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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Jan 31, 2021
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Nov 18, 2012
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Jul 31, 2012The arrengements in this album are beautiful. Sufjan's voice blends with the folk/pop he sings. The lyrics honoring the state of Illinois makes justice as compliments. The melodies he created, for example, in a song like "Chicago"- far best of the album- has an orchestra sound that reminds us how good music can be. Sufjan's hardest, but best work.
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May 12, 2011i liked this album very much. good music. great music. the lyricism is great and touching. what more can i say....................................................................................................
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Aug 6, 2011The perfect record.. and it seemed to come out of nowhere. Michigan was fantastic and so was Seven Swans, but this just wasn't expected. I don't know. Sufjan can be a master at music and this is probably the best example of that.
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Dec 26, 2019Absolutely incredible folk masterpiece. Sufjan incorporates Illinois history along with personal trials and dark examinations of human nature using brass, acoustic guitar, banjo, choir, brilliant melody writing and some of the most masterful vocal layering of Sufjan's entire discography.
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Sep 7, 2010Sufjan Stevens finds his stride and then some with his second state-dedicated album. Illinois is fun and sad, catchy and haunting, seemingly simple yet undeniably brilliant. Chicago will be stuck in your head for days, The Predatory Wasp is heartbreaking and beautiful. Phenomenal stuff.
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Sep 13, 2011
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Jul 26, 2011
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Jul 10, 2011Rich, expansive, deep, just a really really good record through and through.
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Apr 5, 2017This is some of Stevens' best work and a staple for his music career. This would be the first album I would direct someone to if they had never previously listened to his work. The melodies, orchestral elements, and dense lyrics are something you will not find with any other artist in the music world. Sufjan delivers remarkably on an album that will stand the test of time for years.
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Feb 7, 2012Obviously a gifted multi instrumentalist who has written some of the most wonderful songs. Soothing and creative this will last a lifetime. Get a good sound system and listen to beauty in sonic form.
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Nov 2, 2017
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Jul 1, 2011One of the best albums of all time. This is a work that will be treasured by many for decades and centuries to come. If you disagree with this statement, I recommend listening more closely.
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Aug 16, 2010I just listened to this again ... for maybe the 100th time. It just grows in depth and beauty. Steven's voice is haunting, delicate. The lyrics are touching, horrific, lifting. The arrangements are glorious, inspiring. Does it ever become unlistenable?
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Apr 22, 2022This album blew my mind when I first heard it. It felt like the style of music I had been waiting for my entire life. Definitely one of the best albums of the 2000s and a milestone for alternative folk music.
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Mar 20, 2012
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Dec 12, 2020The second best album of all time, has the best production of any album, no doubt. Beautiful orchestration with soaring trumpets and enchanting strings. This album is so good at telling a story. I love it so much.
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Dec 23, 2020This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
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Jan 5, 2011One of my favorite albums at all time - catchy, beautiful and haunting (especially for someone who's actually from Illinois). Many of the tracks stand out on their own, but as an album the whole thing flows perfectly. Lov it.
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Oct 31, 2018Disappointing. Those who chose to listen intelligently to Sufjan's music will recognise that failure to deliver a high quality product to his viewers. This has ruined my day.
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Jan 21, 2012
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Jan 7, 2015Nice acoustic music, well arranged with some good female voice choruses. Doesn't have that "bite" I require from really great music, but it has high musical qualities, nevertheless.
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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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AustinSNov 10, 2005predatory wasp of the palisades! - the best thing to write a song about ever
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DaveFNov 7, 2005Simply superb.
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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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AmandaPAug 4, 2005Very nice, but the more expansive it gets, the more I miss the quiet intimacy of Seven Swans, which I still consider his most personal, and best, work.
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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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sophiepJan 6, 2006it is poo
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petebFeb 4, 2006utterly brillant!
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jackorffFeb 6, 2006
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JackLApr 4, 2006
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DavidOJul 4, 2006
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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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DonNOct 10, 2005I'm getting a post-christian, after school lunch special feeling when listening to this. Yes it's voicings are fresh, lyrics are MFA without the pretension but, this is not pop music. You get the sense that the insular small town white boy is just getting his rocks off on some hyper-orchestration.
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CiaranCNov 2, 2005
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RHCaNov 30, 2005The first hint is the 100+ word titles -- how clever; the second hint is the relentless keyboards; the third is the sophmoric lyrics -- this album is garbage. The critics pulled one over on the hipsters again....thekid.
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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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rudiwOct 4, 2005One of the best albums of 2005! (so far)
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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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RoMacJul 11, 2005The Gacy song is super creepy. Creepy enough that while I can respect the artistry, I don't want to hear it anymore. Other than that, there are about 6 amazing songs. "Jacksonville," "Chicago" and "Casmir Pulaski Day" are staggering achievements of melody, lyric and instrumentation. Onward to Wisconsin Sufjan!
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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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MichaelKJul 7, 2005Sufjan has done it again!
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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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AramisGAug 1, 2005Plenty of people have given Sufjan Stevens favorable reviews I totally agree with. He is very talented and even if you agree with what I have to say you should still listen to his albums if you haven
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AlexBAug 1, 2005Great album, almost no complaints, but I think it could have been tighter. Also, too much flute. Still one of the best albums this year though.
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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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KeithAug 5, 2005
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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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SoupSSep 23, 2005I liked it mostly but it's way too long and needs to change up more. It would've been a lot better if it had a lot less fluff.
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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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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.