I will come straight out and say it, I don’t “get” Sufjan Stevens new EP but, when the label’s press release contains the following:
“The EP, All Delighted People, is built around two different versions of Sufjan’s long-form epic ballad “All Delighted People,” a dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and Paul Simon’s “Sounds of Silence.”
I don’t get too hung up on trying to “get” it and just listen to the music, which I find is the key to truly enjoying this EP. Taking a stroll through the 60 minutes of experimental music making I found myself referencing a totally random assortment of musical touch point. From the trippy Pink Floyd-esque guitar riffs in the monstrous piece “Dojariah” to the tender acoustic chamber folk track “Heirloom” – which definitely carries some heavy S & G influence – to the sparse ballad “Arnika” which circles back around to Steven’s previous work this is an EP overrun with inspiration. Steven’s undeniable musical ability is only part of what makes All Delighted People successful, the other major factor is the creator’s confidence in his experimental approach.
The eight tracks that make up All Delighted People are all very independent pieces, drawing on their own pools of inspiration and expressed in whatever manner Steven’s feels appropriate to sufficiently represent the . No where is this better demonstrated than on the 17 minute closer “Dojariah” which pulls out all the stops- fuzzy guitar solos, rhythmic chanted choruses, inconsistent but effective horns – all to achieve his “guitar jam-for-single-mothers.” The chaos of the arrangement’s opening peaks then dips beautifully into Steven’s own lyrical ode. While 17 minutes may seem a bit much on the surface he truly uses every moment to tell his story.
The titular track comes in two variations (Classic Rock and Original) on the EP and are the most focused tracks Stevens offers up on this release. They achieve their epic sound with classic techniques like swelling strings and rich horn sections but arranged within the quirky structure Stevens relishes. The distinct pluck of the banjo and the off beat lyrics push it just enough off course to make it refreshing without being too obtuse. Of course he is taking this new material on the road this fall where I’m sure it will pick up even more flavor – and maybe, within the context of the live show, make a bit more sense – but for the $5 he is asking this is a 60 minute adventure well worth having.
[MP3] Too Much (short version)