Illinois

This is the most theatre kid music I've been exposed to outside an actual theatre production. I kinda hate it. It's not bad, but I detest twee-ass shit. Weirdly, there was a mildly sympathetic song using John Wayne Gacy as a Christian analogy? (Jesus Fucking Christ...I'm no prude but JWG's last words on this Earth before a botched lethal injection were "Kiss my ass." Not exactly contrite. Or Christian.) And the album was an egregious 1 hour, 13 minutes long. Kill, Pogo, kill!

Aaamazing

If I was from a small town in America, gay, and currently a teenager I would love this. I'm none of these things. The best songs were the ones which had a stronger choir presence. Not the worst, just kind of same-ish. There's two whole songs on this album. Where's the variety in a 22 song album? Also so American... boring. 2/5 stars.

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

no dude, never

I think the best way to approach this album is to look at these as musical, compositions and arrangements and not really songs. A lot of of the storytelling here is done with the instrumentation which carries you like an old wooden roller coaster. High Lowe’s and lots of trumpets. Took me a while to become a Sufjan Stevens fan, but this album definitely was one of my faves his later albums get a bit weirder and the songs get longer and longer. Always give artist credit when they go past three minute, mark. My favorite part is this album is the quick nod to The Cure so Van does this a lot in his music he’ll play a chord structure similar to another song and then for a brief time actually play that song to show that he knows he’s ripping it off, but it doesn’t matter cause it’s music and it should be built on. This album is not for everyone, but definitely something. I’ll put on later in the air when I’m in the mood.

na trenutke ko neki koldplej za hipstere, na trenutke okej. ima fora momenata, al ono, većinom je dosadno. predugo, ništa posebno sve u svemu. usto najodvratniji omot albuma dosad, čak nije ni na neki kemp ili ironični način smiješan, samo je treš. slično vrijedi i za naslove pjesama (ha ha, baš si smiješan)

Holy shit. Casimir Pulaski Day made my cry within 20 seconds.

This is why I signed up! New artist to me and it’s amazing music. Quickly songs and song titles super talented musician. 8.7

It is just too long for me and so are the names - they give me Fall Out Boy vibes lol. I know there is definitely a hidden meaning behind these names, but I'm to lazy to research it. I probably wouldn't guess the decade of the release right, as it tries so hard to sound like much older bands. 22 songs and almost 75 minutes was too much for me though and I'd expect something more due to its length. It's just bland and not my cup of tea tbh. 3.7/10

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

This was an interesting and eclectic mix of music.

Un disco conceptual sobre un Estado yanki. Nada que ver con lo que esperaba musicalmente. Me gustó en general, lo tendría físico para escuchar completo en mi casa. Tiene cositas de música de iglesia. Párrafo aparte para el temazo que habla del payaso asesino, que no es precisamente Pogo de los redondos.

Honestly, weird and quirky. Was a bit of a chore to listen to.

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

I FEEL THE ILLINOISE

Pleasantly surprised. I see myself keeping this in my library

GOAT

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

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

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

Musically fine. I don’t want to spend any more moments with this man’s words.

Varied and interesting but veres a little too much into the dreamy quality it has overall. 3.5*

it's confusing and conversational, it's very good but i'm not sure i get it entirely

already listened 10/10

This is a very interesting listen, quite enjoyable for the songwriting, instrumentation and dynamics... but I don't get the pretense of the long-winded song titles and fluff 40 second tracks (the shortest one is 6 seconds). I feel like it is quite a statement but it could be a stronger statement without the fluff and pretense. Is it highly regarded because of the poetry and obtuseness? I feel like that is the case. Musically it's very good, just a bit too rambley and self-important for me.

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

Liked this much more than I expected to.

Fun music. Quite a bit more complex than I was expecting.

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

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

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

Some Uni kids got together and decided that working wasn't for them, had a great idea that every single musical instrument will go together if you try hard enough. .. didn't try hard enough but all their friends said it was deep and meaningful, they felt proud and so did all of their support workers.

Didn't really make me feel inspired or jazzy

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

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

Throwback to high school, was definitely into this album when it came out, I appreciate the instrumentation. Casimir Pulaski, Chiacago and JWG JR. are highlights for me.

With a bullet

***Sufjan Stevens** invites you to Come on feel the Illinoise* [2005] I am so tempted to give this five stars but I'm going to keep it at a rather heavy four and a half just to let it sink in... but I fucking love this album. And it is this specific sound which is why his *Songs for Christmas* box set is one of my absolute favorite annual plays. I love his arrangements and I love the way his production of his albums around this time. It sounds Lo-Fi without sounding like dirty garage. Very clean recordings but so little effects on them that the performances speak for themselves. All the way right down to the very last note of the album which is sound of the pedal lifting from the piano. It's in your face and it's real. (9.85) ★★★★½

Great album, just not Sufjan's best, would be 5 stars is trimmed by 10-15 minutes. 4.5 stars

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

A 2005 atom bomb of pretentiousness and twee, this has maybe 12 good minutes of folk melodies and a massive load of faux Steve Reich and 12 Musicians-style orchestrations that pads out the time to an excruciating 75 minutes. Did need to strip it all down and have some relatives die on Carrie And Lowell to make some actual great music.

3.5

Loved it. Very soft and gentle with some oddly dark themes

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

quirky, dreamy, imaginative, symphonic pop

Lots of good tunes on this album, even though it took forever to get through. Probably an album I'll come back to and listen to in bits and pieces. 3.5/5

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

Indie classic, it's alright, prefer "Carrie & Lowell"

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

remarkable album.

i can already tell this is gonna be ass

3.5

Musically it had its interesting parts layering all the different instruments but I can only take that style of singing for so long.

𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴 is sprawling, strange, and oddly beautiful — like an overstuffed musical yearbook dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, Superman, and obscure Midwestern tragedies. Sufjan Stevens manages to turn state history into orchestral indie pop with banjos, flutes, choirs, and emotion layered like geological sediment. Some songs soar, others meander, but the ambition never fades. It’s a maximalist album that somehow feels intimate. Still, I’d love to hear Sufjan apply the same grand treatment to 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 — just to see if he can make, say, 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 sound mythic.

Damn this album is really good though

this album is like 50% mid and 50% pure awesome peak amazing best thing ive ever heard. who cares about the mid? the peak is remembered and immortalized forever. 8/10

I really like Sufjan Stevens. His music stands on it's own as something unique. I just wish I had found it earlier in life. I hadn't ever listened to Illinoise in one go before, and I have to say I wish I had! I'm going to have to give this one another full listen again in the near future.

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

Great fucking god man, I've never understood Sufjan's stuff before now but after giving a full record a shot I really get it. This will likely end up being one of my favorites I listened to for the first time this year. Beautiful compositions front to back, with some lyrics ripe for picking apart.

I liked the first half but the back fell flat.

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

Nah

Excellent album of ambitious, orchestral rock, folk and pop. The music has a big, dramatic style, like it was designed for a Broadway stage, but still manages to feel accessible. I think that’s because the songcraft is very strong. For the all the ambitious ideas in the music, the songwriting still feels emotionally driven and direct. Some highlights for me on a first listen: - “Chicago” feels like the standout track. A big, epic pop song. - “They Are Night Zombies!!” is a cool, dramatic song. - “The Tallest Man…” is another clear standout track. Bright and sunny like a Paul Simon song but with an epic sweep. - “Out of Egypt” is a gorgeous finale. It feels like a very technical song but the craft of it is in service of this big, overwhelming emotion. Really cool way to end an impressive album. 4.5

A post-2000 indie epic that is up there with other greats like "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea", "The Hazards of Love", "Is This It", "Funeral", etc. "Chicago" is one of my favorite indie songs ever, and maybe one of my favorite songs ever regardless of genre. It's a gorgeous magnum opus inside of Sufjan's magnum opus album. It feels genuinely like love to me; it is warm and comfortable and exhilarating all at the same time. I adore this album and Sufjan himself. It is epic, complex, triumphant, delicate, and emotional. The flow is incredible and with so much intent, the lyrics are both tangible and fantastical, the performances are energetic, and amazingly the arrangements are the highlight. That's hard to find. I love how "major" this album sounds. So much good indie music is minor keys and minor pentatonic melodies, and this one really rejects that trend. Even when lyrical content would typically match a major/minor tonality by Western world standards, he breaks away from that. I'm obsessed with the vocal melody in "Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream" at around 4:10, "I cried myself to sleep last night And the ghost of Carl, he approached my window I was hypnotized, I was asked to improvise On the attitude, the regret of a thousand centuries of death" It's so beautiful. And I love the following vocal parts too. "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." is stunning. I let out an audible "ooomph" when I first heard the piano part today after not hearing this song for a few years. Stunning! I grew up listening to a lot of metal, and specifically death metal, where brutal topics are prevalent. With that being said, I don't think anything captures the unimaginable shock and horror of this kind of topic like this song; when Sufjan sings around 1:20 "Twenty-seven people Even more, they were boys With their cars, summer jobs Oh my God Are you one of them?" That "Oh my God" is so desperate, scary, and horrific. It's amazing. And to think, that's just the surface level of the song. My interpretation (the common one I think) is that this is about Sufjan being in the closet and not able to see himself as better than anyone, and comparing himself as a "bad" person in the faith that he was raised to someone like John Wayne Gacy. "And in my best behavior I am really just like him Look beneath the floorboards For the secrets I have hid" When I think about the importance of Pride month, I think about stories like this one, and how profoundly sad that comparison is at the end. Sufjan is probably the person I think of first when I think of the word enigmatic; "difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.", although I say this with love and adoration. Why? He didn't want this to be a huge double record because that would be "arrogant", and yet he titles these songs with the longest most verbose language you can find in an English song title. He also wrote, recorded, engineered, and produced all of this material himself. All of those are usually separate jobs, and he decides to do it all himself. He's perplexing! For my anecdote: while it came out in 2005, I didn't really discover it along with my friends until college; some 3-5 years later. It was a revelation in my friend group though. I don't feel like we often listened to it together, as it's not really a big party or get together album. It's too shifty and adventurous to put on and expect people to have conversations over. When I refreshed my browser and saw this album come up, I was just about to step away and make myself a cup of coffee to start my day. And I did, and I got to thinking while I had time to think about the record without listening- "It's a 4/5, right? I love this album, but I really love the track "Chicago", and I always wanted more of that on the record. I wanted that song done 50 times in 50 different arrangements." But as I sat here re-listening, after not hearing the album full through in quite a few years, I realize that "Chicago" is so extra good because of it's place inside of the album. It's not a singular great track on an otherwise OK album; it's an amazing song on an amazing album. It's a 5/5 for me, a modern classic, and lands in the #20-25 range of my favorite albums of all time.

The track titles suck but we can forgive a masterpiece for that

I'm not sure if this album really deserves a 4, but given how many times I looped through it when it was new, I feel like anything less would be disingenuous.

A wonderfully delightful album that is very pleasing to listen to.

7/10…folk / singer-songwriter

God tier

Beautiful but could not finish it. Too sad

3.5

Not my cup of tea

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

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

I had only ever heard one song from this album before. Just blown away by how good this is! And I LOVE the song titles. :-)

UFO // John Wayne Gacy, Jr. // Chicago // Casimir Pulaski Day // Wasp // Night Zombies //

This album is nice. Sufjan's song writing is incredible, each track is very emotionally potent. I also really love his use of time signatures, there's lots of unpredictability which keeps the tracks feeling fresh over there 73 minute run time. A few of the instrumental tracks i could take or leave but over all, great album

arrangements are unbelievable

Un amalgame de styles et d'influences rétro déconstruits. J'ai aimé l'ambiance et les arrangements fastueux, le projet encyclopédique aux titres lyriques

This was good but did not have the time to finish

Meh lame

I'm not sure what you call this genre but its just interesting. I love the idea of basing an album off a state and things about it. A nice variety of music, its soft and kinda whimsical. Bright horns, some good folsky banjo. Its not my favorite but I had a good experience with this albim, I think Decatur stuck out to me most, but there really is a lot here to listen to, wear a good set of headphones too.

Chicago is the standout but this albums pretty good! What a fun experiment this almost was. Imagine if he had followed through and did albums for all 50 states?!? That would have been dope

I really like it Recently already listened to it

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

Insufferable indie noodling by the artist held above all others in insufferable indie circles. Bland is an understatement.

Jedan od mojih omiljenih, možda i omiljeni, Sufjan.

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

I was pulling for Sufjan around the time this came out. Gimmicks weren’t an entirely foreign concept - 69 Love Songs still felt recent - so coming up with an album for every US state, sure, why not? That and indie rock was in what would turn out to be several year rut, so having anyone with ambition and talent to match come along with a novel project was worth celebrating. Alas. While Michigan tipped his hand as being a bit on the twee/precious side of the spectrum, Illinois felt like a Wes Anderson score, Vincent Garibaldi and high school orchestras its guiding aesthetic lights. Even the song titles could be taken straight from a Max Fischer notebook. Which is fine, but what does that have to do with a state with as much musical variety as Illinois? There are moments of beauty and awe here, perhaps befitting a film score, but throughout the marriage of this musical aesthetic with smart liberal arts kid lyrics (hey I’m on one of those) becomes cloying. Sufjan did find a few modes here - acoustic singer-songwriter, chiefly - that found favour later in his career, but both any interest I had in him and he in this project ended with Illinois.

Ooh, this is nice! Sufjan Stevens is referenced in a Snow Patrol song, but other than that I had no idea about him. Turns out he has clever, thoughtful lyrics with internal rhymes, very specific subjects and lovely vocals and orchestral music and is just super my vibe. Simply beautiful. I don't love all the songs on this album - some have a few too many religious references - but I can tell I should listen to others of his albums and would probably come away with plenty of new favourites.

Very dreamy music

interesting, some unusual pieces, not too bad, worth another listen

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

Incredible my absolute fav.

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

This was boring as fuck. Also corny as fuck.

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

Oh my god, it’s still going It’s not bad. Some really nice, catchy songs but they’re too long, as is this album. Way too fucking long.

Music for people into acapella groups

Extremely solid album. Really great stuff here, and a really nice album experience. Really the only thing holding it back is I probably wouldn't listen to a lot of it outside of the album itself.

If this album has one downside, it's that it can't be enjoyed through singles. A meticulously crafted masterpiece through and through. There's genuinely nothing else like it.

Excellent stuff! It keeps to its vibe extremely well, and moves effortlessly through sounds and moods - chamber pop, energetic indie rock, strings and horns and guitars galore, and even a Steve Reich-esque minimalist piece to close it out! I'm gonna have to settle in to Sufjan's discography more.

This was awesome. I’m not sure I could pick out any songs that stuck out in my mind that I want to immediately go back and listen to, and that’s the only reason why I’m not giving it a 5, but it was a very enjoyable experience overall. It was also incredibly fun learning that Sufjan Stevens just kinda decided to learn every instrument known to man in order to produce this album. Flawless execution. What a guy.

The arrangements here are so so so gorgeous. "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" was so beautiful on first listen that I had to take some time to process it. And then once more after "Chicago". The storytelling is another of Sufjan's strengths, though it does take some digging on Genius to fully understand it. Still, it made Casimir Pulaski Day one of my favorite songs here. With such high highs, what does end up bringing the album down a bit is its 74min runtime. It feels harsh to say because the Illinois concept is genuinely so fun and unique, and every track an important contribution to that.... it just ends up diluting itself a bit by the end.

When it's good, it's absolutely perfect. Dense storytelling, complex instrumentation, and great vibes. An excellent album for road tripping. However, it is way too long and drops off considerably in the back half.

Loved this one. Loved the orchestral aspect, the mood, emotion. A repeat

Суф’ян Стівенс у своєму альбомі Illinois перетворює пейзажі Середнього Заходу Америки на строкату мозаїку людських історій, де величне сусідить із буденним, а трагедія переплітається з піднесеним. Продовжуючи ідею альбому Michigan (2003), Стівенс занурюється в камерний фолк, але з таким розмахом, що Illinois виходить далеко за межі простої музичної розповіді. Це альбом про дух Америки - її мрії, розчарування й тихі драми, що ховаються за фасадами провінційних містечок. Музично Illinois - це пишна барокова подорож, де дзвінкий вокал Стівенса, підкріплений хором Illinoisemaker, струнним квартетом, духовими й десятками інших інструментів, на яких він грає сам Стівенс, створюють багатошарову звукову палітру. Відкриваюча The Black Hawk War, or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning - це оркестрова увертюра, що наче запрошує до Іллінойсу, виділяється помпезною, але злегка тривожною інтонацією. Довжелезні назви пісень, сповнені іронії й поетичності, задають тон альбому, який балансує між театральністю й щирістю. У центрі Illinois - історії звичайних людей, розказані з такою теплотою й увагою до деталей, що саме це робить альбом “фолковим” у найглибшому сенсі. Хоча музично він далекий від кострубатої простоти традиційного фолку, Стівенс зберігає його дух: єдність у розповідях про людські долі. Casimir Pulaski Day розриває серце ніжною розповіддю про втрату під акомпанемент банджо, а Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother! змушує усміхатися й пританцьовувати. Навіть моторошна John Wayne Gacy, Jr., що присвячена серійному вбивці, вражає своєю літературною глибиною, розкриваючи не лише жах, а й людські слабкості. Illinois - це не просто альбом, а літературний і музичний епос, що вимагає терпіння. 21 трек - від коротких інструментальних замальовок до масштабних композицій на кшталт Chicago - гімну американській мрії про втечу від себе, яка пульсує енергією хору, що співає "All things go!”, обіцяючи звільнення.

I’m gonna call this one a masterpiece. Yeah, I said it.

Heel fijn voor in de achtergrond + ik herkende opeens de soundtrack van m’n favoriete film!! Geweldig :)

Creative with a wide range of sounds. 3.5 Stars

## In-Depth Review: *Illinois* by Sufjan Stevens Sufjan Stevens’ 2005 album *Illinois* (often stylized as *Illinoise*) is widely regarded as a landmark in 21st-century indie music. As the second entry in his ambitious (and ultimately abandoned) “Fifty States Project,” *Illinois* is a sprawling, intricate, and emotionally rich work that blends history, personal reflection, and musical innovation. This review will examine the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, concluding with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## **Lyrics** Stevens’ lyricism on *Illinois* is both literary and deeply personal. The album is nominally a concept record about the state of Illinois, but Stevens uses the state’s history, geography, and culture as a canvas for broader meditations on faith, mortality, love, and identity. His approach is both encyclopedic and intimate, weaving together historical events, obscure local references, and autobiographical confession. - **Historical and Personal Interplay:** Songs like “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” juxtapose the story of the infamous serial killer with Stevens’ own confessions, ending with the chilling line, “I am really just like him, look beneath the floorboards for the secrets I have hid.” This move from historical narrative to personal revelation is emblematic of Stevens’ lyrical style, blurring the line between reportage and self-examination[4][7]. - **Detail and Research:** Stevens reportedly spent months researching Illinois’ history, and it shows in the specificity of his references—from the 1893 World’s Fair to the Pullman labor strikes, to obscure towns and local legends[5][6]. - **Emotional Honesty:** Tracks like “Casimir Pulaski Day” deal with themes of loss and faith, narrating the death of a friend to bone cancer with heartbreaking directness and spiritual questioning. Stevens’ lyrics are often unflinching in their vulnerability, as seen in repeated refrains like “I made a lot of mistakes”[1][4]. **Pros:** - Rich, poetic, and densely layered lyrics. - Balances historical storytelling with raw personal confession. - Evocative imagery and emotional depth. **Cons:** - Some listeners may find the density and specificity of references alienating or difficult to parse without context[2][5]. - The narrative can sometimes feel fragmented due to the sheer scope of topics covered. --- ## **Music** Musically, *Illinois* is a tour de force of orchestral indie folk, blending a dizzying array of instruments and styles. Stevens draws on folk, pop, classical minimalism, and even gospel, creating a sound that is both lush and meticulously arranged. - **Instrumentation:** The album features a vast palette: banjo, piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, and choir vocals. Stevens’ arrangements are intricate but never cluttered, with each instrument serving the emotional and narrative needs of the song[6][4]. - **Song Structures:** Many tracks are multi-part suites, such as “Come On! Feel the Illinoise!” which shifts from a gentle, acoustic opening to a more electric, dynamic second half. Interludes and instrumental passages provide breathing room and maintain the album’s flow[3]. - **Melodic Strength:** Stevens’ melodies are memorable and often uplifting, even when the subject matter is dark. “Chicago” stands out as an anthemic centerpiece, its driving rhythm and swelling chorus capturing both the grandeur and melancholy of the city[7][5]. - **Vocal Delivery:** Stevens’ voice is gentle, almost whispery, which suits the album’s introspective tone. Some critics, however, find his vocals lacking in passion or energy, describing them as “sleepy” or subdued[2]. **Pros:** - Ambitious, multi-layered arrangements that reward repeated listens. - Seamless integration of diverse musical styles. - Effective use of choir and orchestration to amplify emotional impact. **Cons:** - The understated vocals may not appeal to listeners who prefer more dynamic or forceful singing[2]. - Some tracks and interludes may feel like filler, especially on such a long album[2][5]. --- ## **Production** Stevens produced *Illinois* himself, and the album’s production is a testament to his meticulous attention to detail. - **Clarity and Warmth:** The album’s sound is clear yet warm, with each instrument occupying its own space in the mix. The production enhances the lushness of the arrangements without overwhelming the listener[4][6]. - **Cohesion:** Despite the variety of styles and the album’s length (over 74 minutes), the production maintains a cohesive sonic identity. Songs flow smoothly into one another, aided by interludes and recurring musical motifs[3]. - **DIY Ethos:** Much of the album was recorded in home studios, lending an intimacy and authenticity to the sound. The production is polished but never sterile, retaining a sense of humanity and imperfection. **Pros:** - High production values with a personal, handcrafted feel. - Excellent balance between complexity and clarity. - Cohesive album flow. **Cons:** - The sheer density of the arrangements can be overwhelming on first listen. - Some may find the album’s length and uniform tone fatiguing over time. --- ## **Themes** *Illinois* is thematically rich, exploring a wide range of subjects through the lens of one state. - **History and Place:** The album is a selective history of Illinois, touching on events like the World’s Fair, the Pullman strike, and the life of Abraham Lincoln, but always using these as a springboard for broader questions about American identity[6][7]. - **Faith and Doubt:** Stevens, who often grapples with his Christian faith in his work, uses songs like “Casimir Pulaski Day” and “The Seer’s Tower” to interrogate the limits of belief in the face of suffering and evil[3][4]. - **Mortality and Redemption:** Death, regret, and the possibility of redemption recur throughout the album. The final tracks suggest a kind of hard-won optimism, a belief in community and the possibility of grace despite darkness[1][3]. - **Empathy and Human Complexity:** Perhaps most striking is Stevens’ empathetic approach, even to subjects as troubling as John Wayne Gacy. He refuses easy moralizing, instead recognizing the shared brokenness of humanity[7][4]. --- ## **Influence** *Illinois* has had a profound impact on indie music and beyond since its release. - **Critical Acclaim:** The album was universally praised upon release, appearing on numerous year-end and decade-end lists. It is frequently cited as one of the best albums of the 2000s[5][4]. - **Influence on Indie Folk:** Stevens’ blend of orchestral arrangements and confessional songwriting has influenced a generation of artists, from The Decemberists to Fleet Foxes to Phoebe Bridgers. - **Expansion of the Concept Album:** *Illinois* demonstrated that concept albums could be both ambitious and emotionally resonant, paving the way for similar projects in the indie world. - **Cultural Resonance:** The album’s songs, especially “Chicago,” have become anthems, featured in films, TV shows, and covered by numerous artists. --- ## **Pros and Cons** | Pros | Cons | |----------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | Lyrically rich and emotionally nuanced | Some vocals lack passion or energy | | Ambitious, intricate arrangements | Album length and density can be overwhelming | | Cohesive production and album flow | Some tracks/interludes may feel like filler | | Balances historical and personal themes | Dense references may alienate some listeners | | Empathetic, non-moralizing approach to difficult topics | Narrative can feel fragmented due to scope | | Significant influence on indie music | Uniform tone may fatigue some over long runtime | | Memorable melodies and standout tracks | Not all songs are equally memorable | --- ## **Conclusion** *Illinois* is a masterwork of modern songwriting, combining encyclopedic ambition with emotional intimacy. Stevens’ ability to weave together the historical and the personal, the grand and the mundane, results in an album that is both intellectually stimulating and deeply moving. Its lush orchestration, poetic lyrics, and thematic depth have ensured its place as a touchstone of 21st-century music. While the album’s length, density, and understated vocals may not appeal to everyone, these are minor flaws in the context of its achievements. *Illinois* stands as a testament to the power of music to capture the complexity of place, history, and the human soul.

The Good: Illinois baby! The Bad: Turns out we’re not heading to Chicago… The Ugly: Trying to figure out what his album “Iowa” would sound like!??!?! I deserve a price for having survived this ordeal! Honestly, I don’t even know what to say about this listening experience. It wasn’t terrible, it just wasn’t, and that is worse than terrible. If you would put a gun against my head and ask me to hum 1-bar of any song on this album, then my brains would get splattered all across the floor. And that is not a good thing. What does make me happy is the simple fact that, again, I am proven right in so far that there’s little music made post 2000 that is worth spending one’s time on. So yeah, another notch on my belt for a 1* album due to its absolute mastery at nothing.

No thank you

Me ha gustado bastante, suena a ensoñación, a vida pasada.

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

Some people like 'precious' music, some people don't - and I get why they don't. But I LOVE it.

my friend, more than any other album has been rly. sufjan's specific combination of folk and minimalism (the type of classical music, not the broad aesthetic goal) on this record has always just hit like the sound of eternity to me, everything ive ever known, or have wanted to know. every emotional portrait feels like something i have gone through or have wanted to go through. i am deeply scared of changing my surrounding circumstances, living situation etc, even for the better, and theres something ab how this record both feels so familiar and comforting AND feels like packing your bags and trying to start over Yet Again that just absolutely kills me. this has soundtracked multiple full resets of my conception of myself, and has made even more sense each time. yet before i could articulate any of this, it was still always There for me...i remember back when i was 16 or 17, hearing it for the first time, i had practically decided on the spot that it was my new favorite album ever. maybe i wasnt even wrong.

Meh

good

Not bad.

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

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

I can understand why this album is so important and recognized. It’s unique and very well executed. The composition is perfect, the overall theme is consistent, and the production is great. I respect it and I do think is a great album, it’s just not for me. I got bored after 6 songs. I wouldn’t revisit it. I think this is more of an album to analyze and listen to for educational purposes than to “feel like” listening, at least for me.

Really enjoyed listening

This is, in fact, one album I did not need to hear before I die. 2/5 Album 72/1001

fuckin whatEVER dude. I never listened to this artist when I first heard about them, mostly because I felt I already had good enough Folk-Rock artists and didn't any more. Also the people that really liked this also really liked Jack Johnson and crap like that so I just assumed it sucked. It is better than I thought, mostly just due to interesting instrumentation. That being said, after 7 songs I looked down and realized there are TWENTY TWO tracks on this album. C'mon son.

This is what boiled chicken sounds like. This is Taylor Swift bland, and I wasn't sure that was even possible. How does this end up on any list other than the "Things I heard Karen play at Target" list? Its "cringe try hard" and i didnt know that was a genre until now

Loved some of the tracks. But not putting this on a loop for sure.

Illinois is a masterpiece and I am an absolute idiot for only having listened to it once prior to this day.

Had Sufjan Stevens somehow gone through with his 50 States project, it would have been one of the greatest musical achievements of all time. Instead we are left with Illinois(e) - and I can’t complain. Absolute masterpiece.

Yeah, I mean. Millennial classic. So sad, so wild, so parade-y, so fey. Horns and orchestra. Andrew Bird always wanted but could never. Just a fun time all the way through.

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

Beautiful album, I’ve heard a number of the songs before. No idea where from though. Deep and meaningful lyrics too. Love it

Out together in an interesting fashion

An amazing album! One that I loved when I first heard it in the 00s and still love now!

too long, very pretentious couple of great songs though

I wasn't feeling the love.

A treasure to the whole world, not just Illinois!

It started a bit poorly, but it improved. I somehow never heard this album before. The lyrics on "Illinois" are well-written. A perfect representation of the state with the same name. I loved "The Man From Metropolis Stole Our Hearts", my favourite from the album. 4 stars for "Illinois(e)".

It’s rare that an artist can lose me with the first song of an album but here we are. The Blackhawk War continued that trend briefly but we may be on a different course now. Let’s dig deeper… Ahh it was instrumental…figures Back to the shitty music again I thought this guy was a political hippy. Isn’t that why he changed his name? Ok so Jacksonville started off pretty good as well but then the vocals and lyrics killed it. It’s just the same formula from start to finish. Light almost choir boy singing, good guitar playing but weak everything else. Cat, as I choose to cal him, flutters in a sound that would appease the wussy side of the alt music crowd. But that wouldn’t get him anywhere. Much like this album and my approval.

Meh, had some okay songs but not my cup tea

Ouvi enquanto trabalhava e adorei a experiência! Vou salvar o álbum na minha biblioteca, achei ele bem tranquilo e soft de ouvir.

I like Illinois but this album sucks!

Favorite Tracks: Decatur, or Round of Applause for your Stepmother! Chicago Casimir Pulaski Day The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is out to get us!

so freaking surreal i loved this, i liked sufjan stevens before but this made me so happy, i can tell hes super musically intelligent. john wayne gacy jr is diabolical but wildly poetic, the long song names are really frying me but i love it

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

Man, what an incredible album. The lyrics are strong (although imo too cute at times (looking at you, Decatur)) and you can tell all the references are well-researched. The star of the show is the composition, I was blown away the entire album. Favorites are Come On! Feel the Illinois! and The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!

Great album and also a great musical

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

definitely one i'm gonna need more time with. seems dense lyrically

Goat

Beautiful as always when it comes to Sufjan Stevens' music.

Amazing, kaleidoscopic indie, blues, folk, musical theatre inspired songsmithing. Reminded me of Badly Drawn Boy and Polyphonic Spree but it's own thing.

Not my style. 2 stars.

Astounding. This is an utterly unique achievement, combining winning song-craft and especially beautiful piano with an intriguing concept (the history of Illinois?!).

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

Hadn't listened to much Sufjan Stevens before but I like it. Easy listening. Good album for getting work done on a Friday afternoon.

First time hearing this artist. It's a no from me. I think I'm too old, cranky and cynical for this happy-go-lucky hipster art pop creation.

Iloiset 22 raitaa elokuvasäveltäjältä

WTF, where has this guy been all my life? I feel like this album dropped from space straight onto my eardrums. Instant add to my playlist.

Jag vet inte varför men det är bara bra. Chicago är en av världens bästa låtar och resten av albumet är en enda stor härlig vibe! ❤️

Riktigt bra chillmusik!

I've heard of Sufjan Stevens, but I haven't heard his music until now. He's a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has worked in various genres, including electronica, indie-folk, and baroque pop. He's released multiple albums since his last semester at college, including starting the rather ambitious notion of writing an album for each of the fifty U.S. states. Though thus far, he's only made an album each for two states - Michigan and, in the case here, Illinois. Lyrically, Illinoise draws from the imagery and iconography surrounding the state. From the UFO sighting in the town of Highland on the opening track, to the World's Fair expedition in "Come on! Feel the Illinoise!", to the state holiday of Casimir Pulaski Day in recognition of the Revolutionary War cavalry officer, to even Superman as the fictional town of Metropolis is based on Chicago. Even if I haven't been to Illinois yet, Sufjan gives a well-detailed look into the landscape and historical moments that resonated with him about the state, while also interweaving personal stories into the narrative, such as a memory of summer camp on "The Predatory Wasp of Palisades is Out to Get Us!" and especially on "Chicago" drawing on his time spent in the capital. I also can't help but notice the Christian undertones on tracks like "Casimir Pulaski Day" and "The Seer's Tower" that gesture towards a higher deity without being entrenched in biblical references. In conjunction with the intricate detail of the lyrics, the instrumentation and backing choir add are well-ornamented without sounding overbearing for the listener. The horn pickup and chorus reprieve of "Chicago" to the sung-duet segueing into the choir with hand-claps on "Decatur, or, Round of Applause for your Stepmother!" to the juxtaposition of distorted and acoustic guitars with the choir and trumpet accompaniment on "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts". There are a great deal of refined and layered arrangements centered about Sufjan's banjo playing and soft crooning, in a manner that reminded me of Nick Drake without the backing band being as busy as it was on Bryter Later. If I had to nitpick, Illinoise is a rather long album, clocking in at 74 minutes with multiple less-than-a-minute interludes. Yet paradoxically, it also doesn't feel as long, as the variety of ideas and arrangements kept it engaging through the runtime, with new sonic details rewarded on subsequent listens. Not to mention, the interludes are meaningfully connected between pieces while having referential titles that further added to the iconography of the state. I was not expecting to be genuinely impressed with such an elongated album about a state I haven't visited yet, but Sufjan Stevens did just that with Illinoise. I know he stopped focusing on the 50-state albums project from the looks of it, but it did result in this wonderful experience.

pre·ten·tious /prēˈten(t)SHəs/ adjective attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed. Boring, annoying, and unquestionably overlong. Even the track titles disrespectfully demand too much energy to fully read them.

I have always found Sufjan very talented. Everything he does is so well executed. The concept album is kinda lame though. Also, this wouldn’t have been the album I would have selected to showcase his talent.

This one was a constant in my rotation back in 2005 and beyond! Sufjan is still making incredible music. I’d actually place his 2023 heartbreaking release Javalin above this one but I’d still put Illinois pretty high in my all time favorites. Easy 5!

YES! This one is special and will be a 5. It's one of a kind, really. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. is a favorite, as is Jacksonville. Too many favorites, Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day. Interesting music and cool harmonies throughout the album. I love it!

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

Makes me wish I had grown up in Illinois to appreciate this even more! Great album to relax to.

Ajoittain kivoja saundeja

Complex album that was a great listen during a walk on a warm summer evening. I never heard of Sufjan but plan to listen to more music of him. 4+

You know what? I like it. Yes, Ok, this one I can tell IS a bit pretentious, but I don't care. It was fun to listen to, it was a chill time, a couple of bops.

Beautiful album that uses different sounds to the fullest. I also really like his voice as well.

Enjoyed this more than expected. A bit technical but otherwise a great concept

A collage of vibrant vignettes that swept me away. I honestly was prepared to be this album's biggest hater but it completely turned me on my head. Excellent.

First album to pop up in this listen that I already know and love, and listening to it all the way through only reinforced that love. One of the most intricately crafted, dense, gorgeous albums I have ever heard. Even if it’s not your style (it’s certainly very theatrical at times) you can’t deny the pure talent and effort that went into it. Not to mention all the research put into the Illinois lore. Truly a one of a kind album

My initial impression was that the song titles were long and pretentious. I wasn't expecting to like this, but there's something so fun yet peaceful and calming about the songs on this record. I thought it would drag when I saw the length and number of songs, but it didn't feel like an hour at all. Its hard to think of songs that stood out after the first listen but I'm sure this will change over time

I shouldn’t like this. It’s quite soft, quite folky, and a bit pretentious. However, I like the concept, the album art is cool, and the songs are well crafted with plenty of layers, some lovely strings, and catchy melodies. I’d need to be in the mood for it, but on the day I listened, I was.

If the length and pretentious song titles didn't set your alarm bells ringing, then the over an hour long runtime will. When will artists learn that if you're going to make a long album, it had better be filled with something worth listening to.

the track "Chicago' is in an incredibly good song. pleased i listened to this , been the most interesting album recommendation for ages . 4

The patron saint of midwest Christian hipsters of a certain age, and for good reason. It's all too much at times but respect at all times.

In 2005, American man Sufjan Stevens decided to make an album called Illinois, all about the state of Illinois, which is a place in America famous for having Chicago in it, and also for being mostly not Chicago. The album contains songs about things like Superman, serial killers, and Abraham Lincoln, which makes you wonder if Stevens had actually been to Illinois or if he just Googled it the night before. Listening to Illinois is a bit like being given a very elaborate history lesson by someone who’s forgotten the main facts but remembered all the feelings. The album is part of Stevens’s so-called “50 States Project,” where he promised to make an album for every state in America, before immediately giving up after two. It’s a bit like saying you’re going to read every book in the library and then stopping halfway through the first one because you realised you’d rather have a biscuit. Nevertheless, Illinois is considered a masterpiece, although no one can really agree why, apart from that it has lots of instruments in it and makes you feel a bit like you’re either ascending to heaven or shopping for organic vegetables.

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

Eh

I kinda like it kinda hate it

Some of these song titles are the wildest I've ever seen. On first listen, I really liked Feel The Illinois, Jacksonville, Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day, Predatory Wasp, and Tallest Man. This version of Chicago sounds different from the one I've listened to in the past but I'm into the added strings and chorus towards the end. Still probably my favorite song on the album. I read in the global reviews that this felt like listening to a Wes Anderson movie and I've never read a truer statement. This was an album that took a few listens to fully digest but I enjoyed the music quite a bit. There are deep-rooted themes, intricate song structures, and a variety of different styles of music here. Even with juggling all of that, the result is a beautifully produced album. I feel like this deserves a 5. I plan on coming back to this one for sure despite it being pretty lengthy.

It was only a matter of time before we met again. What a fantastic album with some of the longest song titles known to man. I don't have the energy or focus to break this down track by track. All I can really say is that there are no misses here. I feel like the quirkiness could be offputting to the uninitiated, but I challenge anyone to give this 3 listens across a week and not grow in love with it. The tracks are individually beautiful and even better than the sum of their parts when composed into this album. Hard to call them standouts, but some of my favorites include: Come On! Feel the Illinoise! -- a great standalone mini opera of sorts. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. -- a sobering ode to one of the most disturbing serial killers in memory. Decatur... -- a wonderful balance of plucked banjo, accordion, and smooth guitar lines. Honestly I'm not sure why I'm trying here.. there are none that I don't love. This is an unquestionable 5/5

This one had some Vampire Weekend vibes to it. Unique and whimsical throughout. Definitely have heard Chicago before. Definitely got interrupted a fair bit during this one so I think it deserves a relisten in full. Despite that it had a lot of beauty and airiness to it that I liked. I also like the album cover and the song titles, but that doesn't move the needle much for a review like this.

The most insane song titles I have ever seen. That was a weird one as well cause it started off really good but it kind of dragged on too long with it being well over an hour. A lot of songs had cool instrumentals but the singer never jived with me with his singing style. Still like it for it's originality but probably a lowish 4

Definitely have listened to this one before, but the only track I still listen to is Chicago. That song rules. Few songs in and this is certainly playful. Has that opera feel to it but in a fun way. Digging the horns in Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Jk love the horns on everything. Chicago still is an awesome song. Am always pumped when this come up on my playlists. SO much damn emotion in this song. It goes on a smidge too long but its incredibly beautiful. Pretty damn high 4 and could easily be a 5 on relistens.

EXCELLENT

Solamente por el tema de la avispa le meto un nota alta. Pero en serio: fue algo diferente pero inesperado, porque realmente lo genérico es regla acá. Nota: 3.9

Kenne ich. Ich weiß nicht wie oft ich dieses Album bereits gehört habe. Aber es gehört zu meinen liebsten. Casimir Pulaski Day ist zudem eines meiner absoluten Lieblingslieder. Egal wie oft ich es höre, werde ich emotional. Es ist so traurig, so menschlich.

Is it too long? Absolutely. Is it still pleasent and unusual to listen to? 100%

It is fine.

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

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

experimental album, not really my cup of tea

An interesting album, I liked Come On! Feel the Illinoise! and Chicago the most.

is aight kann man zu chillen

John Wayne Gacy, what a lad

The GOAT babeeeee

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

Well played instrumentally. My favorite track: The Geico ad between the pseudo hipster babble. Am I on track 4 or 6? Thank god most of these songs are under three minutes

Absolutely loved this music. Different sound. Really interesting melodies/harmonies. Some songs interesting rythems (spelling?). Interesting lyrics.

Cool songwriting. A real radioparadise.com song.

IN THE TOWER ABOVE THE EARTH

They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhh!

Great album, really enjoyed it. It develops quite nicely.

Conflicted. Parts were pretty nice but the vocals through a lot of the arrangements off. 4.5/10

Its definitely a trip/journey of an album, with a decent bit of variety. The singing wasn't too appealing.

This deserves more than one listen and it is something I would happily come back to. Stylistically I really like this. Got early Arcade Fire and Death Cab for Cutie vibes at times. 4/5.

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

No

Spoken strange music on a weak melody.

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

It was ok. Nothing great, nothing terrible. I wouldn’t listen again.

Sufjan made one of the greatest albums of all time with just a small budget, and that alone makes Illinois feel like a miracle. His ascending vocals feel like they’re lifting you up into the skies, carrying every emotion with grace. The writing is vivid and detailed, painting everything he wants with so much care that every song feels like its own little world. The production is absolutely BEAUUUTIFUL arger than life, yet still intimate, wrapping you up like a blanket while also feeling grand and majestic. It’s the kind of album that somehow balances comfort and ambition at the same time. There isn’t a single bad moment here. Every track flows perfectly into the next, and I can listen to it over and over without ever getting tired of it. It’s truly comforting, endlessly beautiful, and one of those rare records that feels timeless the second you hear it.

Initially I was apprehensive about this one because I had only heard Carrie and Lowell before and I found that album to be.... well I guess I didn't really get it back when I first listened to it but the impression that Sufjan's music being just not for me stayed basically since and prevented me from ever trying some of his stuff out until now and I'm glad I finally got to this one because despite the length and how it's a sprawling concept album I love that it doesn't feel like a heavy listen or like there's too much and nothing at the same time, it's an enjoyable listen basically off the strength of Sufjan's writing (or composing rather) and how these melodies are both so catchy and so pleasant, some songs really caught my attention and had me nodding along with my head or my hand, it's the kinda thing that really appeals to the side of me that likes some good melody work. Not every song is a winner, I mean 22 songs is a LOT and some of the slower, folksier songs were the ones that faltered the most, but when you have songs like Chicago, Jacksonville or Night Zombies, I can't complain at all.

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

Being that my hometown is a suburb of Chicago, I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to sit down and listen to this album in full. Dunno why I haven’t yet, just one of those projects I’ve always put off. Love what I’ve heard off of “Carrie and Lovell,” adore his collabs with Angelo de Augustine, and excited to dive into this. Album cover is goofy as hell— feels like an illustration on a board in a small town museum, in a great way. Very hokey and likable. Immediately enamored with the hilariously specific and long winded song titles too. 1. Kinda want the tempo to slow down a couple of clicks? Doesn’t feel as patient as an opener should be. Okok wait the flute is incredible, and his voice is a fresh witchhazel wipe to a flushed face. Love that the first song is about a UFO sighting, makes this project feel campy and sincere and earnest and silly and good. “3 stars” like those of a night sky, but also like a rating— funny. Great opener. 2. My singing monsters type intro? Clarinet (oboe?) and flute go dummy, though, love the orchestral notes throughout these first couple of songs, feels really ambitious These trumpets are making my home state feel kinda epic! We’re on the edge of theater-core here, and it would be schlocky if it wasn’t perfectly done— since it is, it’s just delightfully camp and catchy to boot. Woulda been cheesey if it were the album intro, but for some reason works great as the second song. 3. God his voice is just pleasing dude, just pleasant!! Kinda no idea what these lyrics are about but they sound good. Very jaunty, nice upbeat tempo and the 5 sounds great. Wish more indie stuff was in 5, it just feels perfectly quirky and fun. Worried 6 minutes would be too long, but the song is super patient and layers really nicely. Just a good sounding song!! 4. Ugh dude a song named after and about a serial killer should not be this pretty lmao WOW! Falsetto is so vulnerable and beautiful over gently diligent guitar and stumbling piano, subtle backup vocals are great, and goodness the lyrics are spellbinding— that last line, “under the floorboards,” gives Poe a worthy spiritual successor. I’m immensely impressed by the mic and mix quality, Stevens’s voice is so close, so intimate— I can hear the mouth working and soft breath texture and it is very forward in the mix but the instrumentation is still so lush! I think they panned all the instrumentation either slightly left or right and kept the vocals front and center, and it allows everything to operate as a whole while still having space for breathe. Great stuff. 5. The banjo is hokey for two seconds, and then it just submerged itself into the mix of Ladybug Transistor trumpets and beautiful strings and some lovely electric guitar noodling, that just kinda sounds like someone improvised one long solo over the song! It’s all so organic and folksy in the best way. Drums are to the left, shakers are to the right, cool balance, I have mo idea what his lyrics are saying ahaon, but I just like how he says “Andrew Jackson.” There hasn’t been a bad outro so far too, and this is no exception: strings seem reticent to end, and mourn the song’s passing before finally growing quiet. Love 6. Ah okay that strings outro I was talking about was its own song— love the song title, love the moment, feels very natural and I wouldn’t skip it. This and track 8 are really nice touches, makes the album feel really cohesive and fun 7. Sequencing is great so far too, banjo’s introduction last song leads into what is proper Americana folk, accordion and all. Delightful lyrics again, feels like a childhood roadtrip. Word to Abe. Such great balance of treble and bass on all of these songs— because Stevens has a generally breathy and trebly voice, the hurdy gurdy (or maybe it’s just low notes on an accordion imitating the drone?) give the lead vocals and their accompanying backups a solid foundation from which to roam. I like the clapping at the end, for some reason it feels like a part of the song in a way a lot of clapping doesn’t. 8. Lmao no wonder the clapping sounded like a song, it was one! Cute, and I wouldn’t skip it— fits like a glove 9. The central rhythm and melody of the vocals is super catchy, but I do think the instrumentation takes a bit of a backseat this song. I do like the vibes (word to the vibraphone too lol), but I’ve just been so pleased with how intimate and ornate the songs have sounded, this feels a little composed. It’s still super catchy, though, and feels really bombastic and certainly still carries emotional heft. The trumpets still continue to be essential to the DNA of the song. Vocals could stand to be like 2 dbs louder, and could do without the sleigh bells. I dunno, this song is the weakest on the album so far imo and it’s a strong strong 7/10, so. Hrm maybe 8/10, cos the lyrics feel really personal and human and good. 10. Side note, my high school marching band played in the Pulaski Day parade, it’s like a Chicago thing because the Polish community is big and also the parade in Ferris Buhler’s Day Off and oooo he’s talking about cancer oopsy. Okok love the dueling acoustic guitar and banjo, the former is space heater warm and the latter is your favorite scratchy wool blanket warm and Stevens’ voice is like Swiss Miss hot cocoa made with 2% milk warm. Absolutely adore the lyrics in this, doesn’t sacrifice meter or rhyme to tell a great human story. Super impressive. Just a beautiful song good God. Outro with the “dadadaas” layered with trumpet and the guitar and banjo and subtle backdrops of synth and flute it’s all so textured and warm and good!!! 11 Holy intro Batman omg I could listen to those twinkly plink cascades of guitar piano and vibes and percussion all fucking day dude, shit is musical ASMR— everything is panned super far out to the right or left except the trumpet and piano are kept center and it’s incredibly satisfying 12 trashy guitar tone bookends lovely indie goodness, really like how the edge being draped in satin backup vocals and cute glockenspiel accents. Just a nice track, though my brain doesn’t like how he says “man of steel” as much as how he says other things (e.g. “Andrew Jackson” from earlier) and that is kind of the heart of this song. Not a standout, and probably a touch too long. Still don’t think I’d skip it on future listens though. 13 Gos I love vibes dude they sound so good, wish they were used more often. Love the old timey synth and oboe, crazy combo. This kinda tries to do that layering from the 11th track, but I think there might be a little too much here, the vocals totally get lost in the sauce and the drums and oboe are a bit too forward in the mix. Sleigh bells work better here to give some whimsicality, just kinda doesn’t all come together as cohesively as most tracks here. 14 cool little interlude, little bit of a sudden transition into the next track but I’ll allow it 15 loooove the plot flute intro. Feels like they clocked that the flute is just a great pairing with Stevens, and I agree. Penguin Cafe Orchestra feels like another point of reference for this song with all the orchestral and choral elements! Irked I didn’t connect that sooner, instrumentals are very “Sings of Life.” Vocals are still so special though, love Stevens’s performance in this. Love the repeated image of the titular “wasp.” Drone outro sounds crazy cool, but kinda sudden transition here too— first questions raised about the sequencing 16 kinda by the numbers guitar riff, which feels odd this far into such an intricate album so far. Still built well, got me tapping my foot. Not super convinced by the backup vocalists’ hook. Funny song title, just wish the tone shift to more tension was used more substantively, feels kinda directionless 17 Strings plus bits of vibes interlude, catchy enough but not a standout. Transitions into the next song well though. 18 Julianna Barwick type vocals cloak this interlude in ethereality, i think it’s beautiful and really cool. Just odd to have two interludes back to back like this, but fun! But wish the first was as meaty as the second 19 Funny pun in the song title justifies by cool lyrics about looking down from the top of the Sear’s Tower. Dunno if this was written before the name change, but true Chicagoans will never call that magnificent temple the W***** Tower! And I’m definitely one of those lol uuuh good song but long album, starting to feel it on a slower song like this. Who’s Emmanuel? First truly forgettable song on this album, if it weren’t for the song title and cool vocals over from at the very end 20 Now here’s some proper Broadway shit. Them claps are crisp! Or is it more Wes Anderson movie? Love the play with time, alternating 5/8-6/8 sounds great, especially with such intricate piano and oboe lines. Cymbals are panned so far back and forth, weird but fun. Delightful listen, really justifies its length and reinvigorates my ears just as I was flagging, def a standout 21 very jazz trumpet for sure, so much texture in each tracked trumpet. Cool interlude 22 we made it! Very cool Steve Reich sorta intro, “Cournerpoint”-esque pulses complete with mallet percussion— had to be an inspiration. In the context of this album’s intricate webs of rhythm, though, such unison is almost unsettlingly whole, and when the pulses start to splinter and separate I’m almost believed to be within entropy again. This is just an absolutely stupendous closer to an absolutely stupendous album. Piano being the last note after the vibes get a little solo sounds like Stevens gives a little thank you to Reich— but also the beauty of Illinois as a state. Just great.

Cool

Very indi rock, but is sweet

16/04/2025 What even was this album?!

Still good, a little long and a lot of the songs blend together

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

Picture the classic Mothers of Invention albums such as “Absolutely Free” or “We’re Only In It for the Money” or maybe even “Apostrophe.” Now adjust it to something more serious, more epic, and more poetic. That’s what this album is like, maybe. This surely isn’t for everyone but it displays tremendous talent. If you’re prone to skip, at least slow down and take in “Casimir Pulaski Day,” which is not very much about Casimir Pulaski Day.

I can feel the Illinoise! And it is still resonating in my soul after listening to it for the first time in years. There are few artists and albums that immediately feel like they are both engaging and beyond you at the same time. Stevens' songs are compelling, moving, and will challenge your thinking, philosophy, and faith. And he does this with gentleness and big symphonic intimacy that allows you to accept the challenge in a way that is more contemplative than off-putting. There is no sermon, but there is an altar call of sorts... the kind that compels you to respond!

Chill vibe

Not usually my style of music, but I greatly appreciated the arrangements and song writing with such a fun concept for an album. Will revisit.

про серийника Джона Гейси хороший трек👍 дальше можно не слушать

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

Esch okay relativ viel musikalisch. Guet för e Hendergrond

Ambitious, artful, strange, beautiful ode to the Land of Lincoln. A modern indie classic.

what the flip bruh. this is awesome

Love Sufjan!! Such an interesting sound and odd stories layered in each track. Will definitely revisit.

I liked this album more than I expected, but it still very much has an early 2000s Indie sound, and uses the whole CD when it really doesn't have to.

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

Day 25 - I am super excited that this album came up today - It was a favorite of mine back in the early 2010s. I had drifted away from newer music but a fellow teacher gave me one of the tracks on a mix cd. I love(d) the sound. It is joyful. Maybe this is just due to reminiscing, but the album gets a 4/5 today #musicsky #albumsky #nowplaying #odetojoy

I've always liked the odd bit of Sufjan, but yes, this album is very much the muchness and gets samey quite quickly. However, a few songs I really like and it is a product of its time. I'm a sucker for indie folk rock of the mid-00's but this doesn't do much for me really. I don't know, It's fine. 2 seems mean but 3 too generous

I really enjoyed this album. At first the number of tracks was a bit off putting but I am now a Sufjan Stevens convert

Pleasant album; nothing spectacular. Chicago is an excellent track.

Astonished that this was 2005. Is my current taste skewing that perception? Or is this album so fresh that it sounds like today's music? Must have been crazy listening to it when it came out. It's a 4 or 5 from me

Never heard of this and really enjoyed

Weird unfun arrhythmic. Not Steve Goodman.

Hadn’t listened to this whole album before. I liked Chicago, but had a strong adverse reaction to the Gacy song. Overall, liked the rock/pop stuff.

"Chicago" is one of my favorite songs, but I actually never got around to listening to this whole album until now. People give a lot of side-eye to 00s indie nowadays, and I get it - I lived through it, it was a goofy-ass time. But man, if this came out today I think people would still love it. I love the music and lyrics, I love the theme, and I love that it feels like there's so much more to discover on repeat listens. So though this is very midwestern millennial of me, I'm giving it a 5. :)

It's kinda weird but not in a bad way. At worst it's a little boring sometimes. The track titles are very long and a lot of them are pretty funny. I think I need more time to figure out if this is just one giant joke, or if there's something deeper here Standouts - 4/5

This album felt hours long, and it's twee bullshit wore thin much earlier.

Fantastic. Amazing. Wow.

Been awhile since I've listened to this one. Love the premise. Not a fan of most of the songs. Chicago and Decatur stick out the most. 2/5.

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

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

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

summer jobs oh my gOeoeod

Nie echt mijn type muziek

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

simply not my type of music wasnt tryna listen to ts.

Fantastic! This album makes me feel like walking in the dream.

I really enjoy this album. It's all so melodic and has a unique sound. Chicago is an amazing song. I do think the album could've used a bit of curating before the final cut though. 22 songs at an hour and 15 is a bit much and 6 songs are under a minute long (with one at 6 seconds). That's some indie nonsense. 8/10 (4/5)

The first half is banger after banger. I lose interest by the end of the second half. Still a great, great album from the first half alone.

A beautiful voice with some beautiful lyrics and compositions. I may have also cried at a Sufjan show once. It’s undeniably great, yet I don’t feel the need to listen to often.

Country folk album with millennial sensibilities. And I’m quite partial to it

Very fun album and project, although it never was completed. I’m definitely biased toward this one as a Chicagoan, but it really is a beautiful and whimsical listen that I always enjoy. With moments of grave, sadness, innocence, and even humor, this album really has it all. I do agree with Kyle that the second half probably could have been pruned down some, but at no point I find myself not enjoying the music. Definitely an album everyone ought to listen to before they die.

Would probably give this 4.5* if I could. I absolutely loved this album. I've never heard of this person but I may have to look up more of their work.

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

71/1089 - I think this will grow on me. Very coherent instrumentation (can definitely hear the Reich influence) which is rare for indie music in my experience. I would have appreciated more loud vocals in certain places ad wasn't a big fan of the odd-time stuff but that's just my personal preference and not really a problem with the music.

Not my style, but good

👍

Interesting and mostly nice.

This was a good album. I can definitely see where it had some influence on things to come. The vocals reminded me of Motley Crue, and the overall sound kind of gave a harder rock vibe that was more edgy than the standard blues rock of the time. Nothing was particularly mind blowing but there were a lot of tracks that I liked and overall I enjoyed it.

Kinda boring but nice trumpets?

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

Really enjoyed the airiness and multiple singers. A happy album that also sings about a dark subject, Gacey murdrrs.

Nee, de chli brüeder vom Cat Stevens und sini Illi-noises hend mi uf e spezielli Art chli gnervt. Ned so my type of bread. 2 mal en koffeinfreie latte macchiato mit Hafermilch bitte

Kept waiting for it to get interesting, it never did

I haven’t listened to this whole album in a few years but it still is captivating in ways that few others have ever been for me. John Wayne Gacy, The man of metropolis and The Predatory Wasp are all standouts for me in Sufjans discography.

Masterful songwriting, really weird song titles.

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

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

Pretty good

teljesen őrült dolog ez is, imádom! kellett két hallgatás hozzá, hogy átjöjjön a koncepció meg a játékosság benne, de megérte.

Just a very fun, colorful, clear-eyed record. It really started to come to life with “Come Om Feel The Illinois! Pt. 1”. Evo with a sing as grim as “John Wayne Gacy Jr”, this whole album feels like floating through a twee, shimmery dream state. Like if “Eleanor Rigby” was more spread out and happy. Son 7 & 8 give you that indie mandolin/banjo fix (the titles are just too long to type out). The intro on song 12 almost shook the belief I was starting to form that this album is perfect to put on and just daydream to. That’s the highest compliment I can pay here, it’s just perfect daydream music. Song 15 might be my personal pick for Illinois, not just for how good it is, but for how it kicks off a string run of back half tracks. A twinkly, dreamy record that functions well as one cohesive listening experience!

What an album to start this journey with! The lyrics are fairly impenetrable for me, but I love their feeling. The music is genre defining -melodic indie with folk and rock. It feels li-fi, but is so well produced and comped it is on another level. Wonderful 5⭐

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

This feels like the longest hour and 14 mins I have ever experienced. Don't know if it is just me but I find a lot of American indie music really similar and bland. Needs more material about fights in taxi ranks, fruit machines and recreational drug use

Pleasant enough.

The John Wayne Gacy song sent me down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about that clown monster, ruined my productivity, and left a stain I can’t unhear—now unfortunately all the pleasant melodies feel like they’re masking a serial killer.

Liked some of it

Casimir Pulaski is the fave.

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

Idk but I only really liked Chicago because of the signal runners remix lol the rest of the album was like shut up man.

I really enjoy Sufjan’s style, it was so new and unexpected when I first heard it, but it has continually drawn me in the last two decades.

I love Sujan Stevens, but I admittedly haven't listened to one of his albums all the way through until this. This isn't my favorite album by him, but it's still so good. His voice, musicianship and lyricism is so good and I love the themes that he covers in his songs. I loved this one

Fun listening. Great mood. Nice concept. Glad to know that now.

One of my favorite albums that I only recently got into. It's a little bit whimsical, not in a bad way at all though. Great music, lyrics and vocal work. There is a kind of ethereal vibe to a lot of the songs that I really enjoy. Super chill album to put on and think about life. I own this album and plan to listen to it many more times.

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

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

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