Being from the state, I almost felt compelled to like Sufjan Stevens' latest album. But with repeated listens, I've come to the following conclusions:

This album is boring, his voice sucks, and this album is boring.

Oh, and he's still Xtian. So that's big - points. Just kidding, but not really.

hes christian? really?

i love the album (also being from illinois)

the albums is not boring....his voice is pretty damn good....but thats just me

He has a pretty voice, and I can take a few songs at a time.. and while I haven't heard this album in particular, I must say his music blends together and is not memorable and is pretty boring all at once.

I was once made fun of for liking his music, because the person said it was boring as shit. I sort of disagreed, and now I agree. It's funny how things change.
I guess it came with repeated or attempted listening to his music

I loved Michigan and I like what I've heard of Seven Swans. But Illinois just sounded like too much of the same when I've listened to it the few times.

In fact, I think I've only listened to it twice since I bought it when it came out. It just sounds exactly like Michigan to me.

i'm not crazy about the majority of his stuff but a friend of mine recently sent me a live song called the fifty states song and its pretty fucking excellent- i can't stop listening to it. anyone know if this has been released or if its a live only song? (yousendit enclosed for anyone interested in hearing it)

Still don't have Illinois, but I still listen to Seven Swans about once a week.

I can't really bring myself to dislike Illinois, but it is kinda samey, not as good as Michigan, etc.

edit: bring ^

I love it, love Seven Swans, and love Michigan, too. It's all dark, quiet, pensive music - that's just his style in general. I'm guessing that this is hype-backlash more than that he actually "sucks" - so many people are checking him out, and he's an aquired taste, so there will obviously be a lot of people with dissenting opinions now. I like the mood and atmosphere that he creates.

And, damn if "John Wayne Gacy" doesn't grab me by the throat every time. I can't think of another song that manages to continue to fascinate me every time I hear it. It's both beautiful and disturbing, and I keep coming back for more to find out why it works so well.

I do like the John Wayne Gacy song. And I don't think this is hype backlash from me particularly, because I gave a few listens to Seven Swans when it came out and didn't like that either.

As I said, I was desperate to like this album since I'm from Illinois...it's just not happening.

I've never liked this album form day one.

He should concentrate on trying to put out a good album rather than living up to (most probably) some off-the-cuff comment he made in an interview.

He can pen a good song but he really needs to focus a lot more if he's going to live up to his billing.

i agree that this is some boring stuff

Whenever I hear him sing I think of Richard Harris singing "MacArthur Park".

He does not appeal to me at all.

Michigan was great, Swans was pretty good, but Illinoise sucks sweaty Grand Canyon donkey testicles.

i get the urge to listen to the illinois album occasionally, but half way through i turn it off because i feel like he is taking himself too seriously. i still like it, but i dont love it.

is your name eliza? that's my name. short for elizabeth, but what i'm frequently called. 8)

I like the states albums equally, and Seven Swans much much more.