Michigan
by Sufjan Stevens

From Space-Dementia 07/30/2016 01:43 | #171962 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Illinois and Michigan are both beautiful albums, but for different reasons. They both seem to explore similar thoughts and feelings, but in different ways. Where Illinois seems like a musical put on by schoolchildren that exceeds everyone's expectations and ends up being better than most Broadway musicals, Michigan is a play put on by adults that don't go out of their way to show everyone they're the best, but instead leave more room for breathing and interpretation. Where Illinois seems to say, "This is a sad song" and put all its listeners to tears, Michigan seems to say, "You can feel whatever you want when you listen to this, but I was feeling sad when I wrote it," and put its listeners in a somber mood that's not nearly as heavy as Illinois, but just a different kind of sad. I'm not saying either one of these options is better, in fact I like Illinois more because I've simply never experienced such strong emotions evoked by music before. However I can understand why someone would like Michigan more, because there's so much space to breathe and decide what to feel. (Edited)

From poppmusic TOP 100 COMMENTER 05/01/2015 22:00 | #140672 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Different from Illinois. A stark, single image of a rust belt state in decay rather than a meta-historical narrative. With a neo-social realist perspective, Stevens depicts the squalor and strife that made an impact on his youth and his vain search for hope and progress. Best songs: "Flint", "Detroit", "Oh God, Where Are You Now?"

THIS is considered second-tier Sufjan and that's just not fair.

The first(actually one of two, at least so far)of Sufjan Stevens American state albums. Michigan, is not quite as great as it's successor, Illinois, would be, but it's still a brilliantly ambitious piece of work. Stevens really captures the atmosphere and mood of Michigan and there are some lovely sounds and songs. It's clear now that Stevens will never cover all U.S. states, and it doesn't even look like there will even be another one. I know artists have to move on, still I would love to see another one, California or Alaska, maybe? Go on Sufjan.

From junodog4 TOP 100 COMMENTER 03/14/2015 21:47 | #136803 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

Sounds like Illinoise, but not quite perfected yet. Still a gem.