Sufjan Stevens

Come on Feel the Illinoise

Three stars

With a name like Sufjan Stevens, this singer-songwriter instrumentalist is bound to turn some heads. Add in a conceptual album based on the state of Illinois, and he’s sure to get attention. Come on Feel the Illinoise! is Stevens’ second album in an attempt to create a collection of albums about each of the 50 states. Michigan, his home state, was the first.

Illinoise! is truly artistic from all points of view. The slip cover is coated with images specific to the state including the Chicago skyline, Superman and Abraham Lincoln. Play the CD and you’ll find it to be an imaginative blend. Stevens plays and layers over 20 instruments for the album. He includes everything from banjos to xylophones to piccolos, creating an overall sound reminiscent of The Polyphonic Spree.

Illinoise! has the happiness of The Flaming Lips’ while mirroring Neil Young with banjo-heavy songs like “Jacksonville.” If you like Iron and Wine frontman Sam Beam’s voice, Sufjan Stevens should be right up your alley. It has just enough of that dusty quality to complement his contemplative lyrics. And contemplative they are, as he asks, “What have we become, America?” in “Part I: ‘The Great Frontier’....” Rarely will you find an album so well researched: the songs immortalize Polish Chicagoan Casimir Pulaski, Chicago serial-killer John Wayne Gacy Jr., the UFO sighting near Highland and many other interesting subjects specific to Illinois.

Seven instrumentals are interspersed between the lyricized songs, giving variety to the listening experience.

Simply put, this is one of the most original albums you will hear this year.

Sufjan Stevens is playing at the Bottleneck Sept. 21.

—Kelsey Coon

Limebeck

Let Me Come Home

Two stars

Limbeck’s previous album, Hi Everything’s Great, was a great album. The album, which tells stories of driving around America, does so with a strong alt-country rock feel reminiscent of Ryan Adams and is the perfect soundtrack for any road trip.

Unfortunately, the band’s follow-up Let Me Come Home, essentially repeats their previous effort. Most of the songs stick to the same formula of upbeat tempos and sharing stories of the road. Some of the songs are spiced up with added instrumentals, from piano, mandolin and even an accordion. It does little to enhance the repetitive style throughout the album though.

The production level is sub-par on the band’s second album, having chosen to record live at Flowers Studio in Minneapolis, a decision that possibly should be rethought.

The most interesting track on the album is “I Saw You Laughing,” a slowed-down song with some interesting percussion and country-style piano.

“Sin City” also stands out with its slower tempo, rising guitar chords and harmonica parts. “Making The Rounds” is also a good track, with its catchy background vocals and good use of acoustic and electric guitars.

Let Me Come Home has a few good tracks, but simply doesn’t deliver the road trip fun that its predecessor does. So if you’re looking for a good Limbeck album, go with Hi Everything’s Great.

—Chris Brower