A Sun Came (2000) / Enjoy Your Rabbit (2001) / Michigan (2003) / Seven Swans (2004)
Illinois (2005) / The Avalanche (2006) / Songs for Christmas (2006)
The BQE (2009) / All Delighted People (2010) / Age of Adz (2010)
It’s beginning to look a hell-of-alot like Christmas here in NYC. The Christmas markets are in full swing, and it’s starting to snow, which can only mean one thing for me. Hours on end spent listening to Sufjan Stevens. I’ve spent some time going through his epic music catalogue and have compiled my favorite 20 songs. This was hard, but I think I nailed it. What are you favorites?
20. “I Walked” // Listen
19. “Star of Wonder” // Listen
18. “We Are What You Say” // Listen
17. “He Woke Me Up Again” // Listen
16. “All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!” // Listen
15. “Romulus” // Listen
14. “Vesuvius” // Listen
13. “To Be Alone With You” // Listen
12. “Pittsfield” // Listen
11. “Adlai Stevenson” // Listen
10. “All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands” // Buy
“All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands” has always been my go-to song for my depressed moods. That’s what is so great about it though. The simple plucking paired with Sufjan’s signature whispered vocals make for a tragic song that speaks to the soul.
9. “Come On! Feel the Illinoise” // Buy
Woo hoo! This upbeat, trumpet-filled two-parter is triumphant from start to finish. Great arrangements, great chorus, and, of course, great story. Can’t help but to love the line, “I cried myself to sleep last night, and the ghost of Carl, he approached my window. I was hypnotized, I was asked to improvise on the attitude, the regret of a thousand centuries of death.“
8. “Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois” // Buy
As the opening track of Illinois, “Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois” is the ideal glimpse of what follows on Sufjan’s (arguably) best album. It’s a short one at only 2:08, but packs everything I need into that amount of time.
7. “Heirloom” // Buy
Just because I was starved for some new Sufjan tunes when this song was released doesn’t mean I’m biased here. This song is convincingly brilliant, and was a nice “hello world” from the Brooklyn-based artist who hadn’t released any new material in four years.
6. “Vito’s Ordination Song” // Buy
“I always knew you, in your mother’s arms. I have called your name, I have an idea. Placed in your mind, to be a better man.” Soothing, enchanting, awesome. Favorite part comes at 1:11 when the drums come in. Watch out.
5. “Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Step-Mother!” // Buy
This song is a tip of the hat to Decatur, Illinois’ past with mentions of its flood, Caterpillar farm equipment company, and of course “the great emancipator”, Abraham Lincoln. Love this history lesson disguised as a grassroots folk song.
4. “Impossible Soul” // Buy
“Impossible Soul” is far different than everything else in the top 10, as it incorporates a greater variety of electronic effects. Even auto-tune. Yes. You heard me right.
3. “John Wayne Gacy Jr.” // Buy
This biographical track about serial killer John Wayne Gacy Jr., who dressed up like a clown and killed boys, is best when Sufjan admits, “in my best behavior, I am really just like him. Look beneath the floorboards, for the secrets I have hid”. I got to see this one live last month at Beacon Theatre, and yes, just as tragic live as on the LP.
2. “Chicago” // Buy
I’m not sure whether to count “Chicago” as one song, or the five versions I have in my iTunes. Either way, it’s one of the top played songs in my library for obvious reasons. Make sure you check out the ‘multiple personality disorder’ version on The Avalanche. It’s a-mazing.
1. “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us” // Buy
Here we are, my favorite Sufjan Stevens song. This wasn’t as difficult as I thought it’d be. ”The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us” combines the best of the the Sufjan universe and packs it into one song. This song is brilliant. ’Nough said.
