Illinois

This is absolutely excellent

will stevens end up as the poster boy of the aughts indie scene? is he already? will he be the face of music in general from the aughts? i'd go with probably, maybe, and unlikely but wouldn't surprise me. in the indie scene only arcade fire, new pornographers, bon iver, the walkmen, and the hold steady can make a case. in the overall category there's a tad more competition, but he's still got a punchers chance.

This is really the only Sufjan album I’m familiar with but it’s a stunningly beautiful and staggeringly ambitious piece of art that would be incredibly difficult to reproduce. The fact that he had ever planned to do an album for each state is completely fucking bonkers.

Beautifully composed album that I wish I knew of before today. Even the banjo doesn't turn me off, there's definitely something to be said for tasteful banjoplucking as opposed to the usual disgusting twang *spits*. Love the Cure call backs and all of the beautifully arranged horn accompaniments. Fillled me with positivitand optimism.

Illinoice

I found the first listen quite enjoyable and was thinking a 4 with Chicago a highlight. Second listen Jacksonville, Decatur, Casimir Pulaski Day also stood out and the the whole album just felt so lovely.

Quintessential

Front to back great.

9/10 really good

9/10. Likely even a 10/10 on a relisten. The song titles felt a little too shot though.

Was a lovely surprise.

This is a beautiful beautiful album. Gently and inspiring, melodic and touching. Heard many of these tracks live but together on this album they fit so well together. A great concept

03/11/2022 One of my favorite albums.

Wow this album is amazing. It’s so different, but not “out there”. Honest music with a Bob Dylan feel. I don’t know what I feel, but I feel different listening to this album. Will definitely listen again.

Low 5, Really hit the mark for me, but not sure what the mark was

This is my current favorite album. Sufjan Stevens is a master of weaving history, emotion, place, and music together into an unassailable whole. His instrumentation is expansive enough to accompany his diversity in lyrical content and his use of melody rank him among the best. This album means a lot to me personally, but it’s the cinematic, suite-like, textured, ambitious whole that brings me back.

listened to many times his best album, imo

Uma-obra prima! Não achei outra forma de definir esse álbum. 1h14 minutos de pura contemplação. Pelo o que li, as músicas falam sobre o Estado de Illinois, contando acontecimentos marcantes do lugar. Os títulos são geniais também!

Bom pra escutar trabalhando

Genre: Chamber Pop 5/5 Sufjan Stevens put a lot of effort into this record, and it pays off big time, as Illinois is one of the best pop albums from the last 20 years. While I was certainly on my way to give this a 4, the album never got old, never got boring, and always sounded fresh and engaging. From the opener to the outro, this thing is chock-full of gorgeous pop arrangements, beautiful production, and immaculate songwriting. Although Sufjan certainly had some strings/brass help throughout this project, Sufjan pulls a McCartney and plays nearly every instrument completely by himself. His bass playing alone should give you all you need to know in terms of his playing prowess, the guy can play. Shades of the Beatles, Donovan, and the Beach Boys, Sufjan Stevens used all of his influences to knock this thing out of the park. Wrigley Field, I guess. Come On! Feel The Illinoise!, Chicago, and The Tallest Man… are some of my favs from my first listen, but I’m sure this will reward repeat listens, and a few of these songs will end up forever favorites. Really great record.

Never heard of this artist before. I knew the song Chicago but not who sung it. This is an excellent album and one I will return to and recommend to others.

Sublime album - somehow been avoiding it but it’s a masterpiece

Heard before

love it.

Testing.

Liked it. Had heard it a few times.

all my homies love sufjan stevens. i actually did not remember a lot of songs on this album and its very fun to revisit

Really nice melodies and pacing. The background chorus is really good.

Already one of my all time favorite albums. Have listened to it many times, was fortunate enough to see Sufjan in concert when he was touring this album. Saw him again on the Carrie and Lowell tour.

Sufjan Stevens' Illinois(e) is an interesting musical journey through the core of a songwriter's beliefs. The Christian undertones are there without ever being in your face. Chicago is an amazing tune (a masterpiece perhaps) and the highlight of the album but certainly not the only song worth mentioning. The opening track sets the mood for the album. A beautiful ballad all played by Sufjan containing the haunting line "history involved itself" which for some reason gets me every time I hear it. Come on feel the Illinoise picks up the mood. It seems to be about the 1893 worlds fair in Colombia. Also could be about the divide between art and commerce. I could go on about the rest of the album but this would be a long winded review and the treasures on hear should be explored by the listener. This album needs multiple listens to fully sink in.

This is already one of my favorite albums from Sufjan, definitely appreciate an excuse to listen to it today!

Super cool album! Was initially nervous, but man, Stevens brings indie to a whole new level. Enjoyed thoroughly.

Ambitious and sprawling. This one grew on me as I listened, so I went back for a second dose and it still felt fresh. Has to be considered a modern classic. Best track: Chicago

Was soll ich sagen ausser diesem Ding nahezu die Perfektion zu attestieren, die es anstrebt, aber dadurch minimal weniger verdient, als späteres und für viele zu viel überfrachtetes "Age of Ads", in welchem Sufjan beweist, was er in "Illionis" (wie auch "Michigan") geradewegs andeutet: statt Singer / Songwriter ist er ein wahrer Composer ! Sobald man das verinnerlicht und die early years ("Seven Swans") und aktuelle Anbiederung ("Carrie and Lowell") als umfassende Klammer ausklammert, wird hier schnell klar, was diese quirky Kreidestimme mit treuer Gefolgschaft zu schaffen im Stande ist. Klar, Repetition in der Struktur mag ermüden, aber wird nicht Schicht für Schicht draufgebuttert? Zu Traurigkeit & introspektiver Dunkelheit ("John Wayne Gaycey Jr.") viel Liebe ("Chicago") und Gottesfürchtigkeit vor der Allgegenwärtigkeit des Todes ("Casimir Pulaski Day") in die Marmelade eingekocht wird das Ganze eingemacht; haltbar, über Jahre, Jahrzehnte, vielleicht ein Leben. Ich mache bislang immer wieder gerne ein Gläschen auf, es hält mich lebendig, es macht mich immer wieder klar und auch wenn ich den Geschmack nur allzu gut kenne, mich fast dran überfressen habe...ich brauche es, um über jeden Winter zu kommen. 4.9

Nice to listen to this again

Indie chamber prog? I’m a fan.

Epic tender melancholia with cheer creeping in

Awesome album, Chicago stands out.

I recognize there is some hypocrisy in praising this album when it hits a lot of the same criteria that I nailed Soundgarden to the wall for just last week, not to mention all the "psychedelic" rock I've lost patience with. Album longer than it needs to be? Probably. Tracks that run well past five minutes without much tonal distinction? Sure. Lyrics that are trying to be deep, but don't seem sincere? Very objective, but I could see it. I can't tell you what the difference is here. Maybe it's the exceptional production. Maybe it's the track titles that inject the perfect amount of levity and bring you in on the joke. Maybe it's more palatable to my Millennial tastes, alongside a recognition that maybe rock isn't an appropriate genre for every application. Whatever the case, this album worked hard for me.

Humorous, heartbreaking, groovy, beautiful. Such an enjoyable listen. Really, really unique.

shockingly good. the third song and Chicago are great songs and the whole album is kinda a vibe. Definitely an album to come back to 4.5/5

Incredibly easy to listen to from start to finish. Had previously had a few Sufjan Stevens songs but the album as a whole was a great listen

very good and sexy

Well I've not really ever listened to Sufjan, but I like this so far and I'm only on song 3. As long as the rest of the album holds up, I can see giving this a 4 or 5. Ok I was told this might get depressing, yeah I can see it in song 10. I like the sounds a lot. Yes. A 5.

Amazing

This album is a masterpiece.

muito show de bola curti bastante

none

Sufjan en estado primigenio. Mágico como siempre, folk pop maravilloso y melódico. Genial

Varsin megalomaaninen teos aina kappaleiden nimiä myöten. Sufjan on epäilemättä jonkin sortin musiikillinen nero niin säveltämisen kuin useamman instrumentin hallitsemisen puolesta. Hyvän kontrastin monimuotoisiin sävellyksiin tuo miehen hyvin rauhallinen ja miellyttävä lauluääni. Ensimmäinen itselle ennaltaan tuntematon artisti ja levy, minkä kohdalla nappasin koko levyn talteen myöhempää kuuntelua varten.

Una maravilla de disco, no he podido parar de escucharlo. Me ha encantado

Realmente único, creo es la mejor forma de hablar de este disco, no hay nada que se le parezca ni en su música ni en su concepto. Música muy variada y en todos los casos bien pensada y armada, sencilla cuando debe de serlo o elaborada y bombástica en otras ocasiones, sin sentirse forzado en ninguno de los casos. La orquestación realmente inventiva desde el inicio del disco no para de sentirse creatividad cambiante que mantiene un mismo concepto. La idea original de hacer un disco para cada estado de los EE.UU. y terminar con 50 discos obviamente era absurda, aunque al escuchar este en realidad termina uno con ganas de que fuera un proyecto real. Se siente el trabajo y la investigación sobre el estado que realizó, hay tantas referencias que más de una vez me lanzó a Wikipedia a investigar de qué hablaba, siempre terminando en algún tema que fue interesante y, aun así, terminé con muchas que me hubiera gustado entender. No conocía nada de Sufjan Stevens, de hecho en mi cabeza el nombre en algún momento se mezcló y confundió con Matisyahu (que no me agrada) y nunca puse su música. Que bueno que este ejercicio me ha hecho corregir ese error, con este disco y después de leer un poco sobre él me quedan bastantes ganas de conocer algo más sobre sus proyectos. Nunca creí que habría un disco concepto que hablara de Superman, Chicago, la esposa de Lincoln, avistamientos de OVNIS y John Wayne Gacy que pudiera ser tan bueno y cohesivo. Por cierto esa canción de John Wayne Gacy realmente lúgubre y con un final de mensaje un poco inesperado. En realidad estaba pensando en contras que ponerle para no dar un 5 y sería buscar minucias, la verdad es que la música, las letras, el concepto, todo me parece excelente y creo que a pesar de serme totalmente desconocido hasta hace unos días, para mí si se gana el 5.

2000-luvun alun merkittävimpiä levyjä, joka tulee löytymään pitkään klassikkolevylistauksilta. Jos Oasiksen (Whats the story) Morning Glory oli itselläni 1990-luvun kuunnelluimpia levyjä niin tämä on aika lähellä samaa 2000-luvulta. Lumoavaa äänimaisemien maalailua, joka pitää otteessaan levyn alusta loppuun.

cinematic / amazing

A surprise

Very pleasant.

Odd sound, but I like it. I like \"Chicago.\" good, solid album.

My goodness, how time flies! Sufjan Stevens’ "Illinois" was released over 20 years ago, and his warm, dreamy blend of indie folk and baroque pop still sounds delightfully fresh. Stevens is an artist whose albums either don't really do it for me, or hit me with full force. This one really won my heart. The interweaving of classical, baroque, and minimalist music elements in his definition of Pop music is particularly effective here, making the album musically complex despite its apparent simplicity. I really ought to listen to more Sufjan Stevens and finally give his discography a proper listen from start to finish.

Ecouté. Pas mal. Cool

Incredibly comforting album Fave track: Chicago

Big fan of Sufjan and the inclusion. Beautiful singing/songwriting, Sufjan plays almost every instrument you hear and it’s a concept album that delivers on the concept. The 50 albums one per state in the US was a joke - but I do wonder if he had done that whether this effort would have been topped. Is it too long? Maybe. Interesting how everyone who uses that point to criticise the album never seem to suggest what should be cut? 4.5/5

Solid album with a lot of songs I really like. The softer piano tracks are my favorites.

I’m going to say 4.5 I just adored the sound of this album and loved every track. I think with more time I would really listen to what they communicate as I only got an essence.

Deserved to be listened to lying down and appreciating the nuance. I’ll definitely revisit it.

Funky and soulful, a pleasant surprise

Easy listening, and not boring ever. Loved the sounds, the steadiness, and it was smooth like Skippy.

Tough one to rate. I definitely like a lot of the sounds, compositions, orchestrations. I appreciate its lushness. So I feel obliged to give it a 4 despite the fact that I will never listen to this again. “It insists upon itself.”

Reminds me of the eels.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Intressant och jag skulle nog med lite tid verkligen uppsktta det här albumet. Det är exprimentelt men ändå avskalat, nertonat och bitvis riktigt vakert. Riktigt bra produktion med tydlig distenktion mellan instrumenten. Det är många spår jag tycker om men det är ett för långt album med sin 1h 14 min och 22 spår! så jag har svårt att hålla mig engagerad rakt igenom. Men sedan lyssnade jag igenom i trädgårdssoffan och upplevde det nästan meditativt. Bäst är Concerning the UFO sighting near highland Illinois, Come on! Feel the Illinoise!, John Wayne Gracy JR, Chicago, Casimir pulaski day, The man of Metropolis steals our hearts, They are night zombies!!, The Sears tower

It's a 4 for me, but just barely.

Nothing so far I've had through 1001 has been as expansive as this was, even then I don't know if it lives up to the hype set by others in terms of my personal taste, still there is many gems on this

Einer der besten songwriter aller Zeiten. Maybe ne 5 aber ich hab mich noch nicht ganz an sein style gewöhnt

Very interesting and folk like I enjoyed listening to it and recommended it to others

Baffling but highly ambitious and beautiful. Like someone mashed Elliott Smith and Sgt Peppers' together

I don’t hate this!

This is a beautiful tribute to Illinois. The songs are arranged beautifully and I felt the connection to my childhood home.

Ive know about this dude for a while but I never really looked into any of the music. So this is my first time ever hearing anything hes done. Well not 1st ever because ive heard chicago somewhere a long time ago. Good song. Along with damn near everything else here. Its just good old indie folk is guess. With a pop spin. Everything is incredibly catchy. I get why people go nuts for this guy. My closest comp would maybe be a more laid back neutral milk hotel. They are much more surreal and just loud. But there are moments in Illinois that do similar things. Just not mostly doing thay like nmh. Just a great record all around. Lots of variety. Its just good. Not exactly what im looking for on a day to day basis but great none the less. Maybe the site throws me the album about his parents that I always hear about. But thats for another day. Im very happy with what I got here

8 - GOOD

Hmm, guess Trump is doing The Black Hawk War. I do have to say I like the long-form titles. And the music has an expansiveness that is consonant with the titles. Not gimmicky. Nothing gimmicky here. I guess you would call it folk. Brainiac folk? Nerd folk? It makes me think and I like it.

I'm going to guess that Sufjan is a fan of Kate Bush — the sprawling, layered production approach and oddball sense of songwriting seem reminiscent of her musical approach. I can't say I fell in love with the material, but I liked it well enough, it was interesting and there's a dedication to the recording details that were impressive and indicated a musical sophistication I appreciated. I've heard other music of Stevens' that didn't resonate with me, this hit closer to home. I don't know that I enjoyed it at a 4, but the album is pretty damn good and with continued listens, I may fall deeper under its spell.

I knew the hubbub around Sufjan before I ever heard a song of his. And then I listened to this album. An amazing work and he's well worth a lot of hubbub.

This one was a long time coming. I’ve always been an outspoken hater of this album for the simple reason that I thought it was pretentious and annoying. I still stand by the fact that it is pretentious (and those damn woodwinds could quiet down a little!), but I was wrong in my hatred. By the time I listened to this album today, it had been over a year since I’d last heard it in full. My tastes have definitely changed, and I was surprised that I enjoyed this as much as I did. It’s hard to describe the feeling that this albums brings upon me. It’s like when you’ve finally accepted a loss, and your immeasurable sadness leaves you (who’s the pretentious one now, Mr. Stevens?). My only problems with this album would have to be the pretentious, half-baked nonsense song titles and interludes, and the aforementioned oppressively present woodwinds. Overall, a beautiful experience that is difficult to truly put into words. Those damn woodwinds could really shut the hell up, though. (8/10) Favorite tracks: Jacksonville, Chicago

I’d only heard Carrie and Lowell and some other tracks before, but nothing from this one. This was great. John Wayne Gacy Jr is one of the most unsettling songs I’ve heard.

This one is a classic

220123 19:55 4

Like the greatest school orchestra you ever heard Shakespeare gets the back to the future treatment Fabulous and out there Lo fi beach boys meets David lynch I think this one will grow on me

Just weird enough to be into it. Perfect mix of folk and electronic to keep me interested.

Kr nice, chill like that

Unexpected

If Badly Drawn Boy had soundtracked Charlie Brown/Peanuts. Quirky, and atmospheric. But I enjoyed.

Why did I like this? It was weird but also cool?

4.5 aa bit long

So many ppl I know love this album, but never really been one I listen to. It is good though, John Wayne Gacy Jr truly 10/10 song blimmin eck.

If Wes Anderson were a sound

i enjoyed this concept (?) album. i'm familiar with few of his songs but never paid attention to his lyricism nor life before this album. i'd definitely have a more positive reaction to listening to his music now

This album was an interesting listen. As someone from Illinois, born and raised, and still living here, it was interesting to see the take on a slice of Illinois history. This album, overall, was different for me. It was outside my wheelhouse, but I don't think it was for the better or the worse. I like the different elements of his music here. Some were more indie/folk, other numbers featured instrumentation such as brass and matched the eras of past events, which I appreciated. Overall, it was a fun trip. I liked the variety for not knowing what to really expect (I've heard of Sufjan Stevens, but hadn't explored his work).

i remember listening to javelin when it first dropped and not getting the sufjan hype. after listening to this i understand. what an impressive body of work, super long and extensive but consistently excellent. loved it

Ngl I thought he was a new singer

i like the titles of all the songs 1st song: very relaxing i kinda like it 2nd song: ominoussss 3rd song: i kinda like this one too recorderrr i feel like sal would like this album 4th song: i like the introduction i feel like this would be good to listen at airport at 3am 5th song: groovyyy 6th: good 7th: interesting 8th: short overall: uhhh i liked it esp some of the song titles :DD

solid 4.0. Tem uma produção muito boa, mas acho que dura um pouquinho mais que o necessário. É um pouco difícil de consumir por ter um conceito bem específico.

A nice album with fun and unique orchestration. I can't say that the album deserves to be as long as the titles of its individual songs, but it has a lot to offer. Each instrument seems to be playing something complex and technical but all come together to produce songs that don't rely on any single instrument, and each has its chance to shine throughout. I would listen to this again to gain a greater appreciation for it.

2026.06.01.

Vibes with this well, but don't think anything really stood out. Definitely an album you have to listen to in one sitting.

Este álbum tiene una de las canciones con los nombres más largos que he visto, que locura Sufjan recurre a la orquestación en seguimiento a un álbum de estética similar, y además de ellos con temática enfocada en una sola ciudad en este caso Illinois Es interesante ver qué tanto se le puede sacar a una ciudad en el contexto de volverlo canción Elementos musicales super interesantes, al parecer el compás que utiliza es sumamente complejo pero calza muy bien con las interpretaciones que hace La canción con el nombre más largo es de hecho mu favorita del álbum Para ser un álbum de 1 hora con 22 minutos, no estuvo cansado de digerir, reescuchable y admirable el talento de Sufjan No sé si estará en esta lista Carrie and Lowell pero ese álbum tiene un lugar guardado en mi 3.9

Intense and incredible journey through cities and movements. Impressive to hear a Broadway show kind of feel while keeping the indie songwriter appeal on many songs

Brilliant album

tops song: john wayne gacy, jr chicago casimir pulaski day they are night zombies! the tallest man, the broadest shoulders

Loved this one for a long time. Real tender and gentle. Real dynamic and urgent. All over the place in a good way. Giving it a 4 because I'm an asshole.

Reminds me of beirut and cake, put me on a pavement flex

Big Sufjan Stevens fan. Not my favorite of his albums but still think this is very very good!

Haven't listened to this all the way through since around when it first came out. Still ended up finding it whimsical and really enjoyable overall.

Really enjoyable. Relatively familiar with Sulfjan Stevens but mainly from his CMBYN work. This is much more fun, with an array of musical styles which demonstrate his excellent talent. Fun songs, serious songs, it's really got it all. At a 4 because it's just quite long and could probably lose a couple of songs. Equally, it's one I might revise up to a 5 after further listens.

One of the most interesting listens and concept album experiences I've had.

I really enjoyed this. I've listened to a lot of concept albums but not too many themed albums. I loved all of the actual Illinois references. I've driven through Illinois more times in my life than I would have liked to and this album would have made some of those times a but better.

Soft rock - enjoyable

Gorgeous album, it’s a bit bloated otherwise it would have been 5 stars

I found it very cool, last tracks are awesome man. Great album

Very nice, sounds like Belle and Sebastian which is a good thing. Definitely will be listening again.

Me gustó bastante, muy buen disco

un álbum con una vibra increíble pero muy largo y a veces monotono

Emblematic and inescapable album of the 00's indie scene. Loved it then, love it now.

Blev väldigt mätt efter detta album. Jättebra men inget som jag skulle lyssna på ofta

This took me by surprise. I assumed this would be an early 2000s pop adjacent album. Instead, it's an experimental concept album with a quite a lot of depth. The orchestration alone makes this a stand out. I wonder if the stories attached to the concept hold up as well. Chicago

There’s a documentary I remember watching when I was younger about this woman who gets lost on a snowy mountain and has to survive for weeks on end by eating ice and foraging what she can from the surrounding area (which was basically just more ice), she finally gets saved by a trucker who happens to be passing by and because she looks so visibly malnourished he gives her an old orange he was going to have for his lunch and to her it tastes like the best thing she’s ever eaten because for the last week she’s basically eaten nothing that’s actual food. Anyway since the last album I got was a solo Morrissey album listening to Illinois by Sufjan Stevens was a real treat!

album #47 a beautifully constructed album filled with elegance and whimsical grandiosity! i can understand how this album may feel boring and/or hard to get into, but i personally love a lot of it! the brass sections, harmonies, and the swelling of instrumentals throughout (i'm looking at you Predatory Wasp of the Palisades) :) this album had a huge influence on the folk scene, especially in queer communities! it's not 5 stars for me, but incredible nevertheless. my critiques mostly centre on the length and/or some of the songs being too similar. ꩜ average track rating: 3.3/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): predatory wasp of the palisades, decatur, john wayne gacy jr. ꩜ least favourite track(s): night zombies ꩜ album rating: ★★★★☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 1,042 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 28 (+1 Illinois) ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 11 (+1 Illinois) ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 36

Lo había escuchado antes, pero repetir una escucha así del tirón siempre viene bien. Me guardo: "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!", "Chicago", "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts", "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!" y "The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders". Un gran disco.

- Symphonic - Dare I say, prog folk - woodwinds, let’s goooo - really like the vibe of john Wayne Gacy Jr. Great atmosphere - I think the orchestral work in this album is my favorite part - Sorta show tuney - I also quite enjoy the calmer acoustic songs on this album like Casimir Pulaski Day (I think this one’s my favorite)

What a vibe

Reddit-core, but the good kind. I was not expecting this to be so quirky and Wes Anderson lite, but I guess I can't deny that I didn't really enjoy some parts.

Not a huge Sufjan Stevens fan but I do really love this record. I think his lyrics are super amazing and he is a great songwriter. This is a very good record. I love the song Chicago.

This album has an amazing vibe

There is a lot going on here, and that is what makes it interesting. It moves between ideas, textures, and arrangements in a way that feels intentionally constructed, even when it risks becoming overloaded. Not every moment lands equally, but the ambition and the layering keep it engaging, especially when the compositions open up and breathe a bit.

haven’t heard this one all the way through in years. in hindsight it’s insane to think Sufjan could have made an album for all 50 states

one of my favorite music mementos is the original CD i have of this, purchased before they were recalled for the DC-copyright violation of superman on the cover. but the capone caricature could stay. it's also a pretty great album, with some subtle weirdness, great use of the cure, and one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs i've ever heard in "john wayne gacy, jr."

Listened to "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" more than 20 times

I forgot but it was great.

First time listening to this artist. Some tunes dreamy feeling. Great work/focus tunes.

great find from the list. concept album with feel good instrumentals and a folksy vibe. Favorite track: Casimir Pulaski Day other picks: Chicago, john wayne gacy jr, concerning ufo sighting

Been meaning to listen to Sufjan for a long time and it did not disappoint. Very unique style. Sometimes reminded me of "A Pillow of Winds" by Pink Floyd. I can easily see the hype around Sufjan and this album specifically, and how it influenced Indie music greatly.

Okay so please be gentle with me but I’ve never listened to Sufjan Stevens before! I’ve just taken myself on a lovely hour and a half walk to try and give this album the focus it deserves. Some thoughts: - the opening run of tracks really sounds like my friends from the Penguin Cafe! - I’m obsessed with the track titles - listening to this album outside was the right choice - The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts is probably my fave - I can’t possibly rate this on one listen But I will and I’m giving it a 4. I know that with time and greater comprehension of the lyrics, and a chance to dive into the symbolism Illinois will be a 5-star but this is simply my truth.

Loved listening to this through for the first time. Incredible song names, Chicago is such a classic (a song I spent so long trying to identify without knowing any lyrics as a kid), those mournful and occasionally triumphant horns throughout are beautiful. It was a little bit too folky for me at times, and perhaps this is an album that would have rewarded me paying closer attention to the lyrics to work out what was actually going on, but still such a singular body of work.

never heard any of this before. felt like music I would study to, or maybe as i’m doing a craft or something. I dig it

This whole album plays like the imaginings of what an antique train ride would be to a child, a whirlwind of bells and whistles with buzz of populous sound through out. A stand out track to me was John Wayne Gacy,Jr , very unsettling and grief driven, that pushes you back into a weird sense of awkwardness.

(Album 3 of 1089) I've listened to Carrie and Lowell before, and I do think Illinois is superior - it's got more life and charm to it. Illinois was a pleasant listen but a bit forgettable. Highlights include 'Chicago' and 'Night Zombies'. It could grow on me, I think.

I know of artist but never truly listened to much of their stuff. Cool stuff. Actually thought he was a bit folky. Much better than I anticipated this to be.

Sorprendentemente me encantó. Tuve una experiencia religiosa JAJAJA. Fui a shangrila escuchando en plena tormenta 🔝. Después volví con llovizna, empezó a salir el sol y en el piso se reflejaba el cielo. Estuvo hermoso. Después apareció el atardecer y un arcoíris. Increíble

It's another one of those "out-there" concept albums, where the intersection between music and theatre collides in a way that often lends to long lyrics and (probably) questionable music choices. Make of that statement what you will, but I couldn't help but love this album; Stevens' voice is beautiful and accompanied by some truly emotional music playing across Piano and Guitar. I also applaud Stevens for writing about so many other things that aren't love and relationships; "John Wayne Gacy Jr." reminded me of Nirvana's "Polly" and the empathy and insight required to write both songs (though in the latter, empathy feels like a weird word to use). Going forward, any artist that has done the same will instantly get a boost in rating just for that; Adele took the biscuit on that one for my journey and ruined it for every other artist going forward. I had to listen to it in two sittings, as these kind of albums are a lot to chew in one go, especially if you aren't already familiar and fond of the artist. From the half way point, songs I enjoyed were: "Casimir Pulaski Day", "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts", "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!", "Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I shake the dirt from my sandals as I run". Overall, this was a fun listen. Stevens has a lovely voice and makes efforts to create an musical experience and not just music for the sake of itself. I can't see myself returning to it any time soon, for it was ever so slightly tiring, though this may lessen in time if my love for his music grows.

This is great music, there's something about it I really like. Very creative, yes it's also poppy but an elevated version of it. I feel like I need to listen to Sufjan Stevens more. It's a 4 for now, who knows I'll promote it to a 5.

'Oh, God of Progress / Have you degraded or forgot us? / Where have your laws gone? / I think about it now.' I was both really looking forward to this & wary going in, eager to finally listen to this celebrated songwriter but a bit on guard in re the potential for an pretentious & overdone project. It turns out I was right in both respects: Sufjan is indeed uber-talented, worthy of our adoration & the maker of music you'd genuinely want to listen to, but it kinda goes w/o saying that, yes, it's pretentious & overdone. What's rare is that a record this long grows on you, that you learn to tune out the concept for the sake of the beauty. In this regard, Sufjan is the Kanye West of this genre: overwrought, no doubt, but too smart & too good to ignore for long.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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)

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

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 //

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.

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

Banger concept album. So much emotion and heart here.

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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.

Buen album para escuchar de noche tranquilo

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

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

Beautiful record!

Too much filler but love some songs

Light reminiscing, all thing go.

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.

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.

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.

Very varied and interesting, I enjoyed it a lot.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

I liked it. Not my usual genre.

patika

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

Wonderful album! Completely captivates by the chill vibes

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.

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

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

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

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

Never heard of this person before. Really nice album

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

Nice album

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.

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

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.

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

Инди фолк, весьма мудрёный.

I came to Sufjan Stevens late, but live all his work of which this is arguably the best. His music sweeps you along. At times it reminds me of groups like Flaming Lips, but somehow more focused. Chicago is a real standout with its choral esque chorus and tambourine and trumpet feature. The album as a whole has a dreamy quality to it, punctuated by the occasional bit of brass (especially tracks like the man of metropolis steals our hearts) What’s not to like.

I was really interested to hear this for a fairly odd reason: I always watch Mic The Snare videos on Nebula/YouTube and he mentions Sufjan Stevens on an extremely regular basis. I'd heard the name enough to think, I really should listen to that, but I'd never got around to it. I am an appreciator of long song names which I will subsequently be unable to ever remember (I'm looking at you, "The Song with Five Names, a.k.a. Soapbox Tao, a.k.a. Checkmate Atheists! a.k.a. Neospace Government, a.k.a. You Can Never Know"), but "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!'" might be the finest example I've ever seen. I also liked the song. On yesterday's album I complained at the existence of at 15 second track, and Sufjan decided to one up The Youngbloods with "One Last 'Whoo-Hoo!' for the Pullman!!" - 6 seconds is not a track! Tack it onto the start or end of another song! Favourite songs: "Jacksonville", "Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!", "Chicago", "They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhh!". There is a lot about this album that should make me dislike it, not least the length of the whole thing, and the individual lengths of some of the tracks. But I don't dislike it. I actually really, really enjoyed this and fully intend to listen to a lot more Sufjan Stevens in the future. 4/5

I think the vision to make an album this full and complex is super impressive. Sufjan Stevens takes an orchestral approach in arranging songs that sound like a-list movie scores - quite the feat for an indie musician. Some of this is almost a little too theatrical for my preference but it's done so well it's hard to find fault.

Some really great songs on here.

67. zombies

I wish I. Would rate this as a 3.5. I started out liking it, then I didn’t, then I liked it again, and then I hated the last song. It really was a unique, interesting album that I could see listening to again, though, so I’m going with the 4.

Someone tell Sufjan to stop joking and get back to writing about the other 48 states! This is so silly and fun, but there's also some genuinely good music.

J'ai beaucoup aimé l'album. L'avantage qu'il a c'est d'être très long et donc de contenir une variété très larges de styles, ce qui est vraiment agréable. Bon souvenir et belle découverte !

Ah Sufjan, where you can be super boring or really interesting depending on what track you hit. I liked Come On! It's a fun song... Maybe it's because the Black Hawk War is so damn boring. Then John Wayne Gacy Jr is a bit of both. It's a fun experiment album, changes tone pretty quick and full of stories. It was already in my library, but I have to be in the right mood to listen to it.

Something new for me

Good and sad

Nice album. Never heard of this before. Sounds somewhere between Wilco and Sigur Ros.

An old favorite.

Great album. Deceptively simple at first, but with killer songwriting. There's more here than meets the eye. Strong 4 stars.

This record is massive! It’s beautiful and informative and sad and hopeful; overdone yet understated in many ways. This is more than a love letter to Illinois - it’s a messy, yet thoughtfully curated, museum celebrating the Midwest. If I was to offer any criticism about this record it would be that an editor could have taken a swing at some of these track titles. As a whole, the album becomes hypnotic toward the end of its behemoth 70+ minute run time. The entire time I wished for a visual accompaniment to help keep everything grounded. This is theater. Overall a magnificent experience that I will be revisiting. Who knows - maybe this review will add a star with additional listens

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 land' - 3 Come on! feel the illinoise! (part i: the world's columbian exposition / part ii: carl sandburg visits me in a dream) - 3 John wayne gacy, jr. - 4 Jacksonville - 5 A short reprise for mary todd, who went insane, but for very good reasons - 4 Decatur, or, round of applause for your stepmother! - 3 One last "whoo-hoo!" for the pullman - n/a Chicago - 4 Casimir pulaski day - 4 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 - 4 Prairie fire that wanders about - 3 A conjunction of drones simulating the way in which sufjan stevens has an existential crisis in the great godfrey maze - n/a The predatory wasp of the palisades is out to get us! - 3 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 bushnell - 4 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 (part i: the great frontier / part ii: come to me only with playthings now) - 4 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 - 2

the piano is the most beautiful of humanity's instruments.

no soy de los musicales, pero muy buen album de musical. la verdad que me encanto. nose si lo escucharia mucho pero igual

rah rah rah (wah wah wah)

Intressante Musik mit Stimme dazu. Gefällt mir

Too long. Of its time. But still good. Best song: John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

Listening session: february 1st, while cleaning my room Listened to before: no Thoughts: I only know Sufjan Steven’s later work but I was pleasantly surprised with this album and really really liked it Favourite tracks: Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland Illinois, Chicago & Come On! Feel the Illinoise!

I liked it

звучить як повноцінний мюзикл, у мене прям перед очима вимальовується єбучій ілінойс цікава концепція, приємне звучання, але трохи нудно

what a banger. good crying album

Preferred this offering over my first several albums -- appreciated the quiet take on covering a state in music and can understand why Sufjan stopped after Michigan and Illinois. Going with my first 4 out of 5 on this one.

all this time i thought this was someone related to Cat Stevens...or even Cat Stevens himself? Proven very wrong and also very much enjoyed this!

Great listen, a lot of fun with some really moving tracks thrown in.

Really good album, 4.5 stars

Really chill and beautiful Orchestra , I really like it .

I don't know. I guess it's good but I didn't enjoy listening to it. I don't know.

Primera vez escuchando este álbum, un experencia de principio a fin. 4.4

I do like myself some sad hipster music

Hørte 3/4 av albumet, har hørt før og blir å høre igjen. Glad i Sufjan sin stemme og når man har hørt mest på Carrie & Lowell blir dette veldig ekspressivt og orkester og alt

It's really good, just a little too long

Great, but I find some of his other albums (Carrie and Lowell, Michigan) are my 5s!

Not what I expected but it’s good very well melachonic and a tad bit sad yet still hopeful

Love this album. Easy to listen to and comforting

Could this album have been better if it was half the length? Perhaps. But part of me appreciates that it was so long. This interesting fusion of singer-songwriter music and orchesetral music was pretty cool, like a combination of Neil Young and Steve Reich. This album also feels very American, in a good way. It does a good job at capturing the essence of the country, with the songwriting voice representing individualism and the orchestral arrangements representing the country's vast landscapes. It was cool to read about the historical research that went into the creation of the album as well. My favorite tracks were Come On! Feel the Illinoise! and Chicago. A very high four. Favorite Track: Chicago

Great!

Very very good. A musical tour through cities, places, and people of Illinois. Musically varied and ambitious. I can’t wait to listen again. Might become a 5, but a strong 4 for now.

too long, could've been 5 stars

Chicago is one of my favorite songs in the world- great day to be Bree I love albums where I have to use my photographic memory to remember song names. -Chicago and Jacksonville are some of my favorite songs in the world- great day to be Bree. New favorite song from the full listen through: Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition Part 2: Carl Sandburg Visits me in a Dream *makes me want to dance with all my friends and feels very much like I am at a world fair loving my son

An absolute beast of an album in terms of scope and length but extremely comfortable soundwise. On repeated listens the complexity of the orchestration got a little overwhelming for me but I still wholly fuck with Illinois. I think people that like this should really listen to Gabriel Kahanes "The Ambassador" Decateur is definitely my favorite track

So that's what Sufjan Stevens sounds like. Hope he finishes the 50 States series one day...

Enjoyed this. Pretty epic record of bright, inventive ideas. Had some standout tracks and some forgettable moments. Most enjoyable when channeling Reich-like rhythms and arpeggios. The track Chicago is absolutely amazing.

A lot of emotions triggered by some of these. Really like Jacksonville and Chicago. All the songs seem to have great stories and messages

Chicago is one of those songs. I can't really quite put my finger on why but its just one of the greatest songs ever. Americans talk about "Great American Novels", this album feels to me like the equivalent of a "Great American Album". I don't really see many flaws with the album except that its a bit long. Its like a good cohesive experience, but only a handful of the tracks are ones that I actually want to go back to individually. Fave Tracks: Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, Jacksonville, Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day, The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us! 4.4/5

After listening to this album, it gave me this feeling that I need to join a cult. Buy some white cotton to sew some flowy robes, make a flower crown and learn how to whittle a tambourine.

A Great collection of ecléctic songs

I never felt bored listening to this, which is an achievement with its runtime, but did not enjoy everything equally. There are some really beautiful songs on here, others don’t do much for me. All the short songs in between were a bit weird. And the excruciatingly long songs titles bug annoy me so much. I would say it’s a 3.5, and I’ll round up this time.

Very whimsy. It's just perfect to listen to while driving.

Great album

When this album came out I would have probably given it 5 stars. It is a great album but it’s not a perfect album. The second half drags a bit. In general it’s great but I’m not sure it deserves anything more than incredibly memorable. It isn’t perfect but it definitely has a place on this list

It’s really interesting and unique I wasn’t sure what to expect

very cool album/performance

Amazing how much of this I remember. 4

Most of it was good. Some of it was reaching for something that wasn't there.

Fantastic album, added to collection and saved for later listening. Might return for that fifth and final star but for now 4/5

This album was so fun and unexpected! Each song almost felt like a different genre and it kept me on my toes (in a good way). Really enjoyed the quality of his voice, too.

Både mysigt och roligt! 5- och 11-takt som passar en söndagseftermiddag, det är snyggt skrivet! 4a från mig. Annie tycker att det var en riktigt eskapad! Välbalanserat. 5a från henne!

i liked it, pretty chill.

I like it

Delightful

very fun very different album. it was long and not what I'm used to but the track titles we're very funny. It took itself un seriously but at the same time committed to what it wanted to say.

Interesting, but also apparently quite foundational? Beautifully made, there's no doubt, even if Sufjan isn't my particular cup of tea. So funny that this comes up for me though, being a Chicago denizen. And yes, that's what I am. Am I in the minority that hates the deluxe and extended editions being the sort of default go-to on music apps? I want the original bastard record, if I want to go listen to a million demos I will but I want the record to finish when it's supposed to finish.

Dit album is speciaal gemaakt voor insecten die een festival organiseren in het gras en de bloemen. Het is groots, maar ook bedwongen. Alsof het een hele kleine wereld volledig opvult, vandaar het insectenfestival. Het geluid is tijdloos. Erg veel liefde naar het gebruik van een ‘wall of sound’ afwisselend met weinig instrumentatie. Wel veel herhaling en dezelfde trucjes, dus na een half album heb je het gevoel of je het wel gehoord hebt. Een heel irritant piepje in the seer’s tower. Ik denk dat het expres er in is gelaten, maar het stoorde wel! Maar I love Sufjan Stevens en zal er zeker weer naar luisteren als ik het gevoel wil creëeren van in een hele goede Amerikaanse indie film zitten.