A Sufj-hater

A decade or so ago, I bought the thick, Bible-like All Music Guide to Rock on the cheap at a Kent State University bookstore. It will forever be the greatest piece of bathroom reading. There's so much to it, so many profiles and album reviews. Well, as a young Danny K., one writer stood out as writing reviews of several of the best albums of all time. That writer was Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who is now an editor at AMG. Erlewine's writing is extremely accessible, unlike most music criticism. I was drawn to this style of writing and try to achieve the same when I write about music. Simplistic is too insulting of a word, but that's the idea I'm getting at.

Anyway, he wrote a long-form essay this week on Sufjan Stevens because his latest The Avalanche is out this week (more on that...maybe tomorrow). Erlewine admits to enjoying Stevens' Michigan album, but the singer/songwriter has lost his appeal because of a repititious sound, style and lyrical approach. I can't say I disagree with Erlewine, but I'm still a Sufj-fan.

Overall, the essay is a great read, just what I'd expect from Erlewine. Although, he uses the word "conceit" a little too much for my liking. And his has a wrap-up last paragraph, which I never like.