The Avalanche: Outtakes & Extras From The Illinois Album Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 45 Ratings

  • Summary: Each of these 21 tracks originated during the recording of Stevens' 2005 album 'Illinoise,' although most were re-recorded or fleshed out during later sessions. Included are several new versions of the track "Chicago" from that earlier album.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. 100
    Most of these songs are just as good, if not better, than the ones that actually made the cut.
  2. 80
    Yet another work of widescreen beauty and magnificent ambition. [Aug 2006, p.86]
  3. You simply have to marvel at the talents of a man who is surely amongst the most gifted and fascinating musicians of modern times, even if "The Avalanche" does feel like a vaguer retread of the absolute bravura seen on its big brother.
  4. A notch above an off-cuts collection. [Aug 2006, p.116]

See all 32 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 28
  2. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. ShaunM
    10
    This would have gotten higher reviews had it not been released under the stigma of "B-Sides Album". Not as good as Illinois (but what is?) Brillant nonetheless. Expand
  2. MattStep
    8
    Out-takes!!? OUTTAKES!?! Will Mr Stevens please stop hogging all the tunes! I thought this would be patchy at best but it turns out to contain many of the best things Sufjan Stevens has done (The Mistress Witch from McClure, Adlai Stevenson, The Henney Buggy Band etc.). I really don't need three more versions of Chicago though, no matter how good they are. Expand
  3. JohnD
    7
    Let's put this in perspective: this is a 21 song album of outtakes from a 22 song album. They're good, but honestly, Sufjan needs to look up the word "discretion". Expand
  4. JohnK
    4
    Dan M can laugh without providing reasons all he wants, but the fact is Sufjan is the most overrated musician since...well, ever. Granted his songs can be good and at best enthralling, but he rarely goes outside of his dream-pop indie bubble. Every song sounds the same, with some notable exceptions (Carlyle Lake).His music ultimately fails in its coldness; he said in one interview that music does not come from inspiration, and writing songs is just work. Until he realizes that this isn't the case, he'll be an eccentricity at best, full of gimmicks (like the 50 states thing) and self-importance (this Avalanche disc). Expand

See all 28 User Reviews