10 Most Frontloaded Albums In Rock History
9. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
Pacing is key to any record, but this is never more applicable than when your album stretches past the 70-minute mark and features an almost exhaustingly long list of musicians.
By all measures, Stevens’ 2005 record (the second part of a quickly abandoned project to write an album about every US state) is a triumph, and its length is merited - he’s aiming for epic, and he succeeds in his goals.
Still, the vast majority of the most memorable tracks are packed up top, and in quick succession. The first two sides of vinyl cover “John Wayne Gacy, Jr”, the anthemic “Chicago”, and the beautiful “Casemiro Pulaski Day” along with the terrific title track.
While there are absolutely highlights on the back half (particularly “The Predatory Wasp Of The Palisades Is Out To Get Us!”, Stevens chooses to stick most of his lengthy, instrumental compositions at this point. It’s great music, but leaves the final side feeling like something you’re obliged to play to finish the album off.