"Pop Songs Can Heal the Soul" - Sufjan Stevens

I may have an unhealthy love for Sufjan.  With each new song, he becomes more and more of a musical genius to me.  Why?  For one, he is insanely talented, with the most soothing voice (see here) and musical ingenuity (see here).  Two, all of his (good) songs instantly communicate a deep intimacy with the listener (see here) (and here).   And finally, for his unshakable view and love of God.  Let me camp here for a second.  


Through his songs, he is able to communicate this being, who loves us so much, who wants the best for us, and who is already so close... A great instance is in this song.  When I listen to it, I am comforted, not by Sufjan, but by this infinitely intimate being he describes:

I always knew you / in your mothers arms 

i have called your name / i have an idea 

placed in your mind / to be a better man 

ive made a crown for you  / put it in your room 

and when the bride groom comes / there will be noise 

there will be glad / and a perfect man

and when you write a poem / i know the words 

i know the sounds / before you write it down 

and when you wear your clothes / i wear them too 

i wear your shoes / and your jacket too 

i always knew you / in your mothers arms 

i have called you son / ive made amends 

between father and son / or if you havent one 

rest in my arms / sleep in my bed 

there is a design / to what i did and said

Man, gets me every time.  


Anyways, I saw him in concert this week, and it was... different.  Sufjan is still himself, but he has moved into a strange world of synthesizers and auto-tune.  From the stage, he said for this album, he was giving up all his comforts (basically any classical instrument + the banjo), and just getting down to pure sound.  There is one story I wanted to share.


He said he was going through a time of intense isolation, heartbreak, and loneliness.  During this time, he found the work of one Royal Robertson.  Still on stage, he explained to us Robertson's life.  Royal was a painter living in Louisiana, with a deep fracture.  "His work struck me as beautiful and divine and tragic," Stevens said.  Royal dove deep into this futuristic, spacey art world, dealing with his own heartaches and a serious mental illness: schizophrenia.  "During this time in my life, Royal's art was a kind of guide," Sufjan claimed.  


(He dedicated the next song "The Dress Looks Nice on You," "Heirloom" to Robertson's widow, who was at the show.)


And voila - he released 'Age of Adz', a complete detachment from his usual folksy music.  In 'Adz', Sufjan relies on drumbeats, synthesizers, and other crazy sounds in-betweeen.


BUT - the music is still awesome.  Sufjan is still Sufjan, and his CD, most of which he played in Dallas, was his own psycho-therapy session, he claims.  


As for the concert, the show was amazing.  Like a broadway production meeting a laser-light show, he rocked.  Throw in dueling drumsets, trombones, space-dressed backup singers. . . and you have quite a show.  


Like I said before, Sufjan's music brings an instant intimacy, and his presence on stage did the same.  He laughed at a few mistakes, and expressed the pain which produced this album.  


For the finale, he played the epic 25-minute long song "Impossible Soul."  He calls this his personal psycho-therapy session, and if you take the time to listen, he invites us into his most intimate doubts, pains and struggles.  The lyrics are wrought with statements like "Do you want to be afraid?", "Don't be shy in the window / come down and give your best", "Don't be distracted","It's a long life /Better pinch yourself /put your face together / better get it right / it's a long life / better hit yourself /put your face together /gotta stand up straight / it's a long life / only one last chance / couldn't get much better / do you wanna dance? "  


He said, (jokingly?) in explaining the different parts of the song, "I believe pop songs can heal the soul.  At least mine."


It's like Sufjan is reminding himself of who he is, what his weaknesses are, and how to act when he doesn't know what to do.  Uh, hello, I can definitely relate to that!  He ends the song with the refrain "Boy, we can do much more together!"  Taken one way, this could be a woman speaking... But to me, I see it as simply we can do more together than alone.  A lesson I need to remember, and one I think Sufjan portrays as well (he's quite an isolationist).  


The best part is during this song, he broke out a shiny wig, the autotune, and danced!  (hilarious/epic video here).


So, I'm not sure where this was headed. . .


The concert was great, and Sufjan is still making great music, sharing his talents, his love, fear, and disagreements with of God, rolled up with songs about the apocalypse (see here), death, afterlife, love... 


He may want to get a restraining order against me.  

The set list from Sufjan Stevens at SMU's McFarlin Auditorium (10-20-10)

1. Seven Swans (from 2004's 'Seven Swans')
2. Too Much (from 2010's 'The Age of Adz')
3. Age of Adz (from 'The Age of Adz')
4. Heirloom (from 2010's 'All Delighted People' EP)
5. I Walked (from 'The Age of Adz')
6. Futile Devices (from 'The Age of Adz')
7. Vesuvius (from 'The Age of Adz')
8. Now That I'm Older (from 'The Age of Adz')
9. Get Real Get Right (from 'The Age of Adz')
10. Enchanting Ghost ('All Delighted People' EP)
11. Impossible Soul (from 'The Age of Adz')
12. Chicago (from 2005's 'Illinois')

ENCORE

1. Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland ('Illinois')
2. Casimir Pulaski Day ('Illinois')
3. The Dress Looks Nice on You ('Seven Swans')

Video from the concert (not mine):

Seven Swans - http://www.youtube.com/user/bdkoehn#p/u/5/zY-im_2FG-Y

Too Much - http://www.youtube.com/user/bdkoehn#p/u/4/31HKfHIPD-U

Impossible Soul (pop part) - http://www.youtube.com/user/bdkoehn#p/u/3/wBTHwFIM2oo

Impossible Soul (end) - http://www.youtube.com/user/bdkoehn#p/u/2/CCGlCYAF1T

Chicago - http://www.youtube.com/user/bdkoehn#p/u/1/-URGNH_LTZA

Running: It's All About the Music

So, I am not the leading authority on running, but I have found one thing very helpful: music.  We worked out each week at the Forge, and it was really the first time I had a regular running schedule.  However, I never listened to music while running.

Fast forward to July, when I was finally settled into Dallas, I started running again.   And, my friends, music makes all the difference.  So, here is some advice on what to listen to while you burn away those Ho-Ho's.

1.  Pick upbeat songs.  This is key.  I can't run to slower, chiller bands such as Explosions in the Sky or Moby.  No, no.  What you need are songs with a fast tempo, cause your feet will want to match it.  Pick a faster song, and you can improve your times.


2. Pick songs you actually like.  So, with this being said, don't just go and get all the techno and rave songs you can.  Once, I was surprised by Journey's "Separate Ways", which I had put on my playlist as a semi-joke.  But, it came on one time, and I was able to push ahead, focusing on my love of classic rock instead of my deflated lungs and lead legs.

3. Skip songs as you run.  If a song comes on you don't like / want.  Skip it.  It's your life, take some control!

4. Breathe.  This is another great thing about music.  During that silence between songs, I've realized that I breathe pretty loudly about 1/4 of my way into a run.  But, when that music is playing, I don't care who hears.  So, I'm able to suck in that air and not care who's listening.

5. Turn up the Volume.  This one took some experimenting, but I've found turning up the volume helps me run faster.  You can really get into those songs, you know?  I'd say I usually listen to my iPod around the halfway mark.  But, when running, it's closer to 3/4.  Just one more thing to push you.

6. Pick songs that yell at you.  So, you like your song, it's upbeat, and the volume is up.  The last things that helps me run faster are songs a little outside my usual listening - throw in some Coheed and Cambria, mewithoutYou, Family Force Five... it's almost like a mini-Brooks Beless yelling at you to keep going.




Bryce's Top Ten Music to Listen to While Running:  


- Stretching - 
10. Arcade Fire - Ready to Start - This song gets me pumped up.  Starts off slow, builds in some layers...  But, I'm a little obsessed with this album right now, so it may be biased.


- Starting off -
9. mewithoutYou - Nice and Blue - I've found this hard drum beat to be the perfect tempo for me to start running.  Plus, they start yelling, and man!- it just gets me going!
8. Arcade Fire - Wake Up - Again, starts off slow (maybe a little too slow).  But, I usually just start listening to the song and forget I'm running.  (I want to actually start waking up to this song.)


- Running - 
7. mewithoutYou - Bullet to Binary - One of my favorites.  Early mewithoutYou is screamo mewithoutYou.  At one point, they're yelling in French.  What's not to love?   
6. Lecrae - Go Hard - This one always gets me.  With Lecrae shouting 'Go Hard or Go Home,' I start thinking, "You're right Lecrae, I'm gonna go hard, cause I don't wanna go home!!  ARRRRGH!!"


- Pushing Through the Pain -
5. Switchfoot - Bullet Soul - About the 3/4 mark, I need music I like to listen to and forget my pain.  So, this catchy tune usually takes me away from my pain.
4. Journey - Separate Ways - Once, I was running in some really hot weather, and felt like quitting.  Then, I heard the guitars at the beginning, and had a complete out-of-body-experience. Also, it makes me think of this scene in 'Yes Man' (especially the end).  Works like a charm...
3. Rush - The Spirit of Radio - Again, if this comes on at the end, it's such a surprise.  I end up getting lost in Neil Peart's drumming prowess.


- Finishing - 
2. Coldplay - Viva la Vida - For me, I like a really good song at the end which, I don't know, just lifts your spirits.  I imagine this song to be playing as I run into the olympic stadium or something.
1. Edison Glass - The Jig is Up - Not only my top running song, but one of my faves anytime.  The message behind this amazing song inspires me to finish strong as much as the music.

Alright, now get off the computer, grab the iPod, and get fit! 

"The Jig is Up"

Obsessed.  I cannot stop listening to this song by Edison Glass.


It's such a huge reminder to me that I do not know everything, I can't even 'see' everything, and that I need to lean on His understanding...


Check it out here ---> The Jig is Up


Then go get Edison Glass' whole album!


"Your eyes see further than mine.  I can see as far as the sun and the moon in the sky.  Your hands are warmer than mine.  I'm still alive, but I can't feel the warmth from inside.


How can you say the warmth makes you?  How can you say your sight leads you home?


I asked with the right intent and bright eyes, but what I can't seem to figure out is how and why I can't seem to handle this.


I'll wait for Your words
I'll trust You'll say!


When we can't handle it all you'll say!


How can you say the warmth makes you?  How can you say a sight leads you?  How can you say?!


Your eyes see further than mine.  I can see as far as the sun and the moon in the sky.  I'll wait for your words, I'll trust you'll say!"


Yep, can't get enough of it.  


B R Y C E

Music I Found this Year that I want to Pass On

Here is a list of music I either first heard or just realized how awesome their music really was in 2009.

#10 Sufjan Stevens – “Songs For Christmas”

Labels: Christmas, folk, chillaxin’, deep lyrics, funny lyrics, Christian

So, this one barely made the list cause I’ve heard it a lot, I just never owned it myself.  But what a great deal – there’s over 40 songs on this CD!  All of them sound a little different than the normal Christmas tunes you’ve probably heard.  But, the main reason I love this CD is the emphasis Stevens puts on the reason behind Christmas.  Some of the songs sound more like worship music at times.  Great CD overall.

Lyric from “Star of Wonder”

“Oh conscience where will you carry me?

I found you, star of terrifying effigies

When the night falls I carry myself to the fortress

Of your glorious cause, Oh how I may seek Your fortress.

When the night falls, we see the star of wonder

Wonderful night falls, we see You, we see You there!

I see the stars coming out…”

#9 Family Force Five – “Family Force Five”

Labels: funky rock, fun, dance-party music,

Again, I’ve heard this CD a lot, but finally bought it this year.  This band is it’s own genre.  Imagine some white guys from Arkansas trying to rap and rock.  Apparently, they’re Christians, but you won’t find any worship songs here.

Lyric from “Kountry Gentleman”:

“My momma raised me in the dirty south

A country gentleman, so you best watch your mouth!”

#8 Switchfoot – “Hello Hurricane”

Labels: Rock, Christian

I really loved Switchfoot until “Oh Gravity!”.  I thought they were done for after that album.  So, when they released Hello Hurricane this year, I cautiously checked it out.  And boy, I’m glad I did.  They’ve gone back to more straight ‘rock’ with some great guitar compositions.  Add in some clever lyrics, and boom!  Great CD. 

Lyric from “Needle and Haystack Life”:

“Your breathin’ in the highs and lows we call it living.

In this needle and haystack life

I found miracles there in your eyes

It’s no accident we’re here tonight

We are once in a lifetime.”

#7 William Fitzsimmons – The Sparrow and the Crow

Labels: Singer-Songwriter, Melancholy, Raw

Imagine you go through a long, hard divorce at a young age.  Then, you pick up a guitar and write some songs about it.  That is this album.  Most of the songs focus on lost love, and you can feel his emotion throughout the whole album.  I saw him live this year and I would recommend his show to any.  Great musical talent and lyrics. 

Lyric from “Just Not Each Other”:

“We lost our chance to love one another

Well love again but just not each other”

#6 Fleet Foxes – “Fleet Foxes”

Labels: folky, Medieval mild rock?, sweeping tunes

I really enjoy this band.  Their music is what I imagine a medieval traveling band would sound like.  Very soothing, flowing and relaxing while still inventive.  Good stuff.

If you are NOT in the forge, I suggest you watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1tbX_NJn98

Lyric from “Blue Ridge Mountains”

“In the quivering forest

Where the shivering dog rests

Our good grandfather

Built a wooden nest

And the river got frozen

And the home got snowed in

And the yellow moon glowed bright

Till the morning light

Terrible am I child?

Even if you don't mind”

#5 The Myriad – With Arrows, With Poise

Labels: Radiohead, MAE, Christian, Rock, Great Musically and Lyrically.

Have you ever heard of Radiohead?  The lead singer of The Myriad sounds a lot like Thom Yorke, and the band goes toward that sound sometimes  - lots of deep guitar and high singing, followed by complex drums and piano.  Other times, they sound more like MAE – sort of pop-rock.  They’re pretty new, but they are going places that’s for sure.  Lyrically, you can hear some subtlety Christian messages.

Lyric from “Clean Shot”

“Hey now, oh no, You got a clean shot!

All the words you could pierce my heart!

Hey now, oh no, You run me right through!

With all these words that I’ve sung to You!”

#4 Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns

Labels: Chillaxin’, Mild Rock, Love Songs, Great Lyrics

I’ve liked Snow Patrol’s past albums, but this one takes the cake.  I haven’t listened to it in a while, but it’s a really phenomenal album.  They have some great lyrics on love and distance, while delving into a little rock sometimes.  Love it.  Last song, “The Lightning Strike” is a 16-minute audio-feast – combines three songs going from sad to happy each time. 

Lyric from “The Lightning Strike”

“Painted in flames

All peeling thunder

Be the lightning in me

That strikes relentless”

#3 Edison Glass – “Time is Fiction”

Labels: Creative, Rock/ Hard Rock, Christian, Great Musically

Yes.  I cannot stop listening to this band.  From the opening song “Let Go”, a short song about singing out loud (Open your lips/ Let out a song/ Open your Heart/ And let is sing), to “The Jig is Up”, a hard rock ballad about faith vs. sight, this band manages to infuse very creative sounds and deep lyrics without ever getting stale.  One of the better bands, nay, the BEST band that’s come into the Christian music this year. 

Lyric from “The Jig is Up”:

“Your eyes see further than mine

I can see as far as the sun and moon in the sky…

I’ll wait for your words

I’ll trust, You’ll say!”

#2 MuteMath – “Armistice”

Labels: Rock, Christian, Groovin’

Do I have to tell you why this album is awesome?  For the two people that don’t own it, just go take a little listen on iTunes. 

Lyric from “Spotlight”

“Because everyone would rather watch you fall

(And we all fall, we all fall)

Just take a fall, you’re one of us -

The spotlight is on!”

#1 mewithoutYou – “Brother, Sister”

Label: Complex sound and lyrics, biting lyrics, Christian, hard(er) rock

Welcome to the perfect christian rock album – intricate rock compositions and un-matched lyrical complexity (which the listener must untangle at times).  Altogether, this album tells a story from the perspective of a shipwrecked guy and his musings on life.  The whole thing has this ‘swashbuckling’ feel.  With this constant theme, each song sounds wholly different and engages deep, complex issues of faith, sin and praise.  Most of the time they’re rocking out, but you must listen to the lyrics!  They are downright cutting while still complex.  You won’t hear ‘praise Jesus’, but listen close cause most songs talk about God’s character in some way. 

The whole album’s lyrics flow together just like the music – the first song announces “I do not exist… if ever you come near/ I’ll hold up high a mirror/ Lord I could never show you anything as beautiful as you”; to the last song, repeating “I do not exist, only You exist.”  I had to look up a lot of the lyrics beccause he sings fast at times, but it’s worth it to see the complexity they put into their songs. 

Lyric from “A Glass Can Only Spill What it Contains”

“Like peacocks wandering the walkways of the zoo

Who have twice the autonomy the giraffes and tigers do

Saying:

"No one can stop me (no one stop me)

No one clips my claws!

now everyone watch me (everyone watch me)

Scale these outside walls!"

[Begin Rocking]

Oh you pious and profane, put away your praise and blame!

A glass can only spill what it contains!

To the perpetually plain, to the incurably inane

A glass can only spill what it contains!

What new mystery is this?

What blessed backwardness??

The Immeasurable One is held and does not resist!

Struck by wicked words and foolish fists of senseless men

The Almighty One does not defend!”

Or another favorite from “In a Sweater Poorly Knit”:

“You’re a door without a key, a field without a fence.

You made a wholly fool of me and I’ve thanked you ever since…

But if I’m a crown without a king, if I’m a broken open seed

If I come without a thing, then I come with all I need.”