Sufjan Stevens Illinoise ( vinyl 2LP )

Release date: 18-04-2015 (originally released in 2005)

 

2015 EU reissue 180g vinyl 2LP - One of the best song-makers in indie rock, rolific, intelligent and—most importantly—brimming with heart-wrenching melodies.

 

The album topped the best of the decade list appearing in the November 2009 issue of Paste and NPR named Illinois on their list of "The Decade's 50 Most Important Recordings". Pitchfork called Illinois the sixteenth best album of the decade

 

A1 Concerning The UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois

A2 The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire Civilization And Still Feel Good About Yourself In The Morning, Or, We Apologize For The Inconvenience But You're Going To Have To Leave Now, Or, "I Have Fought The Big Knives And Will Continue To Fight Them Until They Are Off Our Lands!"

A3 Come On! Feel The Illinoise! Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

A4 John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

A5 Jacksonville

A6 A Short Reprise For Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, But For Very Good Reasons

 

B1 Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother! (Backing Vocals – Daniel Smith, Elin Smith*, Matt Morgan)

B2 One Last "Whoo-Hoo!" For The Pullman

B3 Chicago

B4 Casimir Pulaski Day

B5 To The Workers Of The Rock River Valley Region, I Have An Idea Concerning Your Predicament

 

C1 The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts

C2 Prairie Fire That Wanders About

C3 A Conjunction Of Drones Simulating The Way In Which Sufjan Stevens Has An Existential Crisis In The Great Godfrey Maze

C4 The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!

C5 They Are Night Zombies!! They Are Neighbors!! They Have Come Back From The Dead!! Ahhhh! (Vocals – Craig Montoro)

C6 Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All The Way Out In Bushnell

C7 In This Temple As In The Hearts Of Man For Whom He Saved The Earth

 

D1 The Seer's Tower

D2 The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders Part 1: The Great Frontier Part II: Come To Me Only With Playthings Now

D3 Riffs And Variations On A Single Note For Jelly Roll, Earl Hines, Louis Armstrong, Baby Dodds, And The King Of Swing, To Name A Few

D4 Out Of Egypt, Into The Great Laugh Of Mankind, And I Shake The Dirt From My Sandals As I Run

D5 The Ava Lanche