And perhaps many others will not like this either, but it is an outstanding recording.

Artwork and insert with lyrics is awesome and a 3 way gatefold..amazing price for a doulble l.p. and artwork...also sounds amazing on my cheap record player...this album makes you want a better custom system..

so he makes some money and continues to make incredible records like this one.

This is easily one of the best records I have ever had the pleasure of listening to, and having it on vinyl enhances everything

Beautiful melodies, the zoom out/zoom in from the historical to the personal and the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink production make this one of the years best records

I read everyone's reviews about this album as well as also the Pitchfork review, which raves about this peice of work

I don't understand how people can use their bias when reviewing an album.

I was hoping the reviews I've read about Illinois were correct, but I lost that bet.

Okay, so I live in Illinois so this review may be slightly biased, but come on...

I was skeptical when I read all the great reviews of this album in various music magazines

I do think he is talented, and the cd itself is better than 90% of the garbage that is out there today, but it kinda grated on my nerves after a while.

If you are a fan of death metal, you won't like this CD(as panned by an earlier reviewer).

Edited on April 18: I acutally hate this cd even more on second listen i could not even get threw to the middle

That being said, I was unfamiliar with Sufjan Stevens and was doubtful a CD full of songs about Illinois by an "unknown" with a hard-to-pronounce name could be that satisfying

I absolutely love this CD, first listening, re-listening, narcotic-like, hearing something different every time.

His voice, the instruments, everything together is so smooth.

Prior that that moment, Stevens' voice seemed unappealing, his musical tastes lurching from one unfortunate corner of the room to another

Your pick which it is, but Stevens' sweet voice and birdlike instruments make it sound ethereal... before it switches over into the choral singing and inspiring horns of "Black Hawk War

Your pick which it is, but Stevens' sweet voice and birdlike instruments make it sound ethereal... before it switches over into the choral singing and inspiring horns of "Black Hawk War

I think it's actually Sufjan Stevens, with his delicate horrified voice, for whom you feel empathy.

Stevens may be the most ambitious artist in pop music today.

Stevens is simply one of the most talented artists creating music right now, period

This is one of those records that come around once every couple of years where the story and hype surrounding the artist absolutely overshadows the actual music

Well, it looks like an almost completely unknown artist from Holland, Michigan might be in the running for the title of great American lyricist, and perhaps ten or twenty years from now, the name Sufjan Stevens will be held in the reverent awe that so many of us have for those who proceeded him

This guy is one of the most promising American artists and this album is a great first proof of it.

might very well be one of the best tracks that Stevens has ever done (and that's saying a lot)

In short, of 22 tracks the only criticism I have is that some of the rhymes for "Decatur" are sort of forced.

Chicago" has already gotten some play on the airwaves although the best track, in my opinion, is "Concerning a UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL".Matt Zarnstorff

"Chicago" is probably the centerpiece of the album, but there are a lot of individual songs worth returning to, such as the beautiful opening track, "Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois", and the anthemic "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us

John Wayne Gacy Jr" is a chilling, but gorgeous, track that gives a history as well as a memorable perspective on the well known clown killer, Gacy

crime - "Illinois" is a complete work of astonishing freshness, and I find it difficult to imagine how it will be topped in the next 6 months.

One cannot deny the touching sincerity exhibited by Sufjan Stevens in his ambitious work, which features highly original and entertaining titles if nothing else

This album has gotten pretty much over-hyped by now but even so, it is a terrific work of art

While I lambaste the professional critics that touted this work as "album of the year", I commend the numerous Amazon reviewers that laid down the truth on this album's merit

It's too bad Sufjan Stevens probably won't get the recognition he deserves for this intricately beautiful work.

Sufjan Stevens is a puzzling character; sometimes naive, sometimes sophisticated, somewhat rustic and yet essentially urban in outlook

It's too bad Sufjan Stevens probably won't get the recognition he deserves for this intricately beautiful work.

Sufjan Stevens Illinois is a refreshing, enlightening, and at times moving album.

Not only the best album of 2005, but the best Sufjan Stevens album to date.

Either every other album that came out in 2005 just sucked or Sufjan Stevens Illinois is a truly one of the great ones of all time.

It's too bad Sufjan Stevens probably won't get the recognition he deserves for this intricately beautiful work.

The arrangements on this song are beautiful and really compliment the story Sufjan is telling about a boyhood incident

But Sufjan has many many tricks up his sleeve, and the attention to detail to pull it off

This is the one thing about Sufjan Stevens that I admire

Not only the best album of 2005, but the best Sufjan Stevens album to date.

Some melodies, after several listens, reveal an interesting complexity; one reviewer stated that "nobody would be humming this at work," which is only true if you didn't' listen to it more than twice or you don't recognize melodies more complex than the latest pop song

Stevens puts the melody first, and his melodies are unbelievably beautiful

On these exquisite melodies, Sufjan's intimate voice is often framed by elegant backing vocals over a complex and stirring instrumental mix

Lackluster melodies and predictable progressions haunt the lion's share of this record

In the Sufjan Stevens' tradition, layered and complex instrumentation and melodies are mixed with simplistic ones to create varying moods throughout "Come On Feel the Illinoise."

And the lyrics are pretty good especially for including Illinois references

Have a listen, buy the album and enjoy the thought provoking lyrics (despite whether or not you're a christian).

The lyrics are not cynical, self-absorbed, materialistic or political.

Very good acoustic/baroque pop with great vocals and very interesting lyrics

Banjo is the primary instrument in this song and the lyrics are steeped in history

I found "The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us

" "Decatur" and "The Predatory Wasp of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us

It, unlike michigan, is a little more upbeat and jazzy as it proceeds with perfect lyrics and a story behind every song

his songs go from driving, pulsing beats such as the track "they are zombies" to the beautifully poetic "predatory wasps of the palisades." this album is a change from his previous album on the state of michigan which was mostly carried by a folk influence.

My personal favorites, as they are extremely catchy and geniously composed are "The Predatory Wasp..." and "Decatur"

The song is as emotionally poignant as it is stellar

" (which features unique changing of textures, a jazz feel, and nice arrangment with trumpet riffs, etc..), "Chicago" (absolutely beautiful), "The Man of Metroplis Steals Our Hearts" (which contrasts acoustic and electric arrangements very effectively)

It, unlike michigan, is a little more upbeat and jazzy as it proceeds with perfect lyrics and a story behind every song

The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts," "John Wayne Gacy

Instead of an album full of such gems, it is rounded out by rustic folk balladry ("Casmir Pulaski Day," "John Wayne Gacy, Jr," "Decatur"), lush instrumental numbers (most of the ones with the really long song titles), and even an all-out rocker ("The Man from Metropolis Steals our Hearts").Stevens's instrumentation is truly beatiful--a seamless integration of guitar, banjo, and various woodwind instruments that complement his angelic voice wonderfully.

Lyrically he shines as well, especially in the album's high point "John Wayne Gacy Jr.", where he depicts a brutal serial killer also as a human being.

It's not often one is asked to be moved to pity a serial killer, and it can't help but be a disturbing experience

One of the better tracks on the album entitled "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.", features chilling lyrics about the infamous serial killer of the same name

The first, "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," provides a eerie, sorrowful look at the infamous serial killer and an introverted glimpse at one's own true self:

Jr." tackles one of the more infamous serial killers in the history of the United States, and Stevens turns in a sparse vocal track that's empathetic without being crass and contains one of the most heartbreaking vocal melodies I've heard in some time

So what he has a few song titles that are as long as short stories (i.e. "The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire

The longest song title is "The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire

Out In Bushnell," perhaps early in the album with "The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire

Most of the 22 songs on the album are titled with long and ridiculous names, such as "The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire