Sufjan Stevens - All Delighted People EP

From Asthmatic Kitty Records:

"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." Sounds delightful, yes! The song was originally workshopped (oh we hate making workshop a verb, but time is money!) on Sufjan’s previous tour in the fall of 2009. Other songs on the EP include the 17-minute guitar jam-for-single-mothers "Djohariah," and the gothic piano ballad "The Owl and the Tanager," a live-show mainstay (and Debbie Downer if you ask us; what’s it doing on a "Delighted" EP?). The full track list is available right here."

So not only did he drop this EP on the DL but he is also following it with a new full length album, The Age of Adz, sometime in October. Lengthy description of this is available on Asthmatic Kitty but it sounds as if he is continuing to forge ahead in new sonic territories. I have mixed feelings as I love the folk stuff but I am intrigued by his creativity as well. It also sounds as if this is somewhat a collaboration with The National, recorded at their studio. The National members and Sufjan Stevens have been doing more and more together from his contribution to High Violet to their work together with The Clogs. All and all, an exciting time for fans of these artists, namely me! Thought you folks may be interested too as I have seen SS mentioned frequently here.

I have the 17 minute epic closing track playing as I type and it is pretty special. For you computer audio guys, it is available for download in all the lossless formats too. I purchased the flac version and it is an excellent recording by todays commercial standards.

"Illinoise" hooked me right away. A couple of years ago I went through a period where I listened to it everyday for more than a month. It was the first piece of music that had done that to me in years.
I'm gonna order this one tonight. Thanks.

Timrhu...I would say I had the same experience with some of the more accessible tracks, John Wayne Gacey Jr or Sears Tower or even Night Zombie's, but some of the 10th grade marching band (his description not mine!) or Zappaesque orchestrations took some listens to truly connect to. Now I hear it as an entire piece of work and one that is really like no other. I would say that his catalog, of which I have all but BQE, is the most played in my house along with 16 Horsepower/Woven Hand (thanks Marco!) and Sun Kil Moon/Mark Kozelek.

It's good. I haven't been able to get into it like some of the other stuff he's done but I've only listen to it a few times. You may also like "One Eskimo".

Guess I have to wait until it's available on hard copy, bummer.