Illinois

Seems like it would have lots of depth on repeated listens.

When I think of the indie-folk stuff that was emerging in the 2000's, this is pretty much what I think of. A collection of random topics and events that centralize around Illinois were thrown into a hat and Sufjan picked some at random to make a song about. It's like he was playing Cards Against Humanity: Illinois edition. Just because he wrote a song about something obscure like a random UFO sighting, doesn't mean that it's a good topic to write a song about. Props for making songs not about the cliche topics, but good song-writing and creativity to me means a bit more than flipping to a random page in the Illinois Encyclopedia Britannica and making that your song. Now that that's out of the way, what IS extremely impressive is that he pretty much made this entire album himself. The music is composed beautifully and it's incredible he did it all himself. It really is a beautiful album, BUT it's also not something I could really listen to after today. It feels like an academic version of a music album. Like reading The Catcher in the Rye in class and studying it even through the book is not entertaining at all and you're slogging through it specifically with the intent of writing an essay on it and then selling the book off. Of course, there's always one pretentious weirdo that thinks The Catcher in the Rye is their favorite book.

This was a cool indie/alternative album.

Ok so this is kinda tough. This is another example where I wish I could just rate the album based off talent and nothing else cause this would easily get a 5. The instrumentation and composition on this album is stellar and flawless. Musically it’s one of the most engaging albums I’ve had from a singer/songwriter type album. Plus I think not only is the cover totally iconic for the genre but the adorably long song titles are really endearing. I love just about everything about this album, but I just didn’t click with it. I never felt an instant personal connection with it like I have with other albums on this list. And there wasn’t quiet enough variety in sound to fully hold my attention between the interludes, which are soft and angelic, but also sleep inducing. Honestly the biggest problem with this album is that it’s coming from such a honest and emotional place that I can’t connect with it cause it doesn’t have any sense of silliness or joy. No joy might be an exaggeration but I do like alittle comedy to my music. Not cause I need to laugh, but in order for me to connect with the music I need to see that you don’t take yourself too seriously as an artist. Honestly, like I said previously, this album is a total flawless piece of wildly honest and emotional musical talent on display that even glows during interludes, but I just didn’t personally “click” with it, but I will admit this album will probably grow on me, and if we are ever given the ability to edit our reviews, this one might look different in the future.

Never really loved much indie and I do not love Monsieur Stevens, but I respect it.

Honestly, this was such a thing in my youth and i really only like the same songs I did then

I guess I got this on the wrong day but I was uninspired. I’m sure its good

Très chill, plutôt cool parfois mais j'ai pas adoré non plus.

Very interesting indie album. Great conpositions, warm lyrics, but it was a bit too long and "filler" at some points. Not exactly my cup of tea, but I'll keep it in the back of my mind

While there's some really interesting orchestration on this album and a great deal of effort has clearly gone into the production, 'Illinois' is just a bit too....all over the place for me. Sufjan Stevens is certainly a visionary when it comes to musical scope and direction, and 'Illinois' almost plays like a stage musical in the way it weaves from track to track, but there's not a lot that really grabs me here. I hear Ben Folds a lot here, but I prefer Ben Folds if I'm being honest. It's certainly an intriguing album, just not my cup of tea. Best songs: Not really a clear standout, more so a collective of oddities

Singer songwriter. Heard of the name, but never actively listened to him. Chill music.

I distinctly remember when all of the hipsters in my high school discovered this album and deified Sufjan for about a week. He’s got a good voice and I definitely understand how some people really enjoy this album, but around track 10 I started to get the feeling I’ve heard all there was to hear with this one and I was ready to tap out. 1089 albums is such a huge undertaking, and I’m trying to keep my DNFs under 10. I got really close to skipping halfway through but I managed to finish.

Steht schon ewig auf der Liste, bisher nie komplett gehört. Ist sicherlich ein Grower, vom ersten Hören „nur“ 3 Sterne.

Ich mag Sufjan Stevens eigentlich ganz gerne, aber das Album war mir etwas too much. Da haben mir frühere und spätere Alben besser gefallen. Ist sicherlich auch ein Grower, aber der nächste Durchgang wird noch etwas warten müssen.

Sehr schönes Album. Aber hinten raus zieht es sich zu lang. Hätte mit etwas weniger Länge einen Stern mehr gekriegt.

Musikalisch schon spannend, aber viel zu lang und als 'Konzeptalbum' auch irgendwie für mich nicht aufgegangen

Hmm, schwierig. Mir ging das noch nicht so gut ins Ohr, aber das schiebe ich zum größeren Teil auf meinen eigenen beschränkten Horizont. Stellenweise gibt es aber schon einige Längen.

I thought I’d dislike it more than I did. Know idea what the fuck he’s talking about half the time but the production made it listenable. Sounds like a musical

Maybe give it another go but lost interest

Soft. Strange. Ethereal. Sweeping.

It's refreshing to have a modern album after a while of poorly mastered rock music. It's a relatively calming album, well mastered and very interesting. Each song has it's own story, and listening puts you into that "world". For my tastes, however, it falls a bit short in the music part. I like it, but I don't like it enough to want to listen to any of the songs again or put them on a playlist.

me, in 2005, looking at a copy of Illinois in a record store: "I'll get around to that someday." me, in 2025, finally getting around to it: "Ohhh, so it's pronounced /ˈsuːfjɑːn/"

There is a 4 star album in here somewhere, it’s just too darn long…

Not for me

Concept album (I hope?) that is too aggressively hipster in its overall execution for my tastes. He certainly has a good sound, but I didn't find myself blown away by anything in particular. The chorals are nice. I think it is a very neat concept and a lot of work went into this, but I don't see myself putting any tracks on repeat. Favorite track: The Black Hawk War.

3.5

Alternative folksy pop? Straddles the line between uniquely creative and pretentious.

A little like simon and Garfunkel.

Was good but a little too long and sleepy for me

Very noughties. I never got around to listening to it Sufjan. I know people ADORE Sufjan. I liked it. With a bit more time I think it could really seep in. It was fine.

Likte dette bedre før. Syntes det ble litt omstendelig denne gjennomhøringen og litt for mye låter som ikke gikk noen vei. Et par høydepunkter er det som Casimir Pulasky Day, Chicago og John Wayne Gacy Jr. Carrie and Lowel av samme artist er ganske mye bedre, men tviler det er på denne lista 🤷

Some great stuff here: amazing songwriting ("John Wayne Gacy, Jr.") and fantastic arrangements ("Chicago"). It just goes on a little too long. Trimming 15 minutes or so would have helped a bunch. Trimming it would also help Sufjan fulfill his 'promise' of an album for every state. I'd love to hear songs about the Standard Oil Explosion, Major Taylor, or Herb Baumeister. Rounding down half a star for that loss of potential alone.

Enjoyable.

To be quite honest this album didn’t click with me. The album has strong instrumentation for a folk album and excellent vocals (maybe even too good in a way) but the lyrics weren’t really resonating with me throughout this project. That isn’t to say they’re bad, they’re not corny or bland or anything like that. It’s just that in my current mindset, it’s not clicking. In the limited time I’ve had with this album I can only give it a 3, but I’m going to try and give it another listen when I’m in a different state of mind. The only real flaw I can give to this album, is that it’s too long considering it’s limited soundscape. Favorite tracks: Jacksonville Chicago Casimir Pulaski Day Worst track: Nothing is so bad on this album that it makes me think “Wow this is terrible what song is that.” The worst tracks are the one that were just so forgettable that I couldn’t bother to remember them.

New to me, and musically a little more interesting than I expected. Some nice arrangements. Long, and at least one song on here I never need to hear again.

Exquisitely crafted and arranged, just like Sufjan’s singing, but this is definitely a case of less is more. Songs like “The Predatory Wasp…” and “John a Wayne Gacy” are soul-crushingly good, cutting to the bone lyrically and sonically. But a lot gets muddled in the composition, missing what makes his songs so good in the first place. It makes for an uneven listen, but one that at least gives me the desire to see where it led.

3.5/5 Very much enjoyed this album, very whimsical and fun. It feels very nostalgic to me despite not listening to it before Song: the man of metropolis steals our hearts

I resisted listening to this for some bad reason I don't remember. The first three tracks are great. John Wayne Gacy Jr loses me and then the rest just feels a little too simultaneously earnest and gentle but in a way that feels saccharine to me. I like the recording quality and instrumentation and how it is cohesive without being strictly a concept album.

Funish.

honestly i liked it but some of them were a big sluggish and i couldnt be assed

Some of these tracks were definitely used after somebody died on Grey's Anatomy

A name that I have seen pop up in so many indie playlist but just never could get into. This album felt mostly instrumental and when the singing came in it wasn’t super memorable. It wasn’t bad but again not very memorable. 6/10

Just based on the creative track titles alone, I really wanted to enjoy this quirky and very clearly self-styled (and self-produced) album. But for a variety of reasons--some reasonable (like how it felt like yet another off-angle collection of ditties a la Radiohead/Magnetic Fields/Rufus Wainwright/Gary Jules/Jason Mraz/etc), some not so much (trying to catch up on a backlog of "1001 Albums" albums, and cursing at yet another hour-plus indulgence)--I just couldn't really get into this oddball collection of excursions into Illinois-themed history and personalities. That said, a few tracks really worked: "John Wayne Gacy, Jr" (despite how irredeemable the subject is), "Casimir Pulaski Day" (banjos and all), and "They are night zombies!! They are neighbors!! They have come back from the dead!! Ahhhh!". I think everyone, including himself, was grateful that he only did "Michigan" and "Illinois" in the US States collection and moved on to more fertile fields. But I'm also glad this was included in the collection, even if it didn't work as well as I'd hoped.

Nice voice and lovely music passes through your ears and very little sticks. His songs are a little like the songs you make up while you're going about your day "chopping broccoli, etc"

It was okay! More of a 2.5. The song titles were pretentious and a lot of the songs were forgettable but some had some good beats

No doubt talented artist but this album is very one paced and monotonous, maybe I didn't get the sentiment

hay un par que están solidas

It surprised me! I didn't have high expectations but the album was a nice experience, some highs and not many lows, makes it a 3/5 or a solid 7 to a feint 8 out of 10

It wasn't bad, great background music. But nothing that stood out to me that I would listen to again.

Coil

Different. Unexpected. New and enjoyed.

Nicht Cat/Yusof Stevens ..aber eigentlich ziemlich guter Emo-Folk-Pop. c

Stephen 7r3d o

I’m a day behind and really tried to catch up with this one, but am ashamed to admit that I threw in the towel by the fifteenth track. It’s brimming with ideas, and there are some truly lovely moments, but, just as a single fondant fancy is delicious, I don’t want to eat 22 of them.

концептуальный альбом, совершенно ничего особенного не представляющий собой музыкально, но рассказывающий какую-то глубокую умную историю в текстах, которую я не понимаю? спасибо, неинтересно. а ведь увидев имя суфьян стивенс я очень обрадовалась...мда

A Sufjan album is too much Sufjan.

Concept album on paper/in the track listing, but very accessible sweetness. This threw me back into lovely sad boys Bon Iver and Ben Howard

I was not that interested in those too ‘Americana’ things

Some beautiful sad, real sentiments and washy lush sonic-scapes. The wrestling with God is both appealing and off-putting for me. I got quite bored and had to take a break about 2/3rds of the way in though. I had listened to some of the somgs off this before but not the whole album. Quite samey in places with occasional flourishes. Feels like it would benefit from cutting down to the old school 45 mins maybe. Again very of its time.

I dunno, I didn't find this offensive but also not all that interesting. Quite twee and I felt unremarkable I doubt I would remember any particular songs from this. The piano was nice.

I like this more as a project and a concept than as a thing to listen to, but it is fun and has some good stuff in there. Just not the kind of thing I see myself reaching for too often.

Jacksonville is great

It's fine. It has good lyrics. It's too long.

Technically it's a great album. The production, the lyrics, the talent. It feels a little long, but not terrible. I can handle a little Sufjan at a time, but a whole album was more then I prefer. Still it's a really good album. 3.5/5

I guess I knew the song Chicago, but I'd never heard this or any other Sufjan Stevens album. I do, however, have a passing familiarity with the art-rock gang Black Country, New Road, and I was under the impression that they were making new-sounding music. Turns out they sound a lot like this guy! It's too long and self-important, but it's possible that he really is making a contribution to music and it's pleasant to listen to.

3.5 if it were an option

I'm not sure I like this baroque pop but at times is very pleasant, other times is not really heartfelt for me

Misspelled his own album title on the cover! Oh dearie! Everything about this is wrong and I have no idea what to think except "huh, that was kind of good, I guess." And that's probably wrong too. Regardless, there's so much musical content here that it's a little overwhelming. And none of it is particularly mind-blowing, save maybe for the catchy and instantly memorable track Chicago buried somewhere in the middle of the record. The "title" track, Come On!, is also solid, along with some of the proggy songs like The Tallest Man and The Predatory Wasp that move through several distinct sections. Can't really go wrong with that. The album is dotted with unusual time signatures – maybe not quite as impressive in 2005 as it is in 20th century records but still a cool addition. The "make every name way longer than it should be" gig gets stale pretty fast, though I'll give Stevens props for the opening track. The title "Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois" goes kind of hard. Stevens has an almost comically stereotypical voice for any male 2000s singer-songwriter artist. He also sounds like a slightly happier Elliott Smith (may he rest in peace). I'm on the fence as to whether it's necessarily *good* (or, for that matter, enjoyable) but it gets the job done. The instrumentation is a scattershot of weirdness that employs everything but the kitchen sink and any kind of standard rock instrument. We bounce everywhere from marimbas to brass bands to airy violins to light, exotic percussion. And weird synths/SFX (I think). The two final tracks, Riffs & Variations and Out of Egypt, suffer particularly from the strange instruments because they're the only tracks completely devoid of anything found in mainstream music of the time. Out of Egypt is entirely marimbas (and/or marimba-adjacent instruments) and lacks any kind of melody, let alone a catchy one. Riffs & Variations, like most of the sub-one-minute tracks here, should've been cut entirely. 3/5 Key tracks: Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, Chicago, The Predatory Wasp, The Tallest Man

He just takes too long. I can hear and see why it´s objectively good, but goddamn, get to the point man.

2,5

kind of grating to be honest

perfectly funday for monday. thank you sufjan

Great album but more my partner's taste than mine

Hmmmm!... Great arrangements and production, and I find the artist's voice pleasant enough. However, this is just not my kind of music, and I did find it pretty bland, boring, and over-long.

niceee i think sufjan is so clever when it comes to sounds, blends so many influences i love it think i prefer carrie more, even though it makes me so so sad listening

Certainly not breaking any new ground.. just straightforward 2000s indie rock. As a fan of the genre, I’d say it’s decent, but nothing amazing

It was better then i was expecting. Not sure if i'd listen again.

Sort of a weird idea for a concept album, but it was decent. Not great.

Pas transcendant mais pas horrible

"Singing softly, going nowhere, four syllables, I just don't care." This is the best that the 2000s era of indie/pop/folk/rock has to offer, but it's still not good. It certainly doesn't sound unpleasant, but it has the musical depth of potato salad from Jewel Osco; is good enough to bring to a get together but I'm not enjoying it at home.

I grooved.

Some really good stuff on this album but also what feels like a lot of filler.

"Hey, ChatGPT, generate me a concept album, but, like, *real* arty." Four songs in, my conclusion is: I do not like Sufjan Stevens. ...of course, I've decided that by song four or five (c'mon, "John Wayne Gacy, Jr."? Your stepmother in Decatur?), and then I discover I kind of liked "Chicago" and was genuinely moved by "Casimir Pulaski Day". Even with that said, though, I understand why critics liked this album, and I also understand why I don't.

Chicago rules

Long album. Made it about 60% through. Solid calm vocals with fun lyrics. Good instrumentals. 3.5/5

This was definitely an interesting album. Glad I listened, but couldn't tell you any of the songs now.

2.7/5 it was very pleasant on the ears but I just didn’t really vibe to it

Interesting - pleasantly surprised.

Facile pop music for people who don't listen to a lot of music. Not bad tho!

cool singer songwriter stuff from the 2000's, and if an album has as much trumpet in it as this does, i'm gonna enjoy it. also what a cool album concept wise

An interesting concept album that went places, and I'm not surprised this album was chosen for this list. Flows nicely, but not my thing.

Sok

It’s not bad. Just wasn’t for me. Solid 3

The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts is a slow burn with adventurous melodies and intriguing lyrics that hint at deeper rewards over time, though it often feels overstuffed and could benefit from some thoughtful editing, an enjoyable but occasionally overwrought listen.

Happy songs are happy and awesome quality. Sad songs made me sad.

A bit sickly sweet and indulgent really

A very pleasant sounding album with some great songs. It does overstay its welcome though.

I love a lot of Sufjan, but this wasn't my favorite by his. A lot of it felt dragged on and bloated - I'm not sure where this falls in the discography, but if I had to guess, this sounded like an artist still finding their voice. It was still great, but not along the lines of the more recent Sufjan projects that resonate with me more deeply and feel more cohesive. Favorites off of this project were: "Chicago," "The Man of Metropolis...," "The Predatory Wasp...," and "They Are Night Zombies!..." Definitely, definitely planning to dive into the full discog sometime.

not bad

Denne platen ble dessverre for lang og noenlunde ensformig for min del. Der er en del å sette pris på her, deriblant vakker instrumentering, fine melodier, og noen engasjerende tekster som forsterker konseptet om staten Illinois sin historie og kultur. Jeg liker godt inspirasjonen han tok fra komponister som Steve Reich og Philip Glass på visse sanger. Men i sin helhet er det mange sanger som gjør lite inntrykk på meg. Jeg har også forståelse for de som misliker Stevens sin sangstemme. Han lider generelt av noen tidstypiske troper og trender innen totusentallets uavhengig musikk, for eksempel den hviskete og pustete syngingen. De altfor lange sangtitlene syns jeg også blir teit, unødvendig og usympatisk. Det virker kanskje pirkete å klage på, men alt påvirker helhetsinntrykket.

Absolutely fine album. Very pleasant background music but it just kinda faded into the background. I listened to this album maybe 10 times because I kept forgetting it was on and would take my headphones off to do something else.

While Sufjan is great at structuring intricate and lush instrumentals, I find his christian leanings preachy and the songs to listen a bit pretentious. Illinois is also a bit bloated, with many of the songs on the second half of the album not feeling necessary. A good album, but flawed nonetheless. 3/5

More interesting than good, but there's value also in there. 6/10

Not familiar Favorite song: Chicago

I like the indie folk stuff, but I could do without the baroque pop. John Wayne Gacy Jr. is such a sad, beautiful song. There are a few other tracks on the album that are pretty good, but there's a lot of filler as well.

2,8/5

I know this is a good album, just not much my style.

College flashbacks but never really truly hooked me

The first time I ever heard of this guy it was from a dude I met in a hostel who invited me to eat vegan pizza with him that tasted like plastic. That’s sort of the impression I’ve always had of sufjan stevens. It isn’t the worst. I’m glad I tried it and I’m glad it’s there for people who need it but id be lying if I didn’t say that I find it a little insufferable.

My car broke down during the first and so far only time I've listened to this album. I thought the album was fine. Guess I'll see if that changes. It's so long. Some songs are interesting, many are not. It's a real mixed bag for me, personally. It all seems well-made and "good," but *I* didn't enjoy it.

This was an interesting and eclectic mix of music.

Could never get that into this album and I guess that’s still the case. Still sounds nice though.

It was good but not sure if I'll listen to it again

Might first intro to this artist. So I had no expectations. But I'm still pretty sure I couldn't have expected this. Really good writing and really good musicianship. Reminds me of musical theater. And just like musicals, I have lots of respect for the talent, but it's just not a style I like.

Hilarious timing, I heard the demo of Chicago last night rewatching the TV show The Bear binging for season 4. Blind album and artist. I had no clue who this person was, but was pleasantly surprised by this album. Great soft listening with emotional impact.

Modern sound for a somewhat old album, but not to my taste.

There are some interesting textures and time signatures on this album. Stevens is pretty clearly a creative songwriter and I appreciate that. The album is way to long and he lingers on some ideas for too long as s well.

Safe to say I was totally surprised by this main. I had no expectations going in other than the album cover and name. Sufjan is mellow, even though many of his song topics are not. This is most certainly an album that is made to be part of a summer road trip playlist.

I think this was good, although need to listen again.

Why the long song names? Is that supoosed to make it more unique? Generic and kind of repetitive to me.. idk it's mellow sounding, doesn't make me feel much

Very relaxing, the lyrics were well written and combination of different instruments kept the songs fresh. I do feel like the execution could have been better though, there were times where it felt a bit amature and the songs got very repetitive after a while

Sufjan Stevens has always been a weird artist for me. While I think he's objectively a talented guy, his sensibilities are a bit at odds with what I want out of music. Where I tend to lean into music that's raw, loose, and minimal, Sufjan tends to lean into this sound that's very ornate and precious with these kitchen sink arrangements. I feel like if you took Sufjan Stevens to one of those places where you can build your own sundae, he's the guy who puts every conceivable topping on it -- sprinkles, gummy worms, bacon, kiwi fruit, fresh basil... I think there's some good songs in here, but his overall vibe kind of wears me out. 3 stars.

3.5

There's a lot going on in this album. Lots of tracks. I will be honest, I may never intentionally put this album on again anytime soon but I certainly didn't hate it. In fact it's pretty good. Just not something I think I'd listen to over and over. Give it a go.

Listened to this for another list. I liked it ok and I think it'd grow on me. As it is, though, I think it's just ok/good. 3.25/5

Sometimes somewhat self-indulgent, but always interesting, with humor and pathos perfectly blended. I always wonder if my tolerance for the albums over-indulgences comes from my own connection to the state itself and its rich variety of stories, both personal and public.

This has a lot of qualities I like, such as a rich mix of instrumentation, influences from across several genres and interesting time signatures. But somehow it just doesn't quite come together and I found it a bit dull and pretentious. My favourite track upon first listen was Come On Feel The Illinoise Part I+II, but upon a second listen I realized that might be just because it has the same melody as Close to Me by The Cure.

I liked the first half but the back fell flat.

This album struck me at a strange time. I'm having a lot of feelings of self doubt, and this album somehow is making me worse. It's not the albums fault though. This would probably be a lot of fun to listen to in another mood. I will say this gets pretty samey same after like 15 tracks, which I think knocks the album down a star for me. ⭐⭐⭐

Beautiful but could not finish it. Too sad

3.5

Dad- 5 Mom- 5 Mike- NA Lori- 5.5 Michael- 6.5 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 5.5

Like the album like the sound, but this album is lots of the same. Usually, I don’t mind lots of the same, but it didn’t endear me to listen again.

This was good but did not have the time to finish

Interesting one - as I said in chat, the extra long titles started bugging me after a while, and it gets a bit whimsical at times, but overall I’m glad I listened to it.

Buy John Wayne Gacy. Like Chicago. Not bad to listen to. I already knew I liked his voice from his Christmas music. Not a fan of the instrumentals. Cohesive album

I've heard some of Sufjan's work over the years and always found him to be interesting and lyrically insightful, yet his music has never really "clicked" with me. At about the 1/3 point of this record, I still feel the same way. He does some really cool stuff with instrumentation and arrangement, and his lyrics have some great depth, and yet, I'm looking forward to listening to something else. I kind of wonder if this isn't one of those records that needs a couple spins before it grabs your attention? I likely won't find out, though I will put forth a concerted effort to finish this one.

I'm getting to the stage where I see another hour+ record and wonder whether brevity counts for anything anymore. Clearly there is good stuff on here but, I'll be honest, a lot of it just washed over me.

There’s a lot of things that can hit me in the “feels” on this record. Then there are things I really don’t need on this record. A great introduction to the artist, but proceed with caution.

Creative with a wide range of sounds. 3.5 Stars

I get why people dig Sufjan, I really do. Just like I get why people like pineapple on pizza. Just isn't my jam. Appreciate the listen, but not a go to for me.

good

Not bad.

Hard to imagine that Sufjan Stevens was relevant before Call Me By Your Name. I liked it, but it dragged a little too long.

B Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois 3 "The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire Civilization And Still Feel Good About Yourself In The Morning, Or, We Apologize For The Inconvenience But You're Going To Have To Leave Now, Or, ""I Have Fought The Big Knives And Will Continue To Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!""" 5 Come On! Feel The Illinoise! 5 John Wayne Gacy, Jr. 3 Jacksonville 4 A Short Reprise For Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, But For Very Good Reasons 3 Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Step Mother! 3 "One Last ""Whoo-Hoo!"" For The Pullman!!" 3 Go! Chicago! Go! Yeah! 4 Casimir Pulaski Day 3 To The Workers Of The Rock River Valley Region, I Have An Idea Concerning Your Predicament, And It Involves Tube Socks, A Paper Airplane, And Twenty-Two Able-Bodied Men. 3 The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts 3 Prairie Fire That Wanders About 5 A Conjunction Of Drones Simulating The Way In Which Sufjan Stevens Has An Existential Crisis In The Great Godfrey Maze 3 The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us! 4 They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh! 4 Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All The Way Out In Bloomington-Normal 3 In This Temple As In The Hearts Of Man For Whom He Saved The Earth 3 The Seer's Tower 3 The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders 5 Riffs And Variations On A Single Note For Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, Louis Armstrong, Baby Dodds, And The King Of Swing, To Name A Few 3 Out Of Egypt, Into The Great Laugh Of Mankind, And I Shake The Dirt From My Sandals As I Run 3 This album is a 4 in spirit, but it has too many fake tracks.

Sprawling and ambitious, some great tracks, but uneven overall. His newer stuff is much more focused and I prefer that.

Out together in an interesting fashion

Okay I did really enjoy this . It was just so long for no reason and it’s all the same kind of music one after the other and there was no differentiation between the songs .

This was pretty cool to listen to, sort of easy listening but some storytelling going on. I can see why it got made into a Broadway show using songs from the album. Probably the one letdown was the realisation in the second half that the singer reminded me of Daniel Bedingfield in the second half, once I had that thought it was just about all I could think of. Would return to give it another go, at least in the background.

Some songs were better than others. This album was definitely experimental. I will listen to some of the songs I like again sometime.

Iloiset 22 raitaa elokuvasäveltäjältä

My first thought upon hearing it is “feather wisp.” The hushed tones make it hard to discern what I can tell are wordy, story-driven lyrics as I barrel down the road. This is sensitive, this is soothing, this is music for donators to NPR. Then out of nowhere comes that John Wayne Gacy song…wtf? You guys are “basically just the same?” Hhhwat? “They are night zombies!!” provided a nice change of musical pace. Some of the other songs are very pretty, like “To The Workers…” and “Prairie Fire.” 3.5

I always liked not loved Sufjan. He can be too much indie pop, over the top leading to nothing for me but he has some great songs. That being said, Carrie and Lowell is a masterpiece. It's a go to depression album to me and I hope it made this list. 7/10

I kinda like it kinda hate it

It is fine.

Boy was I ready to absolutely hate this album. By “John Wayne Gacy Jr.” I was intrigued. By “Jacksonville,” I was smiling and toe-tapping. Weird album but very authentic and hey, that’s worth three stars even if it’s not in my lane.

Serial killers, the Douglas-Lincoln debates, and UFO sightings with magnificent arrangements. Definitely adding this one to the rotation.

John Wayne Gacy, what a lad

When I first heard this album, I found it kind of boring. Listening to it on a surface level, the music doesn't really do much for me. I'm glad I revisited it tho and looked into the meanings behind the title's to the tracks and also focusing on the lyrics. I have a new appreciation for this album, but still the music doesn't grab me. The themes and ideas are great but I find the melodies and tunes kind of bland. I'd probably buy it on CD and stick it on in the car for a long journey, but wouldn't be listening to this one very regularly. I'd say a high 3, verging on a 4

Has 1 big hitter and then is simply too twee for me and I don't gaf anymore

Not really my thing but I can see why some people would really like it. That song about zombies is definitely a banger.

p907. 2005. 3 stars. Far too long for what it is, but when it's good it's brilliant. Disturbing lyrics and haunting tunes - it's just too flabby. A bit of judicious editing and this could have easily been a 5.

track 1: i fw the piano . it sounds like habits of my heart by james young ?? nice voice i am a sufjan stevens fan.. 7/10 track 2: LONG ASS TITLE lana has nothing on him. epic song 4/10 track 3: ts has me snapping my fingers..its really long though.. 6/10 track 4: oh.. oh wow. i am just confused how this ties into the album as a whole. 8/10 track 5: end carries 7/10 track 6: i think track 5 leads into this one? i could be wrong though. but this is short. sounds nice though. not much to go off of. 3/10 track 7: cute!! lowkey a bop too? like a nice chill song 8/10 track 8: LOVE the lead ins. this is just applause though so do i really count it? 2/10 track 9: most streamed !! i can see why, its very nice to listen to. a lot of instrumental, i can see why its the most streamed but i wouldnt listen to it daily its quite long. solid though not a bad song. 7/10 track 10: cute :3 5/10 track 11: just instrumental. lovely on the ears though 4/10 track 12: all the songs are starting to sound the same ngl, 6/10 track 13: meh 3/10 track 14: another interlude 1/10 track 15: 6/10 no notes though track 16: kinda creepy !! in a good way?? 6/10 track 17: silly title. 3/10 track 18: pretty 4/10 track 19: creeeppyy. wahh. 5/10 track 20: borin 5/10 track 21: 5/10 more instrumental but i can appreciate it track 22: pretty but just instrumental again, im not really a fan of only instrumental music. considering im not in a movie. i want lyrics to relate to/analyze tbh. 3/10 avg: 2.45/5

Yeah, a pretty interesting listen if I have to be honest. Not my favorite, but I don't hate it.

Esch okay relativ viel musikalisch. Guet för e Hendergrond

I love the concept, the music, most of the lyrics and the way this comes together. I have never listed to Sufjan Stevens prior to this album and I find him to be more pleasant than not. However that is outweighed by the run time of this album. I give it a 3/5 but would have been almost to a 4 if the album were not 65 minutes long.

this was interesting - like being invited to a party where sthg different is happening in every room - so much to say but no time to say it - sometimes it was sublime, fun sometimes muddled and confusing but def enjoyable

This album feels like a play. I can see people dancing around in the opening number, "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" This playful, light-hearted sound also has some additional deeper layers. I have loved "Chicago" for a while and was a bit surprised by the entire album's overall sound and play-like arc.

That this album represents the second - and final - installment in a planned 50 album project featuring and album inspired each of the 50 states tells you all you need to know about SS. He is a man of great ambition as well as great talent. The fact the he didn't even make it through the Midwest shouldn't diminish the lofty ambition. The kids got talent. He's got boundless energy that percolates in the music. He has two basic modes - propulsive anthems (often within winding proggy song structures) and sad slow picked ballads. He is equally adept at both. It's a lot to take in. I am happy he exists.

it’s pretty chill, lk making me fall asleep on bart lol

I had no expectations on this one. I'd never heard of Sujan before. I enjoyed it. It's probably not something I'll listen to again, but I love learning about new music so I appreciated it coming up in this list.

Not my style, but good

Interesting and mostly nice.

It was really good just not in the mood for it at the moment

Видимо здесь суть в лириксе. Музыка приятная, немного однообразная - тоесть все песни впринципе много в чем похожи, и это бросается в глаза. Так как я все таки по музыке, то ее оцениваю на 6/10( отдельный балл за изобретательность, и инструментал, это прям кайф

I will come back to this review as I'm only three quarters through (why? because it's a fucking slog). Sounds like it's been written for a Broadway show that he (I assume it's a he) never got the funding for (why? I hear you ask). Because it's mostly dull pap (ideal for Disney then??). There were a couple of songs I liked - so it's not a 1. But mostly it was dull, dull, dull, dull... so incredibly dull. I've had another listen and a rethink. Its got humour and good tunes. It's still too long though. Quit while you're ahead mate. Better than I originally thought so upgraded to 3.

I liked this. Need to give it more time. But definitely caught my attention on a good way.

Pleasant enough.

Liked some of it

A little ethereal for my tastes but still good. I recognize the chicago song from “The Bear”

Bit of a jumble to me. Soft soppy music, then shifted to something I would describe as theatre west end musical type sound. There was one song I liked called Jacksonville. Can't really say I think it's awful just not for me. Clearly musical lot with many instruments on show.

One of the first thing I noticed about this album is the excellent production quality. I am a real fan of a natural and live sounding production and this album gave me that "in the room" feel whilst still providing good isolation of the wide range of instruments. Musically I found it pleasant and pretty but not groundbreaking. A nice blend of folk and indie with quite simple and intimate songs. I'm more likely to use as inoffensive background music rather than a deeper listening. That being said, I probably will mark this for a repeat listen.

Not as good as I remember it some nice tracks like Chicago tho

A sweeping, orchestral folk-pop album that serves as both a musical road trip and a historical love letter to the state of Illinois. The song titles are a bit absurd, not a huge fan of that choice. Blending intricate orchestration, folk influences, and Stevens' signature delicate vocals, the album paints a rich, sometimes surreal, portrait of the state.

Was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. First couple of tracks threw me off, but the more I listened, the more I liked it.

Some american ahh lyrics, boring music

Is there anything more obnoxious than ridiculously long song titles? Maybe not, but I still found a lot to enjoy in this admittedly longgg album. The orchestral arrangements mostly felt really solid and suitably atmospheric, though i have to admit the illnoise choir grated in the songs they were prominently featured on. All in all, didn’t blow me away on the whole but some really good songs, especially the more emotional ones. 3/5

I'm not feeling this one. The songs just blend one into another and all sound the same. Listening to any of these songs on their own is fine, but an hour and 15 minutes of this stuff is too much.

Pleasant

Very different, but I really enjoyed it. It gets a. 3.

Hadn’t heard this before. I feel like I could do with listening to it some more before rating it really, but what you going do? There is a lot going on. It’s beautifully produced / technically brilliant. It’s not really my cup of tea, but I can’t fault the ambition, or the skill of the songwriting.

An interesting album with enough good songs for 3 stars or C+.

I admire the colourful palette of sounds. When each track ends I don't know whether to brace for horns, strings, Vince Guaraldi piano or (my personal fave) banjo. The individual parts are on par with his noughties contemps like A Silver Mt Zion, Danielson Famile, A Hawk and a Hacksaw. But, to the obvious point: someone should have come in with a pair of secateurs and cut this monster down to about half the length or less. The same suite of tracks could easily have been less... boring.

I don’t really know what to think about this…

weird but fine

Whimsical in a wholesome midwestern way. Singer-songwriter without being cringe. A little slow for me at times but good for a weekend chill day, nice weather, etc. Figured out he’s from Detroit - spot on for midwestern wholesomeness. Songs are very Chicago centric! Towards the end of the album it gets verrrry sad slow.

I don't really get it.

I've been in that mood where I loved the artist and this album. Wasn't in that mood today. Neat complexity to the music, but the vocals are low, whiny and wispy - almost like he's not committed to singing. Definite talent here, but it's maybe too much a product of it's time?? It misses greatness, but it's no worse than middle of the road.

It’s the same mellow energy on the whole album. It’s pretty flat just like the state of Illinois.

While this is very creative, and there are some excellent tracks in here, it's bloated.

An album full of dreamy songs, full of good vibrations.

Surprised

kinda meh softboy music until Chicago and Casimir Pulaski Day, which were really nice, then it returns to being kinda meh

Je connaissais la douce voix de Sufjan Stevens mais pas cet album. Je dois confesser que je l'ai écouté de manière distraite, trop occupée pour me faire un avis très précis. Un bon album de rock indie il m'a semblé. Et d'une durée bien généreuse. Définitivement à réécouter pour poursuivre ma découverte de sa discographie.

This is a nice and relaxed album, you can leave it in the background and it's just chill, despite having "noise" in the name. It sounds alright, nothing specifically good but it does have quite a lot of listens on pretty much all songs, so people like jamming to it probably.

I think I would’ve really liked this in 2014. However, current me can’t dig this certain brand of mellow as much

Sufjan Steven's, Come on Feel the Illinoise : Man, I am thrilled there are people who likely rate this a 5. It's beautiful and does not resonate with me at all. This music does not vibrate on a level that does anything for me viscerally. For that, I'm disappointed tbh. So a 3 from me.

Plausible e interesante. Jamás escuché algo parecido. Musicalmente es agradable y denota gran trabajo en composición. Pero mi exploración musical no es necesariamente utilitaria como es su búsqueda. Me gusta.

This was good, but ai’m not sure it’s quite my thing.

3 out of 5. I enjoyed this one, and now wonder if Sufjan ever wrote music for Wes Anderson.

I feel like I’m the type of person who should like this album more? I’ve listened to it before and had the same reaction as this time. It’s alright.

I don't really like my singer songwriter from this NY type school, too urban. This just sees to me like somekind of off Broadway show that goes on and on, and gets nowhere fast, but with the occasional spark that keeps you thinking/hoping it will kick on. 3 Star, it goes on forever, didn’t seemed longer than it's long run time.and too long to go back and find the bits I did actually enjoy again. Also this list kind of shown me I don't really like concept albums, which I had never considered before, unless they are loose concept only to frame the songs.

Helt ok ändå. 5/10

Indie singer songwriter is a genre that does next to nothing for me. It is always just fine, nothing more nothing less. This is definitely one of the better ones out there, but still this album goes on for too long, and a lot of the songs kind of sound the same. I do like the horns though, that was a nice touch. High 3.

Long and same-y

Ok, I'm more interested in the show now. Got VERY slow at the end and I had to knock down the score. 3.4.

Indie rock style, being from Illinois/Chicago makes me resonate more with this album especially the city references - Experimental and unique instrumentals, brass, drums, strings are standouts - Lots of genres and styles, vocals are quite soft and mellow - Melodies get repetitive at times or slightly dull

It was fine. Dull, but fine.

Experimental indie pop before he truly came into his sad boi sound. Liked about half of these songs

This definitely grows in you the more you listen but the whole album suffers from being too long, I feel like you could actually edit it down to a 45min 4 star album. (Minus all the tracks that seem to only have been included because he came up with an interesting title.) Chicago is a level above but I would also pick out quite a few tracks in the first half.

Some cool songs, too orchestrated

Nice!

Cool concept, but not my fave of his work

Kind of too long. Most of the songs are fairly mediocre. Got better towards the end, but just wasn’t very interesting overall. 2.5/5 Won’t listen again

Very twee. Reminds me of Of Montreal.

Fine for working.

a little too mellow for me, but still a nice and unique sound

Ordblind tilgang: kig på cover, kig på spillelængden. Første indtryk: fandeme et langt Frank Sinatra album... Total indtryk: Underlig ting. Det er nærmest hverdags agtig musik, på en udstyret måde. Jeg ville sagtens kunne sætte pris på det, men jeg ville aldrig sætte det på for mig selv.

Et lidt underligt album. Det er meget hypet. Men det er primært når det lyder som The National eller Arcade Fire det fanger mig bare lidt. Det kan sagtens fungere som baggrundsmusik

the coldplay covers were good, would be better without the banjos lol

Good album but soooo long... Feels like a movie! Overall enjoyed it

Love the piano

Concerning the UFO - I don't know why but when I listened to this, I felt like I was back in kindergarten and was in Nap Time, Which I miss The Black Hawk War - what a beautiful ass sounding war Come On! - Damn is this song long like holy shit, but I like how whimsical I feel listening to it John Wayne Gacy, Jr. - This was NOT whimsical, it made me sad :( Jacksonville - Damn this is another long song, although I like it, it's still pretty long A short reprise for Mary Todd - like the name it's short and it's as soft as it's short Decatur - I like this one, it's catchy and I like the lyrics One last "woohoo" - it's 6 seconds Chicago - I like the lyrics of this one and I didn't mind that this one was as long Casimir Pulaski Day - it gets repetitive holy fuck there's so many songs summary - I get that the album is influential and I think that the orchestration is really well done, but It goes longer than it should in my opinion and it gets pretty repetitive due to the length, there are some songs I liked tho 5.5/10 + .5 points for a bit of nostalgia

Not my thing. I liked some songs, but didn't really care for Sufjan's vocals. I don't see myself coming back to this album

OK, look, it's a really good album. But for me this lives in the uncanny valley where it's too old to be novel but too new to evoke nostalgia. I can't separate it from the twee hipster bullshit of the late 2000s, and I've personally heard enough Sufjan for a lifetime already. If you're hearing it for the first time I'm happy for you. Maybe listen to it 1000 times this year and then come back in 20 years and see if you're still giving it 5 stars or whatever.

Interesting but not my fav

very nice

3.5

Big in college. I respect it. Sime very beautiful music here. Mostly made me sleepy though.

I enjoyed listening to this, I had never even heard of this music before! I was familiar with the song 'chicago' but I can't recall where I heard it before. For me this album was very much a 'listen while i work vibe' but I don't think I would return to it that much. Glad to have discovered it, though!

Not bad, mix of songs with words and songs without words, as well as some super long ones and some super short ones. I can't say I'd listen to it again all the way through but maybe as background music for homework or something

Just okay. Reminded me of death cab

I've never listened to much of Sufjan Stevens stuff before. I didn't really rate any of the songs on this list, because I imagined it needed to be heard as a whole album, not select tracks. It's an interesting album, and has some good music on it. I get that this is a concept album of some sorts, but I dunno, it just didn't feel like it was all that cohesive around a theme, except for stuff in Illinois. I've never been to Chicago or anywhere in Illinois other than airports, so maybe I'm just missing out the appeal of this album. Music-wise, it's fine. Lyrics, *shrug* I guess they're OK? 2.5/5, so I have to give it a 3, since we still don't have half ratings in the year of our lord 2024.

Nice album, listened to it casually before. Some nice stuff but a lot of the same.

Pretty good

Bellos sonidos, algunas canciones bastante destacables y emotivas.

Solides Indie Album mit Folk und Country Elementen. Sicherlich sollte man sich mal die Zeit nehmen, um zu versuchen das Konzept des Albums zu verstehen. Solang das nicht gelingt, verweilen wir beim Durchschnitt.

I think it’s been very interesting and odd, this album. Not necessarily my taste by I like it.

Not what I thought it would be. It's generally okay, just quiet rock with lots of guitar. Nothing memorable for me.

mir gefallen die Harmonien der ersten beiden Songs, sie klingen fast ein bisschen überdramatisch, finde ich geil. und ui der fünfer-Takt in come on geht ab. die Lyrics von John Wayne finde ich auf eine gute Art schockierend. Das Album gefällt mir, hat einen chilligen Vibe:) aber stopp, es hört wirklich so auf, wie es aufhört??

Interesting, but too kitsch for me.

#83 Beautiful.

Chicago is a masterpiece

This sounds like it should have been the sountrack to a movie. It is beautiful and descriptive, but also a bit drawn out. Ok but not for my everyday commute.

I had heard the John Wayne Gacy Jr song before but not the rest of this album. All around good, probably would like it more if I understood all the Illinois references and history.

I had heard some of the hits from this album throughout the years, and I uave quite a few people in my life whp consider this a favorite. After giving it a listen (and some songs a re-listen), I can definitely understand the appeal. This album was a magnitudous undertaking- almost 90 mins in length and exploring a wide variety of sounds, styles, and instrumentation. And I think overall- it was successful. I am very impressed with Stevens achievement- the songs he wrote have complex time signatures, use of a variety of instruments and vocal harmonies. The music is rich and complex, and when it hits, it hits right. Still- there are some times when it feels a little unfocused. I think the album could have undergone another round or two of edits and it would have made it more effective. Overall- enjoyed it a lot. I wpuld probably put it in the 4 - 4.5 out of 5 range, but not quite a 5 star album.

6 Illanoises out of 10 This album is a huge feat, there's 22 tracks ranging from 19 seconds to 7 minutes. Its a very whimsical album which sounds like it takes inspiration from a lot of American culture, people and events. I really enjoyed the album until about the 6th track in and then most of the tracks afterwards sounded very similar. The album is praised for its complex orchestral arrangements but I'd argue that the orchestra is arranged well or layered well rather than being complex. Its pleasant and atmospheric. The lyrics are wonderful, I'd imagine what makes this album critically acclaimed is the figurative language each song is laced with. Its an a sound of optimism which 2007 media would have been saturated with so I can totally see how this album did well. Its not my sorta thing but I'd be lying if I said it didn't fill me with warmth and cozy hues - It sounds like the theme music for a fantastical, colourful whimsical, manic pixie drama/romcom from the late 2000s.

Did not use a private session for Spotify, also was familiar enough with this album that I knew to listen to it in the morning as that seemed like the time it would click with me. I think it was still the correct time, but wasn't a lot of clicking. It's fine, I did like the absurdly long song titles.

3.5☆/5 11.14.2024

Good in places, nicely arranged, melodic. But a bit strange in others. 3.5*

really enjoyed the song "Come on! Feel the Illinoise! Part 1...". Really neat timing and groove. A unique album but not very enjoyable overall

This album is what I assume what a Hipster Anthem would sound like. Unimposing folksy indie rock. This was fine, but it had a longer than needed (or wanted) run time of 74 minutes.

Better than expected, but not something I would listen to often.

The musical style is both familiar and unusual at the same time. The lyrics are quirky and amusing like "John Wayne Gacy, Jr."

This is a solid album! It feels like an indie rock musical with themes that keep popping up throughout. I always love when this album comes on but I dont always reach for it.

He's good but very intimate and slow

Definitely weird. Well made concept album which doesn't seem as long as it actually is. It's relaxed sound and amazing arrangements are the highlights of the album.

Bien

decent as mellow bg music 3.5 rounded down

Muy denso.

Good and such but not really my style. Sounds similar to Bon Iver (who I like a lot) but too messy and happy. I think you need to listen in to this to like it.

pre: never listened, I tend to associate Sufjan Stevens with pretention in my head. Looking forward to being wrong I liked this more than I anticipated, that's about as far as I'm willing to go

Alright

Good album, really liked all of it.

It’s like if Elliott Smith was from Chicago

it's a lighthearted cute little album with few things going on below the surface.

First Sufjan Stevens albums I've ever listened to. listened to it in segments. Feel like you need to sit down with this one....

Ok

Interested at first, repetitive by the end

This is a super weird album. At first, I thought I was really going to like it, later on...not so much. A brief listing of music that the album made me think of while listening: Arcade Fire, Charlie Brown, The Polyphonic Spree, Super Furry Animals, Peter & the Wolf. It's not unpleasant. It's unique and, in places, very, very good. 3 stars seems about right. I'd listen to it again, but I wouldn't seek it out.

A pleasant surprise in that there were a few songs I quite liked but also several I wasn’t so keen on. Overall far too long and rather overblown.

One of those albums that always coexisted in my life but I never really listened to it because of the people that liked it. Honestly not what I was expecting, way more musical than I thought, which makes way more sense that they are making a musical of it, but still not really my jam. For a certain set of geriatric millennials this encapsules a very specific type of hipster and for that it should be on this list. Will I listen to it again? Probably not.

Some of the best song titles I've ever seen, but the album itself was just so-so.

Not my thing. I'm sure its fine for fans of the genre though.

3 stars. Really torn on this. Musically I love Sufjan’s stuff - it’s pretty and inventive. but lyrically it’s too cutesy and self consciously quirky for me. How many song titles with 15 words does one album need? He feels like the kind of person who would say “I’m a nerd” in an annoying way

Lot of good songs, but there is also lot of very short, senseless tracks.

It was okay, just not my type of music

Not bad

Pretty great background music. Almost plays like kids songs.

I thought this was going to be some kind of a comedy album based on the title and the cover. 2.5

Very emotional, in fact too emotional but still a good album.

3,7

Intens maar goeie background

Chicago is a brilliant song, I liked some of the others - the album overstayed it's welcome though.

When this album came out it inspired me to write an album with one song based on/within each of Canada's 13 provinces or territories. Work still in progress, unfortunately. Goddammit. This album has such a massive reach, and in theory should be everything I like. It's...close. Sorta. ..... Actually it's not - it's just too much in so many ways which is something I don't often complain about; I should really go on about how melodic it is while being so complex in composition and arrangement. It is! Jumpy rhythms and odd time signatures punctuating many of the songs.... It's all very pleasant and interesting to listen to! In an "I'm strolling excruciatingly slowly through a museum with my hands behind my back like an 89 year old Italian guy just slowly taking in the local bocce game in the park" kinda way. Specific critiques? ...for one, it has to be said but man - his voice is more than just a little too sensitive and especially over what feels like 82 songs. That dry precious sound would have been great for the first song then maybe varying it up a little ... get fking angry or even just ... agitated? Are you reading a Dr. Seuss book to a 3 year old? As a whole it's all also weirdly/simultaneously too dense *and* too bland. Insulting, I know. At some points I'd wished I would/could write something similar. But vary up the formula a little bit??? Or use some freaking dynamics?? Maybe this album needed a smash single or something or a killer 8 minute Pink Floyd-esque odd-time organ break. It's hard to sink into, but maybe therein lies the secret? Maybe the charm is to just get lost in this sound. - - You know who did/does this almost exact thing yet way better: Jeremy Messersmith. That guy knows how to write a song, keep it to a reasonable length, be precious without being annoying, and make you feel something. - - I thought I needed to spend more time with it - and maybe I still do (but who has that kind of time?) - and not give up on it like I did 12 years ago like when I got to my Manitoba song. But in another way, I knew my project wasn't (still isn't) ready and I sliced a few cuts (provinces) within the first 2 years, in part because other collaborators gave me some needed perspective... ...and so I'm left thinking Sufjan needed an external voice or 3 here as well - if this were say 10 (or 13!) songs and had at least one centrepiece or killer track it probably could have been close to greatness. As it is, I think I'm good for 4 or 5 cuts - any ones, actually - start at track 6? sure! who would know?!? - and then moving on to something else. Points for serious effort and spending a lot of time at the Chicago public library (although some of these lyrics come out like they were written by me in 4th grade so maybe he should have gone out to Wrigley Field instead. What, no Ernie Banks songs?) but in the end it's like one singular 75 minute soundtrack for a cute 6th grade holiday pageant that has gone on far too long and our kid already had their quick little sheep cameo so can we go home already?? (I probably graded it too high but I need to separate this from the shitty lo-fi/lo-efforts of the world in my own stupid little headspace) 5/10 3 stars

This really wasn't for me. But I could see how others would like it.

This was like music from a cinematic universe. I wasn’t sure where the gel this was going but by Chicago, I was on with it. Dragged on a bit towards the end though

Album 521 of 1001 Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005) Rating : 3 / 5 Interesting album. One whose "concept" I'll need to go back and pay more attention to. Some awesome instrumentation in the album. A bit of experimentation as many tracks don't seem to follow the dotted lines of a lot of popular music. ___________________________________ Illinois is a 2005 concept album by American singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens. His fifth studio album, it features songs referencing places, events, and persons related to the U.S. state of Illinois. Illinois is Stevens' second based on a U.S. state—part of a planned series of fifty that began with the 2003 album Michigan and that Stevens has since acknowledged was a joke. It was adapted into a musical, Illinoise, in 2023 and, after playing smaller venues, opened at the St. James Theatre on Broadway in April 2024.

Pretty good, a little long, but nice to work to.

I heard about this guy and album a lot in the mid 00's as the critics loved him but I never really gave him a try until now. It was ok but nothing I haven't heard a million times before that's not to say I didn't enjoy it I might even listen to it again but it never blew me away just sounded like a million. Other guys with a guitar coming out of America at that time