THOSE WHO CANNOT WRITE FOR PITCHFORK...

Of course I cannot tell you to download and listen to The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us! [MP3], but I will anyway. I'm guessing that if you haven't heard it already, you will set aside what you've already been doing to discover how distractingly beautiful this song is, and if you've already heard it as part of "Illinois" (allegedly not also acceptably-known as "Illinoise") then you may just remember why the late middle of the album is so good. If nothing else, notice what happens at 0:57, at 2:31 and then even at 3:49, and get back to me. (Lyrics are here, by the way.)

I've been arguing in conversation for awhile now that Sufjan Stevens is the John Philip Sousa of contemporary American music. If you won't go that far, well, he's surely the first artist in a long while to count as "Americana." And I'm not just saying this because rumor has it his next album may well be "Oregon."

If you get through "Predatory Wasp" and are not convinced, try "The Seer's Tower" [MP3]. And for this limited time only, I'll throw in "Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!" [MP3]. The Stephen A. Douglas/Abraham Lincoln line alone all but makes my point for me.

P.S. — Regular Pitchfork-wielders will note that this album came out last year. I could care less, but I won't.

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posted by WWB at 8:53 PM |