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Eikman
07-14-2005, 12:17 PM
someone wrote about it in another thread, and all i can do is to second the recommendation. this probably is Sufjan Stevens most ambitious work to date, and he has already done a lot of amazing work.
when i first heard it i thought it was a bit over the top, all those endless tracknames, 22 track all in all (lots of interludes tho) and the sound was a bit too pompous to my ears.
but after the second time, it suddenly caught me....it's not pompous at all, although there a quite a lot instruments (mostly played by Stevens himself) involved and Stevens' lyrics may appear awkward at times. i really love how there is a second, female, voice besides Sufjan on most of the tracks and how it combines melancholic piano tracks with uplifting steel guitar songs.

i read somewhere that it can be called as "neo-americana" or "neo-folk" and i think it is right; it's an ode to Illinois, and a very beautiful too. sufjan stevens is one of the most talented young songwriters (and musicians) right now. highly recommended!

picks:
Concerning the UFO Sighting...
Come on feel the Illinoise
Chicago
The Man Of Metropolis...

more info: Pitchfork review, (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/s/stevens_sufjan/illinois.shtml) Official Homepage (http://www.sufjan.com/) , Tracks preview (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009R1T7M/ref=pd_sxp_f/103-9206325-7027805?v=glance&s=music)

groovypanda
07-14-2005, 12:54 PM
sounds intriguing - i'll give it a listen...

Dave
07-14-2005, 10:21 PM
I read this interesting interview with him last night: http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4128

Leon
07-15-2005, 08:17 AM
I REALLLLLLLLY LOVE "All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands". It's so sweet!!!! Definately recommended.

Caprice
07-17-2005, 01:12 PM
My friend who plays the guitar really good has been on Sufjan Stevens for the past, half a year. Seriously he wouldnt shut up about this guy.

Then he finnaly bought Illinois the day it was released over the internet. Me and him drove into the city and listened to the whole album in the meantime. It really is a good album. I like the banjo alot.

My friend went to Los Angeles and bought Michigan from sufjan while there and me and him listened to the whole CD

Illinois is better. More songs i like.

If i did buy a sufjan album, it would be illinois.

cheers

den
07-20-2005, 02:33 AM
After one listen, I agree, it's quite good. Maybe I'm a little attached being from Illinois. It's nice to hear something that reminds you of home. Immediate stuck-in-your-head favorites: Chicago, Decatur. John Wayne Gacy Jr. is pretty chilling.

Mr. Stevens seems to be generating a lot of buzz about this album, especially in the college radio/indie scene and beyond. I'm sure it's even worse in Illinois. In Chicago, I bet WXRT (the best commercial radio station) is playing this to death Is there any other big press for it?

Eikman
07-20-2005, 05:32 AM
it got the highest rating from pitchfork this year

den
07-20-2005, 03:42 PM
Fair enough! Pitchfork is what it is, but I feel they are still pretty predictable and a bit full of themselves, but not as much as before. They are also based in Chicago. Hmmm...

Dave
07-20-2005, 08:03 PM
Well it is also number 1 on metacritics best of 2005 (http://www.metacritic.com/music/bests/2005.shtml) so far.

Which is obviously a little less biased.

Tom
07-21-2005, 03:21 AM
2c

This album is quite stunning on first listen. I'm definately going to play this out a lot over the next few weeks.

groovypanda
07-21-2005, 05:58 AM
i too am loving this album after the first couple of listens - his voice reminds me a little bit of badly drawn boy

can anyone tell me what other albums of his are worth checking out as i'd definitely like to hear more of him..?

cheers

matt

Dave
07-21-2005, 06:32 AM
Check out Greetings from Michigan, the first of his 50 states project. And Seven Swans which was released between Michigan and Illinois.

Both are great!

Jafs
07-22-2005, 08:05 AM
I first heard about him in the french magazines "Les Inrockuptibles", with the album "Michigan", but I never had the opportunity to listen to this record.

So now the guy is back with "Illinois"(Come and feel the Illinoise...), an outstanding record, following the press and the musical experts that you are, and following his interesting 1st place in RYM 2005 ranking (http://rateyourmusic.com) (even if I know that means nothing at all).

I was on the way to miss it like I missed Michigan, but I listened 3 TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL SONGS on www.lesinrocks.com (http://www.lesinrocks.com) ! I'm on the mental way to go and bought the record :p .

It's strange, because last year I found Arcade Fire's Funeral pretty interesting(a record with a soul is rare nowadays...), but I didn't check it out as he had to be due to his plenty of qualities.

mmm skyscraper
07-23-2005, 11:48 PM
I have Enjoy Your Rabbit which is mostly instrumental (some of the songs are even a bit drum'n'bass) and the only singing seems to be in Chinese. It's interesting, but definitely different than Michigan and Illinois.

Stephen
01-20-2006, 03:43 PM
I can't believe I missed this. My copy arrived today following the results of the dirty poll. Holy fuck, this is amazing. Decatur is possibly the sweetest melody I've ever heard. I am so pleased I own this record.

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34958hq439-qjw9v5jq298v5j
01-30-2006, 01:29 AM
I recently picked this up after hearing so much about it...he's got a great approach to music, and for a 74 minute album it progresses quite nicely, and never really gets boring. "Jacksonville", "Chicago", "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" and "The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders" are all downright amazing. "Chicago" gives me chills it's so good...can't wait to pick up his other stuff.

Claire14
02-17-2006, 01:40 PM
Hey did you guys hear? Sufjan Stevens is nominated for the New Pantheon Music Prize for his Illinois CD. The award show has now been rescheduled for March 2006 with 10 finalists. Some finalists are Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, Fiona Apple and more.

Who do you think is going to win? Check out all the finalists at www.newpantheon.net (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/www.newpantheon.net).