Illinois
Subtitled Come On Feel The..., Sufjan Stevens & The Michigan Militia have moved to Illinois (dubbing themselves the Illinoisemakers) but this new album is the same Sufjan we know and love. Fingerpicked ballads of delicate twang, tasteful orchestration, and titles that are murder on the ID3 tags. While this album unmistakably owes its inspiration to the sound of Michigan, Sufjan has managed to take his orchestra-like folk template and expand on it, tapping into unexpected genres and bringing unexpected instruments like strings and woodwinds to the forefront, all while relating tales of the state's history as well as possibly fictional stories about its residents. To sweeten the deal, Sufjan's vocals have also improved some: he's managed to make his thin, meek vocal presence a little more noticeable, and while that doesn't stop him from using members of the quirky Danielson Famile as his own personal choir, it's nice to hear him sound more assured on some of this album's mellower moments. Rough Trade. 2005. more
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02:03What Comes After the Blues
Jason Molina and Co. have released an album that walks a thin line. Is it Country? Alt-Country?...
01:51Illinoise
I loved this album. Coming from someone who spent their whole life in illinois this cd really hit...
01:28Hard to Love a Man
Magnolia has a succinct bluesy sound. There's about self-loathing, minor league baseball,...
01:1389/93: An Anthology
Despite spanning only a few years this is a great collection. If you like Wilco you'll like...
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Illinois
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Illinois
Track Listing: 1. Concerning the UFO Sighting, 2. Black Hawk War, The, 3. Come On! Feel the Illinoise!, 4. John Wayne... |
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ProductReviews84/100 (100 Reviews)
Recent Reviews
- 4/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Oct-04-2008
- On the Music of Sufjan Stevens
Frankly, the music of Sufjan Stevens is a bit too twee and precious for my everyday tastes, but I'll be the first to admit that he comes close to touching something that exists in all of us -- that innate and intangible sense of "place"...
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- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Sep-20-2008
- A truly amazing piece of art
I would like to commend Sufjan Stevens here. This has to be one of the most creative albums I have ever heard, not only the 50 states project, but the vast scope of music he represents, throwing styles from folk to big band to...
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- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Aug-15-2008
- Brilliant
I could provide a lengthy description here, talking about this and that song, style and technique and all that, but why bother? There's just one thing you need to know: this CD is extraordinary. "Jacksonville" is my favorite.Glad I'm...
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- 5/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Apr-13-2008
- Creative songwriting, good sound, I love it
As you may have heard, Sufjan Stevens wishes to come out with an album for each state and tailor the songs on each album to that particular state. I love the creativity of his songwriting, I love his voice and I love most of the songs...
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Selected Reviews
- 4/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Oct-04-2008
- On the Music of Sufjan Stevens
Frankly, the music of Sufjan Stevens is a bit too twee and precious for my everyday tastes, but I'll be the first to admit that he comes close to touching something that exists in all of us -- that innate and intangible sense of "place"...
- read full review | report as inappropriate
- 3/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Jul-31-2007
- Overrated... I really wanted to love this album.
I don't see what the big deal is about this album. I mean, I see how it could be appealing... I like the fact that there are a variety of instruments, complex arrangements, and creative/unusual song structures (not to mention titles)....
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- 2/5
- From: Amazon
- Posted: Oct-03-2007
- Bland?
Sufjan Stevens "Illinoise" is not worth the price of admission to this so called tour of Chicago. His main strength is his musicality and for that he gets 2 stars since he decided to start singing along with the music. By the time I got...
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