Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

[Eikman]

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, Official Homepage , Tracks preview