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Stevens, Sufjan - Illinois CD Cover Art
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Sufjan Stevens Illinois CD

 Sufjan Stevens Discography of CDs
4.8 stars (13 Customer Reviews)

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The second entry from sui generis singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens in his absurdly ambitious project to make a record for every state in America outdistances even 2003's superb GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN in scope and beauty. A sweeping paean to the Lincoln state, ILLINOIS weaves together history, personal confession, and detail-filled scenarios with chamber folk, expansive orchestral pop, and back-porch pastoral settings for a stunningly progressive indie gem that sound like Brian Wilson, Stereolab, and Neil Young holding hands in heaven.

Remarkably, in its intricate, gorgeously crafted surfaces, ILLINOIS lives up to its aims. In addition to its symphonic grandeur, the album also showcases Stevens's heartland folk, and some of the album's most shimmering moments are its most spare. "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," for instance, is an absorbing narrative that features Stevens's sweet tenor couched by guitar, piano, and backing vocals. "Casimir Pulaski Day," similarly, rides a rootsy banjo and guitar groove while Stevens unfurls image-rich lyrics over a lilting melody. Witty, audacious, and moving, ILLINOIS manages to be spiritual, entertaining, and educational all at once, resulting in an utterly unique conceptual and musical statement.

The first new album since Seven Swans and the second in his 52 state series. Sufjan is one of the leading figures in the twisted folk revolution that includes Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart and Iron + Wine. 22 tracks, it is a breathtaking record, sure to be in all of the end of the year best of polls. ''A consistently moving, subtly beautiful experience'' -Billboard. ''A record of remarkable delicacy'' -the Guardian. ''Quietly beautiful'' -Rolling Stone. Spunk Records. 2005.

Arranger: Sufjan Stevens.

Personnel: Sufjan Stevens (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, flute, accordion, recorder, oboe, alto saxophone, piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, vibraphone, glockenspiel, electric bass, drums, shaker, tambourine, triangle, sleigh bell); Sufjan Stevens (vocals, various instruments); Illinoisemaker Choir (vocals); Rob Moose, Julianne Carney (violin); Maria Bella Jeffers (cello); Daniel Smith (hand claps, background vocals); Rev. Dan Smith (background vocals); Craig Montoro (vocals, trumpet); James McAlister (drums); Elin K. Smith (hand claps, background vocals); Matt Morgan, Shara Worden, Katrina Kerns (background vocals).

Recording information: Carroll Music Studios, New York, NY (2004-2005); Marla's Apartment, Brooklyn, NY (2004-2005); New Jerusalem Recreational Room, Clarksboro, NJ (2004-2005); Redhook, Brooklyn, NY (2004-2005); St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brooklyn, NY (2004-2005); Sufjan's Apartment, Brooklyn, NY (2004-2005); The Buddy Project, Astoria, Queens (2004-2005); The New Jerusalem Recreational Room, Clarsboro, NJ (2004-2005).

Spin (p.64) - Ranked #8 in Spin's "40 Best Albums Of 2005" - "[A] Chicago World's Fair of the ear -- a rebirth of wonder, discovery, and progress..."
Spin (p.105) - "[The album] sounds as informed by middle-American community theater, church choirs, and John Adams' American operas as any canonical 'folk rock' it may resemble." - Grade: A-
Entertainment Weekly (No. 829, p.71) - "...[F]inespun songs variously inspired by Carl Sandburg, John Wayne Gacy, Jr., and the 'Seer's' tower....ILLINOIS sounds quaint and even magical." - Grade: B+
Uncut (p.86) - 5 stars out of 5 - "ILLINOIS is an extraordinary achievement, all the more so as Stevens played most of the parts himself."
Magnet (p.52) - Ranked #5 in Magnet's "The 20 Best Albums Of 2005" - "[The album] continues his brave/insane quest to document the whole of our great nation's quilt of quirks..."
The Wire (p.41) - Included in The Wire's "2005 Rewind: 50 Records Of The Year."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.60) - Ranked #24 in Mojo's "The 50 Best Albums Of 2005" - "A boundless cornucopia utilising choir, woodwind and Vince Guaraldi-like piano..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.98) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[W]hen focusing on life's minute joys or its mundane horror, Stevens' voice is as true and profound as an angel."
Illinois Music


Detailed Illinois Music Information



List Price $14.98 (You save $2.73)
Category Rock/Pop Albums, Country CDs, Rock
Label Asthmatic Kitty
Orig Year 2005
All Time Sales Rank   1054  
CD Universe Part number 6878178
Catalog number 14
Discs 1
Release Date Jul 05, 2005
Studio/Live Studio
Mono/Stereo Stereo
Producer Sufjan Stevens; Sufjan Stevens
Engineer Sufjan Stevens
Personnel Daniel Smith - hand claps, background vocals
Sufjan Stevens - acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, flute, accordion, recorder, oboe, alto saxophone, piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, vibraphone, glockenspiel, electric bass, drums, shaker, tambourine, triangle, sleigh bell
Rob Moose
James McAlister - drums
Shara Worden
Matt Morgan
Elin K. Smith - hand claps, background vocals
Katrina Kerns - background vocals
Craig Montoro - vocals, trumpet
Julianne Carney - violin
Illinoisemaker Choir - vocals
Maria Bella Jeffers - cello
Rev. Dan Smith - background vocals
Sufjan Stevens Illinois Songs


Sufjan Stevens Illinois Album Track Listing



1.Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois  
2.Black Hawk War, Or, How to Demolish an Entire Civilization and ..., The
3.Come on! Feel the Illinoise!: Pt. 1: The World's Columbian Exposition
4.John Wayne Gacy, Jr.  
5.Jacksonville  
6.Short Reprise for Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, But for Very Good ..., A
7.Decatur, Or, Round of Applause for Your Stepmother!  
8.One Last "Whoo-Hoo!" for the Pullman
9.Chicago  
10.Casimir Pulaski Day  
11.To the Workers of the Rock River Valley Region, I Have an Idea ...
12.Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts, The  
13.Prairie Fire That Wanders About  
14.Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens ..., A
15.Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is out to Get Us!, The
16.They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back from
17.Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It
18.In This Temple as in the Hearts of Man for Whom He Saved the Earth
19.Seer's Tower, The  
20.Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders: Pt. 1: The Great Frontier/Pt. ..., The
21.Riffs and Variations on a Single Note for Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, ...
22.Out of Egypt, Into the Great Laugh of Mankind, And I Shake the ...
Illinois Music Review


Customer Illinois Reviews 




Average Rating: (4.8 out of 5 stars) 5 stars

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5 stars a cool breez in the desert
songwriting doesn't get much better than this. sufjan stevens is definitely one of the best new artists out there...illinoise is raw, real, deep and full of emotion. i've got metal head friends who hate singer sonwriters, but will listen to this album for hours! FIVE STARS!!!
Submitted by bandnavalis (stanton, DE) Verified Buyer
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  1 of 1 found this helpful.

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