A fantastic album. I can see why they didn't continue under the name The Evens, as it's a different sound with the bass added. Coriky is the Evens + Joe Lally from Fugazi on bass. If you can imagine The Evens with a slightly more funky, aggressive sound like Fugazi... that's what you get! And there's no way that can ever go wrong. What a great debut album!! smiledozer
Throughout this album, somehow, Sufjan makes me care about the state of Illinois. From detailed depictions of various landmarks and folklore, to moments of deep personal introspection; Illinois builds an incredibly dense narrative out of it's seemingly simple concept. The variety of sounds on this album is remarkable, compelling me to smile in one moment, then leaving me a sobbing mess in the next. One of the very few albums I'd consider to be 100% perfect. Jasca1127
“Portraits” is a collection of expertly drawn narrative songs with sharply observed lyrics and rustic instrumentation. Bandcamp New & Notable Jun 25, 2022
Seattle upstarts thread their surging power-pop with wistful nostalgia and softly-felt despair, exuding empathy as well as energy. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 24, 2019