Favorite Albums of 2000s: #2

2.  Come On Feel the Illinoise! – Sufjan Stevens

 

I waffled a long time between this and the album i ultimately selected as #1 for the top spot.  I almost listed this one as 1b, but thought that was cheating.  Whatever the label, this is one incredible album.  If you’re not familiar with the music of Sufjan Stevens, you’re really missing out on a musical prodigy, a genius at interweaving odd and simple instruments and sounds into his multi-layered, beautiful songs.  He may be a bit of an acquired taste for some, but if you “get it”, you’ll love it.

 

Start with Illinoise, which is for me clearly his best work.  As one reviewer put it, the music is “strange and lush… excessive and challenging.”  The conceit of the album is a tribute to the state of Illinois, the 2nd installment in Sufjan’s hyperbolic quest to create an album for each of the 50 states.  The lyrics are sprinkled with obvious and obscure references to all-things Illinois, but you don’t need a connection to that state to understand it or enjoy it.

 

This is another album sequenced to listen through from start to finish, with a number of sub-one-minutes sonic intermissions, palette cleansers perhaps.  Of the 22 tracks, there are only 13 or so full songs, but oh what great songs they are.  My two favorites are “Casimir Pulaski Day” and “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” (a haunting song which will be off-putting for some – it’s not an ode to a serial killer, but Sufjan does draw parallels to our own sins, hidden beneath our metaphorical floorboards), probably the two barest (musically) tracks, but the two with the most story-like lyrics (eg, “Tuesday night at the Bible study we lift our hands and pray over your body but nothing ever happens”).

 

The title track, the one about Chicago, and the one about Superman are also stellar.  I love Jacksonville. 

And the Night Zombies with a cool funky groove.  Tallest Man, Broadest Shoulders.  I could listen to this album over and over again.  It’s one for the ages.

 

Other links

·       Decidedly odd-duck bio of Sufjan from his record label

·       Myspace – if you dig that sort of thing

·       Review of Illinoise at Pitchfork

·       The Predatory Wasp

·       Another version of the Zombies song (with strings)

 

Next up:  my favorite album of the decade.  Sic ‘em bears!