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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MarkRSep 6, 2005This has been a hauntingly good album - even the parts that might be questionable stays with me.
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ScottYJan 15, 2006I'm not sure if I'd actually buy this album, but it is pretty clever and an enjoyable listen. In fact, I've request Michigan from my local library so that I can listen to that, too. I'm not sure if you'd say the album is about Illinois so much as it is about the American landscape in general. Chicago is my favorite song on the album.
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jacobrJan 17, 2006Great albulm, my favorite of many years...even if the rest of this state series is terrible, this one is worth the whole enterprise. I put it up there with Highway 61 revisited, or Blood on the Tracks.
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FearghalLJan 29, 2006a breath of fresh air for the singer songwriter ganre beautiful songs and in my opinion the best album of 2005 a must have for any music fan
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frantasticJan 30, 2006
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EllenNJan 5, 2006Magical, splendid, gourgeous
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FletcherbJan 5, 2006It's a long, long, long, long, long breath of fresh air that ultimately leaves you out of breath. "C'MON..." being the standout
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TimMFeb 20, 2006Awesome. Absolutely awesome.
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CraigFFeb 28, 2006Something really different but yet vaguely familar. Some how makes yoe feel all warm inside! Really good album and artist.
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playpenFeb 3, 2006Listen to a Half-Handed Cloud album and you basically get the same thing.. and a bit more fun to listen to in my opinion. This is an above average album, nothing earth shattering, it is pretty music but I don't think it was the best album released this year. And it would be better if it were about 15 minutes shorter.
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RyanGFeb 8, 2006Sufjan Stevens gets better with each album
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AndreaCFeb 9, 2006Definately the most intelligent and beautiful album I've purchased in recent years. Sufjan has blown me away once again. Bravo!
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bolisjMar 11, 2006The best album I've yet heard in my 40 years... intricate, multi-layered, joyful, funny, ambitious and, not least, utterly original. If it's pretentious (as some claim) - who cares! My only ever perfect score - I just love it!
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BrianCMar 5, 2006Ambitious recording that lacks two important qualities. One, cohesiveness of the music & two, addiction to melody after the second listening. To be sure, there are other shortcomings. Not the "must die for" record of the year by any means.
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jaeroplaneApr 22, 2006
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JohnDApr 23, 2006Great to listen and play around a campfire
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BlayzeHApr 4, 2006Best album ever made.
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mr.hankeyApr 7, 2006
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LukeMMay 19, 2006Just spectacular, emotional, smooth, and astonishing.
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GabrielSMay 25, 2006It's incredible.
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adriCJul 13, 2006hyped
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ArikKJul 6, 2006Amazing album. It flows perfectly and even feels like a plot, what with a climax in Chicago and Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts.
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RandyKAug 21, 2006Maybe 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!
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HollayRAug 23, 2006This 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.
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anonymousAug 8, 2006Smooth and exceedingly different, the lyrics catch the listener and pull. The music sounds homespun, giving it a truly fresh feel.
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JasperBNov 13, 2005To sum this album up in one word: Godsend
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BHNov 2, 2005Amazing, 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"....
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JCNov 2, 2005Another 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.
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RebekahHNov 20, 2005Literally 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.
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louislNov 22, 2005nice subject matter but the music is pendantic.the themes tend to sound similar and there's no development within.
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MarkSNov 2, 2005This 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.
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JacobNov 25, 2005I love Sufjan, but this album is HUGELY overrated. Precious, overly ambitious, and ultimately irritating, there are only a few songs that I can stomach now after a few rotations of the disc. Seven Swans is my favorite of his, by a LONG SHOT.
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PSellrsOct 13, 2005Melodically interesting, lyrically rhythmic, and pure genius!
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PatrickOOct 14, 2005Nothing will beat this pure, honest songwriting by the ambitious Sufjan in his second installment of the 50 States project.
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JohnBNov 8, 2005Amazing man and album!
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MuffinManNov 9, 2005Oddly the same quirkiness, which entices one to be almost giddy, exists similarly in the The Go! Team release. Do these two know one another?
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rajkDec 13, 2005believe 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).
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stthDec 13, 2005hypnotizing. i put in another album in my car and then put this one back in after a few minutes
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NickTDec 26, 2005
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garyzDec 29, 2005crap
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SeanHDec 30, 2005This 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.
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JonathanVDec 31, 2005This 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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byrondDec 6, 2005Great album! Come on feel the illinoise! is one of the most shake yer rump best pop songs in ages!
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DanODec 6, 2005Believe the critics this is truly a remarkable achievement. I can not get enough of this CD and I reccomend any music fan to add this to your collection.
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KenDec 7, 2005Michigan was better
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JamesMDec 7, 2005There is only one way I can describe this album: a masterpiece. It astounds me that this whole album was made by one person: it should take an army of people to produce this glorious noise.
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HeleneDec 8, 2005There's nothing more to say about SS than that they`re one of the biggest things which has happened to music in the last decade,along with anthony & the johnsons and a couple of other
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ACriticOct 31, 2005
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FlashFlooderJul 11, 2005Sufjan creates a multi-layered musical gem in his 2nd state-devoted cd. Truly amazing, we can only hope for such greatness for the next 48 states. Frontrunner for album of the year.
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MattWJul 11, 2005he is now my favorite musician of all time
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J.D.HowsleyJul 11, 2005By far the best album I have heard all year! Cannot wait for his live show to see how it pulls it off.
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AaronSJul 12, 2005This album will be remembered for many years to come. Sufjan Stevens will no longer go unnoticed in the music industry. His genius is profiled in this album. Simply beautiful in all respects!
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LawrencePJul 14, 2005I hate to say it, but this guy is a genius. Keep the tunes coming.
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RyanJul 15, 2005I'm going to listen to this album in late autumn and feel an overwhelming sense nostalgia for the summer. It's an opus worthy of EVERYONE'S ear. I feel like it's the world's responsibility to buy this record so Sufjan can fund his undoubtedly great next outing.
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JeffWJul 15, 2005This album is great. It makes me feel good to listen to it and it does not make me think that I am being sucked into a cult..... sort of. The only reason I gave it a 6 was to add a little color to the "Rate this album" board... Green can get old and that red looked alone. Can't wait for Whyoming on my mind.
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OwenHJul 17, 2005This album restores my faith in the music industry. If Thom Yorke were to buy a copy of this album, he might, just might get back to challenging himself with making another really good album, instead of some existential junk.
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BryanSJul 24, 2005
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ChrisAug 13, 2005Among the best of 2005 so far (August 13th) with Bright Eyes, The White Stripes, System of a Down and The Game. Let's see what Idlewild, Kanye West, OutKast, Elbow, BRMC, the Dandy Warhols, and Broken Social Scene have to offer in the last 4.5 months.
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MattAug 15, 2005Wonderful! Future generations will be looking at it as the first classic neo-folk album.
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DavidMAug 16, 2005
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PhilipGAug 24, 2005This album is simply brilliant
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SumiAug 25, 2005This is an album of uncommon melodies and beautiful arrangements. The bittersweet yet genuinely uplifting songs are simply gorgeous, with nary a false emotion. A true joy to listen to.
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PETERSSep 11, 2005Wow. He captures the feelingof Illinois is 21 songs. Wow.
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FakeNameSep 12, 2005most refreshing album this side of the century. amazing!
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chriscSep 14, 2005unlike anything i have ever heard - something that is rare in music today!
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TiagoCSep 14, 2005Great record. Probalby the best of 2005.
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JoshuaJESep 15, 2005Incredible. Just say Sufjan at the Majestic in Detroit, he and his band were amazing and this album expresses it all.
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BenDSep 16, 2005
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ErlingOSep 21, 2005My favourite of the year. Just fantastic.
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BradMSep 22, 2005
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JosiahRoeSep 26, 2005Glory!
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ChrisFromCaliforniaSep 29, 2005Ever listened to an album that was so good it just made you cry. You will after listening to this. I can't remember the last time when an album hit me this hard emotionally. People, stop buying Coldplay, give your money to someone who deserves it. Album of the year.
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KennyJJan 11, 2006Awesome album. Ecclectic and creative with some of the best lyrics I've heard in years. Sufjan has put out a unique and wonderful album.
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GlennDJan 11, 2006Exhilerating!
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JGrahmJan 16, 2006Sufjan is so original, his music is amazing
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PaulRocksJan 17, 2006This is the album of the year. Mr Stevens your a genius. Can't wait for the Alaska album!!
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PaulFFeb 27, 2006
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stefanpMar 15, 2006awesome
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JasonEApr 12, 2006
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dudeguyApr 25, 2006I don't get it. Does nobody else find the whole albums-about-states bit a little cheap? To be honest, I was relieved to find that the music was equally unthoughtful. Other comments: extra instruments don't make your music profound, the songs are repetitive, depressive does not imply touching ... aaeh, it just makes me squirm. This album was unnecessary.
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SydMay 17, 2006Easily one of favourite post millenium albums. Up there with Michigan.
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RodMay 31, 2006Stunningly beautiful, provocative work. I'm constantly amazed at the emotion he is able to draw from me. Vocal performances are pure and real.
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JoeGJun 14, 2006
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stefanpJun 19, 2006awesome
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annaJul 17, 2006stunning from begining to end. a modern day musical achievement.
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TheCriticJul 19, 2006A great album. The only thing holding it back is the consistentsy and the annoying female back up singers.
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barthAug 14, 2006My first contact with an artist that keeps surprising. Fun, musical inspiration, great lyrics.
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KevinKAug 27, 2006Best Album of 2005. Best Songwriter right now. You gotta love Sufjan's ambition It's so exciting to see in a time where the spotlight is usually put on unoriginal and unartistic music.
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cgNov 19, 2005love this cd, I can't stop listenening to chicago
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GeoffSNov 22, 2005Easily one of the best albums I've bought this year. It takes two listens to catch on to most songs, yet some songs (i.e. Chicago, Come on Feel the Illinoise!) grab you at first listen. It is fundamentally subtle and mostly brilliant.
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othosNov 24, 2005Note to LF: It may not be your cup of tea, but it is, decidely, NOT crap. If every artist put this much thought and craftsmanship into records, the airwaves would not be filled with such dreck.
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SeanTDec 11, 2005great record! this man deserves some kind of reward immediately
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HarryDec 12, 2005I blindingly brilliant achievement. Ranks among the top 3 albums of the year and is as engrossing as it is ambitious.
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C.B.Dec 13, 2005beautiful...
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jimcuDec 15, 2005fandabadozzi
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RoarkLDec 18, 2005Hands down album of the year.
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marshallsDec 24, 2005the predatory wasp of the palisades is out to get us! amazing album. i keep coming back to it.
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DanielSDec 29, 2005A breath of fresh air by an extremely talented artist.
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May 25, 2011
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Nov 19, 2011A fun playful album. Sufjan has achieved another success. It blends nice melodies and fun subject matter. He even slides his own religion into his music nearly undetected.Sufjan can make everyone and anyone smile.
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.