Illinois

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Subtitled Come On Feel The..., Sufjan Stevens & The Michigan Militia have moved to Illinois (dubbing themselves the Illinoisemakers) but this new album is the same Sufjan we know and love. Fingerpicked ballads of delicate twang, tasteful orchestration, and titles that are murder on the ID3 tags. While this album unmistakably owes its inspiration to the sound of Michigan, Sufjan has managed to take his orchestra-like folk template and expand on it, tapping into unexpected genres and bringing unexpected instruments like strings and woodwinds to the forefront, all while relating tales of the state's history as well as possibly fictional stories about its residents.

To sweeten the deal, Sufjan's vocals have also improved some: he's managed to make his thin, meek vocal presence a little more noticeable, and while that doesn't stop him from using members of the quirky Danielson Famile as his own personal choir, it's nice to hear him sound more assured on some of this album's mellower moments. Rough Trade. 2005.Illinois sounds like The Sea and Cake collaborating with the high-school band from a Wes Anderson film on banjo-driven, pulsing meditations on Vince Guaraldi's music for Peanuts.

Sufjan Stevens, the singer-songwriter behind the endeavor, is an earnest and whimsical young man who aims to record an album based on every state in the union, though this is just his second attempt since 2003's Michigan. Lavish praise has been heaped upon this precocious twenty-something, who weaves personal recollections, historical narratives, and strange facts together to create lush portraits of Midwestern life. It's not maudlin stuff, and the atypical instrumentation (strings, choirs, trumpets, vibes) is beyond gimmick.

Halfway through "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," when Stevens has you feeling true empathy for a serial killer, it's clear that he really is an artist of the highest order. These are weird and lovely middlebrow ditties; we eagerly await the Broadway adaptation. --Mike McGonigal

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- - Hot!
    
    modernmystery liked and reviewed Illinois
    
    If you had to write what Sufjan Steven's music involved on paper, your mind would possibly explode. "Illinois" is one record that has proven itself to be timeless and flawless amongst the indie music... more
    
    If you had to write what Sufjan Steven's music involved on paper, your mind would possibly explode. "Illinois" is one record that has proven itself to be timeless and flawless amongst the indie music scene. I love how sometimes even his happiest of songs sound sad.
    
    2 years
    
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    Kristen Scharold liked and reviewed Illinois
    
    This album jump-started an entire shift in my musical tastes. It is mind blowing in all facets: lyrics, content, orchestrations, melodies. Nothing sounded the same afterwards.
    
    2 years
    
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    Vanda lost stickers liked and reviewed Illinois
    
    check
    
    10 months
    
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    Elizabeth Maldonado reviewed Illinois
    
    um, yes
    
    11 months
    
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    LynB liked and reviewed Illinois
    
    love sufjan!
    
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    darlin133 ('the sha) liked and reviewed Illinois
    
    nice
    
    1 year
    
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    Tammy liked and reviewed Illinois
    
    his best album, in my opinion!
    
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    Brian Franklin Alexander liked and reviewed Illinois
    
    It's just Sufjan. Love it.
    
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    Austin Silva favorited and reviewed Illinois
    
    My favorite album of all time!
    
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    Heather Greene Fitzpatrick favorited and reviewed Illinois
    
    Amazingly clever and heart felt, this album just brings me through all sorts of emotions depending on the song from the exuberance of The Man of Metropolis to the quiet heartbreak of John Wayne Gacy... more
    
    Amazingly clever and heart felt, this album just brings me through all sorts of emotions depending on the song from the exuberance of The Man of Metropolis to the quiet heartbreak of John Wayne Gacy Jr.
    
    2 years
    
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Subtitled Come On Feel The..., Sufjan Stevens & The Michigan Militia have moved to Illinois (dubbing themselves the Illinoisemakers) but this new album is the same Sufjan we know and love. Fingerpicked ballads of delicate twang, tasteful orchestration, and titles that are murder on the ID3 tags. While this album unmistakably owes its inspiration to the sound of Michigan, Sufjan has managed to take his orchestra-like folk template and expand on it, tapping into unexpected genres and bringing unexpected instruments like strings and woodwinds to the forefront, all while relating tales of the state's history as well as possibly fictional stories about its residents. To sweeten the deal, Sufjan's vocals have also improved some: he's managed to make his thin, meek vocal presence a little more noticeable, and while that doesn't stop him from using members of the quirky Danielson Famile as his own personal choir, it's nice to hear him sound more assured on some of this album's mellower moments. Rough Trade. 2005.Illinois sounds like The Sea and Cake collaborating with the high-school band from a Wes Anderson film on banjo-driven, pulsing meditations on Vince Guaraldi's music for Peanuts. Sufjan Stevens, the singer-songwriter behind the endeavor, is an earnest and whimsical young man who aims to record an album based on every state in the union, though this is just his second attempt since 2003's Michigan. Lavish praise has been heaped upon this precocious twenty-something, who weaves personal recollections, historical narratives, and strange facts together to create lush portraits of Midwestern life. It's not maudlin stuff, and the atypical instrumentation (strings, choirs, trumpets, vibes) is beyond gimmick. Halfway through "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," when Stevens has you feeling true empathy for a serial killer, it's clear that he really is an artist of the highest order. These are weird and lovely middlebrow ditties; we eagerly await the Broadway adaptation. --Mike McGonigal

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Illinois

By Sufjan Stevens, 2005

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By Sufjan Stevens, 2005

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