Sufjan Stevens
Come on Feel the Illinoise

Finally, the 2005 album! Sufjan Stevens manages to impose an ambitious project like few others that stands out particularly in an era characterized by mediocrity and fear. The idea of creating (dedicating) an album for each American state is crazy (it's unlikely the project will be completed, but that's not the point). It’s insane to venture into lyrics that range, within a pop format, from the story of a serial killer ("John Wayne Gacy Jr") to a beloved woman who died of cancer ("Casimir Pulaski Day"). It's folly to create the songs starting from majestic orchestral arrangements that do not just highlight (soften, polish) the song's structure (as happens in most cases) but are the very essence of the tracks, their body and soul at the same time.

Well, how pleasant it is for once to see that ambition and talent align, walk hand in hand, and allow the creation of a work that will stand the test of time, remembered for long. The immediately striking feature is, as mentioned, the all-encompassing yet light and organic nature of the orchestral arrangements. These are arrangements that are, above all, simply beautiful, magnificent, always perfectly timed in letting the song breathe without overpowering it (thus avoiding unnecessary baroque excesses). The same goes for the choruses, which intervene precisely at the right moment, without excess.

In short, Sufjan manages to handle dangerous materials, orchestras, and choruses. Here, there are no half measures; without talent, the results are often disastrous (in those who are ambitious but lacking) or dull (in those who are lacking and cautious). But the greatness of the album also lies in being able to place unforgettable songs, first and foremost the already mentioned "John Wayne Gacy Jr", one of the best tracks heard in recent years, a tender, poignant, unsettling folk ballad where sweetness and dark introspection merge perfectly; or the following "Jacksonville", another remarkable example of balance and pop mastery. In short, if Sufjan Stevens manages to complete his project at these levels, all the better. He would be a genius. However, even if this doesn't happen, we are still left with this gem.