Greetings from Michigan: The Great Lake State

Sufjan Stevens

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 2003)
• Original Release Date: July 1, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Asthmatic Kitty
• ASIN: B00009V7TZ
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (89 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,331 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous Suite, May 30, 2004

By	Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is a stunning album which, in different ways on this page, has already been pretty well documented. It is wonderful, promising, and somewhat ironic that a number of the best recordings of recent date have been made by young musicians and composers, both women and men -in addition to Stevens, Laura Veirs, Vetiver, Devendra Barnhart ... the list could go on!- mostly in their own bedrooms, on a shoe-string budget and not having to count, in most cases, on big name producers nor virtuoso session players.
What can you expect from this album? Some of the most beautiful, open-hearted and downright honest music being made today.
You, like me no doubt, will soon acknowledge favorites among these songs, yet because it is meant to be a suite about the, at times beleaguered, state of Michigan, it ought to be appreciated as a whole as it was intended by Sufjan Stevens; and, because I would not want to taint your listening experience with my preferences.
If you can afford it, buy it -and buy it new- so this guy gets some money for this gift of an album. If you must borrow music, try Sting or Madonna ... I'm sure they can manage on their savings.

54 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful and Ingenious......., March 4, 2004

By	M. Gaines (Alabama, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Independent music is a hit and miss thing with most musical
enthusiasts. With the bulk of information primarly exchanged by word of mouth or read in 'off the beaten path' music mags most stumble upon wonderful works of art that scream for wider attention from the musical community at large.

I've discovered some amazingly artistically creative souls struggling in the abis, crying out to be heard.

I must say that Sufjan Stevens offering "Greetings From Michigan"
leaves me dumbfounded in the brillance behind this 2003offering.
Sufjan reflects so many influences it's blindingly stunning in its execution and brilliance. From the Band, Beach Boys, Neil Young, to contemporary currents of Bright Eyes, Elliott Smith, Belle and Sebastion, this guy is a master in the studio. Not only in reflecting musical ingenuity but in the lyrical scope of the entire project.

What I can't seem to understand is why no one in the musical world at large has picked up on this guy, beside pitchfork media. has me baffled.

His themes on this masterpiece run into the territory of Springsteen's to quote pitchfork "The record is stacked with impressive space for Stevens' shimmering geography, and it manages a melancholy beauty; Michigan is a frost-bound tone poem in which average people live out their victories and defeats with a shadowy, dignified grace." From the opening track of "Flint (For The Unemployed And Underpaid)" to the final cut " Vito's Ordination Song " this is a major work by an artist who should be selling millions of records, (if there truly was
any justice in this world).

From a year that saw strong releases from Mark Kolesk and Sun Kil
Moon's "Ghosts of the Great Highway" to Jason Molena's "Magnolia
Electric Co", "Greetings From Michigan" is one for the record books and one that folks will be looking back at for a long time to come. Stevens, meanwhile, releases his new opus "Seven Swans" on March 16th and I'm betting that this will continue his journey into masterhood and beyond. Amazing, amazing stuff that sprinkles stardust over the listener with each encounter, things that move like a spirit in night the .........Greetings indeed!!

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius Put to Music, August 10, 2003

By	timmy (Indiana) - See all my reviews

The extremely intelligent, multi-talented, incredibly hot Sufjan Stevens never ceases to amaze. His first album, A Sun Came, was a fun, emotional, and experimental (in the best sense of the word) album, while Enjoy Your Rabbit proved he had more under his sleeves than folky guitar songs and could groove out like the best of them (which isn't much these days).

Now here comes Greetings From Michigan, where Stevens returns to his roots a bit. Scratch that. His roots are planted in creativity, and he has always stayed in that soil. What I mean is that Michigan is a lot closer to A Sun Came, yet is an album of its own style and complexity. This is almost like a perfected A Sun Came, for those who found the noiser moments in his debut too unlistenable (for those, like me, who found them part of the album's personality, be thankful that Stevens is open-minded enough to satisfy both sides).

How do I describe Michigan? To merely say "folk" would be an injustice; to say "hardcore" would be right in spirit, but probably not soul; and you're not going to catch me saying "pop" or "light rock." Simply put, Sufjan Stevens has a mind of his own. He is pure, honest, and sincere. Untouched by the egoistic pollution of the indie world that usually poisons artists of his status, all Stevens wants to do is create timeless music.

Now, about the album. We open with "Flint," a quiet piano ballad which leads into the brighter, happier "All Good Naysayers," a jubilant track that sets the tone for most of the album. Not to say Stevens writes all happy songs, but even in his most melancholy numbers I can't help but smile. Maybe it's the realization of his genius in crafting melodies, no matter what the tone may be. Anyway, back to the album: "Say Yes! To Michigan" is another magical, sweeping track, with a vast array of instruments (most played by Stevens himself) that transports the listener to wherever it is in our brains that remembers those peaceful moments in our lives.

"Detroit, Life Up Your Weary Head!" is probably the closest in sound to Enjoy Your Rabbit, with its louder, more chaotic beats and chord changes. Most of the other tracks are very acoustic, though, relying on banjo for support. Two songs that use the instrument brialliantly: "The Upper Peninsula" and "Romulus." Both are soft and soothing, the kind of music I can safely call "folk" and still love affectionately. Another acoustic track of note is the simple, haunting "Holland," a song that sends chills down my side (a perfect song for downpours as the rain trickles down your window outside).

Some of the tracks, namely the water body tunes ("Tahquamenon Falls," "Alanson," etc.) are instrumentals, similar to the one-minute tracks in the Asthmatic Kitty compilation Stevens helped produce last year. One particularly amazing one, "Redford"; like the opener, Stevens is again alone on the piano. With only four chords and the haunting background wind-like sounds, it literally brought tears to my eyes. Sometimes I forget music can have such an emotional impact on me like that, and it takes artists like Sufjan Stevens to remind me.

So, what else is there to say? Should I mention how each track flows perfectly into each other? Should I mention the incredibly diverse number of instruments used, most played by Stevens himself? Should I mention this is probably one of the greatest concept albums ever made, which will be followed by even more states? (Yes, Stevens plans to make an album for every state in the USA; he is pretentious, yet I believe he's going to do it.) You know, too much talk can ruin what could be a wonderful experience to the casual listener. So, Casual Listener, take a trip over to Stevens' Michigan and visit him for awhile. Rest in his arms, sleep in his bed. You won't ever want to return home.