For
Sufjan Stevens, prolific might very well be an understatement. Only
two albums into his daunting “50 States Project,” Stevens
not only delivers an excellent album with Illinois, but a classic
at that. Built around Stevens’ deceptively complex arrangements
and novella-length song titles, the album presents a joyous and
heartrending take on the Land of Lincoln. And even though Illinois
does occasionally get bogged down in orchestral strings and marching
band pep, it is nevertheless an astounding piece of work that not
only solidifies Sufjan as a premier artist, but that also vaults
him far above his peers.
For
Sufjan Stevens, prolific might very well be an understatement. Only
two albums into his daunting “50 States Project,” Stevens
not only delivers an excellent album with Illinois, but a classic
at that. Built around Stevens’ deceptively complex arrangements
and novella-length song titles, the album presents a joyous and
heartrending take on the Land of Lincoln. And even though Illinois
does occasionally get bogged down in orchestral strings and marching
band pep, it is nevertheless an astounding piece of work that not
only solidifies Sufjan as a premier artist, but that also vaults
him far above his peers.