Michigan (album)
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| Michigan | ||||
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| Studio album by Sufjan Stevens | ||||
| Released | July 1, 2003 | |||
| Recorded | 2003, Petoskey, Michigan; Brooklyn, New York; Clarksboro, New Jersey; and Williamstown, Massachusetts | |||
| Genre | Folk rock, Indie folk | |||
| Length | 66:11 | |||
| Language | English | |||
| Label | Asthmatic Kitty | |||
| Producer | Sufjan Stevens | |||
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Michigan is a concept album by Sufjan Stevens, with songs referencing cities and people in the state of Michigan. It is the first in "The 50 States" project, a planned series of 50 albums to encompass all 50 states of the United States. Although the album cover reads "Greetings from Michigan the Great Lake State", the official album title is simply "Michigan".
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[edit] Album art
Album art features original hand-paintings by Martha Stewart Living crafts editor Laura Normandin.
The two-disc vinyl edition of Michigan contains an inscription within the run-off groove of each LP side:
- "Say YES to Michigan!": This was an old state tourism board slogan.
- "Go! Tigers!": The Detroit Tigers are an MLB team based in Michigan.
- "If you seek a Pleasant Penninsula, look about you" (sic): This is the English translation of Michigan's state motto.
- "The Great Lake State": This is a popular nickname for Michigan.
[edit] Track listing
- "Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid)" – 3:44
- "All Good Naysayers, Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!" – 4:33
- "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti" – 3:57
- "Say Yes! to M!ch!gan!" – 2:46
- "The Upper Peninsula" – 3:23
- "Tahquamenon Falls" – 2:18
- "Holland" – 3:26
- "Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)" – 8:20
- "Romulus" – 4:41
- "Alanson, Crooked River" – 1:18
- "Sleeping Bear, Sault Saint Marie" – 2:52
- "They Also Mourn Who Do Not Wear Black (For the Homeless in Muskegon)" – 6:21
- "Oh God, Where Are You Now? (In Pickerel Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)" – 9:23
- "Redford (For Yia-Yia & Pappou)" – 2:02
- "Vito's Ordination Song" – 7:07
[edit] Other editions
Asthmatic Kitty has also released a two-disc vinyl edition of the album. Bonus tracks included on the vinyl release:
- "Marching Band" – 3:41
- "Niagara Falls" (Final) – 2:22
- "Pickerel Lake" – 3:11
- "Presidents and Magistrates" – 4:16
- "Vito's Ordination Song" (Demo) – 5:25
- "Wolverine" – 2:10
The vinyl release also includes an alternate arrangement of "Vito's Ordination Song".
The European re-release of the album in 2004 also contains the bonus tracks "Marching Band" and "Pickerel Lake".
[edit] Recording and production
The album was recorded and produced entirely by Stevens, using relatively cheap equipment for a market release.
All of the tracks were recorded using 2 Shure SM57s and an AKG C1000, running through a Roland VS880EX,[1] at a sampling rate of 32 khz (lower than the rates typically used in recording).
Michigan was produced in Pro Tools,[1] which Stevens has also used for his following albums.[2]
[edit] Personnel
Elin, Megan, and Daniel Smith (of Danielson Famile), and John Ringhofer (Half-handed Cloud).
[edit] Covers
The album A Collision by David Crowder Band includes a cover of "Oh God, Where Are You Now? (In Pickerel Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)".
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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