| | Full Review | Ratings (1218) |
Give your Rating |
| 5.0 classic | Jeremy F STAFF | August 22nd 06 |
What should I say about Illinois? Let's just say that I'm head over heels in love with this album. It's not about the indie rock cred, the press, or style points. It's about the quiet beauty underlying every song. This is an album about life, not just a state or a style of music. Although there are a lot of segues in this album, which has tended to receive some negative press, this isn't an album about instant gratification. Despite the 'soft' style of the music, this isn't meant for mere easy listening. Songs gradually reveal levels of complexity as the album plays, such as when Sufjan moves from the show tune style of 'Come on feel the Illinoise' to an absolutely spectacular chorus. Within the tapestry, there are some true golden threads; songs like 'Predatory Wasp of the Palisades', ' Casimir Pulaski Day', 'Chicago', and 'Jacksonville' are absolute masterpeices, both lyrically and musically. This is truly one of my favorite albums - not just of 2005, but ever. Open up your ears and hear the Illinoise.
7 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | Nick Butler STAFF | January 23rd 07 |
Illinois was, for a brief period (ie until the backlash started), the Funeral of 2005. It's not hard to see why - the blend of invention, songcraft, unusual instrumental textures, and warmth suggests that this will be a brilliant album. Yet, what feels like 3 hours later, you see Illinois for what it is - a handful of great songs, a remaining cast of fairly good songs, and a few boring songs. But above all, a LOT of songs, and there simply aren't enough ideas here to justify 22 vehicles for them. Sufjan's lack of grasp on quality control ruins what could have been a very, very good album. In about 9 attempts, I still haven't managed to listen to the whole thing without getting bored, frustrated, or irritated. Less is more, kids.
5 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Chris Jackson | June 21st 06 |
Illinois was possibly one of the most popular albums amongst the "indie" crowd in 2005. I enjoy the album and think that it's a great listen, but it's nothing amazing. Sufjan creates atmospheric, hypnotic, and beautiful melodies. The music is so soft and relaxing that it could put you right to sleep. Sufjan's voice is just like the music, soft and soothing which makes the music almost to gentle. There are points in the album where you just want to go to sleep, 22 songs is quite a stretch and the man needs to learn when to stop adding songs onto the album. There are six tracks that are less then one minute long yet the album lasts over an hour. The instruments consist of acoustic guitars, soothing basslines and some catchy vocal harmonies. All in all Illinois is worth your time but at the same time could put you right to sleep if you're a bit drowzy.
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Fred Phelps | August 9th 10 |
This guy sounds like a fairy and wears fairy wings. HE IS NOT A TRUE CHRISTIAN.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 2.5 average | Crowe | August 5th 11 |
Metaphorically, it's like the audio of Illinois is starting to fade away from my ears, slowly. Sufjan Stevens, with his melodies, stories of the title-state's lure, and numerous instruments are riding off into the sunset of some overbearing horse, or donkey. I shake my head; this time, I tell myself, I 'get' it: Stevens' voice is sweet. Illinois may be impressive in its scope. And the styles on display, within the realm of indie pop, may be wide in their reach. But I simply, after years of trying, just plainly dislike this music: it grows tiring. The stories are dull. The melodies are sweet yet artificially saccharine, and I really want to tell Stevens to stop fucking whispering, for Christ's sake. The Age of Adz is leagues worse than this, mind you, but Illinois' magnificence, not just in the idea of it as a project, but as an actual listening experience, has finally escaped me. Stevens continues to ride away from me on his ass, and I think I'm no longer going to bother chasing after him anymore. This album and its numerous accolades can go to hell.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | Jonathan Shannon (Astrel) | May 24th 07 |
When listening to singular songs, it is easy to be in awe at the amazing musicality and production qualities behind this record. What Sufjan failed to notice, however, is that his album is too samey and boring to let me, or many people actually listen to the album all the way through.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | heybass | February 25th 13 |
one of the most overrated albums of all time. that said, it's still a fucking wild ride
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Brighter Than the Noonday | November 5th 12 |
The best elementary school band I've ever heard. From folk to funk, all genres are seamlessly touched upon through the smarts of Stevens' crafty mind. All of the elements work, no matter how bizarre. The songs are some of the best in folk and rock in all of modern music. This is an ambitious album that is one of a kind and can not be missed by anyone who is a fan of music at all.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | yeabyeab | October 31st 12 |
#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.#tybg.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | ThunderNeutral21 | April 25th 12 |
alright so most of his other shit is lame but this album is pretty fucking brilliant
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | LRBR | March 23rd 12 |
An amazing musical adventure. When it comes to songwriting, Sufjan Stevens is one of the best. His unique sound and creative tunes help make Illinois one of the best albums I've ever heard.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | MrZuckerberg | November 27th 10 |
Laughably long song titles aside, Sufjan asks "What's in a name?". Great musicianship, vocals and overall complete command of his artistic vision, with "John Wayne Gacy Jr." and "Chicago" being the stand-outs.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | IsolatedRoom | October 26th 10 |
Doesn't get much better than this, and if it does it's The Age of Adz. F YEAH SUFJAN!!!!! BEST MUSICIANSHIPS OF ALL TIME!
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | thejon93rd | September 14th 10 |
The song titles are charming enough, but Sufjan Steven's Illinois is charming all around. The twenty-two track CD is a nutritiously-delicious buffet.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Young Buck | September 10th 10 |
I hated this the first time I heard it a few years back, but on this dark cloudy day on a bus something changed. rWith so many layers in his songs and such intricate arrangements this album has mucho replay value and I'm rassuming this will be the main record I listen to for the next while. Sufjan has created a mammoth album of folk rpop tunes so clever and pretty that I would marry this album if there wasn't laws against it.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | nabrazune | April 24th 10 |
This album sets the perfect mood for a nice rainy afternoon. I loved this album on my first listen.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | NeutralThunder12 | April 14th 10 |
Though I'm not such a fan of his other work, "Illinoise" is the biggest, most cinematic album I've ever heard. Every song on here comes together like puzzle pieces; the flow is flawless and each song has something about it I love. Even what is considered filler isn't really filler, it just helps the album flow like one solid piece of music. it's too bad Sufjan decided to ditch this style for his old pyschy electronic bullshit, he made really beautiful music this way. Great stories behind the songs and incredibly intricate and dense compositions are what makes this album a real winner. It's fucking awesome. I gotta say, its very hard for an album with over 20 songs to be this fucking good. Usually you'll encounter filler-which some people claim this album has- but it all works together to form, one giant masterpiece that just never gets dull. I love the whole sincere yet complex album Sufjan has created here. Way better than his other stuff.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | Progmaster85 | January 30th 10 |
Following the release of "Illinois", Sufjan Stevens was immediately credited as being the man who released the best indie album of the decade so far. The title is fitting. "Illinois" is the most diverse, exciting, relevant, intriguing indie album that I have ever heard. Even though some of the song titles are pretentious, it's made up for, as the record is simply brilliant. "Illinois" is one of the records where I can say that 'filler' tracks actually fit with the album and are not superfluous. Even the 7 second "One last Who-oo for the Pullman" serves it's relaxing purpose. I'm also pretty content that I'm not the only one who acclaims this so highly; dozens of magazines and reviewers have named this one of the best of the decade for indie, and again, that title is fitting, because this is the best record that 21st century indie has to offer. Intelligent. Heartfelt. Entertaining. Endless. Extraordinary. The best indie record of the decade. Period.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | tflynn17 | December 4th 09 |
Sufjan Stevens is a bona fide songwriting machine. Stevens released a new album every year
from 2003-06, the pinnacle of which was 2005's 'Illinois.' Strangely enough, it's also his
only album to feature tracks that aren't actually songs, as 6 out of the 22 tracks are
snippets of sound under a minute long. Some help connect songs, some are just fun, and a
couple are simply unnecessary filler, which is not something the already 74-minute long
album needs. Regardless, the actual songs here are superb examples of refined, affecting
writing that combine to create one hell of a concept album, and one of the more influential
releases of recent memory.
Standout tracks: Casimir Pulaski Day, Come On! Feel The Illinoise!, Chicago
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | MrBobDobbelina | October 17th 09 |
This album is quite unique. The songs are composed with such creativity and you can listen to it time and again and be surprised again by the music. Plus you can dig into all of the different topics the sungs go into if your curious. Truly an album that deserves the title "classic".
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Tom Stephenson | December 24th 08 |
"Come On, Feel The Illinoise" is the album Sufjan Stevens has been aiming for. His song writing skills have finally flourished to include a full orchestra which beefs up the music and makes for a much more interesting listen, the title track being a great example. Every song flows perfectly into the next, and it's clear this is Sufjan at his best. A beautiful album from a premier singer songwriter of our time.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | brandtweathers | January 8th 08 |
AMG called Sufjan a snakeoil salesman because of this album; does this prove his dishonesty in his art? Maybe for professional critics but for myself, this album jumps to a level of honesty and emotion barely met by any other piece of music. Ambitious, warm, and generally expansive (noise-y guitar solo in "man from metropolis..." is a change in pace) this album manages to stay directly impactful for a loooong period of time. Whether a song about bone cancer (which has nothing to do with the song title) hits you first or the tale of a mass murderer (of boys) will find you where you sit, Illinois has the power of one man's vision about a whole state. Sufjan is building an empire of great music... hopefully he will dethrone many others because the credit he deserves has not been served yet.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | samthebassman | February 16th 07 |
The crazy little fella with the crazy musical plan is back and once agin Sufjan does not disappoint. A heartfelt and deeply intelligent album is what sufjan dishes up on the second leg of his 50 states project. Sufjan shows his amazing multi instrumental skills here and when combined with his ability to pen clever lyrics and write stunning arrangements it is easy to see why he is the best young singer songwriter in the world today. He uses just about every sound imaginable on this album to create a sense of optimism that has not been surpassed. Magnificent songwriting makes this an instant indie/folk classic.
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | 123skippy | November 11th 06 |
All I can say is wow...Sujan is a genious who plays almost every instrument imaginable on this cd and writes clever, personal, historical songs...I cannot wait for the next state!!!!!!
Bump |
| 5.0 classic | HippoOfDoom | August 2nd 06 |
Illinois is Sufjan Stevens' 2nd album in the promised 50 albums for every state in the Union. This album gets a perfect score because it's a perfect album. It's been awhile since I've heard an album so well thought out and completed that the moment this was first played to me, I had already realized the genious behind it. The album is very well written, has beautiful songs, most of the indie and alternative genres. Hopefully he will finish his 50 disc set, he doesn't seem like and artist who looses his talent, he seems to only get better.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Danny | May 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | slarti | May 5th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | ANJ45 | April 27th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | keeno | April 16th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | paulxc | April 15th 13 |
| 3.0 good | reef2 | April 12th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Koei | March 20th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | dobs | March 16th 13 |
| 3.0 good | julien | March 11th 13 |
| 2.5 average | zakalwe | February 26th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | dogteal | February 22nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xefon | February 19th 13 |
| 3.5 great | aidanwm | February 13th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | 1554699 | February 10th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | gp0942 | January 30th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Ian | January 13th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | hamid95 | December 30th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | BrentV | December 26th 12 |
| 3.5 great | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | DylanD | December 14th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | dwejkk | November 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Chris | November 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | rien333 | November 12th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | MuNk3y | October 25th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | gnombyX | October 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | toxin | October 21st 12 |
| 3.0 good | ala | October 16th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Skoj | October 9th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Point1 | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | plato66 | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Parsnips | September 30th 12 |
| 3.5 great | alexdub | September 24th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | ejb | September 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ishysez | September 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zephir | July 28th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | iZac | June 23rd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | C.F. | May 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | WBalls | May 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | G.M.B. | April 12th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Harle | April 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wendnarb | February 28th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | BiOZed | February 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Onetwo12 | February 21st 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Maniac | February 18th 12 |
| 3.5 great | sidjmt | February 18th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | nwagner | February 14th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | veteli | February 12th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Tupik | January 30th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | mttgry | January 18th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | RexHunt | January 13th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | gvogel | January 1st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | vivapo | December 12th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | endtell | November 23rd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Zack | November 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | GGI | November 22nd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Amoores | November 3rd 11 |
| 5.0 classic | F177 | November 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | October 27th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Pugnax | October 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | PacM4n | October 17th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | TheDMV | October 11th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Oddsy | October 4th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Undead | September 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Leslie W | September 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | lafcadio | September 17th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | mcglat | September 14th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | jorsh | September 13th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Pagaard | September 10th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | MikeM | September 9th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Lolages | August 31st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Knave | August 26th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Brace | August 10th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | nnnope | August 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | fev | July 28th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | PieRye | July 22nd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | gliate | July 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | discoe | July 13th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Rowdy | July 8th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | John | July 6th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | KaliMa | June 29th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | zillah | June 28th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Matski | June 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | junyi15 | June 12th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Drifts | May 29th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Lukas | May 29th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Muzix | May 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hocmat | May 18th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Esky | May 8th 11 |
| 3.0 good | lobby | April 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Darb | April 23rd 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Riano | April 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | jrbrown | April 5th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | iRox | March 28th 11 |
| 2.0 poor | Asator | March 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | gwh45 | March 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dev518 | March 18th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | idk | February 27th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | sabella | February 16th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | mfp | February 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Korydawg | February 10th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Tom | February 5th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | conm17 | February 3rd 11 |
| 3.0 good | WLuke | January 11th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MrD | January 1st 11 |
| 3.5 great | Ali CONTRIBUTOR | December 25th 10 |
| 3.5 great | kfresha | December 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | c0ffee | December 16th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | T.K. | December 15th 10 |
| 3.5 great | gosk8n | December 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ntoman | December 6th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | gnr61 | December 5th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | BluRain | December 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rutilio | November 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sblang | November 15th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Dyst | November 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Roomex | November 12th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ti0n | November 12th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | awf170 | November 11th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Quinn | November 5th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | grotto | November 2nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | antrilo | November 1st 10 |
| 5.0 classic | ZBJE | October 27th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Jordan | October 25th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Jethro | October 23rd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Lakes | October 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | deadsye | October 10th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Inveigh | October 7th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Oafdog | October 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZiggyPop | September 27th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Irad | September 25th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Matthew | September 22nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | fsharp | September 21st 10 |
| 3.5 great | Tronic | September 19th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ot63 | September 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrChuck | September 7th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | nemo21 | September 2nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Passive | September 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | cvrcmrc | August 31st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | hydey | August 28th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Eno | August 27th 10 |
| 3.5 great | DayMan | August 25th 10 |
| 3.5 great | noisy | August 22nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | ziimo | July 29th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Nathan | July 29th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Ben | July 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | vieky | July 16th 10 |
| 3.0 good | coopj | June 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Velcro | June 12th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | loydd | May 17th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ramos29 | April 6th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Gogol | March 25th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | James | March 11th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Aziz CONTRIBUTOR | March 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mendigo | March 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | SetTrip | March 5th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | tabelz | March 4th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Motiv3 | February 27th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | DonDijk | January 15th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Autumn | December 28th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Movie | December 26th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | bungy | December 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Treska | December 17th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Bleak | December 11th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Jips | December 2nd 09 |
| 3.0 good | SD4L | November 23rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Ronen | November 17th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | roland | November 10th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | JoRos | October 5th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Ethan | September 28th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | 1zero | September 24th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | DoOrDie | September 24th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jansen | September 19th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | chazbol | September 15th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | feav233 | September 13th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Eskate87 | September 5th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Gelade | September 1st 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Squib | September 1st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | dev4ll | August 18th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | jmrobm | August 14th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | thomas3 | August 6th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Comj | August 3rd 09 |
| 5.0 classic | alza | July 30th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | armfarm | June 21st 09 |
| 4.5 superb | mvdu | June 8th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Thef | June 6th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Tjeerd | June 1st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Waior | April 26th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pointro | April 19th 09 |
| 3.0 good | rav3 | April 3rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | slan | January 19th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | timbo8 | January 2nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Yotimi | December 24th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | monorail | December 20th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | dukes | October 23rd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Fasty | October 13th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Peggle | October 9th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Joel | October 8th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Cheops | September 26th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Garito | August 20th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | p12 | July 30th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | pynguin | July 30th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Bhima | July 22nd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | JPAC | July 16th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | ffc14 | May 22nd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | gspinn | April 21st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Will IV | March 10th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | boennie | March 10th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | mfv87 | March 4th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | MBS | February 27th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Peytonnn | February 18th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kiran EMERITUS | February 6th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | mike53 | January 14th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | aaro89 | January 11th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | 459 | December 28th 07 |
| 5.0 classic | Keelan H. EMERITUS | December 23rd 07 |
| 5.0 classic | donovr | December 11th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Than | November 21st 07 |
| 5.0 classic | Donkey | November 18th 07 |
| 3.0 good | Bak | October 26th 07 |
| 5.0 classic | lewser | October 23rd 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Regole | August 28th 07 |
| 5.0 classic | doqtor | August 1st 07 |
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