Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

[Dave]

Well it is also number 1 on metacritics best of 2005 so far.

Which is obviously a little less biased.

[Tom]

2c

This album is quite stunning on first listen. I'm definately going to play this out a lot over the next few weeks.

[groovypanda]

i too am loving this album after the first couple of listens - his voice reminds me a little bit of badly drawn boy

can anyone tell me what other albums of his are worth checking out as i'd definitely like to hear more of him..?

cheers

matt

[Dave]

Check out Greetings from Michigan, the first of his 50 states project. And Seven Swans which was released between Michigan and Illinois.

Both are great!

[Jafs]

I first heard about him in the french magazines "Les Inrockuptibles", with the album "Michigan", but I never had the opportunity to listen to this record.

So now the guy is back with "Illinois"(Come and feel the Illinoise...), an outstanding record, following the press and the musical experts that you are, and following his interesting 1st place in RYM 2005 ranking (http://rateyourmusic.com) (even if I know that means nothing at all).

I was on the way to miss it like I missed Michigan, but I listened 3 TOTALLY BEAUTIFUL SONGS on www.lesinrocks.com ! I'm on the mental way to go and bought the record .

It's strange, because last year I found Arcade Fire's Funeral pretty interesting(a record with a soul is rare nowadays...), but I didn't check it out as he had to be due to his plenty of qualities.

[mmm skyscraper]

I have Enjoy Your Rabbit which is mostly instrumental (some of the songs are even a bit drum'n'bass) and the only singing seems to be in Chinese. It's interesting, but definitely different than Michigan and Illinois.

[Stephen]

I can't believe I missed this. My copy arrived today following the results of the dirty poll. Holy fuck, this is amazing. Decatur is possibly the sweetest melody I've ever heard. I am so pleased I own this record.

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