User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 792 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 721 out of 792
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Mixed: 16 out of 792
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Negative: 55 out of 792
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- Most helpful
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DanielleJul 10, 2005I LOVE THIS ALBUM. I cannot stop playing it. Sufjan is one of my favorite artists.
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KeithRJul 9, 2005
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JoshBJul 7, 2005Wow wow wow. Nothing says it better. This is an amazing album from start to finish. Beautiful music, beautiful songwriting. Sufjan is a true wonder.
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SansBSep 15, 2005This album is pure bliss
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TJTJan 30, 2007I love this CD. It is by far one of my absolute favorites. The whole CD flows and half the time songs progress into oneanother without you even realizing it. GENIUS is not strong enough but it will have to do. Great CD, everyone should have a copy.
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AustinSNov 10, 2005predatory wasp of the palisades! - the best thing to write a song about ever
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JamesCJul 12, 2005Best album of the year, by a mile.
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TorMJul 12, 2005Just magical. Hard to believe that 'Michigan' could be matched or bettered but this album would seem to do that. The arrangements are staggering, the harmonies are heart-breaking and the lyrics are inspired. Stunning.
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THJul 6, 2005Absolute best album of the year. Everybody, regardless of personal taste or interests, should be made to listen to this album at least once, but preferably until they love it -- which will probably only take one listen, anyway.
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LeahTJul 6, 2005
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mkfJul 6, 2005stunning!
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mattaJul 6, 2005
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TynanDJul 7, 2005The finest album of the year, clasped-hands down.
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DavidWJul 7, 2005
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MarioT.K.Jul 8, 2005This is utterly huge and reminds me of nothing because I haven't heard anything like e.g. "Chicago" before. Just give it a listen to "Casimir Pulaski Day" and have a good time.
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peterdJul 8, 2005unbeleiveable.
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RJJul 8, 2005Amazing music that just keeps going and going. Best I've hear this year.
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vincentxJul 9, 2005At the moment there are only 2 names that matter in music: Rufus Wainwright and Sufjan Stevens. With this albums Sufjan is a notch more genius than Rufus. What a perfect album, what gracious music, what splendour! 48 more "States" albums to go...if he keeps this up, the future is bright indeed....
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JoshHJul 9, 2005This album is astounding. It's the musical equivalent of movies like Magnolia, Short Cuts and Crash -- it's all over the place, but makes sense when taken in context of the entire work. Highlights include Casimir Pulaski Day; John Wayne Gacy, Jr.; Chicago; and everything else. Well worth whatever you pay for it.
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JeffRJul 9, 2005Brilliant. While similar in tone to his Michigan album, Illinois represents a leap forward in both songwriting and arrangement. This year's best.
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PoloPAug 16, 2005This album is amazing. Brilliant.
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CosmoPrelogAug 5, 2005Only a notorious jerk could dislike this record. An amazing achievement. Insanely good.
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IanSAug 8, 2005magical!
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JohnFSep 1, 2005Eclectic, heartfelt, but not sappy. No crying-in-your-beer Paul Simon schmaltz here...Mellow, but digs deep into your psyche.
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KakvoxSep 10, 2005Best album of the year in any genre - hands down.
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EmilyBSep 2, 2005This cd owns your life.
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fattakinskywalkerJan 10, 2006Without a doubt the best album i have heard in a year!! Sounds fresh, exciting and intelligent.
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TaylorLOct 20, 2006Sufjan Stevens has made great albums in the past, but nothing this epic. Never before have I heard an album with such intellectual lyrics, amazing songwriting, and spot on instrumentals. Music in its purist form.
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petebFeb 4, 2006utterly brillant!
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DavidSep 30, 2006I love the album, its beautiful, breathtaking and moving.
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AyshL.Jun 13, 2007Amazing.
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EddM.Apr 2, 2008No doubt in my mind: 10/10. Incredible.
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BrianKOct 10, 2005Melodic to the point of perfection. Some of the most beautiful music you will ever hear. Album of the year.
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AdamOct 18, 2005innovative
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StigKDec 2, 2005My only problem about giving this album a 10, is that Sufjan might be capebable of makeing an even better album about NY - that is, when he finally leaves the place... Illinois is both intimate and grand in a way no other album I´ve ever heard.
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marckDec 20, 2005This is beautiful. Without doubt the most acomplshed album of the year by far. I was dubious about buying this album after reading all the reviews. Believe . . . it's even better.
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AustinLOct 4, 2005What oftern gets ignored about this album is how well the songs can hold up alone, let alone on the album
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MWOct 4, 2005There's so much there to marvel at that it's rarely left my player since it came out.
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AdelaidaSOct 7, 2005Best album of 2005. Don't let the first listen fool you, it takes a couple of listens to grasp the intricacy and masterful musicianship of this album. You'll probably learn something, too.
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OskarEJul 11, 2005Beautiful album, getting better and better with each listen (almost a hundred now!). Such a seemingly effortlessly crafted album, so subtle...not a microsecond of oversentimentalty, still one of the most passionate, emotionally charged albums I've ever heard.
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RamaSJul 11, 2005This is the first time I vote in here. And this is because of this perfectly beautiful album. It just blows me away, I can't tell the last time in recent years I ever feel so sure to give a 10 on an album. The music and the lyrics are just extraordinary.
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MattCJul 10, 2005Sufjan is a genius, period... I cannot get enough of this album
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TravisSJul 14, 2005
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BjarteSJul 10, 2005Sufjan's best album so far.
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AceKabobJul 19, 2005
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ElliottMJul 6, 2005Utterly bewitching. It's one of the most wonderful things to be heard this year.
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bryanbJul 6, 2005gorgeous and affecting
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marcsJul 7, 2005Too bad I can't give it an 11. This has just about everything:creative arrangements,diverse instrumentation,hooks hooks hooks and visually evocative lyrics. What's great is that the songs actually live up to their epic titles.
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ClaireDJul 7, 2005Sufjan Stevens has taken a huge risk and succeeded, going above and beyond anything he has ever done before musically.
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JackmJul 7, 2005This album exceeds the already high expectations I had for it. Simply amazing, simply the best album of the year so far and could possibly, more like easily, hold that status through the year. If you don't have it, get it and give it a few listens and let it grow and grow on you...and grow.
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whbJul 7, 2005Sufjan is one of the only musicians right now who takes music seriously. He takes everything so seriously, but without over earnest (ahem Bright Eyes) audacity. Rather, everything is connected and important from a wasp on his arm to a serial killer. This album is an amazing feat.
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AaronS.Jul 7, 2005What a stunning album. A beautiful tone poem to my homestate. One of the most ambitious albums to come out this year.
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nicolosJul 8, 2005Reich rythyms run thru this beauty. Glorious.
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JasonTJul 8, 2005So far, no album released this year is even in the same class as "Illinois." Both heartbreaking and exciting, this is perhaps the best album since "The Creek That Drank The Cradle," only it may be better than even that. "John Wayne Gacy" is truly haunting, and the best song I've heard this year.
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AdamXJul 9, 2005Brilliant. Just brilliant.
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joshmAug 13, 2005this guy has God given creativity and he uses it more than any other musical artist in history
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christopherwAug 21, 2005Best album of 2005 so far by a mile, would recommend this to anyone who knows what music is and should be all about.Well done Sufjan on an excellent recording!!
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BrandonRAug 23, 2005A home run, if not a grand-slam, if not a pinch-hit grand-slam onto Waveland Ave. in the bottom of the ninth.
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timmAug 26, 2005One of the best albums of this decade. Truly great music. The kind of music that would be top of the charts if the media were not controlled by giant media conglomerates.
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IanBAug 26, 2005The most inspirational music that I have heard since the Dylan and folk era of the 60s/70's. Soulfull, haunting, with lyrics and harmonies that cut across generations. Cant wait for the next state.
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seantAug 9, 2005so far (and barring any unforseeable events) this is the best album of 2005, perhaps the best of this young millenium. stevens somehow writes music that is both immensly universal and intensely personal at the same time. this album is simply unbelievable.
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JLDSep 10, 2005a musical experience...so great!!
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mcSep 16, 2005Absolutely fantastic, one of the few originals in today's musical landscape, Sufjan is brilliant.
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JohnScottSep 24, 2005fantastic
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hotface.Sep 8, 2005This is the best album I've ever owned. &i have about 5,000, not including vinyl. So, that right there is saying something.
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JonLJan 10, 2006beautiful album
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AlexD.T.Jan 14, 2006The songwriting's inspired, the musical arrangements are great. One of my favourite albums.
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JeffPJan 25, 2006
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SteveCJan 31, 2006May be the best album I have ever heard. I hear something new everytime. Every album seems to get better.
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johnpJan 5, 2006Sufjan Stevens is an intelligent songwriter, one of my favorites.
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jaJan 5, 2006Ambitious yet enjoyable. Some instrumental filler, but the songs are all varied and full of wonderful arrangements. The best of 2005 this is.
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HuyNJan 6, 2006Wow. This album is amazing. I don't know if the comparison has been made, but the sounds on this album is definitely in the spirit SMILE and in many respects is superior. Pick it up with an open mind, listen to it a few times and odds are you will find nothing ill about the noise on this album.
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MikeMJan 9, 2006A gorgeous album...one of the few that has changed my life
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JimDFeb 1, 2006
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billybobFeb 2, 2006Absolutely inspired. So beautiful, it can hardly be stood. Are you writing from the heart? Are you writing from the heart?
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DonFFeb 24, 2006Have to disagree, Brian K! I'm well over 30, have heard a LOT of music, and this work is far from pretentious or annoying. The ambitious nature of it is part of the beauty.
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TakaNFeb 3, 2006Amazing, completely original taking a full journey throughout illinois.
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LesliePMar 6, 2006This is a haunting, intensely personal piece of work that gets under your skin. Great music, combined with incredible lyrics. It's one not to be missed.
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ErikHApr 11, 2006this is a masterpiece.
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TylerAApr 21, 2006One of the best albums I've ever heard, Highly recommended!
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DavidPApr 8, 2006An ambitious approach, and an astounding result. It's hard to imagine a better folk/rock/pop album; they come along about once per decade.
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WrenLApr 9, 2006Sufjan Stevens has bewitched me. His music holds such gentle strength; my heart bleeds and rejoices with his word.
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willoMay 3, 2006Just a masterpiece.
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AshPJun 14, 2006definately his best album so far. so personal and meaningful, utterly absorbing and so incredibly detailed. every few seconds contains a few treats.
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briannavSep 5, 2006one of my favorite albums, although no his best cd.
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DanKFeb 24, 2007Minimalistic like Phillip Glass, but more melodic, really great higher state of conciousness....:-)
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LennyCJun 2, 2007
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DanF.Jun 25, 2007One of my favorite all-time albums. I could listen to it anytime.
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Joni-M.Apr 21, 2008Perfect. Nothing less than a masterpiece.
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AyshL.Aug 9, 2008Amazing.
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PeterP.Dec 20, 2009Astonishing, ambitious, addictive, highly original, sublime. Truly exceptional, once in a lifetime kind of album.
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GregSOct 11, 2005Freakin LOVE this cd
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jimmNov 17, 2005best of the year no doubt. the depth of the music and its catchiness is like nothing i've ever heard. Have been listening to reapetedly. beautiful
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NickNov 17, 2005I'm willing to add another 10 to this album along with all the other "hipsters" because I, along with them, actually listened to it more than three times and am not tone deaf and like wonderfully wonderful music with smart lyrics and beautiful melodies. I like you Sufjan Stevens, I like you a lot.
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PhilipBOct 13, 2005I have hundreds of cds, and I love all kinds of music. This album is definitely in my top 10, along with Michigan. I can't find a thing wrong with this Prairie State tribute; I seriously couldn't ask for more than what he's done here--except maybe a few more tracks, but that's a harsh and invalid criticism for a disc with 22 tracks (23 on the vinyl!).
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WillANov 6, 2005it's a great cd. really creative. i don't think there's one bad song
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KopieKatDec 1, 2005I believe this might be one of the best, maybe the single best record of the year. It struck me, anyway. Oh, and don't mind the whining people down here. I doubt they even heard this record.
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AronCDec 13, 2005Easily the best album of the year, even beating my favourites:Arcade and Rufus. The hints were there in previous outings, but nobody could ahve predicted this! Choirs, folk, funky dance-able pop! and even a trippy ending song. Creative writing song certainly paid off. 1- 2 - 3 ' IN THE MORNING............'
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alanhDec 16, 2005top of the heap.....by some distance
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JohnScottDec 18, 2005fantastic
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Awards & Rankings
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There's a distinct community theater vibe to the whole affair... but the majority of Illinois is alarmingly earnest.
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Stevens is simply one of the most talented artists creating music right now, period.
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Exhausting, enthralling, disorientating, celebratory, and contemplative, Sufjan Stevens has delivered another album that will keep us listening and educated till Christmas.