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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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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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 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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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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Jul 10, 2011Rich, expansive, deep, just a really really good record through and through.
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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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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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sophiepJan 6, 2006it is poo
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JackLApr 4, 2006
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DavidOJul 4, 2006
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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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42MinuteManJan 9, 2006
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PatrickRFeb 2, 2006banal, pretentious, obscure (intentional or the result of lack of talent?), musically simplistic - overall very irritating
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GiuseppeRJul 7, 2006
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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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JeffDNov 11, 2005
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LFNov 17, 2005aaaaaaaaaaargh!! this is crap.
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EddieTOct 24, 2005
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JohnDec 5, 2005I agree with Louis L. This album is ridiculously pedantic and is extremely repetitive with its use of styles, especially given the lengthy running time. I like a few of the songs a lot, but a great heap of them offer little, if anything, exciting or refreshing at all. This is one of the more overrated albums of the year. It's ambitious, sure, but not very engaging.
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ChrissieSJul 9, 2005This album is recycled and boring. You hear one track and you've heard them all.
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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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adriCJul 13, 2006hyped
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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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GregBJun 25, 2007It will only appeal to those misunderstood kids, who are the ones rate albums like this "masterpiece".
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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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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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garyzDec 29, 2005crap
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ACriticOct 31, 2005
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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petebFeb 4, 2006utterly brillant!
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jackorffFeb 6, 2006
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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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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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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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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.