Playback
Spring 2006
By Jin Moon & Jon Bahr
Brave Cool World: The New Indie Rock Revolution

These aren’t your father’s indie rockers. M.I.A. is a Sri-Lankan hip-hop artist who took the music world by surprise in 2005 with her funky beats and divine flow. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah came out of nowhere (actually, New York and Philly), sold tens of thousands of their debut album, and then boldly refused to sign with any of the record labels who came knocking on their door. Sufjan Stevens marched on with his zany plan to record an album based on every state in the country. As crazy as it sounds, his second record in the project, Illinois, is a folk-pop tour de force and topped many critics 2005 “best-of” lists. Then there is The Arcade Fire, whose mini musical epics have won fans all around the world, including rock legends such as David Bowie and David Byrne, both of whom have joined the band onstage in concert. These and many other ASCAP writers featured on the following pages are creating adventurous music that refuses to be boxed-in, and with the help of the Internet and other innovative mediums for reaching new audiences, rock music is undergoing a bold resurgence. How cool is that?

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Sufjan Stevens

Musicians have rarely approached a task with the depth at which Sufjan Stevens has with the beginning of his 50 States project. His task is to document the rich history of each and every state in the USA through song, each state being a different album. With the second record in the project, Illinois, his fifth album overall, Sufjan (pronounced Soof-yon) dove into the history of Illinois - its stories, its characters, its scandals - and built a rich, textured tapestry of musical styles with as many as 25 instruments. He captivated listeners and critics alike in the process. This past year was a trip for this soft-spoken Midwesterner, who never dreamed of a career in the spotlight. Topping numerous end of the year lists and playing sold out shows throughout the country, including an astounding five nights at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC, has launched Sufjan into the limelight. He has taken the unique beauty of this recent album and augmented his stage show from night to night incorporating various themes, such as a pep rally, homecoming dance and pirate night. As his States project expands, one can only expect more profound, intellectually fulfilling songs with lush orchestration that explore a states history with the depth that Sufjan has undergone in the past. 2006 is already off to an amazing start with a sold out performance of his own at Carnegie Hall and a recent appearance at Philip Glass’ Tibet House Benefit. Which state will Sufjan Stevens explore next? Will he really release all 50 albums in his project? We hope so. —JB