everything is arguable, but that's a particularly futile argument. he basically just rips off several baroque pop touchstones: brian wilson, high llamas, etc. when he abandoned the overblown arrangements on seven swans, he sounded like a bad ripoff of elliot smith. he just uses the "states" project as a way to distinguish himself from the superior artists he rips off; haven't you ever wondered why his state albums have nothing to do with the MUSICAL history of a state, and why the lyrics and subject matter aren't in the least reflected by the music?
he's just an overgrown kid. all ideas, no substance, no craft.