Top 5 Sufjan Stevens songs off 5 albums (or...)

I had to include the hour long EP (and I had the fantastical title track selected, before I changed it to one of the most beautiful songs I know of)

"All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!" (Michigan, 2003)
"Transfiguration" Seven Swans, 2004)
"Chicago" (Illinois, 2005) (between this and your pick)
"The Owl and the Tanager" (All Delighted People, 2010)
"Should Have Known Better" (Carrie & Lowell, 2015)
"sh*t Talk" (Javelin, 2023)

The Age of ADZ is great in it's own right, but I suppose it's not among my go-to albums (I only own physical copies of the three first albums on my list). I've always respected his experimental/electronic side more than I've genuinley loved it. First album I bought was Seven Swans. I saw him on that tour, alone on the stage, in front maybe 200 people. All dead quiet. He played that whole album. And that was the version of Sufjan Stevens I came to love the first. Michigan, from the year before was my second purchase. I was close to selecting "Vito's Ordination Song" like you did. But upon relistening I was reminded of the glorious explosion in music that followed the familiar beauty and quietness of the opening track. My first encounter with the progressive side of Sufjan and the "signature sound" that most people were introduced to with Illinos.

I've only listened to a few of his albums, so I'll pick 2 from these - Chicago and Fourth of July.

^I feel pretty much the same.

If you are unfamilar with the All Delighted People EP*, I think this opening title track has everything one can dream of, all at once. Heartbreaking, gorgeous and complex in both composition and arrangement. Never forced, always with a natural progression that serves the music, and the compelling (apocalyptic) lyricism. As a songwriter I think he's up there among the greatest, ever. Today it would have made my list:



*my understanding is that he released it as a hour long EP, as the tracks aren't connected to each other. When I think about it, all of the Sufjan Stevens albums I'm familiar with, are concept albums. But it's very much him all the way and, has no less of an album feel than most releases by other any artist.

Having most of Sufjan Stevens' albums I can probably call myself a fan, however I find it terribly difficult to contribute to this, as I usually play his albums in full and must admit that I often even don't care that much how which individual song is called (and some of the song titles are terribly long). Carrie & Lowell is an exception, but the album for me has a pretty uniform quality level, I culd nominate half of the album or more as "best". 

Edited by Lewian - October 20 2024 at 06:34

Logan wrote: I recently listened to his hour long "EP" in full, All Delighted people EP and that is wonderful. So much beauty and wonder, but I will choose the rather Maggot Brainish and rockier to my ears "Djohariah" right now.

I love that one as well.

-in regards to selecting a favorite song and share it. I mostly do that thinking it might get someone to check out an artist or album I love. And maybe a chosen "highlight" will make for a good introduction. It does happen, and I've discovered + further investigated many artists that way myself. That means more to me than the whole favorite thing. I change my mind about that all the time anyway.