What else sounds like The BQE
January 1, 2010 1:53 PM
If I love The BQE by Sufjan Stevens, what other CD's should I buy?
I love Sufjan in general, but The BQE is so different and so awesome. We play it in our house daily.
The only other band that I can think of that does anything even close to this is Mannheim Steamroller, and I do appreciate some of their older stuff (when it isn't too laden with synthesizers). But other than that, I don't own anything else that's even in the ballpark.
Help me find some other artists who are doing what Sufjan did with The BQE.
I love Sufjan in general, but The BQE is so different and so awesome. We play it in our house daily.
The only other band that I can think of that does anything even close to this is Mannheim Steamroller, and I do appreciate some of their older stuff (when it isn't too laden with synthesizers). But other than that, I don't own anything else that's even in the ballpark.
Help me find some other artists who are doing what Sufjan did with The BQE.
Check out the Yellow Shark by Frank Zappa. for some more orchestral conceptual fun. it's one of my favorite records.
posted by CharlesV42 at 2:37 PM on January 1, 2010
posted by CharlesV42 at 2:37 PM on January 1, 2010
It may be different enough to not meet your criteria, but I'd suggest Joanna Newsom's Ys.
posted by The Michael The at 5:24 PM on January 1, 2010
posted by The Michael The at 5:24 PM on January 1, 2010
I tried the Pandora route, but it didn't recognize any of the songs off the album. Maybe The BQE just hasn't made it's way into the genome project yet or something.
Thanks for Reich and Zappa suggestions though. I haven't heard either and will definitely check them both out.
posted by crapples at 6:53 PM on January 1, 2010
Thanks for Reich and Zappa suggestions though. I haven't heard either and will definitely check them both out.
posted by crapples at 6:53 PM on January 1, 2010
I'd try Andrew Bird, but specifically the Deluxe Edition of his new Album "Noble Beast." There is a companion, bonus disc entitled "Useless Creatures" that is instrumental in a way that Sufjan's BQE is. Almost orchestral, but still pop. The album "Noble Beast" itself is very much the same thing, only with lyrics. I highly recommend it for the BQE lover.
posted by Detuned Radio at 12:10 AM on January 2, 2010
posted by Detuned Radio at 12:10 AM on January 2, 2010
my first impression upon listening to BQE was that it was a mix between Philip Glass and Aaron Copland, so give them a shot if you haven't already.
posted by fac21 at 5:46 AM on January 2, 2010
posted by fac21 at 5:46 AM on January 2, 2010
Listening just to the iTunes samples from BQE, I'm reminded of The Octopus Project and Black Moth Super Rainbow. They even did a collaborative album called The House of Apples & Eyeballs.
posted by D.Billy at 4:30 PM on January 4, 2010
posted by D.Billy at 4:30 PM on January 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
It's long known that Sufjan is a Reich fan, and M18M is one of his stone-cold masterworks.
posted by sleeping bear at 2:35 PM on January 1, 2010