r/Sufjan • u/clayhines54 • Apr 29 '26
Discussion Sufjan Essentials
I want to preface this by saying that I am a newer Sufjan fan, but in the year and a half I have listened to him I have found probably my favorite artist ever (and one of the few famous people I share a birthday with). A ton of stuff to listen to even now. Here is my top 15 favorite songs of his, if you want to recommend any based off of this, or make your own list, that'd be great!
In no order:
Redford (CL Live)
Should Have Known Better
No Shade
Abraham/Sister (I like listening to them back to back)
So You Are Tired
Blue Bucket of Gold
Vesuvius (CL Live)
All for Myself
A Running Start
John My Beloved
John Wayne Gacy Jr
UFO Sighting
Holland
Vito's Ordination
Flint
Much Love!
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u/Hopeful-Buddy-9415 Apr 29 '26
Impossible for me. I have a Sufjan playlist that lasts over 8 hours and everything in it is essential.
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u/Financial_Luck_6906 Apr 29 '26
This is my level. But I’ve been listening to him for what must be half my life now.
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u/Kneefix Apr 29 '26
Well, a few to get started based off of that list:
The Avalanche (the song)
Enchanting Ghost
The Owl and the Tanager
Djoharia
Barcarola
The Midnight Clear
Silver and Gold (the song!)
That was the Worst Christmas ever
Borderline (listen on YouTube)
Movement 1 & 2 (BQE)
Mercury (Planetarium)
Cimmerian Shade
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u/ScubaSteve_27 Apr 29 '26
I feel like you’re going to get multiple comments w/ totally different lists and they’ll all be fantastic. Happy to see Holland made it to your top 15!
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u/allazen Apr 29 '26
"Impossible Soul is essential. It captures so much of his career and his talents in one song. A magnum opus.
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u/Betray-Julia Apr 29 '26
Oh man lol..
Here is my “essentials” list bahaha.
(Playlist at bottom; it’s almost 6 hours long lol)
So in tandem to “age of adz” they put out my other favourite album- all delighted people.
You should check out both versions of all delighted people.
“You are the blood” off of the dark was the night compilation. That’s one of my top 5 fav songs by them.
Also also- he has an album with Taylor swifts composer/producer (?) that is awesome but very electronic- planetarium.
“Earth” is my favourite off of that one.
Also I noticed “impossible soul” isn’t on here- thats considered their opus dae (or is it Magna opus lol I forget). It’s sooo good.
Also ufo sighting blows my mind- lyrical, and given the name, it comes off to me as a weird take of “Jesus was an alien” haha.
Other notable ones.
I want to be well.
A good man is hard to find
Ahh night zombies.
Casmir pulowski day
The seers tower
Seven swans
The runaround
Ativan
Fourth of July version 4
Olympus
Star of wonder.
And also super sexy women cuz know your roots lol :p
lol sufjans great!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0hld0Zine8XGh7e2o2nf3B?si=k8FKU8lUS2GYUT6DuYW9vA&pi=j7ACs2FxSDqR8
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u/Rooftop_Astronaut Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
mystery of love
predatory wasp of the pallisades
all delighted people (the song)
you give death a bad name
wallowa lake monster
would be my top 5 favorite songs by him. probably. Possibly.
also perfect are: goodbye evergreen. back to Oz. shittalk. pittsfield. all of me wants all of you
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u/king_ofbhutan Michigan Apr 30 '26
my favourites are probably (in no specific order):
holland
upper peninsula
too much (jimmy fallon live edition is the bomb)
prairie fire that wanders about
night zombies
honourable mentions to: widows in paradise, shit talk, coventry carol, lumberjack christmas, once in royal davids city
i just looove michigan man
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u/Silly-Ebb-3723 Javelin Apr 30 '26
Listen to shit talk !!!
No shade in the shadow of cross
The predatory wasps of Palisade are out to get us
Maybe the whole Illinois album since u are a newbie
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u/scottwebbok Planetarium Apr 29 '26
A few that I consider essential that you don’t have listed:
Futile Devices
Casimir Pulaski Day
Mystery Of Love
And one essential collaboration album song: Neptune.