| | Sufjan Stevens Illinois CD Sufjan Stevens Discography of CDs
(13 Customer Reviews)
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 ... Illinois Music | List Price | $14.98 (You save $2.89) | | Category | Rock/Pop Albums, Country CDs, Rock | | Label | Asthmatic Kitty | | Orig Year | 2005 | | All Time Sales Rank | 1053  | | 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
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Sufjan Stevens Illinois Songs
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Click on the  buttons below to play song samples |
| |   | 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 ... | |
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