Maybe I'm getting old. I think I'm already too old for Triple J, because I find Zan Rowe really annoying, but as long as Richard Kingsmill is still kicking along I suppose I can listen. Although I don't still listen. I now listen to 774, because for some reason I'd rather hear up to date Melbourne weather reports than music in the mornings now. Like I said, I'm getting old.
This week's little rant is overdue, because I've been busy doing non-musical things like marking exams and engaging in educational philosophical debates with various people and entities, but it was inspired by this morning's listen to the new Sufjan Stevens album. In typical Sufjan style, it's a tribute to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, perhaps after he realised making an album for every single US state was slightly overambitious. Instead he's moved onto notable roadways of the US. Now, Sufjan fans who got hooked on Illinoise have been waiting a fair while for this. When he toured at the beginning of last year, there was no promise of any album in the pipeline and we all wondered what the hell he'd been doing for almost three years besides touring.
The BQE as it is dubbed on its cover is not an album at all. It is an anti-album. Songs move seemlessly into each other, there are no lyrics (at least up until track 8, my current listening limit). The album is accompanied by a DVD like Beck's The Information, inspired by its subject matter, and a small 3D viewing disk that looks like it's meant for our old Viewmasters from the 1980s. There is also a thick booklet devoid of many words but containing images and flourescent coloured scribbles. Pretty cool.
I'm sure a number of people will love this album, will declare it cutting edge and postmodern for failing to conform to the norms of the music industry. Sufjan, I will point out, can get away with this because he publishes his stuff on Asthmatic Kitty Records, which I assume is his own label. But I don't want cutting edge. I want traditional. I want some songs with LYRICS, for goodness sake, which Sufjan is good at writing. And he has a great voice. I want some of those four minute symphonies he produced on Illinoise with multiple parts, songs with stories like Casimir Pulaski Day and John Wayne Gacy Jr. I'm not in the mood for self indulgent tributes to roads in foreign countries unless those tributary songs contain WORDS, as well as soaring orchestral arrangements played by people who are very talented.
On a similarly annoyed note, JB don't seem to have Flight of the Conchords new album I Told You I Was Freaky, at least in the case of two of their stores. Get some better suppliers! Borders has it, why can't JB get its act together? Mutha'uckas.
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2 comments:
Hi Sara. Thank you for your honest and critical review of my new album. I was surfing the net this evening when I stumbled across your review and felt compelled to send you a response.
I understand your disappointment at the new album not containing any words, particularly understanding the value you obviously place on lyrics in your musical listening experience. I wished to pursue an album that delved into New York state to continue my attempts at transerving the USA's 50 states. Unfortunately, living adjacent to the BQE for several years didn't help with my creativity lyrically, and thus the album evolved into a symphony which would serve more as a motion picture soundtrack, hence the attempt to create a 70s era theme in the album sleeve.
I hope my BQE album has not dampened your enjoyment of my music, and wish to see you at my future gigs in Melbourne, Australia.
Take care and I hope you continue to update your wonderful blog for many more years.
Enjoy the music,
Alfred Mantalini
Cheeky Marky!
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