Illinois

The fact that Stevens' music often sounds like that produced by a cult suggests that sometimes vulnerable people are taken in by it. 2 I expected better to be honest, especially coming off two rap albums in a row. This is all facade; an album that makes claims to everything grand and, judging by the vast puffery in its reception over the years, had its lies swallowed whole more often than not. These are not good songs. Even if we allowed Sufjan’s relentless obscurity to pass for insight - he doesn’t wrestle these lyrics into anything more than square phrases and sets them to melodies just as inelegant. Musically everything is in blocks. Let some of those blocks be in 11/8, let every chum you know from music school come along and dress the window - this is still clumsy music. Cluttered and clueless; much of the extra instrumentation merely doubling a vocal, doing a scale run at a cadence, or plonking a note squarely on the beat. The guitarist seems to do as he likes, to no memorable result. There are no real arrangements, and no real ideas. Often it makes you think of a music box - mechanical kitsch - notwithstanding the fact that manys a better tune has come out of a music box. We are big Tchaikovsky fans in our house. The long song titles pretend to eccentricity, the historical references and literary airs in the lyrics pretend to intellectual insight and poetry. The album’s 73 minute length is an elaborate distraction from there not being so much as 5 minutes worth hearing. Still, there is no lie in the non-event of Sufjan’s singing voice. There at least, in that weak, bloodless delivery of his, is something like confession of the truth. This is an album made by the dullest people imaginable. 1/5

I don't think I gave this album a fair shake when it came out. My dad loved Sufjan Stevens and had all his records, but I wasn't particularly interested at the time. I must have heard Illinois once or twice, but this just wasn't where my musical tastes were in 2005. I hadn't really fallen into this particular strain of indie folk yet. That would come later with bands like The Shins. This whole indie folk, freak folk, hipster indie rock thing was still percolating, and it would really come into its own over the next five to ten years. Even then, I tended to prefer the bands that rocked a little harder, like Arcade Fire, over the more delicate, acoustic stuff from artists like Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear, or Fleet Foxes. So I guess I just wasn't ready for Sufjan Stevens. Which is ridiculous, because on paper, this album might as well have been written specifically for me. A sprawling concept album about obscure American history, strange little towns, UFO sightings, and eccentric historical figures, all centered around a single state? Andrew Jackson, Mary Todd Lincoln, the Chicago World's Fair, bizarre local folklore, and gloriously absurd song titles with subtitles that practically require subtitles of their own? I mean, come on. I love concept albums. I love rock music. I love quirky historical shit. This is extremely my shit. How the hell did I miss it? Musically, there's an enormous amount to unpack. Some of it veers a little too far into the cutesy, precious territory that tends to put me off this genre, but so much of it is just gorgeous. The opening track, "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois," is beautiful. "Jacksonville" is another early standout, with an opening guitar figure that has a little Jerry Garcia "St. Stephen" thing going on. But "Chicago" is clearly the centerpiece. I think it was the radio single, to the extent that radio still existed in 2005. What an absolutely gorgeous song. The swelling orchestration, the hypnotic repetition, the sheer grandeur of the arrangement. There's something very Revolver-era Beatles about it, almost like "Tomorrow Never Knows" with a full orchestra. It's psychedelic, euphoric, and genuinely moving. The kind of song that just builds and builds until you're completely swept away by it. And then there are "Casimir Pulaski Day" and "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," two songs that absolutely rip my heart out of my chest. For all the album's whimsy, historical eccentricities, and orchestral grandeur, Stevens is equally capable of stripping everything back and delivering something utterly devastating. "Casimir Pulaski Day" is a heartbreaking meditation on young love, death, and the apparent indifference of God. "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." is something else entirely, a haunting, almost unbearably gentle song about unimaginable evil that somehow turns the mirror back on the listener. Neither needs the elaborate arrangements or musical fireworks found elsewhere on the record. They're almost unbearably beautiful in their simplicity, and all the more powerful for it. What's becoming increasingly apparent is that this isn't passive listening. You can't listen to this album once and be done with it. This is the kind of record that demands, and rewards, obsessive listening. There are so many layers to peel back, so many musical and lyrical details to uncover, so many historical references and little melodic flourishes buried in the arrangements, that one spin barely scratches the surface. I need to get to know this record. I need to live with it. I suspect it would take dozens of listens to even begin to appreciate everything that's happening here. And I have a feeling each successive listen would reveal something new. I don't love every minute of it. Some of the preciousness still rubs me the wrong way, and there are stretches where I admire what Stevens is doing more than I actually enjoy listening to it. But there's something extraordinary here. It's an album of almost absurd ambition that somehow manages to feel deeply personal. It can be playful and eccentric one moment, overwhelmingly beautiful or emotionally crushing the next. It's simultaneously whimsical, grandiose, intimate, and devastating. There's an entire world inside this record, and I've barely begun exploring it. I don't know how I missed it twenty-one years ago. But I know I'll be coming back. I have a feeling Illinois is going to get better every time I hear it. 7.8/10

Sufjan is simply one of the most gifted singer songwriters of our time. Can he be a bit twee sometimes? Sure, and the wispy vocals and overinvolved song titles accentuate that, but there is no lack of substance in his honest reflections on faith, family and sexuality. He is not always as baroque as this, but Illinois is probably the fullest demonstration of his talents. It is a lot, and I don't always enjoy all of it, but there is always a lot that I do enjoy and John Wayne Gacy Jr is just a stunning song

I get why it has so many accolades but it's just so damn twee, I can't get past the preciousness of it all.

Can’t say I was a massive fan; had some really nice instrumentals but felt a little overly pretentious at points. Like a version of yes where the bass never comes in.

Orchestra stuff

dull; like hayden but with keyboards

Some were good, others not that much, feels funny in terms of lyrics, but in general not my taste

I am of two minds about this album. the first couple tracks I thought were just aggressively bad. I do not understand why some of the songs' titles are short essays. that said, it did warm on me as I listened. I don't know if it's necessarily what I would call "good," but I'm not reaching to switch to something else either. I think it was probably a wise decision for him to abandon the 50 states project though. 3/5.

Not the music style I seek out in any way, shape, or form. A few decent songs saves this from being a 1. 2/5.

Unique, instantly recognisable as a Sufjan record but full of surprises at every turn. A happy, heartfelt, touching and fun record. The creativity, songwriting and arrangements are astounding. I often criticise albums for being too long but this record is an absolute joy right to the end.

A truly magical album that I've never really given the time of day it deserves. In my defence, this thing can get exhausting, not only because of its length, but because it jumps so often between different sounds, styles, and themes. But I'd be hard-pressed to name a record as theatrical as this one in the '2000s indie scene; it's like watching a Broadway musical about the coming-of-age of a boy in some alternate, fantastical version of Illinois, and it manages NOT to sound annoying given that premise. As a pretty big fan of Sufjan's 2010s stuff, especially his warmer, more intimate records, this album has always felt a bit out of reach. It's certainly much busier, like the bustling state it's named after. It doesn't feel as desolate and lonely as an album like 'Carrie and Lowell', but is constantly lively with a wide array of orchestral instruments, horns and strings and some stellar overdubbed female vocals. So much life beaming out of every track here. The sad moments are still there, like the pretty dark 'John Wayne Gacy Jr.' or 'The Predatory Wasp' with their lullaby delivery and classic Elliott Smith-inspired fingerpicking acoustic style. Those songs are great, but I've always enjoyed the larger, sing-along tracks here like 'Come on! Feel the Illinois!' and especially 'Chicago'. And the track 'They Are Night Zombies!' has this insanely groovy intro with an almost noir feel to it, again a complete left turn in the sonic direction of this album pretty deep in, that still manages to stick the landing. The thing that has always pulled me away from this album, its length, didn't really affect me much this time around. Yes, it's still a bit tiring by the end, but that's because it's feeding you so damn much all the time. It's certainly a record you can put on and be swept off your feet into another magical world. I really haven't heard a record like this one; some great stuff here that I truly did enjoy much more this time around. Amazing.

Pretty cool sound. Not an album I’ve heard before. A good album to put on in the background of a party and just vibe.

It's a little too long for me and probably more like a 3.5 if this website allowed half stars. The instrumentation is great if not kind of jarring and stressful to listen to in traffic. I've said I don't like Marvin Gaye because I don't want him to talk horny in my ear and I don't love this Sufjan Album because I'm not a sad little boy staring into a well.

pretty boring, this album was tough to listen

I am surprised how much this album grew on me from start to finish.

One of my wife’s favorite albums and one of mine too. This is such a lovely experience every time I get to return to it, Sufjan is one of the most creative and inventive songwriters of the 21st century and this is his crowning achievement. Clearly such a labor of love with so much thought and care put into the subject matter, the state of Illinois should feel so lucky that he decided to devote an entire album to it. Hits every emotion and never stops surprising me.

I’m really glad they added this album to the book, even if a bunch of other Sufjan Stevens albums are woefully missing. This one is hard for me to listen to. It’s very nostalgic and reminds me of past relationships that fell apart. But that’s exactly what Stevens does best: evoking places and times long gone that stay vivid in our imagination and our emotions. The rawness is what’s so striking, and perhaps also what puts new listeners off. Get past his soft-spoken, idiosyncratic voice, and you have a treasure trove of moods, sounds and styles. Experimental baroque pop? Steve Reich and Terry Riley influences? Heartbreaking ballads like “Casimir Pulaski Day” AND murder folk like “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.”? Rocking arpeggiated distortion? Piano-driven reflections? Song titles ranging from zany to odd to painfully honest? This has it all. As other reviewers have pointed out, it’s a lot to take in, but he created a moodboard dedicated to one state and its history, along with his own history, and in a meta twist made himself part of the state’s story. I can’t help but love it more every time I listen. At first, Stevens might sound like all the indie fluff we suffered through in the 2000s, but we’ve since realized he’s a master composer and experimenter of the highest order. He’s also dabbled in classical music, electronic music, film soundtracks and ballet scores. Having only this one album here doesn’t do justice to the fact that he may be one of the most versatile and eclectic composers of all time. This book did the same with Scott Walker by only focusing on his '60s stuff. So, yeah, I'm clearly a fan and nothing will change my mind. I could go into more detail, but I won’t. Listen with an open mind and you’ll be marveled, razzled, dazzled and left asking for more. A classic of American music, in my mind. 5 stars.

I love a concept album, I love Illinois, I love chicago, I love nostalgia - wish I could give a 4.5 but this was awesome

Maybe not my favourite Sufjan Stevens album (Age of Adz and Carrie and Lowell rank a bit higher for me) but still a really gorgeous and at times triumphant record.

Curioso

interesting! easy to listen to, felt like theatre; similar artistry to beck

מעניין, מוזר, לא היתה לי מספיק סבלנות לצערי

Eg like Sufjan Stevens godt eg:) Hørte ikkje sammenhengende gjennom dette albumet, så blir ikkje ein heilthjerta rating...

Liked the lo-fi orchestral ambience, wish he had a literal more variability as a singer. Man of Metropolis/Night Zombies the highlights, high-end 3

Ihan jännä kokonaisuus. Hiukan puhalteluksi jää mutta oli siellä ihan hyvää meininkiä ja pari väripilkkua. Biisien nimistä plussaa.

Joskus ol semmonen palvelu kuin audioskropleri, joka sitten vaihtu last äfämmäks. Sitä kautta ol kiva ettii uusii pändei ja artistei, kun pysty suoraan stalkkaan että mitä kuulit tyypit fiilistelee. No, kuulit tyypit kuunteli tätä. Sieltä tää on tuttu. Mahottomasti ei tullut ite kuitenkaan kuunneltuu, vaikka sinänsä kyl resonoi jo sillon. Varmaan kun tää on vähän liian tuhti täytekakku, niin ei sit riittänyt moti perehtyy ja vatta ei kestänyt laktoosia. Ite pääseppä tässä on kyl monenlaista soitinta pistänyt narulle. Biisitkään ei oo kauheen suoraa linjaa eli voi jopa jollekin progepierulle kelvata. Tai sitten on liian artsya. Ei ärtsyä vaan taiteellista. Taidetahan ei sovi sotkee musaan. Vois puolijyrkästi kuitenkin linjata, että tuskin tällasessa vuonna 2000+ julkastussa tavarassa paljoo parempii on kun tää. Toki tää nyt osu semmoseen pre-hipsuliin, että ol vähän tän suuntaset indiet kovasti framilla. Mut, hyvä meno, silti liian pitkä levy tällai päivässä hanskattavaks. Ois voinut aikanaan ottaa hanskaan kun nykyään on hanskat hukassa. Ei tullut otettuu. Eli neljä sit.

Aika erikoismenoa. Välillä ihan kunnollista indierokkia ja sitten taas välillä aivan sietämätöntä muniinpuhaltelua. Kokonaisuus jää kyllä negan puolelle.

I remember when this album was coming out. There was a lot of “hype” surrounding it. I use quotes because it was more novelty to me. A guy writing songs loosely inspired by Illinois. I thought of listening when it came out but never did. I’m listening now. There’s nothing wrong with the album. The instrumentation is good. I just don’t care what he’s saying. I’m sure he’s saying something for someone and I can appreciate the artistry required to write all these songs but I don’t care for the unnecessarily long titles. It’s his choice. This isn’t for me but I can’t understand why the album is here.

Pretty good indie music, fun to listen to, but perhaps overrated generally?

I'm perpetually comparing albums to the day before, even when it doesn't make sense to do so. That said, compare and contrast Sufjan Stevens' "Illinois" with Soundfarden's "Superunknown." Both are on the longer side, but unlike yesterday's "Superunknown" this album has enough weird and interesting ideas to justify it. I know it's a fool's errand to compare these farther (Cornell is, for instance, the superior vocalist, but they're making different music so what are we doing here? It's not like I wish Chris Cornell were singing here instead...) Anyway, I'd heard this a lot in the past but sort of fell off it, and the experience this time was repeatedly thinking "oh, THIS is the big song" before realizing the thing is loaded with big songs. I definitely want to check out more of Stevens' oeuvre.

I love sufjan stevens he is a master to me

Like a symphony. Very enjoyable as a whole. Few individual songs stand out, maybe Chicago.

This was a really pleasant listen,I really like the repeating loops in some of these songs, easy 4 stars here.

The only complaints I have about this album is that it was perhaps a bit too long and it gets awfully twee in a number of places. What a wild ride, though. It's like progressive folk, but not like the aggressive, muscular 70s Jethro Tull. If not for its preciousness, I could get to 5 stars, but I'm going 4 stars.

GOATED ALBUM Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois→10/10 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!'→10/10 Come On! Feel the Illinoise!→10/10 John Wayne Gacy, Jr.→10/10 Jacksonville→10/10 A Short Reprise for Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, but for Very Good Reasons→8/10 Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!→10/10 One Last 'Whoo-Hoo!' for the Pullman!!→skit/100 Chicago→10/10 Casimir Pulaski Day→10/10 To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Idea Concerning Your Predicament, and It Involves an Inner Tube, Bath Mats, and 21 Able-bodied Men→10/10 The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts→10/10 Prairie Fire That Wanders About→10/10 A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens Has an Existential Crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze→skit/10 The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get →10/10 They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from the Dead!! Ahhhh!→10/10 Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All the Way Out in Bushnell→10/10 In This Temple as in the Hearts of Man for Whom He Saved the Earth→9/10 The Seer's Tower→10/10 The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders→10/10 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→10/10 Out of Egypt, into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I Shake the Dirt from My Sandals as I Run→10/10 Best→Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, Chicago Worst→A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens Has an Existential Crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze overrated→NONE underrated→The Black Hawk War… overall→100/100 A Short Review for Illinois, Which is a 10/10 Album, but for Very Good Reasons. He’s a master of balance between stillness and movement—or his build-up play is simply genius. On top of that, it‘s pop , grandeur, and experimental at the same time. That’s no easy feat! Also, his voice is really gentle and makes me chill. That's why this is one of my TOP 10 favorite albums of all time.

B+

Good album, not great. One truly great song.

A phenomenal piece of work. Beautiful, absolutely drenched in pathos.

Great instrumentality, lyricism and production. Not my normal music.

Always liked this one.

Judged the album by its cover. I was completely caught off guard with the contents of this album. Absolute joy to listen to. It's a 10/10 and I think I've found a new artist I'll regularly listen to. Thank you 1001 Album Generator, this is why I'm here.

Punhetório. Punhetativo? Algo assim. De diversos modos, incluindo os títulos verbosos das canções, a duração prolongada do álbum, e as composições engenhosas. Nada disso é inerentemente negativo, mas requer uma apreciação que não sei se sou capaz de dar. Por outro lado, consigo ver o valor que existe aqui para quem consegue digerir bem todos esses elementos. A reputação desse álbum precede sua magnitude e ambição. É o tipo de produção que simboliza o desejo de criar algo grande. E não há dúvidas que Illinois é um grande álbum, em mais de uma maneira. Mas no final das contas, o aproveitamento subjetivo e arbitrário que cada ouvinte retira dessa experiência depende do quanto ele investe emocionalmente nessas canções. É preciso dizer que meu investimento foi um tanto nulo. Eu ouvi beleza em muitas dessas faixas e composições, logo não direi que não senti nada, mas minha alienação com muitos dos temas e sons aqui apresentados foi alta. Vejo Illinois como um álbum clássico, mas não um que me move grandemente. Deixo-o para os outros, mas fico feliz de ter o escutado. 4/5

I have a soft spot for American twee. This album isa bit baggy, but does have a few songs that really have an emotional punch. this guy does that

Had this on in the background so wasn't a lot of paying attention but it was better than i thought it would be. 3.5

I am noticing a pattern. Every time an album comes up that I know I dont like, but I decide to give it a chance as it is critically acclaimed, expecting that there's a possibility I raise my prediction from 2 to 3 stars, I always end up at 1 star. Worse than if I hadn't listened. This album I expected to be boring, but with some qualities that could raise it to tolerable. Nope. His whiny voice and the go-nowhere songs made each successive one harder to listen to.

Непогано

Sufjan Stevens is so committed to the concept of this album that he has a song from the point of view of John Wayne Gacy. Decatur and Casimir Pulaski Day affected me deeply on alternative spring break in 2015 LOL

extremely enjoyable and otherwise otherworldly

member this guy how's the 50-album project coming along lol this one also a long-runner also these song titles jeez 💥come on! feel the illinoise! [...] 💥john wayne gacy jr 💥chicago 💥the man of metropolis steals our hearts 💥the predatory wasp of the palisades is out to get us! 💥they are night zombies!! [...]

Very enjoyable indie album, love the arrangement. Great tracks for working. Will save it to my playlist.

I don’t know if it was me who was emotional but i sobbed tbh

Very creative!

This album came out the summer before my freshman year at college. Its melancholic adventurousness made it just what I needed at that moment in my life. All my friends in the dorm were obsessed with it. It represents the best of 00s indie - compelling melodies, evocative, unusual chords, simple yet multilayered production, beautifully broken. All with a blogosphere friendly backstory (I think he wrote or maybe even recorded some of it while traveling across the country, living out of a van). This one will always take me back to my college days.

I really enjoyed this album. I hadn’t ever listened to it before but I was familiar with the song “Chicago” from its appearance on the Bear soundtrack (pretty sure they used every song that ever mentioned the city at some point during the show’s run). Great lyrics that are somehow both deeply personal and expansive in their range. Enjoyed the historical and regional allusions, too. Felt symphonic in its scope and ambition, and loved the range of instrumentation and the arrangements throughout. Nice turn on.

Deserves the accolades, but not exactly my jam. Extra points for including the most gut wrenching cancer songs ever recorded. 3 out of 5 6.8 out of 10.

Kind of wish there were half stars. I have listened to the odd song by Sufjan but never an album. Think I should have been listening to his albums 4.5 stars ❤️

Chicago has been my ringtone since the day this song came out, and I don't see a reason to change it.

Track 1 - Terrible 0/5 Track 2 - Terrible 0/5 Track 3 - Terrible 0/5 Track 4 - Terrible -1/5 Track 5 - Terrible 0/5 Track 6 - Terrible 0/5 Track 7 - Terrible -10/5 Track 8 - Terrible-2/5 Track 9 - Terrible -72/5 Track 10 - Terrible 0/5 Track 11 - Terrible 0/5 Track 12 - Terrible 0/5 Track 13 - Terrible -103/5 Track 14 - Terrible 0/5 Track 15 - Terrible 0/5 Track 16 - Terrible 0/5 Track 17 - Terrible 0/5 Track 18 - Terrible 0/5 Track 19 - Terrible 0/5 Track 20 - Terrible 0/5 Track 21 - Terrible 0/5 Track 22 - Terrible 0/5 Track 23 - Terrible 0/5 Track 24 - Terrible 0/5 Track 25 - Terrible 0/5 Track 26 - Terrible 0/5 Thoughts that come to mind: "This has no edge or feel. It sounds like a student completing an assignment for music class." "This album is the polar opposite of sexy. Frigid? Apathy the album?" "John Wayne Gacy should be insulted his name is associated with this song." "Never been to Jacksonville, but it has to be a more exciting place than this song." "Pick a fucking song title, you pretentious douchebag!" "Chiddy Bang somehow made this a decent song and I appreciate them more now because that couldn't have been easy, so I guess that is a positive takeaway." "Well, this has to be almost over because we're on the 10th song... there's 26 songs?!?!?!" "Hey, a distorted guitar! I mean it's not doing anything, but I didn't expect that." "This is anti-Viagra. I'm not going to be able to get an erection for at least a month after being exposed to this." "How is there still more?!?! I don't know how this is 26 tracks. He could have cut... well, all 26 of them." "There has yet to be a single memorable moment to any song." "Didn't I hear this song already?" "At least I am bored enough to find writing documentation exciting." "Okay, I've definitely heard this song already. It sucked the last time and it sucks this time." "He keeps saying, 'I made a lot of mistakes.' The biggest one is this album."

Wildly inconsistent for me. Feel the Illinoise is good and then goes into John Wayne Gacy which is actually fucking terrible, for example.

Great. Singer-songwriting doesn't even begin to cover it.

Cool whimsical album Nice soft instrumentals Top 5 songs: To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Chicago Casimir Pulaski Day The Man of Metropolis Prairie Fire that Wanders About

Good chilled background music.

9/10 Best songs: Jacksonville; Decatur, or, a Round of Applause for Your Step-Mother!; Chicago; Casimir Pulaski Day; They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From the Dead!! Ahhhh! ; The Tallest Man, the Broadest Shoulders As a gay teenager from Illinois who was very deeply into (indie) music when this album was released, you better KNOW I've had a copy of this album on CD since the mid-2000s. This is a classic indie concept album - possibly the greatest of all time - and also one of the strongest albums of the 2000s. One thing I appreciate about this project is that it has given me a chance to relisten to classics like this. I've had a few songs on playlists over the years (Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day), but this listen reminded me of how great other songs like Jacksonville, Decatur, and They Are Zombies!! are. This is a great album.

Whether you love or hate Sufjan Stevens and his style of music, this album is undeniably a huge accomplishment. It's an exploration of Illinois' history, culture, figures through both the public and personal lens. So creative and unique, and I don't think there is anyone else in the world who could do something like this. But beyond the thesis, the songwriting and production is top tier. It's exciting, though-provoking, and also haunting at times. It feels like coming of age as well. Chicago is an anthem. This album is monumental. Top Songs: Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois, Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, Jacksonville, Decatur, or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!, Chicago, Casimir Pulaski Day, The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts, The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us!

Not that noisy

Stand-out tracks: Concering the UFO..., The Black Hawk War..., Come On! Feel the Illinoise!..., Chicago, Jacksonville, Casimir Pulaski Day, To The Workers..., Praire Fire..., The Predatory Wasp..., They Are Night Zombie!..., The Tallest Man... A very unique listening experience with a blend of all sorts of sounds and feelings from loud and expressive to sad and haunting. It started off very promising and I enjoyed pretty much every track up until about the last half of the album. I feel that the excitement dies down a bit towards the end and I especially disliked the closing track because of that crescendo that is hard on the ears. The shorter instrumental interludes are a welcome addition as they transition nicely from the main tracks and in general I really enjoyed the variety of instrumentals featured on the album. It just feels like it misses the mark at the end.

I'm surprised I'm listening to this and not Vampire Weekend.

Tämä oli jännä levy. Kuuntelin eka eilen töissä, siellä jäi touhutessa mieleen vain että indielaulua. Nyt rauhassa aamuteetä siemaillessa, huomaa että orkesterisävellykset ei tosiaankaan oo mitään tusinakamaa. Taitaa olla ehkä ensimmäinen indielevy joka pisti vähän kiehtomaan.

Luultavasti taas kovinkin tarinankerronnallinen albumi, muttei omaan makuuni oikein kutsunut kuuntelemaan tarinaa. Orkestraalista indierokkia/folkkia ripoteltuna progressiivisilla tahtilajeilla. Ei käynyt ärsyttämään suinkaan, mutta en mä nyt oikein haltioissani ollut myöskään tästä levystä. Ihan hyvän kuulonen ja hyvin tuotettu levy, mut ei tuonut sen ihmeempää sisältöä mun musiikkisfääreihin.

I usually don’t like this genre of folk acoustic, but I’m giving Sufjan a pass. He does it better than most I think, and he does it with an energy that many in the genre are lacking. If we could do half-points I would be at a 3.5. But I don’t think it has what it takes to edge up to a 4…

Note my favorite genre but I really like the concept of the album with all songs about a state

This is such an exceptional, singular album. There's nothing else quite like it. I resisted Sufjan Stevens for years—a lot of people who thought they were very smart liked him, so I thought his music was pretentious whisper-folk. But I wasn't really listening. A few years back, my spouse was listening to Illinois, and I finally gave it a shot. It's so good, from the unique instrumentation, echoes of minimalism, choral backing vocals, heartbreaking lyrics. A rare double album that is great all the way through, and an easy 5 stars.

I really enjoy this album as background music for a chill saturday. Many of the songs sound similar to me, and I enjoy that.

Had a whimsical sound to it, which isn't necessarily an insult nor a compliment. Parts of it were more fun that others, but decent overall.

I had mixed thoughts on this when I first played it. I was expecting it to be an immediate high scorer but those early tracks weren't what I was expecting and threw me. But then over the past 4-5 days I've replayed it at least 4 times, so that tells me this is at least a 4 and perhaps rises to the lauded 5. Yeah, I'm in a good mood and I want to remind myself to keep listening here when I go back to my 5* list later...

I heard about this album while I was working college radio but never listened to it. Figured it was another over hyped "masterpiece". So when it was picked for me, I put it off. Dreading it. I've now listened to it 4 times in the past two days, having my mind blown the first time, going home and having my wife listen (who also loved it) and it's just building on me. I honestly could've just added the entire album to my liked list but decided to skip the interstitials, since I always play that list on random. Easiest 5/5 that I've had to give and is neck and neck for the biggest surprise I've had with Pink Flag and the Triffids album

I forgot how much I loved this album.

I don't know what I just listened to but I know that I didn't need to hear it. There were elements that I liked but combined in these songs it wasn't in a good way and nothing here really resonated with me. Very bland, boring and the songs and tone were all pretty much the same.

I had always heard of the album but never really listened to it as it really isn’t my thing. I was surprised as it really was a well done album. I also discovered the son John Wayne Gacy, Jr which is just haunting. I think this is a straight up 3

I'll be generous and say this one is not for me.

I don’t get the hype. Sure it took time and skill but it was soulless.

Listened. Really enjoyed!

listenable and interesting concept but somehow not remarkably enjoyable

This is a remarkable album. It deserves three stars for the cover and song titles alone. Chicago is obviously a well known song, but much of the rest of the album was smooth on first listening too. Deserves more listens with proper attention to the lyrics.

Googled 'World's Longest Album' and this came up. I thought "That's weird, it's only listed at about 73 minutes. There's plenty longer than that." Then I tried to listen to the album and I understood completely. Boring, incorporeal, insubstantial, tote wielding soft boy bunkem.

Sufjan Stevens – Illinois (2005) On Day 288, this record proved to be an absolute, breathtaking masterpiece. The entire album sounds remarkably alive and richly produced, capturing an organic vibrancy that few records ever manage to achieve. Despite the massive scale of the chamber orchestrations, the whole listening experience carried an earnest, deeply humble presence that struck an emotional chord unlike anything I've encountered before. The delicate piano and woodwind beauty of "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" established the tone instantly, while the rhythmic complexity and theatrical flair of "Come On! Feel the Illinoise!" showcased pure compositional brilliance. Emotional cornerstones like the devastating, banjo-led storytelling on "Casimir Pulaski Day" and the lush, triumphant rush of "Chicago" solidified the journey. A lush, transcendent, and deeply human achievement. A definitive 5/5.

Overall Rating - 3.03/5 (6.06/10). This album sounds like a Wes Anderson movie, and the track titles confirm it.

Maybe it's just my mood while listening to this but I just found it boring. It was well put together and orchestrated but it didn't grab my attention at all. And it was much too long. I didn't really connect with any part of this record and was ready for it to be over about halfway through. I think that's probably unfair because I feel like it is better than my impression of it today but after one listen this is not something I would ever come back to. 2.5/5 and will round up.

Funky vibe - lots of instrumental stuff and soothing!

Meh. Clearly, he’s a talented songwriter and musician. The music just doesn’t move me.

I feel bad for not liking this cause I appretiate the ambition and the record is very... sincere in its pretentiousness? But I am not exactly a fan of the vocals that seem to be trying too hard to please my ear. A little too indie for me, I guess. And unless you're in love with the vocals, you probably won't enjoy this album too much as the background instruments are absolutely nothing special on their own.

Great album would have give it a 5 if a little shorter as runs out of steam near the end

All Things Go: lovely album

It’s long but it’s really great

Yeah, that was really lovely.

Chicago remains a great song. The rest is often inventive, but could be two albums!

Onko tää kuitenki vähän pitkä? Rakastan ja ihailen ja ei haittaa mutta kokonaisuutena ehkä leviää. Silti ihanaa että tää on täällä.

Tästä ei paljon Life is Strange -indie parane! Mua ärsytti pitkään Sufjanin musassa se miten samalta kaikki biisit kuulosti. Aattelin että joka biisi on vaan Travis pickingiä akkarilla ja päälle ilmavaa hoilailua surullisista asioista. Oon toki jo tovin tienny että näin ei oo, mutta tää levy todistaa asian tosi hienosti. Upean monipuolinen levy ja kokonaisuus on aikamoinen matka. Oon vielä tätä kirjottaessakin vähän epävarma että annanko nelosen vai vitosen, mut joka tapauksessa aivan todella makee levy kyseessä!

No pitihän se tehä paluu sorvin äärelle kun sitä suositeltii 🤠 Ja onneksi palasinkin! Sufjan Stevens on kyllä aivan one of a kind. Vaikka albumikokonaisuutena ei oo ehkä ihan helpommasta päästä (etenkin yli tunnin keston takia), niin monipuoliset soittimet, pehmeät soundimaailmat, loistavat sävellykset ja viihdyttävät sekoilut nostaa viiteen tähteen 🙂‍↕️ Jos albumia pitäs yhellä sanalla kuvailla nii se ois kyllä miellyttävä. Ps. Mitä nää raitojen nimet on XD Pps. Tänään opin että Sufjan Stevens on tyypin nimi, eikä bändin nimi?? Ppps. Älysin kuunnellessa sellasen hassun jutun että en ollu kuunnellu tätä ennen, MUTTA oon kuunnellu albumin nimeltä "The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album!", älkää kysykö miksi :D