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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Apr 20, 2017
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Apr 20, 2022This album lives on a very special list for me, albums that other folks suggested that made me go "why have I not had this in my life before today".
A remarkable album even 17 years later -
Sep 30, 2022An album that is too beautiful, and that treats its sound very well, too harmonic
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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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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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DavidSep 30, 2006I love the album, its beautiful, breathtaking and moving.
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AyshL.Jun 13, 2007Amazing.
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MichaelM.Mar 7, 2008
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EddM.Apr 2, 2008No doubt in my mind: 10/10. Incredible.
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briannavSep 5, 2006one of my favorite albums, although no his best cd.
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RichardKJan 8, 2007Sample this album before you buy it. Its considered a masterpiece by many but honestly no matter how many times I played it I didn't enjoy it. While a very highly rated by Metacritic, many people will find it boring.
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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.May 1, 2008Amazing.
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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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amydNov 10, 2006it's suprising how Sufjan Stevens seems to reach out as he himself were the state of Illinois. this is truly one of the most remarkable and moving albums i have ever experienced.
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KeriTDec 31, 2006Sufjan is a musical genius. The songwrititng is poetry in its most beautiful form. His instrumental compostions are simply breathtaking and exquisite. Absolutely one of my favorite albums of the year. Thank you Sufjan!
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carrieaOct 5, 2006i love this cd. ts so beautiful...so...SUFJAN :)
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MihaiVSep 17, 2006While 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.
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johnnycSep 22, 2006has some of the most breathtaking songs i have ever heard
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ChadK.Nov 30, 2007Magical, disarming, earnest, and potent. A masterpiece.
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ErikaLJan 7, 2007Wonderfull!
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NickyBFeb 18, 2007Impressive, 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.
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christianfMar 6, 2007it's really good and Casimir Pulaski Day is the best song ever
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GregBJun 25, 2007It will only appeal to those misunderstood kids, who are the ones rate albums like this "masterpiece".
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BennyMJul 8, 2007It's hard to describe how much I love this album. I could listen to it every single day and not get tired of it.
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JamieO.Sep 19, 2007Anybody who doesn't like this has problems.
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PeterS.Feb 24, 2008Never 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.
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AdamAMay 30, 2009Simply 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.
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PJZ.Jun 6, 2009This 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.
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hal9000Jan 25, 2010Sufjan 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.
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DanielGNov 19, 2006This is an amazing album, it is one of those extremely influential albums that makes people who say "I hate that kind of music" start to say, "Oh wait, I guess I do like that kind of music". Who knows what gaps this CD bridges, I can only wait for him to do my homestate, Wisconsin.
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LucusGDec 6, 2006It's not bad...but not great. There are some good tunes beneath all the overdone production, which not only gets in the way but annoys as well. He screwed up by being too prententious, should've just recorded the songs minimally and cut half a dozen useless filler tracks, and its a decent album.
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DORELLWSep 15, 2006This is a great album. It gets better and better the more you listen to it.
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PhilWSep 24, 2006If you ever wondered who the character Max in Rushmore would grow up to be, it would be Sufjan Stevens. I've traveled to just about every county in Illinois and all I can say is Stevens hit a home run with this album!
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AndreaOSep 29, 2006His artistic vision is so complete. He reflects such an innocent joy and such a deep knowledge of sorrow. Who is this man and how did this happen?
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LizMJan 24, 2007To me, it's one of the most beautiful albums I have ever heard. In the end, it all depends on your taste in music. This is right up my alley. I might not believe in God, but I do believe in Sufjan Stevens.
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RobertCJan 31, 2007Extremely original.
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JohnJJul 17, 2007The only reason this album did not recieve a perfect 10 from Sufjan's fans is because of one low, outlying score. Every other person has given this album a 10. Come on, man. Don't tell me this isn't one of the most beautiful albums ever recorded. Please develop some taste in music before reviewing and rating albums.
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alexfJul 25, 2007I love this album so much! Every single song is great.
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D.MacSep 14, 2007best album I've heard in years!
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JustinB.Sep 25, 2007I will never know how this didn't get all 100s, it is one of the most complete and amazing albums ever created. the brilliance of sufjan stevens is evident the moment you hear this album even if you never heard of him before.
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RyanK.Feb 29, 2008A masterpiece. 'Nuff said.
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ZacC.May 17, 2008The greatest musical work since the turn of the century and I think that it will stay that way for a time...
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MattM.Jun 21, 2008Easily the greatest album I've ever listened to. An bonafide masterpiece and an album that deserves to be put in a time capsule or museum. A true piece of American history.
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ChrisM.Jul 17, 2008An amazing expansive album. You will be impressed by its rich production on first listen, and then a stupid grin on your face while enjoying the beauty on the following listens.
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AdamP.Dec 21, 2007Easily the best album of 2005, and one of the best of the decade (so far)!
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Jan 28, 2011
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Nov 24, 2012Illinois is Sufjan Steven's best work so far. From the disturbing ballad John Wayne Gacy, Jr to catchy tune of Chicago, Sufjan fully exemplifies his extraordinary musical talent. It contains a multitude of instruments all playing beautifully together. This album exhibits Stevens best traits and is well worth a listen.
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Aug 5, 2021A flawless, captivating, and creative album that sounds simultaneously beautiful and cool at the same time. A must-listen for indie fans.
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May 14, 2020years and years of listening to this album and I'm still in love with it. Stands the test of time, stands my ever changing musical taste from when i was in my 20s to now being in my 30s.
guess you can say i'm in love with this entire album -
Aug 26, 2015
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Mar 1, 2020I tried to write a review for this album, but the sheer majesty of this masterpiece refuses to be put into words. Just know that this is the absolute pinnacle of hundreds of years of musical progression; a sweeping, poetic tapestry of places, people, and things belonging to the titular state, stopped from ever becoming a pointless farce by Sufjan's personal, confessional lyricism.
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Jul 3, 2020I rode a bike on a nature path for a couple of miles while listening to this album and it was one of the best experiences of my life.
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.