Love Sufjan, though this song strikes me as a touch awkward and hokey. Draws heavily on Close to Me, but the vocal rhythm of that one section is right out of The Police's Synchronicity Part I. Edit: After more listens, I've decided that this song is brilliant. Beautiful music with very crafty, smart, enigmatic lyrics. Oh God of Progress Have you degraded or forgot us? Where have your laws gone? I think about it now Ancient hieroglyphic or the South Pacific Typically terrific, busy and prolific Classical devotion, architect promotion Lacking in emotion. Think about it now.

Hmmm. My rating does not do much for the average. (6) It remainds me a bit of Ben Folds Five - but a little sappier. I gave it a 6 because it is a bold attempt and it is different. The lyrics are a bit juvenile. The whole composition sounds like a classroom assignment. Maybe the next album will be better - after he graduates from college.

petesoper wrote: Oops, sonnet.

This is the worst song I've heard on RP since I started listening 18 months ago. Trite and contrived don't get close to the depth of my annoyance. I LOVE RP's eclectic theme but everybody's got their limits and I found mine with this song. A chain saw modulated by a rap version of a Shakespeare sonata would be a welcome alternative to this song.

daveesh wrote: I have completely the opposite opinion ...

this is gooooooooood!! thanks for the introduction...

Please make it STOP!

I didn't like this for a minute or so but it's starting to gel now. Interesting stuff. 3...5...

I was so excited to 'rock out' to this "Illinoise" CD I ordered through RP & Amazon.com...But it was shipped with no disc in it. What cruel, sick joke is this?? How anti-climactic!!

radiozep wrote: I feel the exact opposite. I find myself thoroughly enjoying every track off of this album the first time I hear it, and the feeling (so far) only grows with repeated listens.

Can't decide if I like this version better than the other one: https://www.radioparadise.com/modules.php?name=songinfo&song_id=37791 :-k

Sorry, I've tried. Sure hear them enough on RP, but I cannot get into these guys.

5/4-beat... how nice!! I know, this isn't to everyone's liking... I think I like it cuz it's different.

A little Linus and Lucy never hurt anybody Beyond that, quite an interesting little tune. EDIT: Ooh, and a little Cure thrown in for good measure....

I loved this. At first I thought: "Philip Glass"? I was amazed at the sweet melodic figures and the almost oriental sound, as if an ancient Persian were being reinterpreted for our times. When it was over, I hunted for it on Rhapsody, but no luck, Sufjan has only one track there. Then I read these comments. I wonder if we were listening to the same thing? Wow, what different opinions!

this is absolutely horrible.

Fun stuff.

As a Chicagoan who has never heard this song, I was working with this in the background until I heard the Chicago references, then I had to look at the comments to figure out what the hell this was. Worth a listen for the kitch factor, and perhaps I'll buy the album for fellow Chicagoans as a gag, but can't say it's great. :-s

Is it me, or is something out of tune?

thekid wrote: Truly weird, it's true. His goal is to write an album about each of the 50 United States. Check out his label, Asthmatic Kitty Records, at https://www.asthmatickitty.com/main.php One of the artists on the label is Liz Janes, and her stuff is intriguing. As a Chicago person, I find much of this song to be an in-joke. You've got to 'get' the whole Chicago-architecture-pride thing. We really do walk around staring up at the tops of buildings admiring cornices and windows and know which are Prairie influenced. We are truly weird.

ArbiterOfGoodTaste wrote: Okay, I'll give it a chance ... but this is an effort!

ploafmaster wrote: I had muted it until I read this... OK, giving it a full chance. Verdict: Started out awful, but grew on me and became pleasant by the end.

Holy CRAP! This song went straight from "New" to "Added" in the LRC, with 0/0! Rock on!