Sufjan Stevens fans have the right idea: music needs to be precious again

If we truly value music, there's an argument for making it more elitist and less accessible, says Hermione HobyHere's a word that might make you shudder a little. It's one that calls to mind those smoothie bottles that chirrup their wholesome goodness at you in the first person, a word that has even worse associations when applied to music: "precious" has become a kind of shorthand for a strain of teeth-grittingly whimsical affectation – the sort of plinky-plonky cutesiness that sticks its ha...

Read full article Share article