A Sun Came

• Artist: Sufjan Stevens
• Rating:
• Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Total Time: 72:57
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

The debut disc from this former member of the folk group Marzuki and sometimes Danielson Famile contributor stakes out some wide musical and thematic territory. Although it was recorded on four-track, it transcends the confines of lo-fi and can even seem sonically overambitious at times. Exploring a terrain that can only be called pan-ethnic folk, A Sun Came begins with Celtic overtones before traveling east in a global musical study. Indian, Middle Eastern, Far Eastern, American folk, and instruments ranging from banjo and sitar to oboe and xylophone (most of which are played by Stevens) -- it's all found here in some form or another, which would be a bit disorienting if not for Stevens' often personal lyrical turns and the wide-eyed indie rock vibe that permeates the songs no matter where they may roam. Also, short spoken word pieces are sprinkled across the album, snippets which on one hand sound like field recordings but are in actuality personal anecdotes and reflections from friends, blending further the multicultural music-lesson feel and the introspective, singer/songwriterly tunes -- a nice effect. Highlights include "Demetrius," which takes a Sonic Youth-inspired guitar riff, rides it to the British Isles for some pan pipes, then onward to a Moroccan opium den, and "A Loverless Bed," which is a beautiful, reverb-laden ballad turned noise freak-out. ~ Jason Nickey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
We Are What You Say (Lyrics)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(5:20)
A Winner Needs a Wand	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(5:44)
Rake (Lyrics)	Townes Van Zandt, Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(2:48)
Siamese Twins	Simon Gallup, Robert Smith, Laurence Tolhurst, Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(:14)
Demetrius (Lyrics)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(6:01)
Dumb I Sound (Lyrics)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(5:46)
Wordsworth's Ridge (For Fran Fike)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(4:54)
Belly Button	Ronald Shannon Jackson, Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(:09)
Rice Pudding (Lyrics)	Jeff Beck, Ron Wood, Nicky Hopkins, Tony Newman, Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(2:24)
A Loverless Bed (Without Remission)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(6:16)
Godzuki	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(:36)
Super Sexy Woman (Lyrics)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(2:42)
The Oracle Said Wander	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(5:36)
Happy Birthday (Lyrics)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(2:46)
Jason	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(6:07)
Kill (Lyrics)	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(4:25)
Ya Leil	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(5:35)
A Sun Came	Sufjan Stevens	Sufjan Stevens	(5:15)

Credits

Sufjan Stevens (Drums), Sufjan Stevens (Engineer), Sufjan Stevens (Banjo), Shannon Stephens (Vocals (Background)), Sufjan Stevens (Flute (Wood)), Sufjan Stevens (Guitar (Electric)), Sufjan Stevens (Piano), Sufjan Stevens (Sopranino Recorder), Sufjan Stevens (Sampling), Sufjan Stevens (Sax (Alto)), Sufjan Stevens (Recorder (Soprano)), Sufjan Stevens (Guitar), Sufjan Stevens (Mastering), Sufjan Stevens (Lyricist), Sufjan Stevens (Xylophone), Sufjan Stevens (Sitar), Sufjan Stevens (Photography), Sufjan Stevens (Bass (Electric)), Ghadeer Yaser (Vocals), Sufjan Stevens (Producer), Sufjan Stevens (Guitar (Acoustic)), Jesse Koskey (Drums), Marzuki Stevens (Dialogue), Leah Michaelson (Portraits), Sufjan Stevens (Percussion), Sufjan Stevens (Oboe), Sufjan Stevens (Recorder (Tenor)), Marzuki Stevens (Sax (Tenor)), Matt Morgan (Guitar)

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