At sixty minutes,
Sufjan Stevens'
All Delighted People hardly qualifies as an EP, but the enigmatic, indie pop superstar has never been one to stick with the format. Book-ended by two distinct versions of the considerable title cut (eleven and eight minutes long, respectively), which is a self-described “dramatic homage to the Apocalypse, existential ennui, and
Paul Simon's ‘The Sounds of Silence,” the eight-track set proves successful in melding
Stevens’ precious indie folk with the circular, avant/electro-classical persona he adopted for 2009’s ambitious
BQE. As per usual, the record is immaculately crafted, but a bit “proggy,” which could serve to disappoint listeners who have been waiting patiently for the artist to return to the engaging, patchwork pop/rock of 2005’s
Illinoise. Fans of the quirky, less immediate moments from that album will find a great deal to love on this precursor to October's full length
Age of Adz, but the emotionally charged, collegiate/spiritual nostalgia that informed his earlier works has all but dissipated. ~ James Christopher Monger