Sufjan Stevens

Sufjan Stevens has a new album heading our way in September called "The Ascension."  Check out the floating and hypnotic and epic protest song "America" below and get the record here from Asthmatic Kitty.

Sufjan Stevens

I go back and forth on Sufjan Stevens, sometimes finding his particular brand of indie pop to be irksome, and sometimes being absolutely fascinated when he does things like experiment with synth pop, or write a song about Tanya Harding, or make a new age record, as he appears to have done with the upcoming "Aporia" LP.  Listen to the soothing and hypnotic "The Unlimited" below, and order the record, written and recorded with Lowell Brams, here from Asthmatic Kitty.

Sufjan Stevens - Tonya Harding

Wow.  I mentioned a couple of days ago that i wasn't the biggest Sufjan Stevens fan in the world, only occasionally being taken with the artist's work when he ventures off the beaten path.  But man, when he wants to write a beautiful, melancholy song, he can soar.  "Tonya Harding" is Stevens' latest, an ode to the disgraced skating star and former 90's tabloid fodder.  And it's a beautiful song to boot (both versions), tackling the often complicated life of its subject and making her all the more human.  Get it digitally here, or snag the 7" from Asthmatic Kitty, and watch the video for the song below, featuring old skating footage of Harding.

Sufjan Stevens - Wallowa Lake Monster

I'm not the biggest Sufjan Stevens fan in the world, but every once in awhile, the singer/songwriter makes something that just sticks to my bones, usually when treading into weirder atmospheres and odder material.  Last month's "The Greatest Gift" mixtape featured all kinds of odds and ends from 2015's "Carrie & Lowell," which are all fine i suppose, but album opener "Wallowa Lake Monster" hits all the right spots.  A beautiful mix of folk harmonies and synth textures that closes with echoing and droning cinematic allure.  I need more of this pronto.  Listen below and get the cassette here via Asthmatic Kitty.

Linda Perhacs

And i thought My Bloody Valentine took a long time between records.  Folk singer Linda Perhacs is finally releasing her sophomore album "The Soul of All Natural Things," a mere 44 years since her first album "Parallelograms."  Perhacs' music is flowing and haunting and absolutely wonderful.  I am stoked for this release.  Listen to "River of God" below and get the album in March on Asthmatic Kitty.