ガイドコメント
2005年発表の“アメリカ50州シリーズ”第2弾となるアルバム。弦楽四重奏や合唱団も導入した壮大なサウンドで、エイブラハム・リンカーンやUFOの目撃、スーパーマンに至るまで、イリノイ州にまつわる事象を綴った歌詞で彩っている。
収録曲
01CONCERNING THE UFO SIGHTING NEAR HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS
02THE BLACK HAWK WAR, OR, HOW TO DEMOLISH AN ENTIRE CIVILIZATION AND STILL FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF IN THE MORNING, OR, WE APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE NOW, OR, "I HAVE FOUGHT THE BIG KNIVES AND WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT THEM UNTIL THEY ARE OFF OUR LANDS!"
03COME ON! FEEL THE ILLINOISE!; PART1: THE WORLD'S COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION|PART2: CARL SANDBURG VISITS ME IN A DREAM
04JOHN WAYNE GACY, JR.
05JACKSONVILLE
06A SHORT REPRISE FOR MARY TODD, WHO WENT INSANE, BUT FOR VERY GOOD REASONS
07DECATUR, OR, ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR YOUR STEPMOTHER!
08ONE LAST "WHOO-HOO!" FOR THE PULLMAN
09CHICAGO
10CASIMIR PULASKI DAY
11TO THE WORKERS OF THE ROCK RIVER VALLEY REGION, I HAVE AN IDEA CONCERNING YOUR PREDICAMENT
12THE MAN OF METROPOLIS STEALS OUR HEARTS
13PRAIRIE FIRE THAT WANDERS ABOUT
14A CONJUNCTION OF DRONES SIMULATING THE WAY IN WHICH SUFJAN STEVENS HAS AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS IN THE GREAT GODFREY MAZE
15THE PREDATORY WASP OF THE PALISADES IS OUT TO GET US!
16THEY ARE NIGHT ZOMBIES!! THEY ARE NEIGHBORS!! THEY HAVE COME BACK FROM THE DEAD!! AHHHH!
17LET'S HEAR THAT STRING PART AGAIN, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY HEARD IT ALL THE WAY OUT IN BUSHNELL
18IN THIS TEMPLE AS IN THE HEARTS OF MAN FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE EARTH
19THE SEER'S TOWER
20THE TALLEST MAN, THE BROADEST SHOULDERS; PART1: THE GREAT FRONTIER|PART2: COME TO ME ONLY WITH PLAYTHINGS NOW
21RIFFS AND VARIATIONS ON A SINGLE NOTE FOR JELLY ROLL, EARL HINES, LOUIS ARMSTRONG, BABY DODDS, AND THE KING OF SWING, TO NAME A FEW
22OUT OF EGYPT, INTO THE GREAT LAUGH OF MANKIND, AND I SHAKE THE DIRT FROM MY SANDALS AS I RUN