wow
5
By hannah123456
number 6 number 6 number 6 number 6!!!!!
Overall, a disappointment
3
By Catuskoti
Without knowing that it was by Sufjan Stevens, or its title, I fell in love with "Movement III - Linear Tableau With Intersecting Surprise" after listening to it on a podcast I'd downloaded to use as background while writing (Low Light Mixes, A Vibration of Strings). I was motivated to hear more by its composer and, after reading the reviews, downloaded BQE.
Though there are some beautiful instrumentals on this album, including Movement III, they are, overall, rare. Unfortunately, the majority of the songs strike my ears as being flat, clumsy, and a bit distracting. Sorry!
Fantastic!!!
5
By johnyb76
There are no words to tell how amazing this album is. It is full of beauty, wonder and delight. It is whimsical yet deep. I find myself listening to this album over and over again.
My only gripe about this when I purchased this through iTunes, it did not come with the video. By watching the video, it brings this album into life.
Sufjan Stevens, you have amazing work! I hope that you something similar to this piece, video and all.
Wow!!!!
5
By wisdomdancer
Wow!!!! Exciting, Exhilarating, Smart, Grand...keeps the mind twisting and turning. Truly a talented composer!
And THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is music.
5
By brisbon
Sufjan Stevens has a gift. Much like the greats who have passed on before, Sufjan seems to effortlessly create beautiful, complex music over and over again.
The BQE is no exception- if fact, it ranks with, if not supersedes his previous releases. I have heard many express disappointment in this album with snide comments such as "Where are the words?" and "My grandma listens to this kind of music." Well Mr. Hipster, your grandmother must have fabulous taste in music.
From the boisterous "Introductory Fanfare for the Hooper Heroes" to the sweeping, quiet exit "Postlude: Critical Mass," The BQE does not disappoint. It swells and sings while flawlessly conceptualizing a controversial expressway. This is REAL music- beautiful, challenging, evocative, timeless. Listen to this album- just sit quietly, and listen. You'll quickly find out why I gave it five stars. Way to go, Sufjan.
Will never look at the BQE the same way again...
5
By Zingmark76
Confusing. Genius. Overwhelming. Sublime. Beautiful. Complicated. Lovely, loving. Loud.
Absolutely brilliant.
To attain enlightenment, listen to the entire suite from beginning to end with the volume turned up as loud as you can manage. Really, this is brilliant work from our friend Sufjan. Thank you to BAM, Sufjan, the hoola hoopers and of course, the BQE.
Nice Dalliance in Art Music
4
By Yeah I'm nerdy
While Sufjan Stevens is no Glass, Reich, Adams, or Reilly, his style is influenced by minimalist art composers and he exhibits a breadth of musical idiom that none of these composers have shown. The limitations of the CD is where Stevens indulges in the sonority of his melodies without employing counterpoint, dissonance, percussion and abscence to convey his musical ideas. This results is a more approachable sound, but minimizes its musical relevance. Albeit less approachable, Steven's best work is evidenced in Traffic Shock and Movement VII which have similarities to the opera Einstein on the Beach, In C and Shaker Loops because their percussion and movement occur through repeating chords which Stevens successfully layers. I enjoy the folk-indie influnces in Steven's music evidenced in Seven Swans, Michigan and some tracks on Illionios, but this album shows much like Enjoy your Rabbit that Stevens is concious of art music idioms which he exploits well.
A fine sort of a soundtrack
4
By Boolez
Wasn't able to make the performance but this soundtrack ot a kind of movie is effective. He's orchestrational skills have come a long way and paint a vivid picture. A few reviewers likened him to Glass but I must disagree on this point. His use of an ostanoto and theme does not define this work as a minmalist one. This is a decent soundtrack but I wish that the video was included. -Bz
Reminded me of Koyaanisqatsi
5
By JeffDC1979
This was a well arranged album that has very similar tones to work done by Philip Glass (see Koyaanisqatsi). This is a lot more upbeat and colorful then most anything Philip Glass has done. It is very thought provoking since most people don't really think of the life that exists around the BQE. It was also very fun to listen to. The movie that goes with this soundtrack is even better in my opinion. I think that Sufjan has a real knack for visual and musical art and he has married the two together here in a very nice way.
can't compare
5
By imaginaryhero
I don't agree with those who have been saying this is "better" than his other instrumental-only album, 'Enjoy Your Rabbit'. I absolutely adore both albums, but for far different reasons. Just because both albums share the trait of not having any lyrics does not mean they fit into the same class. They are and should remain seperate entities, and we should be able to njoy them both without trying to determine if one is superior to the other.
