Delightfully quirky and sombre at the same time, Illinois typifies what I have come to love about Stevens' songwriting. Many of the songs on the album have been given the (almost trademark) "baroque" treatment, with lush musical arrangements reminiscent of the '70s Canterbury scene, albeit with simpler melodic and lyrical structures. However, venture beyond this grandiose landscape, and you can't help being disarmed by the melancholic undertones prevalent throughout the album. It is this subtlety that makes Illinois stand apart in the ocean of contemporary indie pop music.
Personal Picks: "Chicago", "The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!" and "The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders"
