The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Wednesday, September 8, 2010 - 5A The Michigan Daily - michigandailycomWednesday, September 8, 2010 - 5A Sufjan's latest delights Lengthy EP proves welcome addition to folkster's catalogue By ARIELLE SPECINER Daily Arts Writer Sufjan Stevens once announced he would pen an album about each of the fifty states. His latest EP, All Delighted People, may have finally put to rest his fans' long-delayed expectations for that project's com- pletion. Though Stevens has prob- $ufjan ably been givingus false hope all these years,All Delighted All Delighted People won't put People a damper on his Asthmatic Kitty fans' days. Although the 60-minute, eight-song EP doesn't stay in Stevens's "usual" confines of upbeat, jovial sound, it brings the listener to another dimension of his abilities as an artist. While the EP holds lengthy songs, even one that spans more than 17 minutes, listen- ers' attention never scurries. Each song displays Stevens's aptitude as a musical artist as he tries out new sounds. On the final track, "Djohari- ah," a tribute to his sister, Stevens experiments with sounds ranging from blues-y trumpets and electric guitar chords to choral hums and electronic beats. All of these out-of- comfort-zone experimental sounds build to Stevens's soft voice chim- ing in toward the end. "Djohariah" could very well stand alone as its own EP. With echoes of a chorus blending in with a lengthy guitar jam that climaxes into a colliding sound, there is enough diversity here to make up several different songs. All Delighted People poses the question: Where does Stevens's range end? He creates such an unex- pected sound with this EP, it throws the listener off as to what will come 'With Festifall,. it's time to get artistic again By JAMIE BLOCK ManagingArts Editor Festifall is here, and that means one of two things, depending on your outlook: It could mean the Diag has become an intraversable morass with strangers blocking all major intersections, free candy flying at your head and enough science-fair boards to give you a middle school flashback. But from where I'm standing, Festifall is a world of opportunities, especially arts opportunities. And you owe it to yourself to get involved if you have any interest whatsoever. While students can elect to fill creative expression requirements, the University doesn't mandate that we take arts classes, which is definitely for the better. If you put someone in an arts class who doesn't want to be there, they'll bring everyone down. But while you don't have to get involved in the arts, that doesn't mean you shouldn't. You really really should, for realsies. There are so many arts groups on campus showing them- selves off on the Diag today that you're almost guaranteed to find something you'll like. And trust me, it's worth the time to get involved, even if you're a freshman taking college-level classes for the first time and intimidated by the time pressure. Nay, especially if you fit that description. In my freshman year, one of my East Quad neighbors recom- mended that I join the Glee Club after hearing choir music emanat- ing from my speakers. When I first auditioned, Iwas super excited, and then ecstatic to actually be allowed to join the group. During the first few weeks, I kept leaving my dorm way earlier than needed and got to rehearsal before anyone else, just because I couldn't wait to be sing- ing with the dudes. Over time, my departures got later and later, and the time commitment wore on me. The workload of my classes was picking up and rehearsals were at night. Nights are for screwing around on the Internet, or, if you're my parents, homework. But each time I got to rehears- al, I forgot any misgivings about joining Glee Club. As soon as that first piano key was struck to begin warm-ups, I was in a whole dif- ferent mindset. And that's the influence of the arts. Whatever is Make the arts a part of your 'U experience while you still can. stressing you out - and believe me newbies, many things will stress you out - doing something artistic you really care about can make it all go away, if only for a short while. Whether you want to break dance or hip-hop dance or ballet dance or contemporary dance or ice dance or ice carve or sing a cappella or sing classical or act in plays or act in musicals or knit, something at Festifall will pique your interest. And even if you don't have the time or crowd-maneuvering patience to deal with Festifall, do some inde- pendent research on Maize Pages and find your ideal group. I'm not See FESTIFALL, Page 7A Where's Waldo? next from the artist. The EP unfolds as his voice and sound extends to with two versions of the title track a hauntingly beautiful ambiance - a soothing, melodic 12-min- reminiscent of old-time movies' ute serenade and an eight-minute windy chorus girls. jovial, upbeat, trumpet-infused Most of the tracks on the EP have Beatles sound-a-like classic rock a similar graceful sound with melo- version. The latter sounds more like dious strings and lengthy, poetic retro Sufjan Stevens than the rest of lyrics. On "Arnika," he croons, the EP does. The two separate edi- "Don't consider it done / wait tions stir questions of what sound until Leviathan lovingly creeps in his next full-length album, The Age your sill / For he waits in the dark, ofAdz, will take. brooding magically / mustering Compared to Stevens's most paperback feelings." Unfortunately, famous album, Come on Feel the the brilliantly penned lyrics tend' Illinoise, All Delighted People has to spill into each other, losing their a more melancholy sound. The individual beauty -,they get lost in pretty and poignant EP replaces the crowd when the songs all have Stevens's attention-grabbing tone a similar sound. Each track has with swells of soft, windblown cho- such range and variety within itself ral harmonies. Stevens takes cues (instrumentally), yet collectively from folk princess Joanna Newsom the EP leaves listeners sleepy. Stevens also incorporates inspi- ration from Simon and Garfunkel. The EP's title track pays homage to one of the duo's most famous tracks, "Sounds of Silence," through sound and lyric. Simon and Garfunkel's own lyrics ("And the people bowed and prayed / To the neon god they made") intermingle with his own words, "And what difference does it make?/Ilove you so much anyway." All Delighted People is a rolling wave of out-of-the blue sounds and choral beauty intertwined with experimental self-achievements and elegant vocals. The EP may confuse fans, as it is possibly a pre- view of what Stevens's ever-chang- ing sound will become. But if this is just a taste, bring on the whole platter. HEAR. MY MUSIC. HEAR. MY LIFE. HEAR. I A.