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The BQE (2009). Sufjan Stevens /even if indiana came next/

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Tom Hull listens to and reviews more jazz than most humans. In a 2009 pop survey, he discusses Sufjan Steven's The BQE (and takes shots at Indiana and classical music):

Sufjan Stevens: The BQE (2009, Asthmatic Kitty): I thought his 50 albums for 50 states concept was too ambitious, but after Michigan and Illinois I was looking forward to more, even if Indiana came next. But then he got sidetracked, releasing outtakes from Illinois, then Christmas songs, and now some sort of quasi-classical soundtrack presumably immortalizing the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. He almost makes the hokey grandeur of classical music work.

He also correctly grades Grizzly Bear and Dirty Projectors and surprisingly likes Shakira.

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The BQE (2009). Sufjan Stevens /brooklyn queens expressway/

I really wanted to like The BQE but after one free listen on lala, it just seems a mish-mash of ideas.

It also pains me to say that even though I lived in the somewhat eccentric state of Michigan from years 0 through 10 and years 22 through 28, I don't particularly enjoy his album Greetings from Michigan - The Great Lake State. I wasn't too crazy about the Michigan weather either.

Still, Vernor's ginger ale and pickled bologna were good at the time and the movement titles on BQE are entertaining now...

BTW, BQE is a candidate in the New Sounds listener poll. I just voted for David Lang's The Little Match Girl Passion, Alarm Will Sound's a/rhythmia, and a Broken Consort's Box of Birch.

The BQE: The Motion Picture So...