three weeks ago, at the Union Chapel in London, where they were sublime. This album along with their 2002 follow-up, Black Earth, are the two records of theirs that I reach for the most, this one in particular the perfect soundtrack for a dark winter night.

 

I only know of a single song by this artist, so this will be very fresh to my ears. Excited to check it out!

 

Great album for sitting by a fire when it’s snowing, watching the rain or falling asleep to

 

We're currently in a snowstorm, so it should be perfect listening for tonight. Excited!

 

so jealous of the snow you guys get up there

 

I usually love it, but today I had to shovel two feet out of our driveway just to have the doctor's office cancel my wife's appointment. Also had to clear the carbon monoxide vents on the side of the house. Snow was up past my knees. Came in soaking and freezing. Not great

 

This is immediately my shit and I'm only halfway through the first track, lol. Awesome vibe pick and perfect for the weather right now.

I would also point new members to the first album we did in here, Oneohtrix Point Never's Replica, for another ambient-adjacent (albeit more unhinged) winter listen.

 

One of these days I’m gonna post my thoughts before the next pick is in.

Illinois is the only Sufjan record I think I’ve listened to in full. I’ve given it a few spins over the years and while I found it pleasant, it’s never something I felt a desire to return too. But listening this week it really clicked with me for the first time. This is the perfect example of how songs can sound “layered”. Damn near every song has something new to explore on each listen. Whether it be a vocal harmony, guitar part, strings, etc. and it all works in perfect harmony. Sufjan’s lyrics are also more linear and matter of fact than the vocal melodies let on. I also love how the album can go from soft and intimate to bombastic in seamless fashion. It’s a record that honestly feels a little cheated when listening at home. It sounds like it was composed to be listened to live in a concert hall with a full band and symphony behind it.

 

It's funny, Sunset Mission actually feels really versatile from a seasonal standpoint. I definitely get the winter night vibes, but I feel like it would also hit on an extremely hot summer night or maybe even around Halloween. There's a bit of a sinister undertone to it all.

 

Sunset Mission is moody af. It feels like the soundtrack to a noir film where the detective is almost certainly dying at the end. That’s a round about way of saying I enjoy it so far.

 

Listened to Sunset Mission as I was grocery shopping (10/10 would recommend doing that)

thought it was great. I agree with Aaron that it has a slightly sinister undertone and I’m here for it

 

Christoph, the saxophonist, is very funny live, in a very measured, deadpan German way.

‘This next song starts unusually quickly...but ends in the usual desolation.’

 

Very excited to give this a listen, I know nothing about this group but these descriptions are On Brand For Me™

 

Well it's dark out now so I guess I should go find a bus or train to get on so I can stare out the window while listening for maximum effect.

For real though this is incredible, more records should center around Rhodes and saxophone. I hope it doesn't sound reductive when I say the Twin Peaks vibes are very strong, because I mean that as a compliment.

 

This is everything I needed to hear. Excited to listen later tonight

 

For sure, there's some delightful Badalamenti love in there.