Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise CD

Illinoise buy CD music This Montreal ensemble's fiery debut is marked by surging guitars, soulful strings, driving drums, brilliant bass lines, and the quavering vocals of married couple Win Butler and Regine Chassagne. The group's song structures careen through a vast territory of musical and personal history, with lyrics warm with memories of childhood neighborhoods and deceased loved ones, resulting in an alternating current of joy and sadness. Favorably compared to the Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev, and Broken Social Scene, the Arcade Fire's sound seems to come from a lifetime of listening to the Cure, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, and many others--even a dose of soul gets worked into these grand anthems. Chassagne delivers some spellbinding vocals on "Haiti," while the tinkling piano and strings on "Crown of Love" conjure up a heartbroken surfside prom. In 2004, this made many critics' year-end lists, and it's no wonder--the songs on FUNERAL are so packed with unique instrumentation, mesmerizing build-ups, and galvanizing tempo changes that they seem culled from some enigmatic, decade-spanning rock anthology. Recording information: Hotel 2 Tango (08/2003-??/2004); Win & Regine's Apartment, Montreal, Canada (08/2003-??/2004). Photographer: Hilary Treadwell. Arcade Fire: Will Butler (bass instrument); Richard Reed Parry (double bass); Win Butler (bass guitar); Régine Chassagne, Howard Bilerman. Personnel: Win Butler (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric 12-string guitar, piano, synthesizer); Régine Chassagne (vocals, accordion, recorder, piano, synthesizer, xylophone, drums, percussion); Howard Bilerman (guitar, drums); Timothy Kingsbury (acoustic guitar); Anita Fust (harp); Jessica Moss, Sophie Trudeau, Owen Pallett, Sarah Neufeld (violin); Genevieve Heistek (viola); Michael Olsen, Mike Olsen (cello); Richard Reed Parry (accordion, piano, organ, synthesizer, xylophone, upright bass, percussion); Pietro Amato (horns); Will Butler (synthesizer, xylophone, percussion); Arlen Thompson (drums).

Illinoise CD music In early 2005, young indie icon Conor Oberst (AKA Bright Eyes) unveiled two full-length albums--I'M WIDE AWAKE, IT'S MORNING and DIGITAL ASH IN A DIGITAL URN. Whereas the latter proved to be a departure into electronic music, the former sticks to Oberst's established sound, which combines the urgency and heart-on-the-sleeve sentiment of emo-rock with twangy, down-home feel of alt-country and folk music. I'M WIDE AWAKE begins with Oberst telling a story that morphs into "At the Bottom of Everything," a jangly, upbeat tune featuring My Morning Jacket's Jim James on backing vocals. Throughout the record, Oberst reaches nearly hysterical peaks, seemingly overcome with emotion as his wavering voice, which often recalls Violent Femmes' Gordon Gano, veers almost, but not quite, out of control. Oberst's eccentric vocal delivery makes his pairings here with ever-graceful harmony singer Emmylou Harris intriguing, particularly on the rambling shuffle of "Another Travellin' Song." Although Oberst manages to work up plenty of energy on some tracks, the quieter tunes, including the dreamy New York City narrative "Lua," are the album's highlights, revealing hushed melodies that showcase his maturing songcraft. Audio Mixer: Mike Mogis. Bright Eyes: Conor Oberst (acoustic guitar); Mike Mogis (pedal steel guitar); Tim Luntzel (bass guitar); Jesse Harris . Personnel: Conor Oberst (vocals, guitar); Jake Bellows (vocals, harmonica); Emmylou Harris, Jim James, Andy LeMaster, Maria Taylor (vocals); Jesse Harris , Alex McManus (guitar); Mike Mogis (12-string guitar, mandolin); Nate Walcott (trumpet); Nick White (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, organ); Jason Boesel, Clark Baechle (drums). Additional personnel: Nick Walcott (trumpet); Nick White (organ); Emmylou Harris, Jim James, Andy LeMaster.

Illinoise songs Initial pressings of OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS comes with a 4-song bonus CD. While Sam Beam's self-recorded first outing as Iron & Wine, THE CREEK DRANK THE CRADLE, features a hushed bedroom atmosphere, his second full-length album, OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS, invites listeners into a slightly larger living room. Here there's enough space for an outside producer (Brian Deck) and additional musicians (including Sam's sister Sara on harmony vocals). Though Beam's musical palette has broadened to occasionally include drums, bass, and various stringed instruments, the spare, Southern Gothic tone remains intact, thanks to his distinctive, whispered vocals and literate lyrics. The album opener, "On Your Wings," slowly builds from acoustic- and slide-guitar lines before fading back into its own dreamy oblivion. On "Cinder and Smoke," Beam quietly observes that "the farmhouse is burning down" over a chanted backdrop, while "Free Until They Cut Me Down" initially sounds like Johnny Cash's bluesy take on Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus" until Beam's honeyed voice enters. And although the vocals of Cash and Beam are nearly polar opposites, Beam shares the late Man in Black's penchant for themes of nature, death, and spiritual yearning. A gorgeous collection of rustic songs, OUR ENDLESS NUMBERED DAYS furthers Beam's songwriting without sacrificing its intimacy. 1st Pressing Comes W/ Bonus 4-Song CD. Recorded at Engine Deck Studios, Chicago, Illinois in 2003. Iron & Wine: Sam Beam, Sara Beam, Patrick McKinney, Jeff McGriff, EJ Holowicki, Jonathan Bradley. Recording information: Engine Studios, Chicago, IL (2003).

Illinoise album for sale The Decemberists' third full-length release takes the fanciful lyrical subjects and defiantly non-rock musical tendencies of CASTAWAYS AND CUT-OUTS and HER MAJESTY THE DECEMBERISTS and infuses them with the more muscular and electric sound of the 2003 mini-concept album, THE TAIN. The combination provides singer/songwriter Colin Meloy and crew with their first true masterpiece, an album that not only fulfills, but exceeds, the promise of their earlier records. Meloy's pet obsessions with historical romance and the sea get their due, culminating in the nearly nine-minute suite "The Mariner's Revenge Song," but he also examines more real-world topics in the Morrissey-like portrait of runaway teenage hustlers "On the Bus Mall" and the embittered social commentary of "16 Military Wives." The true highlights, however, are the sarcastically jaunty Kinks-like shuffle "The Sporting Life," a first-person tale of dishonor on the playing fields set to the record's most insidiously catchy tune, and the churning opener, "The Infanta," where Meloy's linguistic over-achievements mesh surprisingly well with Chris Walla's assertive, harder-edged production. Audio Mixers: Christopher Walla; Troy Tietjen. Recording information: Hall of Justice, Seattle, WA (08/2004-09/2004); Prescott Church, Portland, OR (08/2004-09/2004). Illustrator: Carson Ellis. Photographer: Alicia J. Rose. Unknown Contributor Roles: Chris Funk; Nate Query; Rachel Blumberg. The Decemberists: Rachel Blumberg (vocals, drums); Colin Meloy (vocals); Chris Funk (guitar); Jenny Conlee (accordion, keyboards); Nate Query (bass instrument). Personnel: Eric Stern (tenor); Colin Meloy (guitar); Christopher Walla (electric guitar); Petra Haden (violin); Jeff London (shofar); Joe Cunningham (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Paul Brainard (trumpet); Tom Hill (trombone); Aaron Stewart (tamtam); John Roderick (sound effects). Additional personnel: Petra Haden, Eric Stern, Sean Nelson (vocals); Christopher Walla (guitar); Aaron Stewart (tom tom); Jeff London, Joe Cunningham, Tom Hill , Paul Brainard.

Illinoise CD music The first album to garner Sufjan Stevens considerable acclaim and attention, 2003's GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN finds the Great Lake State-born singer-songwriter offering up an endearing and accomplished set of chamber pop songs. Designated as the beginning of Stevens's proposed "50 States" project, MICHIGAN highlights the multi-instrumentalist's penchant for lush, inventive arrangements, which are ideally complemented by his hushed, easy-going vocals. Bearing true affection for his home state, Stevens opens the record with the delicate, melancholy "Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid)," followed by the chiming, Stereolab-like "All Good Naysayers! Speak Up! Or Forever Hold Your Peace!" The exclamation-mark-happy performer also shines on the spare, sleepy "Holland" and the vibrant orchestral mini-suite "Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)," revealing a charmingly dynamic approach built upon a foundation of earnest indie-folk. With its mix of minimalism and majesty, MICHIGAN easily stands out as one of Stevens's finest albums, and serves as excellent introduction to the amiable and prodigiously talented artist. Personnel: Sufjan Stevens (vocals, whistling, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, wooden flute, recorder, oboe, English horn, piano, electric piano, organ, vibraphone, glockenspiel, xylophone, bass guitar, drums, cymbals, shaker, tambourine, percussion, sleigh bell); John Ringhofer (vocals, trombone); Monique Aiuto, Daniel Smith , Vito Aiuto, Elin K. Smith, Megan Smith (vocals); Tom Eaton , Stephen Halker (trumpet). Recording information: Buxton School, Williamstown, MA; Megan's Apartment, Brooklyn, NY; N.J. Rec. Rm., Clarksboro, NJ; St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, NY; Steve & Jamila's House, Petoskey, MI; Sufjan's Apartment, Brooklyn, NY; Tom's Apartment, Brooklyn, NY; Vito & Monique's Apartment, Brooklyn, NY. Arranger: Sufjan Stevens. Personnel includes: Sufjan Stevens (various instruments); Elin Smith, Daniel Smith (vocals); Tom Eaton (trumpet); John Ringhofer (trombone, background vocals). Lyricist: Sufjan Stevens.

Illinoise buy CD music Multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens made a couple of records that slipped under the radar before his third, the astoundingly lush post-rock concept album GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN, gained him critical attention and cult status. Seemingly bent on not repeating himself, Stevens scales down MICHIGAN's grandeur to a minimalist palette for SEVEN SWANS. Where the previous album was instrumentally comparable to Tortoise or Stereolab, SEVEN SWANS is practically lo-fi, based around simply strummed acoustic guitars, banjo, organ, and hushed vocals. It's more akin to laconic Americana troubadours like Will Oldham and Iron & Wine, though no amount of sonic slimming-down can disguise Stevens's knack for crafty arrangements and accessibly quirky songs. Like-minded spirit Daniel Smith of the Danielson Family produced, and other Family members provide accompaniment that's considerably more structured than their own free-wheeling recordings. Live Recording Recorded at the New Jerusalem Rec Room, Clarksboro, New Jersey. Personnel: Megan Smith (vocals); David Smith (drums). Recording information: Daniel Smith's Home; New Jerusalem Rec Room, Clarksboro, NJ. Personnel: Sufjan Stevens (various instruments); Daniel Smith (vocals, bass); Elin Smith, Megan Smith (vocals); Andrew Smith, David Smith (drums).