I know that Tim has already blogged about the song "Chicago", off of Sufjan Stevens album "Illinoise", and he is better at writing about music than I am, but I have to write about the song too.
I've had the album for a long while now, but never listened to it as intensely as I have in the past few days. It's spectacular, and I've known it was spectacular since the beginning, but it's something even more now. I know that's vague, but I can't describe how ridiculously good it feels to let this music wash over you. I've been pondering the question of if the subject of the album makes me love it more, being a native Illinoisian and even a native Chicagoan (sort of; I'm from the suburbs, but consider Chicago my "downtown".), but can't come up with an answer.
I only know that when I listen to "Chicago", there is a depth of meaning that I'm not sure how to express. It hits me hard. Part of it is definitely the choral feel of some of the song--it doesn't sound super-polished and perfect. It sounds like a group of normal people singing the song, and it makes me feel comfortable. I feel like I can (and I do, of course) sing along perfectly. I don't even want to sing along with Sufjan's parts, because I like feeling like I'm "in the band". If that makes sense.
I'm not sure I can quantify my love for the CD any more than that. I can't pick out individual elements that I like because I like it all so much. And it will now always be tied to this week, this month, this period where I'm starting a new job that I'm liking very much. I can't say that's a bad thing, either.
Oh yeah! This is certainly my favorite album of the year. Such a talent!
Posted by: scott | January 07, 2006 at 09:26 AM