Illinois

Beautiful and weird, i love it from first song.

I really wasn't expecting anything like that, but I liked it

A very creative singer songwriter, who is very easy to listen to. I am particularly impressed by his richly varied song and music design, which I find quite impressive. Playing tip: Chicago

A perfectly nice album, even if towards the end I started checking my watch a little.

- the song titles are killing me. in a funny way - chicago >>

As many other people I know Sufjan Stevens through the film Call Me By Your Name. His songs there have the perfect place there because they are used outside of the album context. On length I don't find Stevens's music as convincing. This album here as some little filler skits I don't really need. Also you soon notice the formula for the album. Still, the use of the horns is great. I might check out other albums by Stevens.

Decent

This album surprised me. The melodies were good, the lyrics meaningful, and the musicianship solid. I enjoyed this.

Nice album but too long

Gorgeous melodies. Very quirky lyrics. Overly long song names that pass the border into pretentious. This was a challenge for me to listen to. It felt too busy to just background, but I also couldn't make the time to sit down and give the album my full attention. Abbreviating the titles, "Columbia/Carl Sandburg" and "Night Zombies!" are my favorites. It seems like some good stuff but I need more time with it.

Completely different to every other Sufjan record I've heard, I'm not sure I took it all in in one listen but what I did get was very good. Will revisit.

Theme and lyrics I didn’t find interesting but the music itself is beautiful, great song writing and composition, loved the orchestral parts

A singular achievement, almost monolithic in its quality. There is ample excellence on display and a great deal of excellence, thought it can be tricky to tell them apart after a time, what with the somewhat samey strings on every song and a blueprint-similar vocal style, too). Obviously, SS is a massive talent; one wonders if he's always applied it to optimal effect.

My 2005 self would’ve loved this.

This was a really interesting sound and one I am embarrassed to admit I had not heard before today. I enjoyed it and will definitely listen again.

Chicago, no sabía que era de él. Un poco largo el disco. Me gusta más al principio que al final.

Vibe

Sweet and twee, certainly a product of its time in that respect. It's well crafted, though, and the instrumentation is suitably delicate throughout. It's too long, that's for sure, but there's a lot to love about this.

4/5 Favorite song: Chigago

Really nice, seems almost like a musical. The individual songs keep pretty much the rhythm and melody, but it's not too similar to the other songs on the album.

Lots to like in terms of instrumentation and music regardless of how you feel about the lyrics and overall concept. In terms of the concept, I was skeptical at first because an album about a state doesn’t sound like a good concept. That being said, I think it was executed well and the more I dove into the concept and the history the more intrigued I was by it all. This being my first introduction to Sufjan Stevens, I get the impression that he does whatever he wants with his music and doesn’t give a donk what the mainstream tendencies might be. I like that. Solid album overall and worth a revisit.

Love me some Sufjan Stevens. I have his album beginners mind on vinyl. Given his discography, this one is middle of the road for me

Man I'm a sucker for a good concept album, and this one hits the spot. It's not something I would recommend to everyone, and it feels like it requires more attention than sometimes I would like to give, but it's a pretty unique experience album-wise and it's not too far off the path of a regular album. Something about it feels theatrical, and it moves up and down from climaxes in a familiar way. Good stuff. Highlight: Chicago Lowlight: Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I shake the dirt from my sandals as I run Surprise Hit: They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh!

Heard before, would listen again, but not seek it out

Chicago, no sabía que era de él. Un poco largo el disco. Me gusta más al principio que al final.

Crazy to think sufjan Stevens goes on to do Pixar’s luca soundtrack.

Sufjan absolutely knows his sound. One of those albums where if you like one track you’ll like them all. Chicago and Casimir pulaski day are absolute emotional rollercoasters. Would surely be a 5/5 without all the filler instrumental tracks.

Like a lot of art albums, it benefits from a quiet, focussed listening. Even though I didn't do that, this is a brilliant. Not at all what I was expecting either.

Wow, I really liked that! Some songs were surprisingly vibrant and I loved it! His voice is really easy on the ears. The instruments take you places

A bit sing-songy - would not surprise me if this was made for or to be a musical? - but overall just a very pleasant and enjoyable album. 4.5

This album was a nice discovery of an artist I didn't know of. Apart from the typical folk style vocals and lyrics sometimes, the music arrangement surprised me in it's creativity. A couple of songs in 5/4 meter and unexpected chord progressions made this an interesting listen. 4 stars.

At first when I was listening to this I wasn't a huge fan. I thought that this album was long, bloated, and repetitive. It wasn't too novel and each song blends together but it was pleasant and easy to. But after I read how much Stevens read about Illinois to prepare for this album, I realized that that the structure of the album commentary on what it's like living in Illinois, or living in the Midwest in general. Long, repetitive, and it all feels the same. I'm not sure if this is exactly what he was going for but this really helped the album click in my mind. If you're curious about what I'm talking and what he's doing here, look up Midwest Regionalism studies. Literature, film, and music (or any media) related to the Midwest. Throughout so many works of the Midwest you can find these common themes of longing, dissatisfaction, feeling like an outcast, repetition, and boredom. This is a great entry into that genre, putting to song what Illinois is truly like. I may not listen to this album a lot front to back but I think I will start listening to Sufjan Stevens more often. Great sound.

This is way better than I expected. It's fun, but it's very one level. And in some of the songs they do that thing where you really can't understand the lyrics even if you're trying which I'm not a fan of. I'm really between a 3 and 4 on this, but I'm feeling generous.

A little long winded and could be cut down a bit, but this is stellar.

Ok

Only know the name, had never previously heard a song. This album was really good, the songs with odd time signatures and trumpets were class, reminded me of American Football/Beirut/Clever Girl. The other tracks were sometimes a bit too twee but by the end of the first listen I wanted to go again which is a good sign. Also didn't fell too long despite being over an hour. Definitely over a 4, not quite a 5.

What a strange and beautiful album. The singer has a great voice and the backing vocals with the sweeping instruments all fit perfectly. Like most of the song titles the album goes on a bit long but it was mostly a great listen. This might get 5 stars with subsequent listens. Highlights: Come On! Feel the Illinoise!..... Jacksonville Chicago The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts They Are Night Zombies!!

Wasn't aware of this at all. When I saw the cover I thought it was some jazz album.... Firstly, it's a long un, 22 tracks, long song titles too! This has elements of a lot of bands I like, the shins, Elliott Smith, postal service a bit. I don't know how to describe it properly but I feel it's music for people that liked Garden State (I did). Really enjoyed it, and I feel like it will grow on me after more listens. I think I recognise Chicago, but don't know where from I'm pretty surprised I haven't heard of this before, given how similar it is to music I like, glad I have! Definitely be back Highlights: Chicago John Wayne Gacey jr Casimir Pulaski day Predatory wasp ...... At least a 4, maybe higher with more listens

This album started out very promising. The first couple songs are really good, and I was sure this was going to be one of the best albums on this list. But then it just kept going. So many of the songs on this album are so samey. It gets hard to tell them apart. They’re all nice to listen to but most don’t really stand out. And the album is over an hour long, about half of it probably could’ve been cut and it’d be better for it. But when it’s good, it’s very good. The songs are mostly very good, and they kind of make up for the samey-ness and length of the album. Definitely will have to check out more Sufjan Stevens in the future. 8/10 Top 3: 1. Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois 2. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. 3. Come On! Feel the Illinoise!

Almost a true 5/5 some of the songs stick with you, some are just to self-involved. I'll listen to thos album again in the future.

I liked it has great songs.

Interesting album. He is not shy about using any and all instruments in his music. There were a couple devastatingly sad songs on there, too.

meu amor, a alma mais linda da música

Great mood

I’m honestly biased toward this one. One of my ex girlfriends put Casimir Pulaski Day on a mixtape for me. The album in whole is a lot more instrumental than I predicted it would be. I think the sound is lovely and the narrative is kind of lyrically gripping. Somewhere between easy listening and intensely emotional immersion for me haha.

Eclectic

I like Carrie & Lowell more, but I understand the acclaim that Illinois gets. Very artistic and unique with fantastic lyricism.

Different sound, like that

A total surprise! This was such a pleasant listen

Really interesting. Felt like I was 16 again.

It's...different. It's a pretty cool concept album that's more good than bad.

John Wayne gacey jr

Chill.

Nice, weirdly enjoyable

Fuck what can I say about this album. I know it well and yet continue to find new things in it every time I listen. It's an album I've put on in the background so many times. In the same way I experienced most Indie of the early oughts and before, it was a slap in the face when I was introduced to it in 2007 breaking me out of a very narrow scope of "acceptable" rock genres. How could I have written off so many artists? There are so many things to like about this album and it will be one I continue to revisit without prompt from the list.. I dig the complex orchestrations, the production, the somber voicing. It's folky, it's indie, it's orchestral, it's great. As far as modern and cultural influence, I lump this in alongside Ben Gibbard's meteoric rise to greatness in the indie genre. --- Review of reviews: Seems like some people aren't into the pretentiousness of the mid 00's hipster.. and that's okay... It is one flavor of ice cream served at the ice cream shop, and sometimes you just want that flavor! -- Best Track: Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part 1: The World's Columbian Exposition Part II: Car Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Great album I thought. Great sounds, great lyrics. Only thing that’s off putting is the length, as well as the focus on Illinois

8.5/10 varied, rich, emotional Highlights: John Wayne Gacy Jr. Chicago Casimir Pulaski Day They are Night Zombies The Seer's Tower

I have to admit that at first this album minimally caught my attention - however, I gave it a fair shot because I love the song "Chicago" and holy shit what a great decision that was. This album was so gentle and powerful at the same time and I was genuinely amazed by the almost choral nature of some of the songs. Album cover is a little spooky tho.

4/5. From the initial listen, it sounds like a children's album of educational songs about Illinois. Upon further listens, this is a deeply depressing and personal album about a man trying to find the joy of knowledge while ignoring the personal pains of this real/fake life he is living. The backing vocals seem like intrusive thoughts. Not all songs are great to be fair, some are definitely skippable, but overall an interesting listen that changes my viewpoint each time. It's quiet and quite simple, but something it doesn't have to be complicated to express yourself effectively.

I like the artist, pretty good throughout. Thought the album was 3 stars, the song titles added another star, and one plus three equals four!

Slow start, great after first 3/4 songs

Some matrix stuff happening with Sufjan but great album.

Some real bangers so some OK filler songs. Chicago and They Are Night Zombies!!! Have always been the biggest takeaways from this album in my opinion.

This is a solid 4 and I would maybe even get to a 5 if I knew it better and had that familiarity/nostalgia effect. This is really well crafted and put together. It feels simultaneously like it's 'a guy playing with instruments in his bedroom' and also 'a humungous layered orchestra'. It's intimate and also expository. Chicago is I think the biggest track here (I've def heard it before and it has the most plays on Spotify) but the real story here is the total work all together. This was a tremendous feat.

Interestingly diverse. All tracks with something to say. Loved the choirs he uses in his work

enjoyable

Very peaceful, ridiculously long album. good for working to. Some pep, not sad, a bit nostalgic.

Mostly simple in sound reminiscent of other folk music, strong element of Americana and Illinois/Chicago-centric imagery, story telling crafted for that purpose but somehow still intimate, personal, and relatable all at the same time. Very effective at invoking strong visuals.

I like it so far. Was scared it would be weird, but the production is lovely for being released one year after I was born. 1. Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois 2. 3. 4. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Feels like indie pop. Such a soothing voice. lsdkfjldk

Not what I was expecting. Some good songs, with great instrumentation, and interesting story-telling.

Beautiful! I love the minimalist undertones. Comparisons to Steve Reich are well deserved.

Up till Chicago I’d say this is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Like some strange cross section of Simon & Garfunkel and a pulp sci-fi horror novel, it’s both fragile and maudlin and shocking and beautiful. And then it keeps going and going and going And there just aren’t the tunes to justify in the back half of the album But a high mark on the quality of the 1st half alone

Sad bastard music.

Grappige creatieve singersongwritermuziek, geen idee waar het over gaat, maar vrolijk stemmend.

Een uitgedacht album. Sufjan weet de luisteraar echt te laten luisteren. Het is mijn genre niet, dus extra knap om dat te bereiken. 3.5 ster

Af en toe is het muziek voor bij een kinderserie uit de jaren 70. De complete kast met instrumenten van de muziekschool is leeggehaald en gebruikt. Kampvuurmuziek van de scouting, iedereen mag meedoen! Ik miste alleen nog de kazoo. De kakofonie aan instrumenten verbloemt soms het potentieel van de muziek. Want de nummers waar Sufjan begeleidt wordt door slechts een piano en/of gitaar zijn wonderschoon. In Chicago komt al dat bombastische (maar dan in een folkjasje) het beste tot zijn recht. Uiteindelijk zit het toch erg vernuftig in elkaar en heb ik geen enkele moeite met de lengte (meer dan een uur). Terwijl er dus wel een paar wazige, mindere nummers tussen zitten, voelt het wel als een album als geheel. Vandaag kan ik dit bijzonder goed verteren, maar ik snap helemaal als mensen dit een 1 of een 2 vinden.

Had never heard of this, was pretty surprised. Great songwriting, some songs weren't my style

I love how unique this album is to Sufjan himself, not many artists have his kind of style and story telling in his music.

Brilliant album! Haven’t listened to it in about 10 years. Every song feels epic

Indie 2010s at its finest

I liked this, and would listen again. However it felt very long to me. So I'd definitely require another listen when I'm not tired to see how I enjoy it.

This is weird - I was looking at this on Amazon to buy and also on spotify

Very interesting. The music and lyrics are very good, and different-glad this one came up on this list as I'd not heard of him before.

enjoyed malla

Before this project, I never heard of this guy. Now I have heard this album a couple times and I think it is really good.

Eccentric, neutral milk hotel vibes but with a more soothing voice.

this album is such a fun listen. such intricate arrangements, you can tell a lot of thought and love was put into the instrumentation. just a very chill, interesting adventure of an album

its so calm i like it.. a little too long for my liking though and some songs sounded a bit boring but overall its a really nice album ill definitely come back to it

Beautiful, delicate tunes. Nice texts over a beautiful score makes for an overall very touching listening experience. Still I have to admit that at times I felt I missed a bit more of a punch or kick in the album’s composition.

I love how simplistic and easy to listen to this album is.

Loved some songs

It's like if slam poetry was on Prozac. Not my cup of tea for sure but doesn't mean it's not a good album. If you like any song that could be an intro to any Michael Cera movie than this is for you!

Very good. I’ve heard this one before but liked it again. The song about Gacy is chilling.

One of my favourite discoveries of the 2000s. Brilliant songwriter and has some great peaks throughout his career. This album almost feels like a indie prog hybrid, and it works great, for the most part. There’s a lot of short intermission type songs that don’t add all that much which could’ve been trimmed or weaved in the songs around them. But still, a great listen I really enjoyed! 8,5 out of 10

Long, but a lot of slaps on this. Listening to this today it sounds like so much else out there, but coming out in 2005 this must’ve influenced a lot of 2010s indie folk.

Love the orchestral elements and the progressive time signatures. It does drag sometimes and I find it a bit repetitive. Other than that, the album is easy on the ears and it showcases Stevens’ ability as a singer/songwriter very well. The choir is excellently used and is never uncalled for. All around, the album is a great listen, if you’re into more orchestral pop. Fav tracks: Come on! Feel the Illinoise, John Wayne Gacy, Jr., Jacksonville, Chicago, The Man of Metropolis…, The Tallest Man…. Least fave: A conjunction of drones.. 4/5

Lovely album. Really pulls you into a mood

The Wall for people who watch Wes Anderson films and flog CBD beard oil.

Chicago, no sabía que era de él. Un poco largo el disco. Me gusta más al principio que al final.

Favourite song: Concerning the UFO sighting near Highland, Illinois

3.5 stars. Interesting indie folk that lyrically explores history and culture at times poetic and at times narrative. Gets points for creativity. Standout is the phenomenal "Chicago"

The album that got me into SS. I have an emotional bond with it so its hard to be objective. Its long and possibly overreaching but is passionate orchestral indie folk that drives deep. 4

I've always heard a lot of different things about sufjan stevens and a lot of good things about this album but I'd never listened to him at all. This album felt really fresh and new compared to stuff I've been getting recently for some reason. It's definitely a complete left turn from fishscale and moving pictures but there's something more to it than just that. The folksy music and mountains of Illinois references that mostly went over my head combined to make an immaculate vibe and overall cozy/wistful feeling in me. It was just a really nice and pleasant album to listen to overall despite a weird more aggressive song in there just over halfway through. All the song names are too long for me to fully remember which ones I liked but the john wayne gacy one and they are night zombies definitely stood out.

Weirdly soft and delicate, yet bold and uniquely its own. Sufjan Stevens gives you a musically intricate portrayal of his Illinoisian experiences. I heard he was going to do one album like this for every state, seems he bailed on that alleged mission real quick. Perfect album cover for Illinois. A postcard from the edge of indie darling sanity.

The melodies are beautiful, the arrangements refined, the vocals gentle. Yet, the songs also feels somewhat contrived, so I leave it at 4 stars.

There's some really good stuff on here. It's like Badly Drawn Boy meets the Polyphonic Spree

Georgeous voice. Solid songs. Interesting arrangement and the whole single state concept going on.

very nive

I love this variery of instruments, unobvious melodies and unreal atmosphere. Maybe one day I'll try to learn something about Illinois through this music too.

Love this album. Agree that it's a bit long, but I really enjoy the vocal delivery on this, moving between so many emotions and putting you right in the moment. 4/5.

Illinois is one of those albums that I forget is great until I am listening to it. Like @dbarila , I get much more out of the experimental stuff, but I feel like that disparages this a bit, because it's not like it is your typical singer songwriter fare. It is very much of the same ilk as Age of Adz and Seven Swans - melodically and thematically, it is just the bridge between. I imagine that this is the kind of music that Tim DeLaughter and Brian Wilson hear in their head.

Really well done. I enjoyed the album very much

4.5/5. Indie kid music at its peak.

Holy shit. This is gooooood. A bizarre statement or love letter to something or other but it goes so hard. Loved all the titles, made it that bit more fun.

Vaguely familiar with Sufjan Stevens before I heard this, heard a few songs. I was really gripped by this. Folk music crossed with orchestral pop and indie rock(?) in a blend that seems kinda precarious but turns out positively gorgeous. The songwriting and melodies are the common links that hold everything together. Long, weird, disjointed, and not helmed by a traditionally strong singer, but ultimately beautiful. I’ll return to it. Best song: John Wayne Gacey Jr.

Some incredible songs, but very long album so also some less incredible songs

This one was a real tough one to rate, that I listened to it multiple times to form an opinion enough to give it a rating. I think it was pleasant to listen to and I would listen to it again. I don't think I'd add it to my regular rotation of music.

These songs are great, but the tracklist is also a bit bloated. I feel like it's right between good and great but a couple of songs could have been cut.

I was familiar with the name but had never listened to his work. It's nice but long. Which is good? It's indie music that I enjoy.

Straight away the amount of songs in this album is slightly scary to me!! Full of very calm and bland songs as well some that really stand out. With very annoyingly long titles so won't be listing my saved tracks here. No. 16 is probably my favourite.

21.04.23. Долгое время отворачивался от этого альбома, а зря. Музыка оказалась очень даже классной. Её сложно описать словами. Лучше просто скажу, что она грамотно сочетает в себе поп-музыку, инди, минимализм, классику и фолк, при этом создавая неповторимую атмосферу, уносящую слушателя из реального мира во вселенную Illinois.

"UFO" and "The Seer's Tower" I loved. Others like "Jacksonville" and "Casimir Pulaski Day" were really good. This was a very interesting listen: even the one about John Wayne Gacy. Albums like this make up for all the clinkers that are on this site's list.

I thought it was terrific. I've been a long-time fan of Stevens though probably haven't heard every album. I had to revisit my fandom as an atheist when a musician friend said, yeah, but he's in a cult. I've never found anything to back that up. That said, he is apparently an avid Christian and likes to combine his Christianity with his sexuality which is weird. I can overlook it. Stevens has an incredible voice, fantastic lyrics and this album is no exception. I found myself absolutely blown away by every aspect of the bizarrely named song, "They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh!". Everything about this song is fantastic: bassline, backup vocals, strings, and of course the voice of Stevens soothing and interesting as it ever is. For once, a two disc album that didn't piss me off.

Back in 2005 I remember thinking maybe, just maybe, Sufjan Stevens was serious about doing a concept album for each of the 50 states. I mean, he had already knocked out "Michigan" and "Come on and Feel the Illinoise," plus an album in between, in three years. It would take him the rest of his life/career, but it wasn't impossible? It turns out he was never serious about that. But maybe he could have done it? Because he's been periodically crazy productive since 2005, going quiet then releasing double or quintuple Christmas albums, going quiet then reinventing his sound with electronic or new age influences. I stopped following him after "Illinoise," but his career seems to have taken some wild twists and turns. Perhaps I'll have to check some of it out. In part because I enjoyed "Illinoise" more than I thought I was going to. I remembered it as being very mellow. Almost too mellow. But there's actually a decent mix, and the album kept me engaged and kept its momentum flowing more than I expected. Stevens is a talented songwriter and musician, and it might be interesting to see how his style has evolved and morphed over the years.

Very cool, unique chamber pop. Cool concept too

Good record. I enjoy when I listen to Sufjan but never quite crosses to a 5 for me. Not sure why.

genuinely enjoyable music holy shit. the only weird thing is the lyrics/topics. im not from illinois.

Was not expecting this album to make the list but boy am I glad it's here. Stevie showed me this album a long time ago, but long after it had come out. I can't remember what the situation was but I know we were listening to it while we were driving somewhere. I thought it was incredibly creative to have a whole album dedicated to Illinois and the prospect of him doing this for all 50 states. Now learning that was a joke. But looking at it in this lens, I'm really surprised this came out in 2005. That may seem recent, but it really isn't and at that time, I'm sure this album was surprising for many. I loved 22, A Million, but this feels right up there with that album and that came out more than a decade later. Sufjan albums are the kind that are meant to be listened to all the way through, less so for singles and hits. Although, I did keep Come On! Feel the Illinoise! and Chicago. This is also a great album cover, love the mobster and the goat. I really wish he had done an album for all the states. I'd love to hear Texas, Hawaii, Colorado, etc.

Reminds me a bit of Flaming Lips. Solid experimental pop music

Informed and interesting. Wide array of sounds and made me want to focus on the music. 4/5

Interesting and enjoyable chamber pop. Bit too long but gotta give props for the creativity and artistry

To capture the essence of an entire state in one album seems an impossible task, but Sufjan Stevens manages. Stevens weaves a delicate web of music and has clearly done his research in regards to significant people and places (one of the standout songs is about the horrific crimes of John Wayne Gacy…no, really).

I really like sufjan when it’s on, but rarely find myself coming back to it. I’m just not a huge fan of that indie sound, and on this one, the horns were sometimes a little too jovial and the keys sometimes sounded like Peanuts. But I love the slower, sadder songs. Overall a great album, interesting and pleasant from beginning to end.

I had tried to listen to this album a few times in the past, as I had heard rave reviews. I got nothing out of it before, but found myself finally connecting a bit with it this time time. Interesting lyrics and love the horn accompaniment on lots of the songs.

really liked this one

A very interesting album

It's clear from the beginning how central Sufjan's faith is to him, what with the way he equates a UFO sighting with the Incarnation and its attendant signs in the heavens. How effortlessly Sufjan calms the celebration and, without taking away any of the joy, brings us into such a beautiful turn of musical phrase that leads us all into a singalong ballad! Float away on lazy horn clouds, or leap above them on the strings of violins. And you know what? It's okay to cry yourself to sleep sometimes. Not all tears are sad. For the record, I've never heard a more uplifting, beautiful song about a serial killer. Not sure what Sufjan is trying to do here, but I just close my eyes and shake my head at the loveliness/ugliness and the conflicted feelings with me. If you want to know just how full this album is, take a look at just what Sufjan is doing: vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, Wurlitzer, electric bass, drum kit, electric guitar, oboe, alto saxophone, flute, banjo, glockenspiel, accordion, vibraphone, tenor recorder, soprano recorder, sopranino recorder, alto recorder, sleigh bells, shakers, tambourine, triangle, and church organ. The only instrument featured on the album he didn't touch is the trumpet. Thematically, the album is at once inaccessibly specific about historical facts that really don't have anything to do with anyone, as well as being broad in his allusions to our common human condition, to say nothing of the all-pervasive Christian framework. Why do we need our faith? Well, for one...bone cancer. So celebrate life while you can, and understand just how much you have to give.

Ég skil ekki alveg hvernig Sufjan Stevens fer að því að gera allt á eitthvað svo fallegan hátt. Yndisleg plata. Það er eitthvað svo mikið vor í henni.

One of the best concept albums, with beautifully sweet tunes throughout

My college was in Grand Rapids, MI which is close to Holland and Sufjan Stevens had somewhat of a relationship with the college. He allowed our AV department to use any of his songs for any student projects, so that was kinda cool I guess. I was bombarded with Sufjan Stevens in college. It was everywhere. Twee-indie was all the rage in 2006-2008, especially at a liberal-christian college. I have gone in spurts where I liked some of the songs, then hated, then tolerated, and now kind of ambivalent with a few exceptions. Tonally it's kind of all over the place, with songs of deep sadness and others grandiose happiness. "Concerning the UFO" and "Casimir Pulaski Day" are the types of songs by Sufjan that I enjoy. Songs like "Come On! Feel the Illonoise! Part 1" are neat in concept but it's so happy twee I can't really stand it. I remember thinking John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was quite good back in the day due to its "dark subject matter". Now, I don't really ever wanna listen to it. It is best listened to while looking through the lens of "total depravity", which a Christianity concept that is referenced the line "and in my best behavior, I am really just like him", as in we all have the potential to be monsters. Apparently he thought it would be "arrogant" to make a double album, but c'mon man this thing is basically that. I do appreciate that he says the album-states concept is essentially a joke gimmick, so clearly he isn't taking things too seriously. Vocally I kinda dig Stevens cadence but other times it feels just like it's trying to be too cute/quiet, but that's a preference thing. Personal enjoyment of 3, but I'd have to rate it 4/5 if I was being more objective. I also know his live shows were very theatrical so I'm sure that'd be entertaining as well.

Potential here. A lot of musicality. Turn it 45° and it could be Sturgill Simpson.

Peak early 2000s hipster music, but in a good way. Very artistic music, great instrumentation. Calming vocals. Not my cup of tea on the daily, but can respect the artistry. Little too long

This was so different from anything I’ve listened to in a long time. So innovative. I had heard about the end of the John Wayne Gacy song, but still wasn’t ready for it — here’s an artist who is fully in touch with the reality of his human nature.

I first heard Sufjan Stevens with his Michigan album and was intrigued by the concept of an album for every US state and wondered how far he'd get (spoiler alert: he didn't get very far). It's a shame he didn't get beyond Illinois, but what he did accomplish with this album was quite an achievement. Michigan was a really good record and Illinois was even better with even more focus and detail in the lyrics about the state and the music continued to impress. The music is beautiful and lavishly performed with orchestrated details that are beyond anything I expected from an indie performer and he explores many genres with much competence. Illinois is one of my favourite states and he does it justice with a near-great album.

Vibe of soothing melodies with 'spoken word' dead pan lyrical delivery. Starts with American cultural references which was off putting/ hard to vibe to, but transitioned to more personal tragedy with twinge of ironic humor. Melody consistently good throughout.

Sympatiskt OCH allmänbildande! Och den bästa låten om John Wayne Gacy.

Carrie and Lowell is one of the most personal works I've ever listened to, but this one here has been always a pending account. The time has come though.

Forgot about the JWG song. That's wild.

27th January 2023 Listened while driving to B&Q for wood, won poker on Friday at Jake’s. Hog’s wedding over the weekend. Sounds like a ballet, or a more classically composed collection. Flurries and whisps around Sufjan’s lovely vocals.

Really enjoyed this one.

Melodisch, Vibraphone, Klavier. Alternative

amazing…so good. put my in a meditative state.

Chicago is obviously the highlight, but there are lots of little gems throughout. Very enjoyable listen. 4/5

It was really good. Serial killer song makes me think someone should check his yard.

Pretty and Sad. John Wayne Gacy song is creepy. SAAAAD. JFC. Pretty though.

Thought this was going to be another new artist to me, turns out I’d heard a few songs from this album. I enjoyed listening to it!

Honestly thought this was one of those lone guy with guitar deals... Hugely surprised by the sound of this album, very varied and at times pretty massive. Enjoyed it way more than I thought, good stuff!

Beautiful, original and hilarious. But its a bit long innit A great record.

This pretty excellent. I’ve never heard of him and I’m glad I have now. The composition and song writing here is fantastic, easy to listen to, and highly enjoyable. He plays a lot of these instruments and can sing well. It’s all interesting. I don’t think it’s sing along or something you end up memorizing the lyrics but you still like to listen to it.

Slow start but it definitely grew on me. Will listen again.

Bosh

Some really interesting unusual folk. I'll definitely be revisiting this

Not much to say about this album, since it's been a while in between my listening and my review, but I've enjoyed this album every time I listened to it 4/5

Way cooler than expected. Nice.

Un grato descubrimiento.

Många bra minnen med denna skiva Age of Adz tho

Beautiful :) strong 4

This is a difficult one to get a handle on. The compositions and arrangements (especially the choir and strings) are innovative and draw on a lot of styles - I had to wait 15 songs to hear the Michael Nyman influence one of the critics referred to. A lot of research went into the lyrics and Stevens plays a whole bunch of instruments. I can appreciate this, though I'm not going to play it over and over. A very ambitious project.

Uh.

Joy! Loved this when it came out and although very long, it had some excellent song writing.

sounds alright, it's very calming. I like heavy stuff tho so its not for me. the titles are interesting too lmao. i also like the album cover and it makes me sad.

Lovely times were had

It’s good and hard to categorize. Very chill

Really beautiful, will certainly listen to more of his music. His singer sometimes reminded me of Belle&Sebastian, their melancholic songs.

Love his music.

Unique

Awesome album. Lyrics add another dimension to the sound but I don’t usually listen that way so 4 for me.

I mostly hate long albums with few exceptions but this was very enjoyable (still a bit long though). All these songs have such long, odd names. The production is so good, the whole album sounds pretty and I love the horns. I really liked the outro. I think this album is good but I can absolutely see why people would dislike it. I’ll probably listen to it again in the future, but not anytime soon. Favorites: Come On!, Chicago, The Man of Metropolis Album Cover: Felt the Illinoise 4/5

Sufjan fait n'importe quoi tout du long mais s'en sort admirablement bien. On regrettera simplement les quelques crachats et invectives lancées par celui-ci à l'égard de malheureux passants au fil de l'écoute.

Love it but I do tend to lose focus after Casimir Pulaski Day. A lot of the musical themes repeat much like listening to symphony or concept album.

Very beautiful! Many vibes (i like it) loved the 3rd track!

Weirder than expected, lots of themes, enjoyable.

The lyrics and concept of the album is brilliant and the arrangements fit the songs really well. I liked this one

Wow. Didn’t realize the whole album was this good.

Great

Amazing

Amazing folk album that paints a tapestry of

At first, this sounded like gimmick-y children's music. But it grows on you.

A nice album that made me feel a wide range of emotions. However some parts are a bit bland.

4.0 + This album was the critical darling of its day and I dutifully put it in my regular rotation for a couple of months. My only takeaway from all that listening is "Chicago" with its soaring and achingly sad chorus ("all things go/know/grow"). Revisiting this record years later, I can see why I left with an overall positive impression but with a cloudy memory of its details. "Chicago" is one of the few deeply personal and introspective moments. Much of the rest is either: a) songs about Chicago history like the World's Fair that sound like they belong in a student-written high school musical, b) lovely instrumentals with a vaguely "old time-y" feel. Not to say that any of this is bad, and in small doses it's charming. But mostly I find it a little too quirky. I'd also share just one other (small) criticism and that's with the album cover. It's silly looking and doesn't do the album justice. And WHY the awful Quiet Riot pun ("Come on feel the Illinoise")?? Oh and (I actually will add one more gripe) why such long song titles?? I hate those, too.

A more arty Death Cab for Cutie. Must be one of Beirut's influences. Very enjoyable apart from some bland, simpler pop songs. (3.8)

I hated this album in high school, though it was too twee. Either I matured or the album got way better. Super-lush, impeccably produced, surprisingly fun.

nice low key, interesting, music

Muy bueno. Fav: "Chicago". 4-5

A gorgeous indie album that doesn't sound like it's trying to sell me clothing (a rarity in the 00s indie scene). There's a wide swath of instruments on here, and it almost makes it feel like it's a stage play. It also sounds like it'd be a wonderful road trip record. That being said, it loses a little steam at the end and could've made due with some fat-trimming. Favorite tracks: "Casimir Pulaski Day", "Chicago", "Jacksonville", "John Wayne Gacy, Jr."

This is pretty good. Sufjan experiments widely with textures, rythyms, and instrumentation to make an indie darling of an album. Reminds me of the genre fluid soup sounds of the 1960s.

Very nice ambient listening.

excellente vibe soir/mélancolie

I found this was a genuinely interesting concept album. Loved the phasic final track of the album, it must have been inspired by Steve Reich. Illinois seems like a weird topic to make an album out of, but I enjoyed it quite a bit. It felt like this was the soundtrack to a musical.

Really great arrangements, but unfortunately too long. Still had a great time with this one.

One of Sufjan Album that almost made me cry first time I heard it. Huge fan of the men. It will be better for his mainstream popularity to do shorter album - but in the end it's the listener who win !

I found myself liking this album a lot more than I thought. I did not expect such beautiful and rich arrangements of wind instruments. The compositions are generally well felt and honest. What keeps me from giving it 5 stars is the length of the album. Too long for one and only vibe. I felt lost and a little offset at a few points.

4.2

Song about a serial killer always interesting. Lol

A beautiful brain. Such sparkly buoyant music. I've owned this record on CD and vinyl.

It got a bit samey in the end and was slightly longer than it needed to be.

Very enjoyable! I felt Stevens told me his story, very well. Music fit. 4 but if I really feel it, 5

I forgot how good this album is.

I'm still not sure about this one - need to keep listening to it.

Really great album. There are a number of stand-out tracks including Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day, and Come on Feel the Illinoise. I like how all of the songs kind of blend together including some 10 second tracks just for the end of certain songs. Overall, I think this album is amazing but maybe a little too long. The majority of the material is incredible but it kind of drags on a bit. Not necessarily in a bad way but I find myself losing attention.

Lush, gorgeous, if a bit long winded. 8.5

Really enjoyed it. There was even I song I knew.

Epic in every sense of the word - the premise, the song titles, the playing of a huge array of instruments, the history, the listening experience. Fancy a song about UFO's? You've got it. Want a song about a narrator finding they have things in common with a serial killer? Knock yourself out. Terrified of wasps as well? There's a tune for you. Best Tracks: John Wayne Gacy, Jr.; Chicago; Casimir Pulaski Day

"Illinois" is the second of fifty albums Sufjan Stevens supposedly planned to release based around states of America. Just like the conceit, it's ornate, grand and more than a little tongue-in-cheek. The pretension might not be to everyone's taste (especially those who like their song titles lean and their instrumental segue-tracks non existent) but the high points make "Illinois" well worth the journey. Over the course of 73 minutes, Stevens masterfully combines homespun indie chamber-pop with Broadway showtunes, country-folk narratives and proggy instrumentals. It's impossible not to at least admire the ambition behind "Illinois". Songs at the centerpiece, "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" and "The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders" unfold like dazzlingly intricate musical numbers. The orchestration includes everything but the kitchen sink, the verses ripple and shift over odd time signatures and new sections, yet the vocals never rise above easy and breezy. It shouldn't work, but for me it really does. As well as these fusions of Broadway, prog, jazz and indie, some of my favourites here include all-out rock hits ("The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts"), indie crowd-pleasers ("Chicago", "Jacksonville"), and poignant, fragile ballads ("The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades...", "The Seers Tower"). Through all of them, Stevens displays striking versatility, sensitivity and great musicianship. One of "Illinois"'s best assets is the way it balances musical whimsy with pure emotion. It would be easy for it to collapse into self-parody and become too academic or ironic to connect, but then comes an utterly heartbreaking track like "Casimir Pulaski Day." It details a loved one dying of cancer in such breath-taking detail and unadorned lyrics: "Tuesday night at the bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body, but nothing ever happens"... Understated, simple and moving slowly towards a gut-punch of an ending. Inevitably, not every song hits. There are at least five completely superfluous instrumental tracks, maybe intended as palette cleansers but coming over so nebulous as to not leave any impression after many listens. The best material is in the front half in terms of songs, and then the last thirty minutes or so suffers from a lot of padding (either extended codas, instrumentals, or songs that simply retread the same ground). Despite this, I'd still recommend "Illinois" to anyone looking for a compelling, elaborate and quirky album to represent 2000's indie. Of the work I've heard by Sufjan Stevens, it stands head and shoulders above the rest in scope and accomplishment.

❤️

First time of listening. some interesting lyrical stuff here from Mr Stevens. Really lovely stuuf, how he can make a song so beautiful as "John Wayne Gacey Jr" about such an abhorent subject is beyond me. This and "Jacksonville" are my favourites. A great album rightfully here but in the lower end of my must hear.

This was way more enjoyable than I expected.

Strange record… sounds a bit weedy on first listen, but huge potential!

Day 7: A full week of daily albums, I've never heard of Sufjan Stevens, never heard of this album and also have never left Australia so this was a unique listen, Looking through some of the other reviews this albums seems to be very polarizing. I enjoyed the album almost from start to finish, and if I didn't get bored or complain after listening to a new sound for over an hour it must have done something correct. Rating: 3.5/5

A cool listen but quite long. 8/10

Folk indie. Curioso. Un 4.

Bekende naam, maar nooit de moeite genomen om eens goed te luisteren. Valt niets tegen!

Dit was behoorlijk ok! Een prima soundtrack bij een tocht door het ruwe berglandschap van Kreta.

Deed me een beetje aan Andrew Bird denken. Mooi!

Cool album, very chill music. Great to relax and concentrate to, kind of fades into the background in a good way

Spinning it on vinyl (thanks, @gio-mio!). Fun album, goofy and funky. Would be 5/5 if I could include the quality of the album itself, with the sleeves and the artwork and all, but I can’t. Thems the rules.

A name I've heard, but know nothing about. Assumed this would be a jazz album based on the cover. This was an interesting one, he's very clearly a talented songwriter, the arrangements had a lot going on and it was nice to listen to. It's mellow, his voice is very pleasant, but if you're really paying attention there's a lot to pick up on. The song titles are killing me, also clearly has a sense of humor. Overall enjoyed this, really unique.

Probably the only Stevens album I come back to regularly. Something about bittersweet tunes about serial murderers.

Oh how I wish to live in the alternate universe where he did all 50 state concept albums...

One of my favorites by him.

Jai bien aime, tred smoith 4

Good good

Sufjan Stevens, known for his tender-yet-playful voice and eclectic songwriting, was once slated to put out an album for every U.S. state. He stopped after two. This is the second of the two! This is also widely held as his best album, and for good reason! His songwriting combined with his arrangements are unlike any other musical artist I know. His use of strings and brass help give the song more emphasis on the bigger moments. Even when it's stripped down to just Stevens' voice and guitar or banjo, he endears me to no end. The highlight for me has to be Chicago, which avid Netflix viewers may recognize from The Candidate. Dammit, my computer crash in the middle me writing this and now I've lost my train of thought. The point is that Sufjan Stevens is a national treasure and he should

A stunning, beautiful, maximalist blast. 4.0

Lush

You can see why he abandoned the states' album project after this one. He'd reached a dead end. It had gotten as baroque as it could get. I still prefer the earlier albums, but that's just because that I heard them earlier.

Familiar yet mysterious, mellow yet engaging. This is a neat album with a lot of great songs. I had heard "Chicago" many times and never knew where it came from. Way to go, pal.

interesting mix, was a fan.

Really long but good. Reminds me of something you would find on the Garden State soundtrack.

I am gladly surprised by this album. I had Chicago on my radar before, but now can go back and listen to at least 3 or 4 more songs from this album. Charming and nostalgic. Loved the voices, strings, and horns. It is a shame It’s so long!

Best Song: John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Dark, haunting subject matter told with a gentle presentation. Worst Song: Jacksonville. Feels like a relatively ordinary and safe song you might hear in a clothing commercial. Overall: Great to listen to. Really enjoyed the choir sections, particularly the female vocalist. Lyricallly interesting throughout.

Charming, idiosyncratic, unique; there’s nobody quite like Sufjan Stevens - and whilst his music might border on the whimsical at times, there’s no denying the craftsmanship, delicacy and emotional impact of tracks like Chicago and Casimir Pulaski Day. Fascinating and rewarding listen (close to five stars).

An interesting idea, and some beautiful songs! A bit too long, though.

eu já gostei mais do sufjan, no passado eu daria a nota máxima, mas se caso eu tivesse a mesma vontade de ouvi-lo como eu tinha antes, com certeza esse seria o álbum da minha escolha. é até absurdo ouvir um álbum desse século se preocupar tanto com suas composições, tão complexas e ainda assim tão acessíveis. o maior êxito de sufjan é conseguir montar um álbum extremamente grandioso, mas se mostrar mais efetivo com voz e violão, como nas músicas john wayne gacy jr. e casimir pulaski day. todo o trabalho lírico do álbum também é de se destacar, no fim das contas, temos um álbum tão colorido e detalhista como sua capa, uma das grandes obras primas da música contemporânea.

Cool album. Nice voice. Cool instrumentation.

Sufjan Srevens has many gifts. His voice is beautiful even otherworldly. He has a gift for writing simple, beautiful melodies and his talent for complex and beautiful arrangements is undeniable. He certainly has a talent for stupid song titles. There is a lot to like about this album; it's certainly ambitious and is filled with some excellent songs of varying styles; John Wayne Gacy, Jr., Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day, The Man of Metropolis Steals our Hearts, They Are Night Zombies..., The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders . Does it's reach exceed its grasp? Perhaps. Could it be 10 or 15 minutes shorter? Absolutely! Is it a satisfying, rewarding listening experience? Yes it is. 3.75 🌟 that I think will go higher with more listens, something which I look forward to. I think I'll buy the vinyl.

Great album, quite etherial. Really enjoyable listen.

He has better albomd

This is a good album. It’s long yet it’s unique and is a pretty easy listen. Some of the songs are a bit deeper than most other albums but sufjans style is flawless in making things seem light. The variety of instruments and beats makes this a great listen. 7.8/10

a variety of sonic textures- like a road trip through a certain state... but which state? which state could he be thinking of?

Incredible concept album...this is my second listen and I completely appreciate more this time around

Fun and beautiful.

I'd never heard Sufjan Stevens before, but he's going to score my quirky indie film one day.

I knew a couple of these, but the rest were fun! Top marks for track names 🏆 Fav new track: The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us

Really appreciate the stories within.

Twee but loveable.

This is an oldie-this is a goodie-meant for a chill evening. Slightly sad but epic. Your the main character

I know what I said about the last two indie rock albums and I know this one is a similar genre, but Illinois struck a chord early. Maybe it was Stevens' more diverse use of instruments or his more varied sound and tempos across the album, but I really liked it. It won't take me 5 or more listens to really appreciate it. Some highlights for me were Come On Feel the Illinoise (Part II), Jacksonville, Chicago, The Man of Metropolis... (my favorite song on the album), The Predatory Wasp..., and The Tallest Man...(Part I). I think it could've been packaged a bit tighter (some unnecessary reprises, long run-time) but as a concept album, it's pretty cool.

Lovely. Sam introduced me to Sufjan Stevens a couple of years ago and it is just my sort of music. Indie-folk.

I've tried to get into this album for years and it only just clicked today. One of those that must be listened to as a complete product - no single song defines this LP, nor sets the tone. It's the collective themes (coupled with great melodies and lush production) that make this album whole.

So, this guy wrote, recorded (almost all the instruments), and produced an entire "soundtrack" based the history of people of an entire state? It doesn't get any more indie-folk than that people! It took me a little bit to get into this album - but I eventually did. It does play very much like a movie or Broadway score, though (which I think is the intent), but that makes it feel like it's missing something at times. Still - I really dug a lot of the songs. Jacksonville, Decatur, and Chicago were probably my favorites. On pure listening enjoyment, I'd probably give this a 3, but the feat that Stevens undertook (and pulled off), definitely makes it worthy of this list. People should hear and appreciate this. So - 4.

Força soroll va causar en el moment que es va treure, per la novetat del seu so, per la seva ambició i pel cacarejat pla de dedicar un disc a cada estat dels EUA, que després del 'Michigan' anterior i aquest va acabar quedant en no res. És un disc admirable, dens, de digestió lenta, amb no més de dos o tres temes que puguin entrar de primeres... però és un d'aquells discos que trascendeixen moments i períodes i acaben quedant allà... per sempre

Rating: 8/10

Great album I was aware of, but never committed to listening to

A pleasant listen.

Upbeat and a bit weird. What a great combination.

Meget spændene album og et kæmpe projekt. Meget vellydende og selvom der er langt bliver det aldrig kedeligt eller dårligt. Kræver flere gennemlytninger, men harmonierne hans stemme kan altså noget. 4,5 stjerne

Good slo-fi listening.

Sad, dramatic, pretty

Initially wasn't in the mood but warmed up to it and eventually ended up really liking it. Maybe it's my soft spot for Chicago, or some of the great vocals with backing from Shara Worden. Would listen again.

When listening in the background, really good albums often force themselves into your attention. In other cases, it can take a while to realize how good an album is. I had this playing in the background, found it pleasant, but didn't pay much attention to it. During the final third of the album I finally realized this is really good, starting paying more attention and was enchanted by the dreamy, ethereal beauty. Now I'm halfway through the second spin. The arrangements seem deceptively simple. However, underneath is a wide range of variety with an astonishing depth of feeling, packed in a whimsical shell of not taking itself too seriously. I'll give it a 4 for now, but possibly it would be a 5 after more listens, which it will most likely get from me.

Strong 4 stars. One of my college favorites. Looking forward to going through the whole album again. So many great songs that make me nostalgic about my home state. The only think keeping it away from 5 stars are the little instrumental tracks.. too overdone

Eclectic but really upbeat

Was really nice and calming, had a cool album cover and nice names of songs. Think it went on a bit too long though, lost attention.

Sufjan Srevens has many gifts. His voice is beautiful even otherworldly. He has a gift for writing simple, beautiful melodies and his talent for complex and beautiful arrangements is undeniable. He certainly has a talent for stupid song titles. There is a lot to like about this album; it's certainly ambitious and is filled with some excellent songs of varying styles; John Wayne Gacy, Jr., Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day, The Man of Metropolis Steals our Hearts, They Are Night Zombies..., The Talkest Man, The Broadest Shoulders . Does it's reach exceed its grasp? Perhaps. Could it be 10 or 15 minutes shorter? Absolutely! Is it a satisfying, rewarding listening experience? Yes it is. 3.75 🌟 that I think will go higher with more listens, something which I look forward to. I think I'll buy the vinyl

I can tell this album is a gem, I listened to the whole thing. But it doesn't make me happy, just more melancholic and pensive. Therefore, I tenuously have to give it 4 stars, while knowing it deserves 5 for being creatively powerful and clear in its expression.

Great album. Weird and sad.

Great Album, very enjoyable

I like the vibes. It’s very easy for it to fall in the background and not pay attention. But overall it’s a solid album

Slogs at the end

Beautiful lush arrangements, plays like a prog rock concept record; King Crimson meets The Flaming Lips. Needs more listens to read into the lyrical themes.

A unique sound. Always immediately recognisable. Melancholic and uplifting all at once. Do the song titles imbue the tracks with more poignancy? Yeup. More than deserved? Noup. Love it.

This is an album that really needs more than one listen. Doesn't initially feel as cerebral as other works, but the depth is there and it certainly grows

Klug und gut aber vielleicht ein bisschen verkopft

An attractive album with acoustic sounds and pleasure man vocal.

Lekker achtergrondgeluidjes

I liked it! Calming

So strong and immersive album, I loved the whispering tone which was present almost the entire album.

-Beautiful. Listen to a few select songs but never the whole thing. A very cinematic, broad and eclectic album.

Great songwriting. A little overly indulgent with length of songs and flowery instrumentals.

Kun näin levyn kannen, niin en uskaltanut alkaa kuuntelemaan vielä samana päivänä, vaan keräsin ensin rohkeutta sunnuntaihin saakka. Tuntematon esittäjä ja levyn kannessa lukea "Illinoise" saivat epäilemään, olisiko kyseessä noise-genren levy. Kun viimein sain kerättyä itseni ja laitettuani levyn soimaan, kivi vierähti sydämeltäni. Pakko kyllä tunnustaa, että vasta toisen biisin aikana pystyin rentoutumaan. :D Musiikki oli miellyttävää, vähän tuli mieleen Yann Tiersen ja joissain kohdin Belle & Sebastian. Tämän voisi laittaa joskus uudestaankin soimaan, ainakin taustalle.

I thought it was an interesting concept & good music. I feel like I would discover even more to like listening to it again more closely. A little long & some of the songs felt a little too down, but overall I enjoyed it.

The layers and textures of this album is so lovely. It's the type of album I could drive around with around with for weeks and have a different experience through every listen. Until I actually start to understand the lyrics and feel myself growing into it.

I remember reading at the time that this was meant to be the second album in a series of albums for every US State. Having gone back and checked...... that didn't happen. But I do like the grandiosity of the arrangements on this album. Reminds me of The Flaming Lips at their most orchestral

Never heard this before (only a couple of songs sounded familiar) but I really enjoyed it. Will listen again.

4/5

Finally some music I looked forward to hearing. Reminded me of Aerosha and good times. Very comforting.

Soc molt fan de Sufjan Stevens. I aquest àlbum és pur Sufjan 100%: excessiu, recarregat i amb moments inoblidables. Temes con "Concerning de UFO", "John Wayne Gacy Jr" o "Chicago" formen part dels meus temes preferits de tots els temps. El disc és irregular i molt dens, amb 22 cançons i una durada que supera els 75 minuts. Tot i així, és un dels seus millors i més inspirats àlbums. Segueixo preferint "Carrie & Lowell" i l'EP "All delighted people", però "Illinoise" és un molt bon àlbum.

I enjoy this album.

♥