Thought this album was as strange as it was enchanting.
Full disclosure, I haven’t heard the original Stevens album before, and I can’t begin to picture exactly how quite a few of these songs fit into the balletic structure, but if there’s anyone I trust to crack this code, it’s Justin Peck.
The record really hits its indie-pop-rock-folk stride when the “stories” emerge in the first act, while the more gorgeous songs can be found in the second act. “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades…” is my personal highlight of the album and I hope it’s their Tony performance (though I wouldn’t be disappointed by “Chicago”, either).
I feel like Illinoise is one of those cases where you have to see it live to get the full gist of it. And even though some moments here didn’t exactly stick with me — though the three vocalists all have lovely voices — the stagecraft and choreography alone might be reason to go.
“I am furious, but I am sailing.”
Updated On: 5/31/24 at 06:04 PM