Let’s start with a quote from Paste Magazine.
“The whole premise was such a joke… and I think maybe I took it too seriously. I started to feel like I was becoming a cliché of myself.”
That’s Sufjan Stevens on his 50 Albums/50 States project. It’s also Sufjan continuing his “what does it all mean for me to be an artist thing” he’s going through right now. Next thing they should have asked him was, “what’s the deal on the New Jersey album? Is it coming out still?” But they didn’t or the appropriate NW based follow-up question I have, “Why did I hear you were doing Oregon and now you are not? Your melancholy songs would fit perfectly to the rain and I’m sure we could find enough sunlight in the spring to help you to come around after your long winter cry session.” Atleast that’s what I’m going to pretend I’d ask him. The positive side to all this is that whatever happens with the 50 States project, a bunch of songs have leaked recently. That means that he’s still out there writing and creating. He’s just doing it without a theme and I’m sure that one of these days, a new album will find us.
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
if only your questions had been asked! “the bqe” and “run rabbit run” are fun, but i’m dying for a proper illinoise follow-up. oregon would be nice!
Oregon. What a rich tapestry with which to paint from. C’mon Sufjan, give us one more. And Josh...the Illinois follow-up is long overdue. Even his fellow collaborator Annie Clark has made two records since it came out.