Sufjan Stevens in new Tape Op is that a joke?

[bipedal]

Interesting read -- reminded me of the Deerhoof story from awhile back (running several Macs, pressing the space bar on 'em at the same time to record...).

The only song I've heard by him is "Chicago". Didn't really make an impression on first listen, but I later realized I had been humming it all afternoon. Sneaky.

Still trying to reconcile the sound of that recording with the techniques used to make the recording -- wow.

[Trick Fall]

I like Sufjan, but he is pretentious, prolly not half as pretentious as Radiohead though. I'm looking forward to the article. His records don't sound low budg to me.

[Aidyn]

I am a huge Sufjan fan. I actually just dropped in here because I was seeing if I could find the article anywhere online and this forum came up in the google results. I hadn't heard of this magazine before I heard about the article although I am a (quite) novice home recording enthusiast.

It definitely seems like an interesting article.

I don't get where the "pretentious" stuff is coming from. I think the fans are often pretentious and the haters claim he is pretentious but I don't see how you can claim that he is pretentious from the interviews he has done or the music or whatever you are basing that off of.

I've always thought he seemed like a down to Earth guy. Ambitious, and maybe a little introverted but never pretentious. Who knows though.

Then again maybe he just seems pretentious to someone who types probably as "prolly".

By the way, how could I pick up this issue? I'm sure it's too late to subscribe now and get the current issue but I saw that you can order back issues.

[;ivlunsdystf]

For the record I only said he seemed smug. Later the pretentious label came up. Smugness is IMO a lesser offense than pretentiousness.

[bantam]

guys he is an artist. not a gear nut or a recording engineer. the fact that he can make such beutiful songs is the point. even if they were recorded on a 2 track cassette.

[T-rex]

I think a lot of great artists are pretentious and I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing. It's a fine line to walk though.

For instance, if you wear wings while singing a song you are either:
A.) An Angel
B.) Pretentious
C.) Sufjan Stevens
D.) All of the above

[bantam]

yes and if you wear a costume while performing you are either...
1. ziggy stardust
2. kiss
3. iron maiden
4. sufjain

[mikeyc]

yes and if you wear a costume while performing you are either...
1. ziggy stardust
2. kiss
3. iron maiden
4. sufjain

I am Iron Maiden.


Seriously.

[;ivlunsdystf]

Then again maybe he just seems pretentious to someone who types probably as "prolly"

Where are you going with that?

[chris harris]

Then again maybe he just seems pretentious to someone who types probably as "prolly"

Where are you going with that?

downhill fast.

first time poster.

let it slide.

[;ivlunsdystf]

let it slide.

done.

I'd rather we lure in another regular here than piss off a first time poster once. Welcome, Aidyn.

[Trick Fall]

Then again maybe he just seems pretentious to someone who types probably as "prolly"

Where are you going with that?

I am most assuredly pretentious as all hell, but then again I think anyone who gets up on a stage better be at least a little pretentious.

[RefD]

let it slide.

done.

I'd rather we lure in another regular here than piss off a first time poster once. Welcome, Aidyn.

*discovers only door is locked*

*pees trousers*

[mccak287]

I'm glad to see that Kieran Kelly and The Buddy Project were mentioned in the article... and most of the pictures were at The Buddy Project. My band, Waking Lights, also recorded there (www.myspace.com/wakinglights). We had Kenny Gioia mix our E.P. so it's got a different sound as far mix goes but you can tell that it's the same room, piano, and rhodes that Sufjan used. You really can't beat the vibe and not to mention the price at TBP.

As far as the article goes, I had already known that he recorded that way but it was interesting to read how he learned how to play and how he thought about music. I can see how everybody thinks that he is pretentious, but I feel that at least he backs it up with some legitimate talent. My favorite Sufjan is definitely his piano playing on The National's Boxer.

[;ivlunsdystf]

I'm glad to see that this article attracted new people to the magazine and this forum. Seriously. No offense to the old high-post-count regulars is intended, but it's nice to see some new names round here.