you be illin(ois)

Sufjan Stevens - The Henney Buggy Band - [from The Avalanche: Outtakes And Extras From The Illinois Album, 2006]

Somebody remind Sufjeezy that he signed on for a project called The 50 States, and he's got 48 to go. Also, that had he done his research, he would know that Illinois doesn't have avalanches, as it doesn't have mountains. But you know, I really can't argue with a song this great. Sufjan is as consistently awesome and creatively rich as very few artists are, and if this song and the title track (which I've also heard, and you should Soulseek) are any indication of this due-out-in-July album, he could continue making records solely about Illinois for the duration of his career. Though I am eagerly awaiting songs like "French Fries! Tater Tots! Ruffles! (A Song For Boise)" (from the Idaho album), "Sufjan Does Dallas, or, A Melancholy Ode to the Lone Star" (from the Texas album), and "The Ghost Of Henry David Thoreau Returns To Walden Pond By Midnight, To Find It Overtaken By Revelers And Harvard Coeds" (from Massachusetts). By the way, can I get some props for the title of this post? It's at least as good as "Come On! Feel The Illinoise!"

[big up to stereogum for the track]