Come On Feel The Illinoise! - Sufjan Stevens

You've got to admire a man who devotes his album content to the midwest. We may not be the flashiest collection of states, but in the right hands, we make for some good music. Illinoise is Stevens' second state-related album, after he released Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State a couple of years before. Both albums are a treat, but what I really want to talk about the Land of Lincoln, and the album that has had my toes tapping all week.
I think the best part of Sufjan Stevens' music is his ability to bring indie-rock to a wider audience. By infusing it with folk, and turning it into a basis for concept albums, he reaches out to those of us who might not necessarily notice it at first. The album starts out with a couple of introductory songs that are quite contrasting. "Concerning the UFO Sighting..." is a soft, soothing piano introduction which is then followed by the boistrous fanfare of "The Black Hawk War..." (Note that I use elipses in the song titles because writing them out would take up half of my post. Especially the second one!) Sufjan then pleases the progressive rock fans with a 5/4 song. The title track is a perfect example of what I was mentioning before. The vocals and style sound very much like an indie rock song. However, the instrumentation (trumpets, xylophone, piano, woodwinds, etc.) suggests a different style altogether. This blend is very lighthearted and catchy.
The next song is one of my favorites on the album: "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." The quiet guitar and piano parts almost remind me of "Dust in the Wind." This song also provides a good example of the material Sufjan chooses for his albums. Selecting important people and events from the stae's history is another way he is unique as an artist. "Jacksonville" has a lot of folk in it, but maintains a laid-back groove that I really dig. "A Short Reprise For Mary Todd, Who Went Insane, But For Very Good Reasons" is one of a few short tracks consisting of just a few chords. These segues keep the flow of the album very solid.
This is another album that I don't want to go into too much detail about, but I definitely suggest you all give it a listen. If you're just looking for highlights, I would recommend "Chicago," "John Wayne Gacy, Jr.," "Casamir Pulaski Day," "The Predatory Wasp..." and "They Are Night Zombies..." Happy listening!

Unfortunately, Napster does not have this album available for listening, but Amazon provides samples on their website:
http://www.amazon.com/Illinoise-Sufjan-Stevens/dp/B0009R1T7M