New Sufjan Stevens product is generally pretty good news. His latest, A Beginner's Mind a collaboration with Angelo De Augustine is certainly no exception. Where Angelo starts and Sufjan ends is rather difficult to discern. This certainly sounds like something Stevens devotees might welcome with open arms though.
Blessed with a truly awful cover, A Beginner's Mind is altogether wonderful in every other respect. Stevens if one of the most gloriously ambitious musical artists that the Twenty First Century has produced. The closest thing to Bowie I'd say, though a Twenty First Century Bowie is no longer really possible in the Age of The Internet.
But Stevens certainly has something of Bowie's restless, itching struggle. I'm not even going to begin to attempt to discuss the themes of A Beginner's Mind. They're too obscure for me to even struggle a guess at except that the cover and song titles given some kind of indication that Greek Myth is in there somewhere. Otherwise, you're on your own in that respect.The Internet might be some help.
Great song titles. Lady Macbeth in Chains, The Pillar of Souls and Cimmerian Shade, particularly took my fancy. Glittering, shimmering melodies. Sadness, euphoria, mystery. That will do me. Stevens and De Augustine tick my requisite boxes.
Too late for a high placing in this years chart rundowns but it had to be here somewhere so # 88 is as good a place as any. Sorry fellas, you need to get here earlier next year to avoid disappointment. Neverthesess, Stevens extends his fine batting average and this will encourage me to investigate the De Augustine back catalogue too.
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