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