Illinois

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Great - There is such a delicate, careful feel to this album that I find very unique. There is something mechanical about the songs but also a very human touch of nuance. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. is great but Jacksonville is an absolute stunner. Relatively simple songwriting crafted into something incredibly catchy and beautiful. Chicago is also wonderful and Casimir Pulaski Day is achingly melancholy. The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts is awesome. Night Zombies (I'm not typing the whole name) is also a really cool change of pace. Gorgeous album, really sounds like nothing else.

There are moments where this feels just like interminable Brooklyn hipster muzak and then there are moments of great beauty and authentic emotion. It's probably fun to hear him live with all his devoted fans singing along to the songs. I don't mind this, but I've heard it once before and I don't really need to ever hear it again. It's not pop music, but as "soft art-rock" it never really gets musically interesting enough for me to really get into it. But I don't mind it either. If it came on randomly someplace I wouldn't be mad.

I've listened to this once before and I absolutely trashed it. Against my better judgment, I gave it a second listen to see if I was being too harsh the first time around. Unfortunately, my original review holds up perfectly. The production is still excellent and there are still moments where the instrumentation catches my attention, but they're buried beneath an exhausting runtime and a collection of songs that feel more interested in being quirky than enjoyable. I can appreciate that this album clearly resonates with a lot of people, but I remain completely baffled as to why.

Can't say anything that hasn't been said before. The quintenessential modern indie LP.

One of my absolute favorite albums. The concept is genius, the songs are devastating, and only sufjan can arrange using the weirdest instruments and yet it’s gorgeous. Ugh

Dull. Dull. Dull.

I found this album to be incredibly boring, didn't offend, just didn't entertain.

Awesome!

After the first track, I thought this was going to feel every bit of its 74 min run time. His vocals at times are just far too soft, a bit wet. However, the music is interesting and varied, and to be fair the vocals are often fine as well, plus other and/or backing vocalists add something different. I can’t decide if this is great or bad, it’s probably somewhere between. I did manage to listen to all of this without thinking it too long, but I can imagine I would need to be in a particular mood to put this on. I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and judge it again another day.

Awesome

Incredible album that I've known and loved for decades. A beautiful fare with themed songs that tug on the heart strings and give hope. John Wayne Gacy Jr. and Casimir Pulaski Day are two of my favorites.

Very pleasant album, a great listen. The scale of the undertaking was massive but it was executed perfectly. Great orchestrations, music that sprawls and winds but is never stale or boring. I've reas about many different inspirations for this album, but what caught my attention were nods to "Music for 18 musicians" by Steve Reich.

A real struggle to listen to. I enjoyed the first 2 or 3 songs- a compliment to his impressive and well-done song writing- however hearing the same song a further 19 times made Illinois a difficult listen. I understand the love for Steven’s as a song writer, and do not discredit his work such as Carrie & Lowell, however Illinois lacks the ability to pull on the heart strings like Carrie, and leaves you waiting for a big finale… for an hour and a half. We see many long albums that can keep you drawn in and awaiting the final few tracks, however here Stevens left me bored by 30 minutes, and nearly unable to finish the record by an hour. For such an interesting concept, I wished Stevens could have delivered with interesting music, though he failed to do so. Overall an unenjoyable listen, with hints of creative writing, but for the broader experience, left me wanting something that was never delivered.

This was an amazing album, 4/5. Two in a row is insane!

A beautiful album with pretty vocals and a lot of cool instrumentation. Unfortunately, at 20+ tracks and a 73 minute run time, it suffocates under its own ambitious goals. It's just too much for a person to take in one sitting. But hey, as a Michigander, I'm just glad he never made it to recording Ohio.

Fun album, not my typical fare. Really enjoyed the storytelling throughout.

Cool music, but not quite my kind of vocals (too folky)

Oh it’s actually kinda sick tbh Spotify sucks and messed up but whatevs

eh, cool in theory but i dont think i liked it

Masterpiece, I love you Sufjan Stevens

Delightful.

Hell yeah, the musicality was off the charts on this one! Fun album for sure.

a familiar feeling y9 summer music lessons pissing around with my mates not rly my thing tho

It was okay, didn't finish it

I liked some of this! It got a little wanky in parts.

The albums music isnt even bad but i cant get over the john wayne gracy song.

De production is nice and the record has a good atmosphere and theme. It's a little long and not to my tastes. I don't care for indie folky music, but this was surprisingly nice. Still not something I would ever put on again

A fun softer album, filled with interesting notes and melodies. It really felt like a continuous flow of an album, which is always a big plus to me.

I don't know if I'm doing this guy a disservice. I keep listening to his music and I feel there's something deeper there I just can't reach. My understanding of Sufjan remains superficial. Maybe I'm missing out. Maybe it's just pretentious postering.

Why...why is it just NOT ENDING oh my god.... Edit: done, finally. What would have been three stars probably got knocked down to two just because of the sheer length.

Lo escuché mientras me hacia la skincare. Amo sufjan stevens

Más o menos

if i was crying it was for freedom -chicago

Quite a nice melodic album with great songwriting

Chicago has me in a chokehold, but the whole album is exactly what I needed

Très mou !

love the quirky song titles!! unfortunately, as much as this feels like something i would listen to, i'm not really clicking with it as much as i hoped. still enjoyable fav song: The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts

Nice little alt release with great quality production and nice vocal harmonies. Super creative song writing. I thought the album art didn’t really fit the vibe initially. 3.7/5.0

I only knew his newer stuff so it was cool to see him experimenting with different sounds and moods but still hear bits of that very characteristic melancholic nostalgia vibe that defines Sufjan Stevens. A lot of instrumentals that I liked as well but sometimes dragged, his lyrics are stunning, his voice oh so soothing. 3.8/5

muy bien álbum, me gustl bastante, aunque no sabría decir bien q estilo esñ además de q varía mucho de las 10 primeras canciones a las últimas, ninguna falla y algunas destacan más, difíciles los nombres

I’ve tried multiple times with this one. I just cannot get into it.

One of my favourites. The culmination of perfect songwriting and evocative lyricism realise a whirlwind of feelings: wonder, innocence, sadness, love, and gut-wrenching honesty.

Disco muy lejano a mí y lo mío. Narra la historia del estado. Me gustó: Come On! Feel the Illinoise!

Heard Before? Easily one of the albums that has been the most important to me. Notes: - Because this album (and to a lesser extent, Sufjan's whole arc) is so integral to my own musical history, it is essentially unreviewable. - Anyone interested in a context for Sufjan's early career should watch the documentary "Danielson: A Family Movie" - "Illinois" is both deeply felt and well-researched, which must be horribly grating for many people. - Very excited to read all the negative reviews of this. Not because I think I'm somehow better than any of you folks, but I enjoy understanding the tastes of others, and what better way to learn than to honestly consider those who hate what you love? Verdict: Too much of everything, all the time. If you want your music to spill over with feeling and detail, this is ideal. Fans of the tidy and organized (or conversely the raw and rocking) should stay far away. Listen Again? I'll need another break after today, but yes indeed. These days, my favorite Sufjan is Age of Adz or Seven Swans.

Quite the pleasant surprise. I was immediately reluctant when I saw it described as “singer – songwriter“ because I tend to not like that style but this was a great album.

Tempted to give it 4 stars, but only to annoy Dok

A great album, the atmosphere it creates is amazing and the voice of the lead singer is at match with the vibe

💘 Come On! Feel the Illinoise! 💘 Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother! 💘 The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts 💘 Prairie Fire That Wanders About 💘 A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens Has an Existential Crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze 💘 Chicago (To String Remix)

I would rather listen to an 1 hour and 13 min duck fart

Mostly boring

Talented but slow paced

The production alone makes this album stand out from so many things I've heard recently. Beautiful production, both simple and complex when it calls for it. Lyrics are interesting too. I haven't listened to much Sufjan Stevens before now, all I know is Tonya Harding (which I love) but I think I'm a fan now

very soft vocals, very enjoyed, very themed, listened to it in the evening omw t get some oreos. 3.4/5

Quite good and interesting

fabulous song titles, felt mostly like the same note throughout with the occasional v good song

4 - a timeless classic. This album has come up for me in so many different times and I only give a 4/10 since half of it i could skip because they're almost interludes. It does flow quite magnificently though. Fav Songs: John Wayne Gacy Jr. // Jacksonville // Chicago // Casimir Pulaski Day //

Interesting

gud

What the hell, this had no reason to be so good, who is this?

I felt like I couldn’t fully understand it and that’s probably on me, but either musically it is beautiful.

Quirky (complimentary) album, and a nice concept to put together songs about events, places, and people from Illinois. One song, Casimir Pulaski Day, moved me to actual tears about a woman dying from bone cancer. These are real songs about actual "things" versus the usual rhymed, shallow lines about love, romance, and heartache that it's unlikely the singer actually felt. This actually feels like a work from the songwriter's heart - his real thoughts, struggles, and feelings put into lyrics.

When I think back on this album, it’s usually bundled into “another overrated indie record from the peak indie days” type of feeling. But as soon as you listen to the opening chords of track one, and you’re reminded that no, indie association aside, this is a beautiful record.

I’d probably give it a 2.8 if given the chance. His writing and music in general definitely progressed massively with time. The album definitely has it stronger songs I personally liked John Wayne gacy jr, Chicago and the man of metropolis - but it also has a lot of weak points. Pretty mellow sound which can be vaguely repetitive or uninteresting in certain points. Also a side note but I don’t think this album cover matches the sound enough and don’t like it bc of that lol

Some good instrumentals brought down by some confounding lyrical choices. Ended up being useless noise at best.

me gusto fue bastante ameno de escuchar como musica de ambiente para poner de fondo mientras hacer algo, tranqui y disfrutable 7.5/10

Interesting

Banger concept album. So much emotion and heart here.

Fine but not for me

im unsure about the use of that one colorful insturment that kids use

Lively album, and great vocals

Bonito

perfect

This was a unique and interesting album. It is not a style that I gravitate towards or would purposefully seek out. The creativity and musicianship is present enough for a round up. 3.5/5

Suf writes some really good stuff. This is an ambitious album. But the songs are really well constructed. And the level of musicianship that he shows across so many instruments is pretty exceptional. That being said, the only thing keeping this out of a top rating for me is the length. Some of the songs sound alike and cause the album to drag on the back half. Overall though this is a really good listen that achieves a timeless feel.

For someone with 14 milli monthly listeners on Spotify I was surprised I didn’t know this guy. But it sounded familiar. Like a mid-2000s Zach Braff movie. Really chill listen and musically interesting. Dragged a little bit and the end just sounded like sound (admittedly I was dozing into a nap…which this actually complimented nicely). 3.75

I'll admit it... I'm a Sufjan stan. The first half of this album is amazing IMO. Slips a bit in the second half. Def needs to be cut back. Considered rounding down because of it, but eff it. Not many peeps can pull off a beautiful song about John Wayne Gacy. And the opening track is a favorite of mine. 4.25/5

Saddest soft boy. Classic example of a beautiful song that when you really pay attention to the lyrics you go, “Oh no.” Enjoyed the last instrumental a lot!

Oh how I meant to tease him Oh how I meant no harm Touching his back with my hand I kiss him I see the wasp on the length of my arm

Delicate soft indie. Patience started wearing out around Jacksonville, tapped out in Decatur

Chicago and Casino Pulaski Day are so good. The rest is good too! I enjoyed the album overall.

Surprisingly uplifting music, somehow chilling and relaxing but makes you groove in your chair. Allows work-focus while elevates mood. Love it.

Not for me

Pleasant enough. Alt indie rock with nice orchestral instrumentation. Songs are nice but I found it hard to fully enjoy the vocal which is quite meek and twee and hard to obtain any honest emotion from.

didn’t know he made music in 2005 already. great album

Favorite Track: Chicago

Quite a clever album, enjoyed the concept but overall not my thing and at times I found it pretty pretentious. Did enjoy some of it tho. Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition / Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream was my fav song and first listen of the album

Lowkey expected more from this album so I’m sad, but I also think I just don’t like his voice much

het is goed, wel lang, en niet altijd de vibe

Listened to this when it came out but hadn't heard it in years. Favorite songs: Come On! Feel the Illinoise..., John Wayne Gacy, Jr., Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day

Enjoyed. Too long.

I love this album. It was like nothing I had listened to when I first heard it and it pulled me right in. I wouldn't say the music has a happy tone to it but the album consistently lifts my mood and mellows me out. Great listen when things feel out of control

Probably his best album. Listen to Illinoize by Tor if you haven’t heard it before.

Enjoyable.

Consistently good! But has a few things that hold it back from a five

It was definitely new for me. It was kind of repetitive and the song all sounded like each other. so that made it a little bit boring. but the music is very beautiful in some parts, but I didn't get the lyrics at all.

I didn't know this album and most of Sufjan's music and that's a shame, glad I know it now. It's quite nice!

got so excited when i saw this was the album for today. i love this album so much. this album has some of his best songs. it makes me feel so many different emotions.

Sufjan is my ride or die. Sad? Listen to Sufjan. Happy? Listen to Sufjan. He’s a musical genius. Illinoise is a beautiful album.

Seul album de Sufjan Stevens que j'écoute réellement Je l'aimais déjà trop mais je l'ai réécouté avant de noter et vraiment excellent objet, les choeurs, les cuivres et les cordes marchent trop trop bien ensemble

How could you omit Champaign (Paris on the Prairie) from an album about Illinois? This snoozefest is barely worth 2 stars

For my taste it's a good album. With a light and moved sound at the same time, it is a perfect balance between calm and energy; it adds to the experience of listening to those small fragments of sound between songs. I can't choose a favorite song from this album, each of them has a touch that makes it different from another but I would listen to it again without a doubt.

emm, escuche 2 canciones y me quise tirar de un puente, así q x mi propia salud no lo escuche

This was the album, or at least the song Chicago, that I first heard of Sufjan Stevens. At that time the 50 state project was a thing. I had heard concept albums before but I think this was the first time I had heard the equivalent of local ballads and folk tales and I was all about that. There is a comedian in the UK called Mark Steel and he often does 'Mark Steel in town' gigs where his routine is all about local places and stories that people will tell him as he prepares for the gig. There is something special about connecting at such a local level that appeals to me and whilst this isn't going to be something to all tastes the effort and love that is poured into the making of you can certainly hear. Even if you just listen to Chicago again and again you will never get sick of it.

5/1001 Illinois - Sufjan Stevens (2005) This has to be one of the most, if not the most, beautiful album I've ever heard from an instrumental point of view. Having not been the biggest fan of 'Carrie and Lowell' I actually went into this with lower expectations than I might with other well regarded albums. Going through track by track be slightly exhausting with a 22-track list with paragraph track names, but I'll open with saying that 'Chicago' is easily one of my favourite songs of all time. 'John Wayne Gacy, Jr.', 'Casimir Pulaski Day', and 'Predatory Wasp' are absolutely heart-breaking. 'Come On! Feel the Illinoise!' and 'The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts' are endlessly energetic and uplifting. The writing is superb, the concept is ambitious and the execution is wonderful, and the album as a whole cohesive experience is perfect. The arrangements are the definition of maximalist and yet not a detail is wasted and everything remains distinct. Weaving history, his own personal experiences, and an outsider's view of Illinois all into one - while making some of the sunniest instrumentals back some of the most impactful writing of the 2000s - represents everything Sufjan Stevens can do. Where 'Carrie and Lowell' was like a private wake in softly lit quiet room, 'Illinois' is like a technicolour parade through the streets of Chicago, tinged with a past and present it both celebrates and hides from. This album alone was worth starting my 1001albums journey. ★★★★★

5/10 not for me, great storytelling though

There's mellow and then there's whatever wishy-washy bullshit this is

Pehmeää ja melankolista indie/folk/poppia 2000-luvun alusta, eli ei ihan meikäläisen makuun täsmäävää musiikkia. Eihän tämä huono ollut, mutta ei tämäntyylisestä musasta oikein saa kunnon otetta. Liian "taidekoulumaista" minulle.

Best Song: Casmir Pulaski Day The author(s) did it. I think I can go ahead and mark this project a success. Any song can get a party started but it takes a special album to get your buddy who had too much to drink and breaking your things, your significant other to get off your back about how late it is and that, "we have neighbors," and get some serious rest - that is what this album is for. Boring, repetitive, and party emptying would be the best metatags I would add to this album. Let's see if I can get this down, we start with a bit of an orchestra type sound, we add some lyrics that are not very good but no one will notice because the listener is too busy trying to stay awake to notice, we have a hook, and we have a group of parroting background singer repeat the hook to end the song. Rinse and repeat to make a terrible album. But, like Little Caesars, being terrible isn't just enough, there has to be a lot of it. This cacophony of feces is nearly 80 minutes long. As someone who has lived in Illinois my whole life, it isn't enough to save this. 1/5.

Day 226 The high points are very high and I’ll be checking out other albums but not sure I’d return to the album itself very often. Highlights Chicago Zombies..

Really enjoyed this one. Not so much the vocals but instrumentally some of the tracks reminded me of Guillemots who I bloody love. I don’t edit scores very often but I could see this going up to a 5 whenever I get an uninterrupted listen. I will definitely be listening to more from him. Top Track - The Preddatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!

Muy Bueno! Tiene sonidos andinos que me llamaron mucho la antencion

JACKSONVILLE and CHICAGO (think catchy fun Devotchka/Arcade Fire/Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) were incredibly entertaining. The whole album hits on what Emo intellectuals try for, but usually come off as inauthentic. The quirkiness mixed with classic pop rock aesthetic with a tinge of grunge and a sprinkle of experimental garage rock (think Sonic Youth).

Have listened many times in the past but this is the first time it hit hard

I remember Matt and Bowen talking about how when they went to college, they would bring this up in conversation to signal that they were cool and I get it now

too long / too precious / too “mid‑2000s indie” Only song i enjoyed was the one Chiddy Bang sampled

ich finde es ziemlich ziemlich cool, es macht sehr viel Spaß es anzuhören und man kann es vor allem gut als Hintergrundmusik hören, weil es nicht zu sehr ablenkt. Denke werde fürs Lernen oder Lesen oft auf dieses Album zurückkommen. Und die Musik ist echt echt schön.

Another peak. Simply brilliant. One of my top albums.

proof that singer songwriter can be straight fire

Buen album para escuchar de noche tranquilo

When my Grampa was talking about Zappa and he went: "his ability to just create instrumentation and write... He's just the greatest" I was thinking of this album. Sufjan is a musical God in man form and how he only gets one entry when he deserves at least 4 is criminal. He becomes a conductor making some of the greatest chamber pop on Come On! Feel The Illinoise (part 1) or They Are Zombies!!! They Are Neighbors!!! He then becomes an expert song writer on tear jerkers such as Casimir Polanski Day or John Wayne Gacy jr. He managed to do different styles on tracks like Jacksonville and it is all held down on a neat concept which we were robbed another 48 albums for Sufjan's voice deserves its own paragraph, it's really good. When I first discovered this album it had a cool cover and I was starting to listen through the AOTY top 100, I hated it, if this was the first time it'd be a 1 and I would be comfortable with that, if this was the second third or even fourth time, it'd be a 1, comfortably. The fifth time I began to appreciate the theatrics of it all and it pretty quickly became a 5 and then a perfect score

Sufjan Stevens may be the artist that most deserves to be a household name who hasn't really achieved it yet. Sure, he is already so in indie circles, but beyond that almost no one has heard that name, and it is an unusual name, so I figured people would remember it. This was his fifth album, and to my hears still his best. There is a debate to have had on that, as Stevens is one of those artists with several albums that are the best of their respective eras of music. Illinois (I never understood why people call it only Illinois, when the proper title is Come On Feel the Illinoise! but whatever), is a whimsical symphonic ode to the state of Illinois, as if that wasn't obvious enough. Filled to the brim with references to the state, its landmarks and its history, one would think that most listeners would fail to connect with its subject matter. And although most of the references go over my head, the music is so well written, the arrangements so well constructed, and the performance so engaging, that it hardly even matters. Musically, this album is all over the place. Most of it is comprised of folky Chamber Pop that is lushly orchestrated. There are huge poppy moments such as "Chicago", the album's most recognizable song, straight up folk numbers such as "John Wayne Gacy Jr." or "Decatur", progressive moments with weird time signatures like the title track, Indie Rock in "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts", and more experimental stuff like the Reich-ian closing track. Between all of this, there are a number of short interludes that, while struggling to stand on their own, make the album more immersive and help populate it with all there those aforementioned references, many of which are in these tracks' very long titles. While naysayers will call it pretentious or too twee or too long, the ones who stick around will be rewarded with a truly unique blend of sounds that truly encapsulated the best Indie Folk from the 2000's had to offer, while still sounding fresh today. And those who wish to explore further, Stevens has a very deep output where he explores a myriad of music genres from Ambient to Electronic to Pop to Classical. We only get one from him in this list, but I would strongly recommend this two 'proper' follow-ups to this: the nervous breakdown-induced apocalyptic indietronica extravaganza of The Age of Adz (2010), and the introspective and incredibly sad Carrie and Lowell (2015). Key tracks: Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL Come On Feel the Illinoise! John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Decatur, or, A Round of Applause to Your Stepmother Chicago Casimir Pulaski Day The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders

Not really interesting, I did find it pretty long to listen to, this is not a good sign..

It was ok, my first time listening to this album

I was not fucking with this one as much as I expected to, tbh, but I bet this shit went crazy when it came out and was the first of its kind.

This album was lovely from start to finish. A tad long but will come back to listen again

It's alright. Just not really my thing. I end up tuning out of most singer songwriter albums and completely lose sight of what point the artist is driving towards. This was no different

5/10

Good album but listening to it back to back is a bit long. Not their best album

me precio un álbum demasiado demasiado bueno, si entiendo que depende mucho de las vibras en las que uno esté pero que bacanería de album

I feel like this one will get better and better when I re-listen to it

More like Illi-Noice

48# the names are of the songs are a bit too descriptive, minus 5 points. Insanely beautifull trip to illinois the city the state the country

Boring and never ending:(((

GREATTTT

This one was a bit of a challenge. Like Father John Misty, this is not really my vibe. I had to play this one 3 times through before I was able to make any connection with these songs. This is not too say that they are not beautifully realized and the lyrics somewhat engaging, because they certainly are. It’s just that these songs are really background music until you force yourself to engage with them. The piano is tinkly, the other instruments- strings, flute, a freaking choir take the historical references and turn them into marching band productions with numerous non rock time signatures and arrangements. Jazz and classical music components are used to great effect for those who can appreciate these nuances. I do not. Which is the reason why for me, I had to force myself to engage with the music and that is the real issue. Music should resonate with the listener. Sure it may take time to find the vibe but it will resonate and the experience is enjoyable. Forcing it makes it work and it not therefore not enjoyable. Again, this is not a slight to Sufjan. This is his art and it connects with his audience. Does it belong on this list? For me - no. My life was not changed by hearing this record - one way or another. I will say that it has some soul. I can feel that. That is to say it’s not a Steely Fucking Dan record which is music for the soulless. Good on you Sufjan. 3/5

I was obsessed with this album when it first dropped. I even have the OG Superman copy. Lol

Beautiful record!

The length of these song titles is making it very difficult to discern what is actually playing. Aside from Chicago, which ofc I love.

this felt...... long. Chicago is such a standout, and the only song I knew going into this album. I wish more of the album sounded like that. I don't think I'd ever listen to this again in full.

Too much filler but love some songs

Better than Coldplay

It's okay, none of the songs are bad in the album, but neither are any outstanding (at least to me). all are well composed and written.

Muzika za ljude kojima su najkorištenije društvene mreže letterboxd i last fm. Muzika za ljude kojima je cijela ličnost to da su "tužni". Muzika za ljude koji jedu samo organsku hranu jer je njihovo tijelo hram. Muzika za ljude koji misle da su sljedeća Virginia Woolf (nez otkud mi ona, valjda zbog ovih glupavih predugih naslova pjesama) iako nikad nisu napisali ni rečenicu. Toliko ničega da mi je mozak redovno pjevao CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE i smišljao ove uvrede iznad. Bljutavilo čisto.

I might like Carrie and Lowell a little better, but god this maaan. playing the most playful childlike melodies known to man, and then talking about the pov of a serial killer. Or the guy takes you through a beautiful memory of a girl, and then boom, she died. I turn off my ability to understand english sometimes when listening to him. He’s a brilliant musician, and I’m glad AT LEAST this is on the list. Low 5

Light reminiscing, all thing go.

Generally find that concept albums either prioritise the concept over the music (making them bad) or the music over the concept (making the concept irrelevant). This does a good job of balancing both. Not every song works, but it doesn't feel like there are not great sings exclusively they're to advance the narrative. The instrumental interludes do start to feel a bit redundant, but it's still an interesting and enjoyable listen. Bit torn between a four and a five, but giving the extra point for ambition

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Magnificent 👌

I’ve heard a ton of praise for this album, so I was excited going in. After listening I was left thinking that this is mostly music for art students to fan over.

Love the variety of instruments & theme of the album. Glad to have been exposed to this album.

Easy listening! Good stuff!

I think this is one of the finest records to come out in the past 25 years.

Easiest 5 stars I’ve ever given

All this time I thought Sufjan Stevens was a big beardy deep voiced country/folk singer and then I realised I was probably thinking of Cat Stevens. I've heard a lot about this album and ooh boy I hate it. I wasn't expecting "concept album about the state of Illinois" to be someone going down the wikipedia page for "famous places/events/people in Illinois" and writing some acoustic indie folk/pop that just describes what happened. You're taking the idea of a concept album too literally. It does not mean "list a bunch of concepts and then sing them". It feels like he's trying to be Bob Dylan "songs and stories are the same thing" but not realising what a story is. It's a solid 1.5 because it's at least...listenable, but in that really bland and dull way so I'm rounding down. It annoys me. update: I tried listening to this again because I got another Sufjan album on the 1001 more and loved it...and I just can't. I don't know why.

#308/1001. Although it was a joke and a gimmick, I still wish Sufjan Stevens would complete the 50 states album series and then move on to do an album (plus of course the outtake bonus albums) per every country in the planet. I also wish I could find new artists like this on the 1001 project. I remember hearing songs like Transfiguration and Chicago for the first time and thinking that the planet and the U.S. has some hope. This and Iron Wine are among some of my last great musical discoveries - you know the ones you wouldn't ever like to let go from. Which makes me wonder why I haven't bumped into anything so great in the last 15-20 years. All sorts of nice things for sure, old and new musical cultures from around the world, but nothing to get stuck on a desert island with. All this said it is also funny to notice that I haven't really followed Sufjan Stevens' work ever since: back then I was introduced to a few great albums and this masterpiece from him, I guess the stakes are so high that I'm a bit scared to check out if the newer work keep dropping the bar. It is a really sorry way to think, but what can I do. Well, at least listen to his lo-fi Christmas songs every December. And I can always come back to feel some Illinoise. Easily in the top 5 in this project so far.

Album # 47, Sufjan Stevens, Illinois ⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was a big album in my teenage years. I remember when it came out and all the talk about him making an album for every state in America, and how exciting that was because of how good this was, and also how good Michigan was as well. Two very good records. But he never really lived up to that promise, which in fairness would have been incredibly daunting and probably impossible anyway. This is a great record, totally deserving to be on this list. I’m quite familiar with it, I’ve listened to it a good few times over the years, but I do have to be in a particular mood to put it on. It’s inventive, beautiful, and lush. Genuinely joyous music, which is very hard to achieve. In a lot of ways it’s actually quite simple underneath all the arrangements. It does feel like a product of its time, that mid-2000s indie sound, kind of like Arcade Fire, and it also reminds me of Belle and Sebastian, just more bombastic. He has a great, very unique voice, he’s a good lyricist, though sometimes the overwrought sensitivity can be a bit much, and he just sounds like someone with a head full of ideas. I love the Choir-style backing vocals on some of the tracks, they’re beautiful and very unique. My criticisms are probably a bit unfair. I actually think objectively this is a five star album, but for me today it’s a four. I think it’s too long, and that’s something I tend to feel about Sufjan Stevens albums in general. There’s just a lot of material here. None of it is bad, but not every track hits the same level. There are a lot of interludes that feel Eno-esque, which are nice, but they add to that sense of overload. Listening to the whole thing in one go can feel a bit daunting, and by the time you get to “The Tallest Man…”, which is a great song in itself, it can feel like you’ve already heard a lot of those ideas earlier in the album. For me, the spine of the album from the title track through to “The Man of Metropolis…”. is spectacular, and it’s the part I go back to most. The rest of the album I could take or leave most days. I think I’d probably like Sufjan Stevens even more if he was a bit more of a ruthless editor. But that said, there’s no bad songs here. It’s a great album, and definitely one everyone should hear.

it was good but felt all over the place and a little dragged out

Excellent

Do I think Sufjan Stevens is a bit overrated? Yes. Does every song on this album start to blend together into one long dreamy, folk song? Yes. Is it still highly enjoyable? Yes.

This was a bit much I think that there is a reason he gave up on writing an album for every state. Songs that stuck in my head were Casimir Pulaski Day and John Wayne Gacy, Jr. If I'm being honest the Microphones do this sound better. Not everything needs to be a double album, if you don't have that much awesome music (by my count 2 songs) don't put out a whole damn album. But I guess he should be happy that he has earned these two stars.

It's nothing special

This was really really good exceeded my expectations. Loved how grand and big it felt, good emotions too

Good but outstays its welcome. Would be much better with a tighter edit.

Ehh

It feels a little long at the start and the song names all feel very of that era, but it rounds out to be a great album. There's something very uplifting in Sufjan Stevens' melodies.

A bit bland

This was not enjoyable :(

This was one of the dominant albums in my later years of high school. It was a monumental album, and I think its aged well, and is an important summary of a specific music culture at the time. Its an ambitious album clocking in at 73 minutes, but honestly flies by. The songwriting and orchestration is top tier, and really put other indie-folk bands at the time to shame. It might not speak to you in the same way, but definitely you should listen to it before you die.

Love this album.

An all time best.

This is a perfectly fine album, it's pleasant and inoffensive throughout, but it definitely overstays its welcome. There’s a good album in here, it just feels buried under too much material. Trim about 30 minutes off, and it would be a much stronger listen overall.

music is love

16 tracks in and I'm exhausted. There are some songs I like on here so far. Some of them I like quite a bit, but the album is just too long. You can't put out an album this long and have it be this boring. 3 stars

Very varied and interesting, I enjoyed it a lot.

Reminds me of being in my figure drawing classes

I definitely need to listen to this whole album again to appreciate it fully I think.

ABSOLUTE CINEMA I LOVE 2000s INDIEEEEE

This was really fun, so many happy go lucky tunes in here, definitely had some lulls by nature of being such a long album but on the whole I quite enjoyed it

Lindo álbum, tiene momentos hermosos y oscuros. No entiendo por que dura una hora y siete minutos. Me parece demasiado. Termina cansando. 6/10

The beats are fun, the lyrics amusing. I got a bit tired of the style by the end

Listened to the first 3. Scanned the next few. Read lyrics of a few more. Ugh. Couldn’t stomach more. Vocal tune followed the beat but not the music. Reminded me of a poorly written HS musical with no logical plot. Jazz by people who have no talent

I tried but could not "get it".

This was bigger than my puny brain could understand.

I should like this album. I love the wall of sound concept, and this definitely has it. But in execution here, it's just annoying. And in now way did this album need to be 22 tracks. He ran out of ideas after about 10 and then just kept going.

Don't know what I can say about this other than you will not be dissapointed. An amazing listen, beautiful blends of singer songwriter, rock music, orchestra. An amazing tribute not just to the state of Illinois but of what man's life experiences/love of the culture of what shaped him. An exploration of all aspects of life, love, death, grief, random historical facts. Beautiful.

What a nice album this is. Another one that I'd never heard of but will definitely revisit. Well played Sufjan

Whole Foods soundtrack.

Such a beautiful album. Perfection.

Beautiful, fun, real album

Ah, this takes me back! My grad studies heavily featured Sufjan Stevens.

4.0 stars I think this is an all-time classic if it’s about a third shorter and more condensed. At its peak, this is close to songwriting perfection for 21st-century indie folk or chamber pop, and songs like “Chicago” and “Casimir Pulaski Day” absolutely earn that reputation. The issue for me is that the album feels bloated, and with this particular style, the repetition can start to wear on the listener. There’s so much brilliance here, but I think it would hit even harder as a leaner, tighter record. Favorite tracks: Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day

boring

I liked it, probably not an everyday listen for me.

Agradable. Un disco para poner de fondo mientras se está haciendo alguna otra actividad.

like if a musical was an album. not my vibe. much prefer carrie and lowell. super long too.

admittedly my favorite sufjan record. amazingly lush and pretty but hard to keep engaged for the entirety of 75 minutes.

Découverte. Un peu mitigé au début de l'album. J'ai été conquis au fur et à mesure de mon écoute. Vrai univers musical, j'adore particulièrement les effets de chorale. Certaines musiques sont déjà dans mon top du mois. Je réécouterai avec plaisir

Morceaux préférés « Chicago » (même si je préfère la version démo qui n’est pas sur cet album) et « They are night Zombies… ». Très bon album dans l’ensemble. On reconnaît bien là Sufjan Stevens.

pieno di pezzi carini, simpatico

Non l’ho finito ma mi stava piacendo. Album che mischia vari generi, sicuramente un progetto interessante

1001 albums generator

I can appreciate it from a technical and storytelling standpoint, but it's not for me and that's okay

4.5 stars I know this shows my bias. How many double albums from the 70’s have I complained about and ranted that long albums are an old concept that are mostly a waste? And here I am, about to rave about a 73 minute 2000s record with song titles so long I don’t even know half of them. But it’s the case. I got this album during formative years and it still holds up. I wrote about it in a blog where I describe albums for each year of my life and this is for my 16th year. Why write more when I already put the work in? Below is an excerpt that is still relevant. “I connected with the emotions of the album. And the album has a range of them. From the beginning piano of (and I'm going to look this up because I never knew the full titles of any of these songs) "Concerning the UFO sighting..." (I'm not going to put the whole thing), the sudden halt and change of time signature, into Sufjan's soft and sad-sounding music, to the epic and sweeping "Chicago," and the many strange instrumental parts and things between, the album was an adventure that I loved plugging into. This was a true album-- yes there are isolated great tracks. But all of it was meant to come together. Many of the tracks are transitions between songs, that bring about connections that otherwise would not be the same. Those in-between tracks would often bring about a sense of wonder. They bring me back to that first time listening to it, building up anticipation of what would come next. When the horns of the second track, "The Black Hawk War...", build up into a crescendo, and then the playful piano of "Come on! Feel the Illinoise" starts, I'm filled with joy. And then the choir-like backup vocals come in. I was really into the Polyphonic Spree a year and a half before, and this was sort of a call back to what I enjoyed about that music. I loved that I could not really call the music on the album any one thing. That's the thing about "indie music." It does not really describe a genre, as much as a large net of music spanning genres that were joined by a time and culture. Sufjan Stevens often gets a label of "folk" because of his stripped-down music like on Seven Swans (which I would discover soon after) and much later Carrie and Lowell, but there is music that sounds like it's part of a parade, mixed with jazz and orchestral music. There are more strings, horns, and choirs than there are guitar solos on this album. And it all somehow just works. Not somehow-- it is a well-thought-out piece of work that is a monumental accomplishment. It is still a mark of genius from Sufjan Stevens, which makes it amazing that he would continue to create amazing music continually as well... clearly, I'm just going off on how impressive the album is, but I can't help it. I listened to this album so much at age 16-17 that I probably haven't listened to the album more than once or twice a year for the last decade. But listening to it as I write this entry and really thinking about it (not just getting lost in the feelings like I often do with familiar music), I'm just struck with how indescribably wonderful this album is. ”

aburrido

Known to me. Some bangers.

Arrangements parfois sympas (Jacksonville) mais le chanteur en fait une pop folk tiède et sans intérêt. Arrêté après 10 titres.

Wow. Listened twice. Wow.

Nooe

They say the lyrics on this album are masterful, but since I'm not good at English, I can't understand them. So I might not be enjoying most of its charm, but I still feel it's good mood music.

This sucked. Also too long.

Virkelig smukt og rørende og godt

As I first started listening, I thought I wouldn't like this, but it grew on me song by song. A quite beautiful album!

I could see this growing on me with more listens. Some of the arrangements were enjoyable. Overall, on a first listen, it's okay.

Some really great songs but wayyy too long. Beautiful, heartbreaking, great compositions. But I found some of it pretty tedious and would have liked it more if it was shorter I think.

I heard beforehand that this had received some very bad reviews, was so was on the fence going in. But I found it much better than expected. It's definitely too long, and there are some things that rubs me the wrong way. First and foremost, the naming of the songs is extremely pretentious and nauseating. Know this was a trend for a while, but it really is the worst. Speaking of himself in third person as in 'A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens..." is also barf. Listening to Sufjan singing gets a bit annoying after a while as well. He has a great voice, but it can feel a bit too meek and soft after a while. Something which is enhanced by the composition. It just gets a bit too sugary overall. That aside, I did find MANY good songs in here that really stuck on me. The first half of the album is the strongest, with Track 3 and 5 being really catchy. If the album could've just been condensed a bit and the other aforementioned problems toned down, this could be a real solid one. For now it'll get a strong 3 for me.

Look, I've tried multiple times to like this. Like any self-respecting indie teen in the late ’00s, I tried to get into this after liking bands like Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine, Bon Iver, etc. But I just couldn't. Coming back to it now, I thought maybe I've matured and could finally see the greatness of this album. I could not. I still found it as boring as I did all those years ago. Maybe you need good knowledge of Illinois to like it? I just found it meandering and boring. Like the aforementioned bands, but without the teen heartbreak. Just boring indie folk. 2 stars.

Grandiose is the definition that seems most fitting. I want to like this more than I do. Something I can't put my finger on keeps from outright loving it. Favorite track: The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts

Well-constructed songs with a lot of clever melodic and rhythmic ideas. I enjoyed some of the tunes. But, some I found lethargic and lacking in dynamic range. Overall, an ambitious and very listenable work. Reminds me a bit of Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks.

2.5 - Meh

Обычная "эдширановщина". Сопливая и скучная.

Didn't know Sufjan Stevens until today, and it's not a genre of music I listen that much - but the instrumentals and production of this album are amazing! Loved it 5/5 will listen again, lots of details to pay attention to

Видимо тут будет много пятёрок

Впервые послушал вашего Суфьяна, и был приятно удивлен. В первую очередь классными аранжировками, не особо богатыми или разнообразными, но очень мелодичными. В целом от альбома получил вайб олдскульного мюзикла, что для меня плюс. Отдельное почтение названиям треков, что-то в духе ранних fall out boy, даже по годам примерно сходится, видимо был тренд. В целом не было прям вау, и в плейлист пока ничего не закинул, но думаю его стоит переслушать. Мне кажется он из тех альбомов, которые могут раскрыться не сразу.

Эллиот Смит шел, чтобы Суфьянчик мог летать. Как же он чувствует.

Не состою в фан-клубе Суфьяна, но это один из двух его альбомов, которые не кажутся мне утомительными.

Лучшая песня: The tallest man Худшая: ? Мелодично, нескучно. Понравилось

Как же это прекрасно. Под голос Суфьяна просто хочется вознестись и не возвращаться обратно. В топ 3 его альбомов для меня точно.

только за песню chicago уже готов был 4 поставить, но весь альбом понравился, 4.5 скорее

Произошло возвращение Джедая. Именно этот альбом отбил у меня охоту от челленджа, слишком медленным и невыразительным он мне показался. Но сейчас готова отдать должное его концепту и звучанию . Как будто прослушала большой Американский роман

Я растворился в этом альбоме во время прослушивания. Несмотря на то, что здесь всё очень скромно и камерно, нет хуков, какого-то невероятного вокала и виртуозных инструментов - это цепляет. Просто, со вкусом и очень атмосферно.

Great background music. Calming, chill, nothing crazy happening here. 7/10

I rarely attribute perfection to an album, but Illinois comes incredibly close. An absolutely gorgeous 73 minutes of music picked full of so many emotions. Some tracks make me cry, some fill me with jubilation, some are just so very groovy! And the instrumentals sing for themselves. The arrangements and production are top tier, and I can't think of any faults at all. I was already a massive fan of Sufjan and this album so I'm so happy it is on this list, a real win. Favourites: Come on! Feel The Illinoise! Jacksonville Chicago Casimir Pulaski Day The Man of Metropolis The Predatory Wasp They Are Night Zombies!

I've heard a few Sufjan Stevens song albeit not a lot, but I expected to really like this album because I thought it would be similar to fourth of july or futile devices. This album really isn't for me not because these are bad songs but because I don't listen to music in this album regularly.

I really liked Carrie & Lowell and so at the time made an effort to go back and listen to other albums but for some reason nothing clicked (including this one) but this time it's working. I really enjoyed this, even though it tends to be very monotonous in terms of emotion it's something to behold.

top 3 - Jacksonville, They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbours!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhh!, The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders (Part I: The Great Frontier / Part II: Come to Me Only with Playthings Now.) It's fine, don't have much to say about it. Will try giving it another listen at some point.

Instrumental pero guay

eeee

I liked it. Not my usual genre.

This certainly was an album. I couldn’t really get the story all these songs kind of bored me I mean, they sounded good. Don’t get it twisted but it was just boring. I’ve been waiting to find one song to save so I can give it a two star rating, but that song never came so time to give it a one star

Kinda of musical-esque, I wasn’t fully locked in as I was working out but there were some fun ones on here.

first song being what habits of my heart was sampled from is so cool! i don’t really like this kind of music, it sounds like the artist is just talking a lot of the time trying to be profound. sounds like band kid music lol. but i will say i really enjoyed the instrumentals of the album, heard some cool bass and twangy guitar & some sad melodies in there as well. idk if i’ll ever listen again but i enjoyed it way more than i thought i would!

6/10 - quite an original album, soft indie rock with some orchestreal elements

Great album but I don't think I would regularly listen to it. Definitely one of the most unique albums I've heard. Makes me think how it is a shame Farewell Transmission by Songs of Ohia isn't on the list. Couple years ago when I first had a gabb phone, I went through a Sufjan Stevens phase for the Planetarium Album, which includes Bryce Dessner and James McAlister. Some great acoustic sets, but I not a huge fan of Sufjan's voice insolated like it is in those. I like more or the upbeat choral and rocking songs. Favorite Discoveries: "Come On! Feel the Illinoise! (Part I: The World’s Columbian Exposition – Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream)" "Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts"

patika

Irgendwie würde ich denken, dass ich das mögen würde, aber ist irgendwie überorchestriert und dann doch zu flüchtig. e Eigentlich mag ich kurze Songs, aber ist mir ein wenig zu skizzenhaft manchmal. Höre ich mir aber zu Hause nochmal mit Konzentration auf die Texte an. Insgesamt aber schön.

Sehr gutes Album eines Künstlers mit einem enorm hohem Output und bisher einfach keinem schlechten Album. Wenn es das einzige Sufjan Stevens Album wäre, würde ich eine 5 geben, aber ich warte noch auf die anderen...

Ungehört hätte ich eine 5 gegeben. Wenn man dann das ganze Album hört, wirds schon ein "durchquälen" - auch wenn die Highlights sehr high sind. Einfach großartige Soundtrack-Musik aus z.B. Little Miss Sunshine oder The Bear. Also: Nur aus autobiographischen Gründen eine 4er-Wertung. If I was crying In the van, with my friend It was for freedom

I like to see this album as a mix of fanfic tropes that I don't really… hate? But I'm also not sure about where I stand with them. The whole time I saw a scene of someone having a “Disney Channel”-classified “minor miscommunication destroys all” breakup, which was buttfucked by Sims 4 instrumental music for the entirety. This album made me feel like I was trying to figure out if the milk was spoiled or I was just being obnoxiously stupid. There were parts where I felt like I was supposed to feel a certain way or get to a certain type of clarity. Honestly, it was stale. I'd say giving a handjob to the local homeless guy behind a Burger King parking lot had more intrigue than this.

Another brilliant one - had heard chicago and a few of the others but like how it tied together, i feel will listen again frequently

Wonderful album! Completely captivates by the chill vibes

Uh-oh. A 2000s indie rock album appears! Unlike most indie rock albums, this one is over an hour long and has some of the longest and dumbest song titles I've ever seen. What those long titles can't mask is that this sounds pretty much exactly like every 2000s indie rock album, with strings, detached vocals, and artsy lyrics. Surprisingly, however, it's actually a good album. It's not boring or annoying for the most part, which instantly puts it above most of the indie rock albums I've had so far. There is actual songwriting skill here, and the musical backgrounds are surprisingly interesting. However, it doesn't do enough to justify its length, and the interludes are just filler that could easily be removed. While it's nowhere close to the masterpiece many say it is, it's still miles ahead of, say, Elbow's The Seldom Seen Kid or even Arcade Fire's Neon Bible. If ever an album could both be good and overrated, this is it.

The kind of hipster rubbish you will hear in an overpriced, hipster coffee shop. Pompous, meretricious and repetitive. I’m not usually a person who overreacts and I consider myself to be fairly calm, but having had 22 hours to consider my feelings on “Illinois”, I can genuinely say that I hated the music, the style, the delivery and the pretentiousness of this entire project.

Nope, not the vibe for me.

top three albums in his discography for me !!!! along with carrie & lowell and the ascension

Superb. Quirky, funny and original. Loved it

This was very different and I am glad I heard it. His vocals are a bit too soft for me but I love the chorus in the background. Chicago and Man of Metropolis are great songs.

An all time great album and an excellent one to start this project with. Such intricate songs. Really hope I get to see this stage production someday.

It wasn't for me. But the harmony was wild!!!

I know this is considered a masterpiece and I wish I liked it more. I have listened to it a few times over the years and my opinion has remained the same. The scope and ambition are impressive, especially as a lyrical rhapsody for the state of Illinois. It was the music that left me somewhat unaffected. It sounds too much like a “musical” - which it is, of course - and maybe I just don’t like musicals.

Vraiment bien. Super intéressant musicalement. J’ai bien aimé

It wasn't my thing, and I wonder if it'd make the list if that were to be done again.

This is a great album that just does not miss. A little long, but very enjoyable.

Crappy album!

Muy lindo y pintoresco, me di cuenta al toque que era el mismo chabon que hizo musica para call me ny your name

Such an intricately orchestrated and diverse album. Doesn't work well for me to listen to songs separately, but as an overall experience, it's pretty nice. Faves: Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" (Part I: "The World's Columbian Exposition" / Part II: "Carl Sandburg Visits Me in a Dream, Jacksonville, Chicago

Not to shabby not to good

So I’m not the biggest Sufjan person, but this is a complete orchestral work that is, I think, more reminiscient of a Beethoven Symphony than a modern pop/folk album. I feel like with these couple of listens, I turned the page on Sufjan. And that excites me. I feel like recently I’ve opened up a lot as an artist, and I’ve just been more in the niche. Last night I had a dream I was listening to beautiful music by this R&B artist named ‘half half’. He doesn’t exist. I think he was supposed to be like if D’angelo came and went again. Then I listened to some really good british album from the last 30 years, then Demon Days, then I woke up and listened to this.

It's a very personal album, strong acoustic vibes. Loved it

Never heard of this person before. Really nice album

chilling pero me aburri

No sabía que iba a escuchar y la verdad que me ha gustado, musicalmente es una maravilla, perfecta introducción a la música de Sufjan

Me gustó. Tiene un estilo psicodelico y relax. Ideal para juntadas tranqui, viajes o para relajar. Voz y estilo Ed Sheeran

Musical music is the worst Stopped listening after the 3rd song I realised what kind of shit I was listening to Sufjan was raping my ears… DISGUSTANG!

chill but interesting 3/5

Pretty soothing music. But I feel like this sound has been the staple for mainstream Indian indie music and I'm kinda sick of it. But that's my opinion. Objectively it's a pretty okay album.

Why did I think this was a jazz album and not a soft boi indie album? It’s ok, not really my taste, but well made.

Nice album

This is one of those albums which will be heralded as a modern classic. It lives in it's own space, with delicate and powerful vocals and instrumentals, emotional vocals, and a really unique theme as well too. One of my personal favorites. Thank you sqam for introducing this to me prior to this.

Music for hipsters. I totally dont get it, this is not for me.

I honestly can't tell if I like it or not. Some of the instrumentals are really nice, but I did find it a bit hard to stay interested for the whole album. A lot of songs follow the same formula of just repeating one melody for 5 minutes and ending with a choir in the bg

Karakterdefinerende album. Et core memory ble unlcoked da jeg hørte dette (og Age of Adz) for første gang. De første piano-notene i åpningssporet er som en instant tidsmaskin til 2013. Det er et indie/folk/chamber mesterverk av et konseptalbum med en melancholsk optimisme få kan røre ved. Spektrumet av følelser og lyder som dekkes ila. disse 74 minuttene er off the charts.

Litt Disney-musikalmusikk, litt Owl City, litt Coldplay og litt Dixie Chicks. Syns det funker mest når det lener seg mot country/folk. Ellers så skjønner jeg ikke hvordan Sufjan Stevens har så mye mer cred enn Coldplay. Syns til og med Coldplay har holdt seg bedre enn dette. En singer/songwriter skulle skrive noen originals til en Disney-film på midten av 2000-tallet?

Wow, for et album! Mesterlig utført

Very pleasant throughout, punctuated by moments of pure genius. I feel like a true Illinoisan (Illini? Illinoiser?). Multiple complex layers of sound from start to end. Just ran a little longer than I hoped, but I understand why. I might listen to this again. 3 stars

Sufjan's very grandiose, slightly-too-lengthy "opus" (by general standards, not mine) has never been one of my favorite albums, much to my own disappointment. There are serious moments of greatness found here that I think prove Sufjan's ability not only as a singer and songwriter, but as a worldbuilder and an arranger. My problem with this album is its incredibly jumpy sequencing, obnoxious runtime (Sufjan imo is best consumed in 40-45 minute doses, not 75) and the unfortunate reality of being surrounded by overhype in the music-fan-sphere doesn't help much either. I will say that revisiting it for this challenge caused it to grow on me slightly (probably influenced by my recent love of Carrie & Lowell), but I still struggle to see the deep impact that a lot of people feel from this, and I'm glad that others can get that experience out of this album.

Leulleukleukleuk

yesssssssssssssssssss titels zijn zo grappig. wel beetje te lang waardoor ik m niet zo vaak in zn geheel luister maar de nummers zijn wel heel mooi

First Listen; 3.5; Very distinct vibe and emotion. Is very delicate yet lush and layered. Brings out a thoughtful and pensive feeling. More than most other albums I've listened too, this very much sets a mood. For the most part this really works. At the same time, I was really underwhelmed by the guitars. It was very basic sounding, and kinda contributed to the sense that this was just a lot of basic music layered on top of each other. Favorite Track: Chicago

Very experimental and creative. Liked most of it. But maybe it was a little long

Another goofy art project that is interesting but not enjoyable.

- what are these fuckass song titles

Definitely experimental and sonically cool. A lot of the songs seemed to wander and not really get anywhere. If that doesn't bother you, this is a great album. I would, for sure, listen to this one again, just maybe in the background of doing something else.

Easily the best one I've listened to so far. The songs were really long but that didn't matter because of how many bangers are in this album. I only zoned out with one because I didn't like it that much but it was the shortest one

Boooring.

Great album to fall asleep to.

Some of it is fine, but there aren’t really any catchy songs. Plus, I don’t need more than one hour of this

Este disco tiene un sonido muy especial e interesante. El uso de melodías pentatónicas hacen que se escuche muy armónico y efectivo. Me gusta el estilo. Me gusto el uso de la trompeta en conjunto con los demás instrumentos, es una trompeta con un sonido muy dulce que le da a cada pista una sensación flotante. Me gusta el uso de capas y capas de instrumentos bien ensamblados, que no saturan, porque le dan un cuerpo muy completo a cada pista. Tiene un sonido muy tranquilo, psicodélico en momentos, y con un estilo folk alternativo y cada pista tiene un sonido con mucho carácter. En general un buen disco. Me gusto.

One of the best ever

This is a good album to listen to in the background while doing cleaning etc. Enjoyable

6/10

Wasn't sure what to expect. More folk revival it seems. Lavish arrangements with folk instruments, strings, brass - must have cost a bomb to record. And what on earth is he singing about. Does he even know himself? Ulysses makes more sense. Yet here I am wanting to listen again. A 3 today, maybe a 4 in the future...