The Avalanche: Outtakes & Extras From The Illinois Album
by Sufjan Stevens
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 59
  3. Negative: 3 out of 59

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  1. MattStep
    Aug 31, 2007
    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.
  2. PhilipC
    Sep 21, 2006
    5
    Vastly overrated, even more so than the rest of his catalogue.
  3. ChadM
    Aug 25, 2006
    8
    Great album. Even if he released this as an actual album it would be incredible, but the fact that it is a compilation of outtakes makes this all the more remarkable.
  4. matta
    Aug 3, 2006
    8
    I love Illinois, but to be honest, I thought this album was going to be annoying. I was wrong. While his sound is becoming a bit tiresome, Sufjan still has some tricks up his sleeve. There are some seriously cathcy pop songs (if you can believe it) on this album (see Adlai Stevenson, The Henney Buggy band, and No Man's Land). I think Stevens needs to continue in this direction on his I love Illinois, but to be honest, I thought this album was going to be annoying. I was wrong. While his sound is becoming a bit tiresome, Sufjan still has some tricks up his sleeve. There are some seriously cathcy pop songs (if you can believe it) on this album (see Adlai Stevenson, The Henney Buggy band, and No Man's Land). I think Stevens needs to continue in this direction on his next lp in order to avoid even more critical reviews than this album is recieving.… Expand
  5. JakeM.
    Aug 1, 2006
    1
    No...really, when will this eve end. Avalanche indeed! I mean, Illinois was bloated enough, but to think that we really need ANOTHER 75 minutes of this tripe... I guess he's starting to believe his own press.
  6. DaveA
    Jul 28, 2006
    9
    The Avalanche doesn't quite match that flair that Illinois embodies, but is still an outstanding album. The amount of work and effort that Sufjan has put into Illinois and The Avalanche is titanic. You can't help but cling to the void waiting to be filled by his next album!
  7. ShaunM
    Jul 24, 2006
    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.
  8. JohnD
    Jul 24, 2006
    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".
  9. JohnK
    Jul 23, 2006
    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 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
  10. RandallF
    Jul 18, 2006
    9
    Great collection of discarded material that helps put you in the mindset of a prolific songwriter. This collection proves that Sufjan's scraps can be far more interesting than the entire catalog of most major label "alternative" bands. Question: How is Sufjan trying to "recapture the spirit of Illinoise" with a collection of discarded tracks?! This album is NOT a proper release. Great collection of discarded material that helps put you in the mindset of a prolific songwriter. This collection proves that Sufjan's scraps can be far more interesting than the entire catalog of most major label "alternative" bands. Question: How is Sufjan trying to "recapture the spirit of Illinoise" with a collection of discarded tracks?! This album is NOT a proper release. Therein lies the real "irony" that Sha K is looking for.… Expand
  11. C.B.
    Jul 17, 2006
    9
    Masterful for an outtakes album.
  12. danm
    Jul 17, 2006
    10
    An 75 average? Hahahahahaha!! Oh, some things are just too funny. Well, Thom Yorke has only a 76, so maybe Sufjan and Thom are tossing back a couple of beers in NYC and having a good chuckle. Thing is, I don't think that either gives a shit. Sufjan Stevens is the most promising and creative singer-songwriter out there right now. Is this CD anyway lesser than Illinoise, the most An 75 average? Hahahahahaha!! Oh, some things are just too funny. Well, Thom Yorke has only a 76, so maybe Sufjan and Thom are tossing back a couple of beers in NYC and having a good chuckle. Thing is, I don't think that either gives a shit. Sufjan Stevens is the most promising and creative singer-songwriter out there right now. Is this CD anyway lesser than Illinoise, the most critically-acclaimed CD last year? I don't see how. Different, yes, but inferior? Hahahaha, critics are some funny people....… Expand
  13. JD
    Jul 14, 2006
    9
    This is for Illinois lovers only.
  14. ShaK
    Jul 14, 2006
    4
    I've listened to this album back to back for the past few days and I've come to conclude that it won't get any better. Last year's "Illinoise" was a bit of a grower, but I could still get into it, on the first spin. "The Avalanche" may be Sufjan's weakest record to date; there is a reason these songs did not make "Illinoise." Even still, wading through what seems I've listened to this album back to back for the past few days and I've come to conclude that it won't get any better. Last year's "Illinoise" was a bit of a grower, but I could still get into it, on the first spin. "The Avalanche" may be Sufjan's weakest record to date; there is a reason these songs did not make "Illinoise." Even still, wading through what seems like a gratuitous amount of filler, you can't help but get nostalgic. At his best, Sufjan may not make a bad record, but if he was trying to recapture the spirit of "Illinoise" the "I' on his chest may very well stand for irony.… Expand
  15. JoeG
    Jul 13, 2006
    9
    Most other recording artists would kill for the tunes on these outtakes. Not quite the drama of Illinois but The Avalanche has a gentle charm of its own, and needs no apologies. The vocals keep reminding me of CSNY. And believe me, that's good!
  16. TimW
    Jul 13, 2006
    7
    The songs are expertly arranged, but you can't spin gold out of hay.
  17. EffEll
    Jul 13, 2006
    7
    Nice album. Most songs are nice (but few are great) and I'm pretty glad he got rid of the string section. What I like the most however is how he was able to mix what he did on his first two albums with what he did in his previous three: I really like the idea of having some wild electric guitar and electronic sounds every now and then.
  18. Tanel
    Jul 13, 2006
    9
    Excellent album again, especially the cut The Henney Buggy Band. Just wanted to comment this idiot in All-Music Guide, who wrote the article as a headline "The Case Against Sufjan Stevens" - there is so much bad music around to critizise with screams(but they never do it because of business) and now this guy finds one bright hope in today's music and gives him a really bad publicity. Excellent album again, especially the cut The Henney Buggy Band. Just wanted to comment this idiot in All-Music Guide, who wrote the article as a headline "The Case Against Sufjan Stevens" - there is so much bad music around to critizise with screams(but they never do it because of business) and now this guy finds one bright hope in today's music and gives him a really bad publicity. Even if you don't like Sufjan Stevens music it doesn't allow you to put a big headline about it on a very important music site as All-Muisc Guide is. I haven't seen a headline like A Case Against Rihanna or Beyonce or whatever manufactered artist who really deserve opinions like that.… Expand
  19. FrankW
    Jul 12, 2006
    8
    "The Avalanche" is not really "Illinois, Part 2." It's an alternate universe version of "Illinois." It has the same structure, the same glorious highs, and the same mistakes (the instrumental transitions add just as little to this album as they did to "Illinois"). Still, last year's album was the clear album of the year last year, and "The Avalanche" isn't going to be this "The Avalanche" is not really "Illinois, Part 2." It's an alternate universe version of "Illinois." It has the same structure, the same glorious highs, and the same mistakes (the instrumental transitions add just as little to this album as they did to "Illinois"). Still, last year's album was the clear album of the year last year, and "The Avalanche" isn't going to be this year by any means. The two albums may almost be identical, but "Illinois" was surprising. Had "The Avalanche" been released first, it would have been just as surprising and just as positively reviewed, but it came second, and it happens to be more of the same. Now, more of the same for Sufjan means more of the stunningly wonderful songs, but this time there's none of the wonder hearing the first version of this album for the first time created.… Expand
  20. AdamW
    Jul 12, 2006
    9
    While not the epic that Illinois was, more often than not I kept in mind that this was stuff that didn't make the cut. It's not supposed to be as good as Illinois, but only one or two would feel out of place or inferior if they'd been put on the original release. There isn't a wasted penny when you buy a Sufjan Stevens album. "No Man Land's" is solid evidence.
  21. RH
    Jul 12, 2006
    9
    I love how it plays like an album and how the tracks all feel completed, rather than being muddy sounding leftovers. There's definitely a few pieces that should've made the Illinois cut and I'm glad we're able to hear them.
  22. JohnP
    Jul 12, 2006
    9
    For an outtakes album, the Avalanche has surprisingly few throwaways. Half of these songs could easily have made the cut on Illinois. He's never going to get the 50 states thing done at this rate, though - he should have just cheated and called this one 'Indiana'.
  23. cables
    Jul 12, 2006
    7
    Ummmm. of course its not as good as Illinois.... IT'S A B-SIDES ALBUM! It's still a pretty damn fine one though.
  24. kennyb
    Jul 12, 2006
    9
    Not a very structured album but this is granted its just outtakes from the Illinoise album. But then to consider the quality of the music and it just being "outtakes" makes one realise how good the Illinoise album really was. I thought Avalanche was an amazing amalgamation of songs brought about by an amazing musician
  25. DaveS
    Jul 11, 2006
    9
    I agree...not as perfect as "Illinois", but damn close...a little more varried, a little more off-the-cuff, still absolutely essential... "This guy cannot make a bad record"...I agree!!!
  26. [Anonymous]
    Jul 11, 2006
    6
    Last year's Illinois was good, but ultimately overrated. This is just sadly underwhelming.
  27. Christopher
    Jul 6, 2006
    9
    If this CD only contained "Dear Mr Supercomputer", "Adlai Stevenson", and "The Henney Buggy Band", I would still buy this record. This guy cannot make a bad record.
  28. DanielW.
    Jul 5, 2006
    8
    Not as brilliant as Illinois, but still a very good record, populated by many great songs. Less coherant than Illinois, but still worth listening to, with some very good moments.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Under The Radar
    70
    What Stevens does most successfully here is expand the notion of American song. [#14]
  2. Austin Chronicle
    89
    Avalanche,... is all over the place musically but never loses the singer-songwriter's jaw-dropping vision.
    Read full review
  3. Prefix Magazine
    60
    There's a difference between a damn fine song and the brilliance that made up Stevens's previous two releases, Illinois and Seven Swans. Unfortunately, The Avalanche clunks through track after track of damn fine songs while only rarely hitting these moments that make your body tingle in euphoria.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »