Added: 1 year ago
From: theneedledrop
Views: 18,299
Sort by time | Sort by thread (beta)

Link to this comment:

Share to:

All Comments (143)

Sign In or Sign Up now to post a comment!
  • The Owl and The Tanager is my favorite track from this EP. I'm not trying to argue or anything but I think the reverb you're talking about is really delay. :) I've never heard it used tastefully until I listened to Sufjan's more recent recordings. Have you heard the beginning of Impossible Soul? Tasteful to the power of 9! Anyway, thanks for the review. It's interesting to hear how Sufjan's music is received.

  • ITS AN EP... that meens its usually short... i normally call people a fuck head at the end of my comments.. but your not a fuck head because you like sufjan stevens...

    but i do think you have a fuck head face... fuck head

  • @Dinopirate at first i was mad at you, but i watched your videos. I like them

  • Review Cleric - Regressions! Just give it a chance! I bet you'll enjoy it! Just listen to the album in it's entirety once!! You [probably] won't regret it!!

  • did you miss the lyrical references to sound of silence in the title track? cuz its pretty obvious

  • @AwesomeA1010 I GOT IT`!!!!! IT WAS AMAZING!! SO GOOD

  • I thought it was pronounced "soofyan"?

  • @ourheroyes

    It is.

  • i am totally in favor of the Bandcamp distribution of this album, and (incidentally) basically ALL OTHER sufjan albums. I just wish they'd hook it up such that someone could buy a vinyl and get a FLAC download automatically via bandcamp.

  • goood review dude :) love this ep :P

  • This thing on vinyl is actually a double LP(although the last side was just piano breaks),it cost me about £15 from a record fairI live in ireland so it was about €20,which i think is about $24.

  • I actually thought this was a pretty darn good review.

  • Simon&Garfunkel

  • the cover's prolly what makes it an ep

  • Great review. I agree, this is an incredible album with crap cover art.

  • he gives it an 8 though... and calls it a powerhouse... good score, good review

  • yes he didnt pronounce soof yawn correctly

  • My favorite review of yours :D

  • what an annoying dude. a few mins of my life wasted.

  • @staredition leave this man alone, there is a ton of detail here, you are a few minutes of my wasted

  • ahahhaha. 'Suv-jan'

  • If you're going to hold yourself out as a "reviewer" please learn how to pronounce the artist's name.

  • Well, if you look at its history, it wasn't a 2 hour Christmas album. I do love this EP.

  • Comment removed

  • I loved this EP, but still find I actually prefer Age of Adz.

  • i like the way you review albums, they're all very reasonable

  • You have been SUBBED! Now shut the fuck up and talk!

    ~Slainte

    Rob

  • I agree with the pink floyd comparison. I feel the structure was reminiscent of Atom Heart mother

  • Djohariah is the star of this EP. What a buildup! When I first heard this track with friends we sat there for 11 minutes tentatively and patiently waiting to hear him and right at 11 something minutes then hits Sufjans soft vocals, and what lyrics that song has! That song is GOLD, PURE GOLD.

  • In my opinions, the best work by Sufjan so far- the lyrics, the music, the themes all come together wonderful. Truly, it deserves to be studied as a contemporary work of art.

  • funny how the songs meanings dont get taken into context in compression to the sound....hmmm

  • one thing i don't get - why is this an EP? it's almost an hour.

  • @NeonFoxLetsPlays I think its just technicalities of the label; The Mars Volta's Frances the mute had a several problem- even though it was almost 80 minutes long, it was still considered an EP since it only had 5 songs. They ended up splitting up the ridiculously long songs in the end to make it count as a full album. I might be wrong, but I think 8 songs is the threshold between EP and an album- 4 in England.

  • @voluptamors yeah but the thing is The Mars Volta HAD another song written for Frances the Mute but they rejected it because if they added the song Frances the Mute would've had to have been a double album.

    and they never split up the songs. to this day there are still only five songs, but they're divided into movements.

    but you;re awesome for the Mars Volta reference. i love that band.

  • @NeonFoxLetsPlays Yes! That's what I was referring to- It would've been awesome if they had been able to kept both Frances the Mute as the opening track and Cassandra Gemini in its full half hour glory! Definitely one of my favorite Mars Volta.

  • @voluptamors i was able to make a complete mix of "Frances the MUte" with the omitted track. it came out to be 90 minutes long which qualifies it as a double album.

    honestly it would've been awesome if it was a double album. i would've mind.

  • @NeonFoxLetsPlays I did too! I also stitched up Cassandra Gemini and put the album as it was meant to be! Yeah, I don't know why they didn't release it as a double album instead. Probably more crap from their recording company D=

  • @voluptamors yeah i have the original intact "Cassandra Gemini" too. i just paired it up with "Miranda.." and made another CD with all the other tracks on it. so i have a double album of "Frances the Mute"

  • Anthony Fantano, what did you think of the track Djohariah? I personally loved it, my favorite track on the EP, and it seems like a large part of the record for you not to have mentioned it. what are your thoughts on it? loved it, thought it was a bloated mess, or (somehow) it didn't stand out either way?

  • I agree with you about the Simon and Garfunkle thing. ;)

  • You're a sad joke, man. In all meanings of the word.

  • Is it a band or just Sufjan Stevens arranging it all? And god do I love this EP, easily my favorite Sufjan work, I like how he's gone from the narrative type songs to these song with more intimate, personal and relate-able lyrics. 10 out of 10 for me. Great review, thanks so much for you're videos, loving the few I've seen.

  • you could have summed up this review by saying

    "sufjan stevens is god"

  • Djohariah will probably be remembered in music history (well who really knows), as being of the most innovative, brilliantly coordinated piece ever. Experiments in dissonance, evocative psych folk guitar over powerful soulful vocals, everything that is intelligent and talented is in this song. It's so American and so foreign, an unbelievable paradox. It seems like Plutarch said it best when he said "Good art seems ancient to its contemporaries, and modern to their descendants." This is an exampl

  • Heh, "Floydian".

    I love the reverb on The Owl And The Tanager.

  • I honestly wasn't very impressed by this. The songs I appreciated were the short more folk songs. Heirlooms and enchanting Ghost were great. all delighted people (both versions) and the closing track just don't do it for me

  • @mamothmanX Let it grow on you. My favorite EP now when before I felt the same as you.

  • @BasilRulesMe my favorite release of his is seven swans. yours? besides this ep

  • @mamothmanX YA seven swans as well. thats why I do like some songs on this ep because they reminded me of seven swans

  • @mamothmanX LOVE Seven Swans, but then again I love all his works. I think I have a soft spot for Michigan however, first album I heard by him and still my favorite.

  • This is the most amazing EP I've ever heard.

  • It's stunning. Some moments are just really haunting, and although you weren't a fan of the reverb on The Owl and the Tanager, it's a really beautiful song. I could listen to the whole EP over and over right now.

    Much agreeance with everyone else - reminds me of why I first fell (and am now still thoroughly) in love with Sufjan Stevens.

  • decent review pal. id give it a 9 because of how often the melodies stick in my mind when im not listening to the tracks. The production value is so amazing. that is one of the things that always stick out on sufjan recordings.

  • Simon & Garfunkel, sure, but seriously can no one else hear Ray Davies when Sufjan sings?

  • LOVE IT. loved it so much that i bought tickets for his tour this fall, which i am just utterly stoked for. it will be my first time seeing him live. this album really reminded me why i love sufjan stevens in the first place. his raw emotion and his ability to combine so many instruments, sounds and feelings into a single EP. simply amazing.

  • Sufjan never ceases to surprise you with explorations of all kinds of music. He's done it again. I'm excited for his LP.

  • Djohariah is arguably my favorite Sufjan Stevens song. After 15 listens, I am thoroughly convinced it is one of his most beautiful songs. Though Tallest Man, Broadest Shoulders is f'ing genius.

  • Something I noticed that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere....

    the similarity between All Delighted People the song and The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel.

    I suppose it was an influence, there are a few borrowed lines he threw in there.

  • i feel like even though the ep lacks a little bit of cohesion that sufjan kind of intended to do that, because the synthy feel on say the owl and the tanager and instrumentation in djohariah are mayne stepping stones towards the sound of the age of adz, which i think will be quite different to sufjans most recent work. that said this ep really reminded me why i originally fell in love with sufjan.

  • It's pronounced "Poop-On-Penis"

  • @thornygravy you're great

  • Speaking of indie-folk, Joanna Newsom's song "Have One on Me" is over 11 minutes long and it does NOT feel that long. "All Delighted People" does seem over 11 minutes.

    I still like it. But, I much prefer "I Walked" the leading single from The Age of Adz which is offered as a free download through his website.

    I think Joanna N. and Sufjan are probably the most epic songwriters currently and I do think Joanna has a better grasp on epic. Sufjan still feels a bit workshop.

  • According to the British charts an EP is 4 and around 20minz.

  • "All delighted peopleipi"

  • I love your videos

  • im suprised this is the first time i've heard of him and i like what im hearing

    Cheers!

  • is it 7" or 12"

  • @synth77 Its only digital.

  • i think someone could make a movie about you

  • love sufjan, love S&G. Great review. Im going to buy it from my local record store asap. Not even gonna listen to it on youtube. IM IN! Forever.

  • Simon and Garfunkel are so under appreciated in our generation, I kick myself every time I bring them up and the person I mention them to says "who?" (facepalm)

  • omgnewbeachhouseyayyyy

  • can you get a physical copy of the EP anywhere?

  • @loser0punk in december!

  • Absolutely loved this EP. Incredible.

    Highlights are All Delighted People, Owl, and Djohariah. Djohariah is about Sufjan's little sister, who seems to have gone through some tough times. Lots of love and encouragement from Sufjan in that chilling and emotional closer. The falsetto chorus at the end kills me.

  • wait okay i found it, it rules.

  • where can i buy this for five dollars?!

  • @iovinomarisa Bandcamp.

  • review the new Ra Ra Riot album!

  • Grow a mohawk again!

  • great review.could you review the new Ash song Carnal Love please

  • I think I've just grown apart from Sufjan's music over the years. When I was going into high school, I remember loving Michigan and later Seven Swans. But this just feels, I don't know, kind of boring to me now. I knew what it was going to sound like before I even played it. Just made very sleepy by the whole thing but I know in term of songwriting craft it's a good album- just not for me anymore.

  • this is all nice and stuff but.....ODDSAC!!!!!! *thanks* :)

  • I love Sufjan and actually didn't know that he was coming out with a new EP, so this review came as a nice little surprise for me :)

  • I'm seeing him in November. I've never been so excited. I can now die a happy woman. ha

  • Gotta say, that I'm really loving this EP after just one listen. It's got a very soft sound even when it get's all stirred up and roiled and "loud." I did Sufjan's voice, especially on All Delighted People when it sounds like he's just shoving every word and they still ring so beautifully. I also like the dependability and, as you said, fill oriented aspect of the drumming, I also dig the playfulness of rhythm like at the end of Djoharia. BUT my favorite aspect of this is by far it's CHORALNESS.

  • yea ths guy is pretty awesome

  • Same score for the win!

  • He did an Iron Maiden review... Maiden doesn't identify with nerd glasses...

  • i cant stop watching the needle drop

  • What hair?

    Also, I also really liked this album. Sufjan Stevens is incredible.

  • This is not an EP. I refuse to accept this as an EP. But I will accept it as pretty damn good. Sufjan does it again!

  • his vocals at the end of Djohariah are stunning. the entire song is beautiful, but that's what sticks out the most to me on the whole EP.

  • Oh and Floydian might be the most awesome thing i've heard all month.

  • You don't need a haircut, I need a haircut. It's like 4 feet long damn it....

  • Anthony where u go (website, blog, etc) to discover the new albums?

  • thanks anthony for sending me, oh wow, beautiful. heirloom and djohariah will not let me go for hours. my heart is pounding right now. pleaase dont let this be the last time i feeeeel this waaaaay

  • What a lovely shirt. :)

  • do you do all genres of music?

  • @LouTheMetalhead no; only music that matches his glasses

  • Beautiful EP.

  • I'm really enjoying this EP, its my first time listening to Sufjan Stevens and I am impressed. Will Ra Ra Riot's "The Orchard" get the Anthony Fantano treatment?

  • Stay converted.

    Sufjan Stevens makes my heart feel like its falling out of my ass.

    I definitely felt that Simon and Garfunkel influence. Love it.

    The whole EP lifted my spirits after that whole 'Run Rabbit Run' and 'The BQE' thing. I'm hoping to catch one of his shows this upcoming tour.

    PLUS, how the hell can you go wrong with a $5, 60 minute EP?

  • best tree intro ever. xD

  • I miss Shara's voice but Sufjan is a great singer/songwriter regardless. I agree The reverb on "the Owl..." took a lot of power away from Sufjans voice & it was Epicly Annoying. Enchanting Ghost was my favorite track.

    So he's bailed on the 50 states concept I take it?

  • @MrEpiclylaterd I don't think hes totally abandoned it. I've heard a few rumors that hes still playing around with the idea.

  • @wtficantgetanamewtf : I know he said that a couple of States he had no intentions of doing an album for; personal as well as creative problems I think. "come on feel the Illinoise" is by far my favorite album of his. "Casmir Pulaski" & "Chicago" gets a 10/10 in my book.

  • @MrEpiclylaterd Illinoise is the only album of his that I have and I agree it is awesome as well as those songs. He definately needs to do an album about Massachusetts though because I have a feeling that could make a nice double or triple album. Though rumors are that New York is next on his list.

  • I think "what makes an EP" should be the next question of the week.

    and the song writing is fantastic on this "EP." Very lush, yet very intimate.

  • Comment removed

  • SHAVE THOSE SIDEBURNS THE NEEDLEDROP, OR YOUR CUT.

  • Review the new Klaxons.

  • @faraz1192 its shit there is your review

  • Excellent review.

  • All Delighted People gets a thumbs up from me...I can't wait to listen to the rest of the album. Sufjan Stevens' music kind of gives me an Andrew Bird feel (just a little bit). Hey Anthony, I saw your blogtv last night....you're crazy and awsome! :)

  • Wow your sitting down on these reviews, always thought you were standing....mind=blown. Love Sufjan...i'm going to go buy this now, more artists need to sell their albums/EPs this cheap, its the only way they will sell I think.

  • it's pronounced "Soup-John Stay-Vons"

  • @dotd53 well thats gay

  • @dotd53 SOOF-YAWN, there is an F in there.

  • @dotd53 hahahah

  • @dotd53 No, it's actually pronounced "Soof-Yahn" and Stevens is just pronounced normally.

  • soofyan stevens

  • Ive been a long time fan of sufjan stevens, love the guy and his music, my favorite record of his is seven swans, so good. Anyways, fantastic review Anthony

  • No Anthony, you're the best.

  • All delighted people raise their hands.

    (sits on hands)

  • I <3 it.

  • Looking dapper for a change Anthony Fantano :)

  • Ambition is evil. Sufjan is a bastard!

  • I feel like Sufjan over sang on this EP.

  • in the intro you sounded just like marvin from the rough cuts, which would also explain why you're subbed to gordon everyday :)

  • @64chris64 or is it melvin? I'm really not in a good state to remember these kind of details

  • Only $5? I have to get this. Although I do find that Sufjan Steven's "ambition" is just over the top.

  • Cover all bases and pronounce the name Sufjan every possible way every time!

  • I LOVE the new Beach House track. I just had to say that :)

  • great shirt, man. I'll have to get this! not bcuz of the shirt, bcuz of the review. duh.

  • Nice new button up there, Anthony.

  • it's SOOF-yan.....this is for everyone

  • Love your videos bro.

  • Thumbs up for the classy look!

Loading...
Alert icon
0 / 00Unsaved Playlist Return to active list
    1. Your queue is empty. Add videos to your queue using this button:
      or sign in to load a different list.
    Loading...Loading...Saving...
    • Clear all videos from this list
    • Learn more