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. DavidM
    Aug 16, 2005
    9
    Not as good as THE WOODS, BLACK SHEEP BOY, or GET BEHIND ME SATAN, but damn close. It's more critic proof sound is what has it atop the metacritic poll over these other titles. That said, praise must be given...at times this album attains a near ASTRAL WEEKS level of timeless transcendence. Like Morrison, Stevens seems an absolute master at maintaining emotional intensity and musical Not as good as THE WOODS, BLACK SHEEP BOY, or GET BEHIND ME SATAN, but damn close. It's more critic proof sound is what has it atop the metacritic poll over these other titles. That said, praise must be given...at times this album attains a near ASTRAL WEEKS level of timeless transcendence. Like Morrison, Stevens seems an absolute master at maintaining emotional intensity and musical interest over an extended play length. I give it a nine for one reason only, Stevens doesn't know how to quit when he's ahead, suffers from major BIlly Corgan syndrome, where artist choses to include everything, rather than just the great stuff, on each release...by song 16 or 17, the sound loses all sense of variety and wears out it's welcome big time, and THE SEER TOWER is absolute dead weight in light of what comes before. Flawed, but great, though I have to admit feeling a little weird heaping such praise on an artist who seems to have taken his principal inspiration, at least sonically, from Shroeder of Peanuts fame.… Expand
  2. BenD
    Sep 16, 2005
    9
    It takes a couple of listens to fully appreciate this album. However, once you have warmed up to its abstract concepts, you won't want to listen to anything else for quite some time. It's incredibly lush in sound while somehow remaining intimate at the same time. It also gets bonus points for having some of the best song titles ever. I swear, some of these titles take a longer It takes a couple of listens to fully appreciate this album. However, once you have warmed up to its abstract concepts, you won't want to listen to anything else for quite some time. It's incredibly lush in sound while somehow remaining intimate at the same time. It also gets bonus points for having some of the best song titles ever. I swear, some of these titles take a longer time to read than it does to listen to the songs themselves.… Expand
  3. KennyJ
    Jan 11, 2006
    9
    Awesome album. Ecclectic and creative with some of the best lyrics I've heard in years. Sufjan has put out a unique and wonderful album.
  4. PaulF
    Feb 27, 2006
    9
    An absolutely BEAUTIFUL (and this is a word that I use very sparingly with modern music) record that is experimental without being weird. Very listenable, deep, intricate, and fun. Even the song for John Wayne Gacey is blissfully constructed, so gorgeous that you forget it is about a serial rapist/killer. I can't wait to explore more of Sufjan's music...Illinois is the first An absolutely BEAUTIFUL (and this is a word that I use very sparingly with modern music) record that is experimental without being weird. Very listenable, deep, intricate, and fun. Even the song for John Wayne Gacey is blissfully constructed, so gorgeous that you forget it is about a serial rapist/killer. I can't wait to explore more of Sufjan's music...Illinois is the first album I've heard of his, and now I can't wait to find out what the rest of his discography has to offer. A lot of people have mentioned 'pretentious' as a descriptor for this music. Hell no. Even though it is 'arty' and 'intricate' it is far from 'pretentious'. It is not self-fulfilling in any way. It is just damned good music. Give it a listen and form your own opinion. Don't trust us!… Expand
  5. TheCritic
    Jul 19, 2006
    9
    A great album. The only thing holding it back is the consistentsy and the annoying female back up singers.
  6. barth
    Aug 14, 2006
    9
    My first contact with an artist that keeps surprising. Fun, musical inspiration, great lyrics.
  7. RobertC
    Jan 31, 2007
    9
    Extremely original.
  8. GeoffS
    Nov 22, 2005
    9
    Easily 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.
  9. C.B.
    Dec 13, 2005
    9
    beautiful...
  10. lovemusic
    May 12, 2011
    9
    i liked this album very much. good music. great music. the lyricism is great and touching. what more can i say....................................................................................................
  11. LuizCC
    Jul 31, 2012
    9
    The 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.
  12. ChairmanMeow99
    Mar 20, 2012
    9
    This would be rated a 10, if Michigan had not been created. While this album expands greatly on Michigan, it lacks the emotions of Michigan, which is what made it great. If this could keep those emotions, it would be a 10, but it is gone. Anyways, what lacks in emotion is made up for in grandiose instrumentation, choir chants, and some extra epicness. The lack of emotions is the only flawThis would be rated a 10, if Michigan had not been created. While this album expands greatly on Michigan, it lacks the emotions of Michigan, which is what made it great. If this could keep those emotions, it would be a 10, but it is gone. Anyways, what lacks in emotion is made up for in grandiose instrumentation, choir chants, and some extra epicness. The lack of emotions is the only flaw I can find. A-… Expand
  13. greekmatthew
    Apr 5, 2017
    9
    This 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.
  14. vancemay77
    Apr 22, 2022
    9
    This 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.
  15. AmandaP
    Aug 4, 2005
    8
    Very 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.
  16. jackorff
    Feb 6, 2006
    8
    So, it's nice. You ca't say it's not nice. It deserves an 8. I guess. I don't know. I never listened to it after about two weeks. it's nIce. makes you feel like the stick cotton-candy gets wrapped around. Like filling a hot-tub with kool-aid, and splashing around with your very best chums. More thrilling than a good deed, and more than enough to hold over So, it's nice. You ca't say it's not nice. It deserves an 8. I guess. I don't know. I never listened to it after about two weeks. it's nIce. makes you feel like the stick cotton-candy gets wrapped around. Like filling a hot-tub with kool-aid, and splashing around with your very best chums. More thrilling than a good deed, and more than enough to hold over accountants until the next Dave Matthews album drops. "One Sweet World" you guys! I don't know. It is technically good. That's not really debateable, Patrick Argh. It's just a little too good, something I suspect it knows, and that - for some reason - is irritating. Cloying, precious, joyful. Give me distortion and scratches. This could pass as a recruiting tool for Vatican 3. I'm really not sure why I gave it an eight. That I know it probably deserves it just makes me resent it even more. It doesn't care if you listen. It needs no reassurance. It is a series of saccharine song-cycles subsumed within a strange sense of self-satisfaction. Sssssssso. decide for yourself: if you read bulk fowards from your aunts about the importance of living today like it was your last, most beautiful day, this may be what you're looking for. Otherwise, Hypermagic Mountain awaits. Let's go there now...… Expand
  17. DanB.
    Oct 16, 2005
    8
    Maybe it could be a bit shorter? But that's a small complaint. It's one of those albums that are great to listen to from start to finish... but it's definitely not for everyone, it's not pop or rock, it's like an old-style movie musical soundtrack done with a Brooklyn indie sensibility. Whatever that means.
  18. StevenL
    Oct 2, 2005
    8
    Come on feel the ILLINOISE is overrated, but it's a very good album.
  19. RyanJ
    Jul 13, 2005
    8
    Michigan in my mind is untouchable. A classic album...pronounced Soof-Jan...now a household name. Can't wait to see him in Portland...I heard The New Lows will be supporting
  20. KamilM
    Sep 18, 2005
    8
    inspired, infectious and warm, only sometimes incoherent
  21. Fletcherb
    Jan 5, 2006
    8
    It's a long, long, long, long, long breath of fresh air that ultimately leaves you out of breath. "C'MON..." being the standout
  22. Ken
    Dec 7, 2005
    8
    Michigan was better
  23. GlennD
    Jan 11, 2006
    8
    Exhilerating!
  24. Boosemo12
    Jul 10, 2011
    8
    Rich, expansive, deep, just a really really good record through and through.
  25. All_ButTrU4
    Jan 31, 2021
    8
    This album shouldn't be good on paper:a concept album about the state of Illinois with paragraphs for titles with exclamations, commas and multiple fullstops. But instead it matches its ambition with equal talent and attention to detail. It isn't forced and unattached. It's affecting and optimistic even when taking about clown serial killers or wasp attacks. Instead this album feels likeThis album shouldn't be good on paper:a concept album about the state of Illinois with paragraphs for titles with exclamations, commas and multiple fullstops. But instead it matches its ambition with equal talent and attention to detail. It isn't forced and unattached. It's affecting and optimistic even when taking about clown serial killers or wasp attacks. Instead this album feels like reminiscing about childhood memories good and bad through the perspective of multiple people. This was my introduction to this artist and I was unaware of it's indie cred and universal acclaim (something i dont have the privilege of lately) it felt personal, funny,real and sad. It could've been more impacting with less experimentation (first time I've thought this)but some of his experimentations feel useless and skippable withno charm or contribution to the overall output such as the interludes and the long titles which although aren't musical feel pretentious. Favourites:john wayne gacy,jr,the preparatory wasps of...,casmir pulaski day,concerning the ufo sighting near...… Expand
  26. DonN
    Oct 10, 2005
    7
    I'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.
  27. SoupS
    Sep 23, 2005
    7
    I 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.
  28. PerspicaciousCritic
    Dec 10, 2005
    7
    So I kept ignoring this Sufjan Stevens dude even though Illinois received the highest Metacritic score, but I finally broke down and decided to visit his Web site, www.sufjan.com, where I checked out samples of Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State (Samples of Illinois weren
  29. playpen
    Feb 3, 2006
    7
    Listen 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.
  30. 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.
  31. pesho_one
    Jan 7, 2015
    7
    Nice 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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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
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