Michigan

by Sufjan Stevens

Michigan cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 1 July 2003
  • Label: Asthmatic Kitty, Sounds Familyre, Rough Trade
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 1:06:08
  • Community rating: 3.78/5 from 14 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Billed as the first installment of a '50 States' project, 'Michigan' utilizes a dense array of instruments to explore the geography and characters of its namesake state. Ranging from banjos to orchestral brass, the record establishes Stevens's signature approach to narrative-driven songwriting and multi-layered chamber folk production.

Genres

Descriptors: christian, conceptual, melodic, orchestral, folk, acoustic, male-vocals, storytelling

Tracklist

  1. Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid) (03:43)
  2. All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace! (04:33)
  3. For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti (03:57)
  4. Say Yes! to M!ch!gan! (02:45)
  5. The Upper Peninsula (03:23)
  6. Tahquamenon Falls (02:18)
  7. Holland (03:26)
  8. Oh Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!) (08:20)
  9. Romulus (04:41)
  10. Alanson, Crooked River (01:18)
  11. Sleeping Bear, Sault Ste. Marie (02:52)
  12. They Also Mourn Who Do Not Wear Black (For the Homeless in Muskegon) (06:21)
  13. Oh God Where Are You Now? (In Pickerel Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?) (09:23)
  14. Redford (for Yia-Yia and Pappou) (02:02)
  15. Vito's Ordination Song (07:06)

Credits

  • Laura Normandin - artwork [original hand painted artwork]
  • Alan Douches - mastered by
  • John Baker - mastered by
  • Elin K. Smith - vocals
  • Megan Smith - vocals
  • Sufjan Stevens - vocals, oboe, english horn, piano, organ [electric], electric piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, banjo, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, recorder, flute [wood flute], whistle, drums [drum kit], percussion, shaker, bells [sleigh], tambourine, cymbal [dramatic cymbal swells], written-by, recorded by, performer, arranged by, producer, design, layout, sleeve notes

More from Sufjan Stevens: full discography