Illinois
by Sufjan Stevens
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 792 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 721 out of 792
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 792
  3. Negative: 55 out of 792

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  1. ArikK
    Jul 6, 2006
    10
    Amazing album. It flows perfectly and even feels like a plot, what with a climax in Chicago and Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts.
  2. RandyK
    Aug 21, 2006
    9
    Maybe the person who gave this a "3" will send his copy to me! We play Illinois whenever we have company over or when women stop by to shop for my wife's paintings. It always get positive results!
  3. HollayR
    Aug 23, 2006
    10
    This album is "the shit." I loves pretty mcuh every minute of it. I encourage everyone to go out and buy it and i am so pumbed to be going to this concert in Sept.
  4. anonymous
    Aug 8, 2006
    9
    Smooth and exceedingly different, the lyrics catch the listener and pull. The music sounds homespun, giving it a truly fresh feel.
  5. MihaiV
    Sep 17, 2006
    7
    While he is capable of delivering brilliant songs, the album as a hole feels dissapointing. It's to long with little varity. There's no fire in this album.
  6. johnnyc
    Sep 22, 2006
    10
    has some of the most breathtaking songs i have ever heard
  7. ChadK.
    Nov 30, 2007
    10
    Magical, disarming, earnest, and potent. A masterpiece.
  8. ErikaL
    Jan 7, 2007
    10
    Wonderfull!
  9. NickyB
    Feb 18, 2007
    9
    Impressive, dense, moving. Beautiful writing. Took me a while to warm up to it as I found it all a bit precious at first, but I now consider it one of my favorite albums.
  10. christianf
    Mar 6, 2007
    10
    it's really good and Casimir Pulaski Day is the best song ever
  11. BennyM
    Jul 8, 2007
    10
    It's hard to describe how much I love this album. I could listen to it every single day and not get tired of it.
  12. JamieO.
    Sep 19, 2007
    9
    Anybody who doesn't like this has problems.
  13. PeterS.
    Feb 24, 2008
    10
    Never has a more perfect album been produced. The fragility of his voice, as demonstrated in John Wayne Gacy Jr., and the whole production behind his songs (Chicago, Jacksonville, They Are The Night Zombies... etc) makes this an album that shall only ever be dated if the state of Illinois ceases to exist in the near future. Sublime.
  14. AdamA
    May 30, 2009
    10
    Simply the best album ever created. From start to finish, each piece is a beautifully composed masterpiece which will leave shivers running down your spine. Given the fact that it is 100% original (written, performed, and produced by Stevens himself), and the hauntingly amazing songs, Sufjan Stevens should be ranked among the classical composers in brilliance.
  15. PJZ.
    Jun 6, 2009
    10
    This album has been a favorite of mine and will be for years to come. It is so universal in its lyrics and musical content, but it's so personal to Stevens, it's amazing. Illinois truly deserves all of the praise it receives.
  16. hal9000
    Jan 25, 2010
    10
    Sufjan Stevens Illinois is truely a special album. This is proof that Steven's is one of the most gifted songwriters and musicians working today. All 22 of the tracks on this album are hauntingly brilliant, and this is the best album of the decade.
  17. JasperB
    Nov 13, 2005
    10
    To sum this album up in one word: Godsend
  18. BH
    Nov 2, 2005
    10
    Amazing, by turns emotionally devastating and ecstatic... Perfect arrangements, like Brian Eno, Steve Reich and Philip Glass have gotten together with Neil Young. Great to see a clearly stunning album getting the recognition it deserves - with the glaring exceptions of the few who obviously listened once and "didn't get it"....
  19. JC
    Nov 2, 2005
    10
    Another excellent record from Sufjan Stevens, managing to take the orchestrations even further than his previous efforts. One of the finest folk rock albums of the year, alongside Andrew Bird.
  20. RebekahH
    Nov 20, 2005
    10
    Literally the best Album I have ever feard. This is what real craftmaship is. I am completely obsessed with Sufjan Stevens thanks to this album. If you enjoy music that is not a huge pile of over processed crap, you should appreciate Sufjan.
  21. MarkS
    Nov 2, 2005
    10
    This took a few listens, and even a live gig, to really get into. In fact I didn't like it at all when I listened to it first, but boy did it grow on me. There's a lot to take in with 22 tracks but the vast majority of them are pure classics. The subject matter of the album doesn't interest me much but the music is great. One of my albums of the year so far.
  22. PSellrs
    Oct 13, 2005
    10
    Melodically interesting, lyrically rhythmic, and pure genius!
  23. PatrickO
    Oct 14, 2005
    10
    Nothing will beat this pure, honest songwriting by the ambitious Sufjan in his second installment of the 50 States project.
  24. JohnB
    Nov 8, 2005
    10
    Amazing man and album!
  25. MuffinMan
    Nov 9, 2005
    9
    Oddly the same quirkiness, which entices one to be almost giddy, exists similarly in the The Go! Team release. Do these two know one another?
  26. rajk
    Dec 13, 2005
    10
    believe the hype- this one is great. for those who´ve heard SS over the years it is no great departure in style - just more mature, well rounded and amazingly executed. this album feels sad, yet hopeful. it is a repetitive album, but remember it is an album not an long playing assortment of stand alone songs (of which we´ve become so used to in this day and age).
  27. stth
    Dec 13, 2005
    10
    hypnotizing. i put in another album in my car and then put this one back in after a few minutes
  28. NickT
    Dec 26, 2005
    10
    Perfect. Every song is stunning and is completely necessary. Not since OK Computer have I had such hope for, well anything. Sufjan Stevens deserves all the accolade in the world for this album. It is completely baffling that a single person created such an elegant, poignant, and affecting piece of work. Sufjan, you make me want to be a better person and I thank you for that. Now, go make Perfect. Every song is stunning and is completely necessary. Not since OK Computer have I had such hope for, well anything. Sufjan Stevens deserves all the accolade in the world for this album. It is completely baffling that a single person created such an elegant, poignant, and affecting piece of work. Sufjan, you make me want to be a better person and I thank you for that. Now, go make more music.… Expand
  29. SeanH
    Dec 30, 2005
    10
    This collection of songs is so intensely poetic --- and wrought with such unambiguous sincerity and love --- that crusty cynics might well have a field day. The rest of us have only gratitude.
  30. JonathanV
    Dec 31, 2005
    10
    This is by far the best album of 2005, in my humble opinion! I can only say, just listen to this entire record with your headphones on and then you can only agree! Unbelievable!
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2005
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2005
7
#7 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. AllMusic
    80
    There's a distinct community theater vibe to the whole affair... but the majority of Illinois is alarmingly earnest.
    Read full review
  2. Almost Cool
    90
    Stevens is simply one of the most talented artists creating music right now, period.
    Read full review
  3. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    Exhausting, enthralling, disorientating, celebratory, and contemplative, Sufjan Stevens has delivered another album that will keep us listening and educated till Christmas.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »