Illinois -- New Sufjan Stevens [R]

[Crimen y Castigo]

So like several folks here, I have been a bad anti-consumer and have been enjoying a handful of tracks from the forthcoming Sufjan Stevens album via the blogosphere.

It's entitled "Illinois" -- a follow up to his great album "Michigan" and part two of the ridiculously ambitious and just plain ridiculous "50 States Project."

But I felt compelled to start a new thread about it because the tunes are so ********ing good. I was a bit concerned at first about the overly similar sound to "Michigan" -- but he has taken that sound in bigger and more beautiful directions. Sweeping, choral, light, personal, huge sounding all at once.

I think he's actually from Michigan, so that might explain why that album is a bit darker and more somber and brainy sounding. Hard to unpack all that "home" stuff without getting in a funk. But from the few tracks I've heard, this one is much more optimistic. I've been to Illinois once, and must say it didn't sound like this, but who cares.

Anyway -- I cannot wait for this album to appear. I would have bought it immediately without hearing a note, which I can say about less than a dozen artists. But that's how good and fresh and exciting I found "Michigan." The fact that these early tracks sound so good is just fuel for the fire.

[chad]

Man, I will have to give "Michigan" a listen again. I really didn't like it when I heard it.

[Jawz10]

I enjoy Seven Swans more than Michigan, but I love both albums. I haven't heard anything about a new album and now that I have I'm dissapointed that he didn't do Indiana. Come on, we're closer than Illinois and all the bad drivers from Michigan seem to find their way to my state. throw me a bone.

[bmurphyfl]

I like the tracks and also find them to be similar to the tunes on Michigan. However, at least for these five tracks, I find the songs to be more focused than the Michigan tunes. Some of the tunes on Michigan tend to wander around like a good 2.5 hour movie that with proper editing would have been a great 2 hour movie.

But then again, I've only heard five of the 22 tracks so there is plenty of room on the other 17 tracks for him to start wandering again.

I think "Come on Illinois" and "Casimir Pulaski Day" are my favorite so far.

[hangthadj]

I can not wait for this album.

[Crimen y Castigo]

Sufjan Talks to the Onion (http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4128)

I haven't read this yet, nor have I been able to pick up the disk yet. I shall do both shortly.

But til then, here 'tis.

[YanksFC]

I have tried several times to get into Sufjan Stevens, but he really doesn't strike a chord with me. Same thing with the Arcade Fire. Not that the music is bad. It just doesn't do a damn thing for me.

[Chicago1871]

I enjoy Seven Swans more than Michigan, but I love both albums. I haven't heard anything about a new album and now that I have I'm dissapointed that he didn't do Indiana. Come on, we're closer than Illinois and all the bad drivers from Michigan seem to find their way to my state. throw me a bone.
Give him some of your water. :)

[bmurphyfl]

Sufjan Talks to the Onion (http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4128)

I haven't read this yet, nor have I been able to pick up the disk yet. I shall do both shortly.

But til then, here 'tis.

I finally capitulated and bought it from iTunes this morning. The only benefit of buying it there is the bonus track (a re-mixed version of "Chicago").

[yellowbismark]

Likewise, can't wait to buy the album.

I wonder what state is next? :) I'm betting he'll stick to the Lake Michigan theme and do Wisconsin next.

[Dolemite]

Likewise, can't wait to buy the album.

I wonder what state is next? :) I'm betting he'll stick to the Lake Michigan theme and do Wisconsin next.

he's releasing a three song ep about Delaware

[Mad_Bishop]

I gotta say, I got an advance of this a couple months ago, and I cannot get into it. And it's so long. I own several others and for me, nothing gets better than "Seven Swans"

[Kenobi]

I really like this. I had never really listened to SS before, other than the odd track I heard on woxy.com (http://www.woxy.com), but I'm surprised at how much I dig this. Favorite tracks at this point are "Casimir Pulaski Day", "The Avalanche", and "Decatur, or Round of Applause for Your Step-Mother". Not a big fan of the overly long song titles, though.

[hangthadj]

This is my favorite album of the year. Period.

[Crimen y Castigo]

Great live versions, via everybody's favorite radio station KEXP. (http://www.kexp.org/aspnet_client/SpecialMediaGroup.aspx?rID=2653&pID=528&fID=1080)

If anybody can tell me how to grab those, I'd be mighty appreciative.

[bmurphyfl]

Great live versions, via everybody's favorite radio station KEXP. (http://www.kexp.org/aspnet_client/SpecialMediaGroup.aspx?rID=2653&pID=528&fID=1080)

If anybody can tell me how to grab those, I'd be mighty appreciative.

The blog, Welcome to the Midwest (http://welcometothemidwest.blogspot.com/2005/07/sufjan-stevens-on-kcrws-morning.html), has mp3 files of six of the performances' tracks available.

That site is a really good one to look for live recordings.

[hangthadj]

The blog, Welcome to the Midwest (http://welcometothemidwest.blogspot.com/2005/07/sufjan-stevens-on-kcrws-morning.html), has mp3 files of six of the performances' tracks available.

That site is a really good one to look for live recordings.

I still can't get enough of this album. Seriously, I think Sufjan may have descended to earth in that spacecraft he sings about in the first track.

[Jawz10]

I got this cd the same day that my grandma passed away from cancer, so Casimir Pulaski Day hit me pretty hard. Am I the only person who likes Seven Swans ALOT?

[Crimen y Castigo]

I quite like it and still play it relatively often, but it's never got to me the way the other two have.

Of course I've also never sat with it with headphones or anything. I've liked the others so much, I've sat through them a few times from start to finish which only increased my appreciation.

[bmurphyfl]

I got this cd the same day that my grandma passed away from cancer, so Casimir Pulaski Day hit me pretty hard. Am I the only person who likes Seven Swans ALOT?

Nope. I like it more than Michigan too. I like Illinois more than both of them but Seven Swans is pretty close behind it.

My only complaint about all three of those albums is the commitment they require. They're long, intense albums that need to be listened to straight through. They don't work as well as singles on a mix. It's kind of like my mother-in-laws cooking. She cooks these huge delicious holiday feasts but not just at holidays; all the time. They taste great but I can't eat them every night when she comes to visit.