Sufjan rumors & gossip

Disclaimer: this is pure speculation! "My sources" say that Sufjan is working on not one, not two, but THREE new state albums right now! Here's what one email to me said:

I've heard that, too, but it doesn't seem to be rooted in anything solid. Can't find a source for it or anything. There was also a big whoop-de-doo about a month ago with someone saying that Sufjan's next album was going to be Pennsylvania. The story behind that was that a girl's relative was the owner of a record shop in Sufjan's home town (or one of his home towns) in Michigan, Sufjan visited him and chatted about a new record he was working on, and let out the secret that it was Pennsylvania under the condition that he tell no one else. Sounds crazy to me for a number of reasons, the biggest being that if Sufjan's been so uber-secret about what he's been up to for the past year I doubt that he'd just let it out during a casual chat in a record store. Then again, we know what Sufjan's humor is like. He's probably been the one planting all those rumors, lol.

At this rate, he could release an album of himself singing in the damn shower and I would spend a whole day weeping openly over it. BUT it does seem like we've been receiving an influx of Sufjan news lately, so maybe that's a good sign.

I still maintain--and am holding out for--the speculative new album "New Jersey Loves You," which will be a piano-based, bird-themed album! (Fingers crossed!)

In other news,
Danielson, Sufjan's old buddies who helped him start his music career, is kicking off a tour with Cryptacize, a band on Sufjan's label (Asthmatic Kitty) in NYC on Halloween. EVEN MONEY Sufjan will be in attendance--probably in some sort of costume. Go to the show if you can. It'll be good for you.

Sufjan Stevens - Toilet Paper Dolls Story (live).mp3

Danielson Famile - Did I Step On Your Trumpet.mp3

Cryptacize - Cosmic Sing Along.mp3

Sail On

A much-needed vacation was in order, so this weekend my husband (yeah, sorry fellas!) is taking me on a cruise up to Victoria, British Columbia for the weekend. Here's some songs to share that set the mood:

The Beatles - Day Tripper.mp3
Jukebox the Ghost - Victoria.mp3
The National - Squalor Victoria.mp3
Danielson - Cast It the Setting Sail.mp3
Half-handed Cloud - Sailing the Veil-Boat.mp3

{Make a Joyful Noise HERE}

Danielson: a Family Movie (or Make a Joyful Noise Here) is a 105-minute documentary (rockumentary?) by director JL Aronson. It follows Daniel Smith and his family-band (and friend-members) through a history of their group and questions what direction the band might go in as the members age into adulthood and find their own life paths.

Here's a nice synopsis from their releasing company:

This intimate and eloquent documentary traces the unorthodox path of Daniel Smith -- eccentric musician, visual artist and devout Christian -- as he creates a musical phenomenon with siblings and friends under the name Danielson Famile, eventually struggling to realize his own identity as an artist once the family members begin their own adult lives. Along the way he mentors an unknown singer-songwriter named Sufjan Stevens, whose subsequent success stands in contrast to the music world's uneasy reception of Danielson just a few years earlier. Combining hybrid storytelling, essential live performances, animated sequences and a dollop of Danielson archives, director JL Aronson offers a provocative yet subtle look at a complex life outside the mainstream.

For you Sufjan-fans, there's some nice goodies in the film for you too: an almost uncut performance of "To Be Alone With You," an early peek at "Chicago," some behind-the-scenes peeks at the making of Seven Swans, as well as plenty of smiles and coyly self-depreciating humor. Let's not forget a Tom Eaton animated short, and this gem:



The biggest (!)-moment for me was from a fan interview. A woman said that back in the mid-90s when the band was just getting its start, Jeff Buckley had been to the shows and started telling people to check them out. That's pretty damn awesome, and a helluva recommendation.

If you've been curious about Danielson Famile, this is a great primer for all things Danielson. Recommended for checking out on Netflix. Be sure to delve into those special features--the additional footage from the European tour is a must if you've always wanted to hear Daniel Smith butcher the German language (and let's face it, who hasn't?)

Danielson Famile - Did I Step On Your Trumpet?.mp3

Recommended starter albums: Ships and Fetch the Compass Kids.
You can buy the movie here.