CD Universe
Music MP3 Movies Games
» Search  Existing Customer?  Sign In   
McAfee Secure Certified
.
Stevens, Sufjan - Illinois CD Cover Art
Large Front

Sufjan Stevens Illinois CD

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

Add to Cart

 Our Price: $12.19  CD
For Sale Usually ships in 1-2 days


Get Sufjan Stevens ringtones on your cell phone!
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 $2.79)
Category Rock/Pop Albums, Country CDs, Rock
Label Asthmatic Kitty
Orig Year 2005
All Time Sales Rank   1051  
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


Illinois Other Versions



Illinois Music Review


Customer Illinois Reviews 




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

List All Reviews

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.

3 stars Over-Hyped pretension
Ok, it was fine, unique, playful, yet substantive an all that. Hard to use the word original in music, but he comes as close an anyone. For that, he has my praise. However, it is a tad pretentious to me. Mix the elitist sort of Sigur Ros overtones of messiah complex with Neil Young and the 70's show He Haw and some bad Indie "B" rated movie and you have Illinoise. It is worthwhile listen, do not get me wrong. But its a bit pompous.
Submitted by Nigel (London, UK)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  2 of 3 found this helpful.

5 stars An amazing CD
This is truly an amazing CD. The lyrics and music of each piece are so penetrating, unique and memorable, and the entire disk works together as one. No small feat. A real pleasure to listen to time and again
Submitted by PFCarch (Cranford, NJ, USA) Verified Buyer
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  1 of 2 found this helpful.

5 stars Refreshing and jubilant
I bought this CD after hearing one track on the radio (They Are Not Zombies...). The tracks are all extremely well thought through..lyrically and musically. The best word that comes to mind for the feel is jubilant. Not cheesey, but very celebratory of life. There are many catchy musical phrasings. Many stuck with me many days after my first listening. Unusual with so many trite and redundant albums being produced.
Submitted by doug.peeler (Austin, TX) Verified Buyer
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

5 stars You'll either Love it or Hate it.
If you're looking for something original in pop music, this is the album for you. It's not heavy rock, but it's not sugary pop either. Some songs are heavily orchestrated, but in a very original way. Not since "They Might Be Giants" has an artist used instruments this cleverly. Lyrically, you won't find a more engaging and intelligent record out there. Someone IS still making great music that hooks you and pulls you in. Maybe not on the first listen, but after a couple of spins, you'll begin remembering the haunting line or beautiful melody and you'll keep going back to this album time after time. Granted, some people really hate Sufjan's style, but if you're one of the many that like it, you'll really like it a lot.
Submitted by Dave (Missouri, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No

List All Reviews 

Have you heard this album?Write A Review


Ads by Google (turn off ads)
Buy Illinois CD


Buy Sufjan Stevens Illinois Posters From Allposters.com



Sufjan Stevens

14.5 x 14.5 inch
Framed CD

Price: $29.99
Sufjan Stevens

14.5 x 20.5 inch
Framed CD

Price: $49.99
Purchase Illinois CD


Customers Who Buy Illinois CD Purchase:



To buy, Click on price to add to cart
VH1 Presents The Corrs Live In Dublin
Also Bought
VH1 Presents The Corrs Live In Dublin CD  (2002)

Illinois album
CD $6.39  4.3 stars Top 500 Audio Samples

Greetings From Michigan
Also Bought
Sufjan Stevens Greetings From Michigan CD  (2003)

Illinois CD music
CD $12.49  3 stars Top 500 Audio Samples Definitive Album

Our Endless Numbered Days
Also Bought
Iron & Wine Our Endless Numbered Days CD  (2004)

Illinois music CDs
CD $11.99  5 stars Audio Samples

Seven Swans
Also Bought
Sufjan Stevens Seven Swans CD  (2004)

Illinois songs
CD $12.45  4.3 stars Audio Samples Definitive Album

Funeral
Also Bought
Arcade Fire Funeral CD  (2004)

Illinois album
CD $12.05  4.5 stars Top 500 Audio Samples Definitive Album

I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Also Bought
Bright Eyes I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning CD  (2005)

Illinois CD music
CD $10.79  4.6 stars Audio Samples Definitive Album

New River Head
Bevis Frond New River Head CDs  (1991)

Illinois music CDs
CD $15.39  Audio Samples

Sound Chambers
Ekkehard Ehlers Sound Chambers CD  (2004) (Import) Germany

Illinois songs
CD $16.55

Supersonic
Square One Supersonic CD  (2006) (Import) +2 Bonus Tra

Illinois album
CD $24.95
Additional Tracks
Sorry, there is no artwork available at this time
Carter Family Original And Great CD  (2006)

Illinois CD music
CD $6.05

Caiman Vacation
Mark Quartet Sanderson Caiman Vacation CD  (2007) (Import)

Illinois music CDs
CD $13.15

.

20 Days until Christmas
9 Days
to standard
shipping cutoff


More
1. I Dreamed A Dream 
Susan Boyle
2. Thriller 
Michael Jackson
3. My Christmas 
Andrea Bocelli
4. Beatles: Stereo Box Set 
Beatles
5. Fall 
Norah Jones
  All Time Top Sellers

This Week More
1. The Very Best Of Enya 
Enya
2. Untitled 
R. Kelly
3. An An Evening With Il Divo: Live In Barcelona 
Il Divo
4. Thalia En Primera Fila 
Thalia
5. Very Best Of Enya 
Enya
Next Week More
1. Love It To Death 
Alice Cooper
2. Buffet Hotel 
Jimmy Buffett
3. The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get 
Joe Walsh
4. Glee: The Music, Vol. 2 
Glee: The Music 2
5. Harvest Moon Live 
Neil Young

More  
1. Live At Madison Square Garden 
Bon Jovi
2. Songs & Stories 
George Benson
3. Element Of Freedom 
Alicia Keys
4. Got Some/Just Breathe 
Pearl Jam
5. Tapestries For Small Orchestra 
Bill Dixon
Best Music of 2009
Best 2009 MP3 Albums
Best MP3 Songs of 2009

Holiday Music on CD
Holiday Music on MP3
Classical Holiday Music

Remembering Michael
Music on DVD Google Checkout Promotion

More
Alternative
Blues
Box Sets
Classical
Country
Dance
Heavy Metal
International
Jazz
Latin
Live Performance
Oldies
R & B
Rap/Hip Hop
Rock/Pop
Soundtrack
Music Features & More
Vinyl Records
Accessories
Audiobooks
Bobbleheads
DVD Audio
Enhanced CD
Super Audio CD
Calendars

Bargain Bin
Radio Top 20
Top Music Charts
Most Requested Lyrics
Browse Movies
Action/Adventure
Comedy
Drama
Horror
Music Videos
TV on DVD


Circle of Excellence   Verisign   BizRate Certified

1996 - 2009 CD Universe; Portions copyright 1948 - 2009 Muze Inc.
For personal non-commercial use only. All rights reserved.

cdu4asppid music 6878178 cdu4pidall cdu4pls0 ver232cdu cdu4all 12/5/2009 6:16:48 AM