ALBUM REVIEW - Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
When I decided to make Sufjan Stevens’ Illinoise my first review, I hadn’t heard it. I was set to receive it about 5 days before the review was due and I thought, “No problem, plenty of time.” Then I started listening to it and it is an intensely rich work with multiple layers of instrumentation, production and depth; one that cannot be digested in five days and, like all truly good music, something that stands up to 1000’s of listens. I’ve listened to it about twelve times, so read this review with the caveat that I gave myself a stupid deadline and I didn’t give myself enough time to do a full assessment of the recording.
Illinoise is a fantastic recording.
The track that initially drew me to the CD was John Wayne Gacy, Jr. that I heard on Radio Paradise a few weeks back. It was a sweet beautiful acoustic song, with a haunting melody and lyrical content revolving around serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Jr. creating an incredibly uncomfortable juxtaposition. If the CD had just been stuff like this, great voice, pleasant guitar, excellent and weird lyrics and good production, I would have been happy. This gentle little song is merely a piece of this ‘pick and choose’ musical history of Illinois and sits amongst huge songs full of horns and strings and choirs and hand claps (my wife Tracy and I usually hate any hand clapping beyond Steve Reich, but it works here) and just amazing production and orchestration. I really enjoy this CD and would have listened to it 12+ times even if I didn’t have to do this review. If I had any complaints it would lie in the song length, as most of the songs are between 1 & 3 minutes, making transition abundant and uneasy…that being said, this is one of the best things I have put in my CD tray in the past year and is a testament to independent artists who let their creativity flow and push the envelope instead of wedging themselves in one. Gaito says: “Buy it now!”
Favorite Tracks:
Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part I & II
John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Chicago
The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders
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Visit mikegaito.net
Illinoise is a fantastic recording.
The track that initially drew me to the CD was John Wayne Gacy, Jr. that I heard on Radio Paradise a few weeks back. It was a sweet beautiful acoustic song, with a haunting melody and lyrical content revolving around serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Jr. creating an incredibly uncomfortable juxtaposition. If the CD had just been stuff like this, great voice, pleasant guitar, excellent and weird lyrics and good production, I would have been happy. This gentle little song is merely a piece of this ‘pick and choose’ musical history of Illinois and sits amongst huge songs full of horns and strings and choirs and hand claps (my wife Tracy and I usually hate any hand clapping beyond Steve Reich, but it works here) and just amazing production and orchestration. I really enjoy this CD and would have listened to it 12+ times even if I didn’t have to do this review. If I had any complaints it would lie in the song length, as most of the songs are between 1 & 3 minutes, making transition abundant and uneasy…that being said, this is one of the best things I have put in my CD tray in the past year and is a testament to independent artists who let their creativity flow and push the envelope instead of wedging themselves in one. Gaito says: “Buy it now!”
Favorite Tracks:
Come On! Feel the Illinoise! Part I & II
John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Chicago
The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders
Read more reviews...
Visit mikegaito.net
posted by Gaito at 7:07 PM
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