Concerning that serial killer song on Illinois.
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But...
Can someone really look me in the eyes* and tell me that that "John Wayne Gacy Jr." song isn't awful (and unitentionally hilarious)? I respect the moxie of someone writing a biographical song about a real serial killer (in a chamber pop setting, no less!), but when young Mr. Stevens sings "Look underneath the house there / Find the few living things / Rotting fast in their sleep of the dead / Twenty-seven people, even more / They were boys with their cars, summer jobs / Oh my God," I lose it. Maybe it's that earnest falsetto invocation of the Holy Father. I dunno. But it comes off as seriously misguided and painfully precious.
Aside from the above-mentioned song about clown murder and rapery, I've no real quibbles, it really is a great record. Wake me up when the thing starts getting some buzz.
*or write in the comment section.
5 Comments:
Ben, I haven't heard a note of Sufjan's music do far, but my friend Darren just convinced me to get tickets to see him when we're in Toronto for the film festival in a coupla months.
The festival plus the concert will be an unreal combo. I'm jealous.
wow, i just noticed that "illinois" is on the itunes top selling albums list, just below missy and above black-eyed peas. indie cult figure no longer, i guess.
Well, I guess I'll just stop writing my pop musical Gacy! then, if you seem to think that the life of JWG isn't worthy of serious artistic treatment by serious artists. Man, I already had the brutal rape show stopper choreographed and everything!
"John Wayne Gacy, Jr." is the best song on the album, in my opinion. It's a shame you don't see it's brilliance, and it makes me sad that you can find such sincerity humorous.
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