Perhaps most remarkable about Illinois is that Stevens's exceptional lyrics are surpassed by his diverse, ambitious compositions.
Makes most other albums seem small-minded and, ironically, rather parochial.
It's incredibly diverse, both in its exploration of Illinois and in its exploration of music ... This is truly incredible music to immerse yourself in, an absolute essential.
It's an ambitious and unwieldy experiment that could've gone terribly wrong but Stevens pulls it off with grace and gusto.
Illinois is an extraordinary achievement, all the more so when one considers that besides researching and writing the album, Stevens also played most of the parts himself.
It’s easy enough to let the heavyweight themes wash over you, so marvellous are some of these tunes. But really sink into ‘Illinoise’ and its depth is evident.
It’s all true. Everything that made Michigan great is here, but the layout of Illinois is more focused.
Musically, Illinois is strange and lush, as excessive and challenging as its giant, gushing song titles.
Vast in scope and breathtaking in its beauty, Illinois may very well be the album that heralds Sufjan Stevens as one of this young century’s most talented artists.
Most of the songs on Illinois are meticulously put together and well thought out, resulting in some very gorgeous music.
The bittersweet twists and turns of a lifetime eloquently described in a folk-pop song—it really doesn’t get much better than this; these songs that must be heard to be believed.
It doesn’t matter where you’re from, you’ll find a lot of yourself in Illinois.
Thanks to Stevens' penchant for illustrative instruments like glockenspiel, flute, and sleigh bells, his Illinois sounds quaint and even magical.
Come On ... is a remarkable album that manages to pack in a state full of instruments (flugelhorns, choirs, presumably at least one watering-can solo) and sounds as simultaneously vast yet intimately detailed as Polyphonic Spree produced by Brian Eno.
When focusing on life's minute joys or its mundane horror, Stevens' voice is as true and profound as an angel
We are living in an oppressive, anti-drug society. The way the government prohibits the use of narcotics is simply dictator-like, and if you don't believe me, then we'll take a closer look. As you can see, projected on the wall behind me, there is clear evidence of drugs actually boosting creativity, and happiness. Further, if we look at more graphs and lines, you can clearly see that people who are on drugs are considerably more sociable. If you still don't believe the benefits of drugs, then ... read more
#1 | / | No Ripcord |
#1 | / | Pitchfork |
#7 | / | NME |
#8 | / | SPIN |
#9 | / | Rolling Stone |
#23 | / | Gigwise |