History YMMV / SufjanStevens

* HoYay: Many songs (especially the ones where spirituality and romance blur together) could be interpreted this way.

* GeniusBonus: Knowledge of American geography, history and literature, as well as Greek mythology and Christiniaty, really enhances the listening experience. Some examples:

** "Futile Devices" is a gentle ballad addressed to a male friend or lover; the chances of it being a FriendshipSong are slim, especially now that it has been used in the soundtrack of ''Film/CallMeByYourName''.

* SurprisinglyImprovedSequel: While ''Michigan'' was well-received when it cane out, ''Illinois'', with its more grandiose and maximalist sound and its more literary lyric, absolutely outdid the earlier album critically, and is in fact the highest-rated album of 2005 on Metacritic.

* GeniusBonus: Knowledge of American geography, history and literature really enhances the listening experience, especially on ''Illinois''. Some examples:

* EveryoneIsJesusInPurgatory: His songs are rife with religious or spiritual undertones, and some ''are'' pretty clearly about faith (e.g. everything on''Seven Swans''); however, some listeners will try to put a religious spin on lyrics that are quite clearly about relationships or mental health.

** "All for Myself": the narrator and his presumed significant other both have hairy chests, so it's safe to say the song is about a possessive relationship between two men.

** "The Owl and the Tanager" reads like a description of a relationship between two teenage boys, one of whom outs the other.

** "All for Myself" is about a CrazyJealousGuy who feels possessive toward his boyfriend, hairy chests and all.

** "John My Beloved" is simultaneously a) about the relationship between John and Jesus and b)about a hookup at a bar, almost certainly with another man.

** "Futile Devices" is a gentle ballad addressed to a man; the chances of it being a FriendshipSong are slim, especially now that it has been used in the soundtrack of ''Film/CallMeByYourName''.
** "All for Myself" is about a CrazyJealousGuy who feels possessive toward his boyfriend; hairy chests and all.

* HoYay: Many songs (especially the ones where spirituality and romance blur together) could be interpreted this way. "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades" is frequently cited as an example, but [[WordOfGod Sufjan has been pretty upfront about the real meaning]] and it has nothing to do with romance.

* HoYay: Many songs could be interpreted this way. Some, however, are right out: "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades" is frequently cited as an example, but [[WordOfGod Sufjan has been pretty upfront about the real meaning]] and it has nothing to do with romance.
** "Futile Devices" can be read this way as well, especially now that it has been used in the soundtrack of ''Film/CallMeByYourName''.
** If the lyrics are anything to go by, "Drawn to the Blood", about [[DomesticAbuse an abusive romance]] with a man, is a [[TearJerker dark and sad example]] of this. (In an interview, [[WordOfGod Stevens confirmed]] that the song is autobiographical).

** If the lyrics are anything to go by, "Drawn to the Blood", about an abusive romance with a man, is a [[TearJerker dark and sad example]] of this. (In an interview, [[WordOfGod Stevens confirmed]] that the song is autobiographical).

** "Futile Devices" can be read this way as well.
** If the lyrics are anything to go by, "Drawn to the Blood" is a [[TearJerker dark and sad example]] of this.

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: Some were not receptive towards the drastic sound change exhibited on ''The Age of Adz''.

* SongAssociation: "Chicago" was used in ''Film/LittleMissSunshine'' and was included on the soundtrack.

** "Jason" could probably make the list as well. The lyrics sound like they're from the perspective of a scorned ex, and Jason is far more likely to be a boy's name than a girl's. Many people though will try to frame it in the context of a narrative centering on the eponymous hero from Greek mythology. It's difficult to call either way.

* AmbiguouslyBi: While Sufjan has never spoken publicly about his sexuality, there is plenty of evidence in his music to suggest that he may be bisexual. Some songs ("Casimir Pulaski Day," "The Dress Looks Nice on You") seem to be addressed to female love interests, some ("Drawn to the Blood," "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades"--though the latter, especially, is disputed) are pretty clearly about men, and some ("Impossible Soul") could go either--or both--ways. In general, listeners tend to read into these lyrics whatever they want to see in them. See also the HoYay entry below.

* BrokenBase: "Which Sufjan album is his best", with absolutely every single one of his main releases inbetween Michigan and Carrie & Lowell inspiring a near equal number of fervent arguments from fans. With critics the competition is mainly in-between Illinois and C&W, the latter being his most critically acclaimed album to date ([[http://www.metacritic.com/person/sufjan-stevens albeit by one measly point]])

** "Jason" could probably make the list as well. The lyrics sound like they're from the perspective of a scorned ex, and Jason is far more likely to be a boy's name than a girl's. Many people will though will try to frame it in the context of a narrative centering on the eponymous hero from Greek mythology. It's difficult to call either way.

* BrokenBase: "Which Sufjan album is his MagnumOpus", with absolutely every single one of his main releases inbetween Michigan and Carrie & Lowell inspiring a near equal number of fervent arguments from fans. With critics the competition is mainly in-between Illinois and C&W, the latter being his most critically acclaimed album to date ([[http://www.metacritic.com/person/sufjan-stevens albeit by one measly point]])

** If the lyrics are anything to go by, "Drawn to the Blood" is a [[TearJerker dark and sad example]] of this.

** "Futile Devices" can be read this way as well.

* BaseBreaker: "Which Sufjan album is his MagnumOpus", with absolutely every single one of his main releases inbetween Michigan and Carrie & Lowell being fair game. With critics the competition is mainly in-between Illinois and C&W, the latter being his most critically acclaimed album to date ([[http://www.metacritic.com/person/sufjan-stevens albeit by one measly point]])