I’ve got a few radio things on the coals that should be ready soon. But until then…

I’m away from home briefly and newly aware that not everyone in the country is sharing in the joy of the Sufjan Stevens Illinois record.

And you should be aware. Musically it’s very similar to the Michigan record. Except this time, Sufjan has figured out how to tell much more personal stories through the tiny details of Illinois state lore. Good stuff.

Fellow Chicagoans Long Haul Productions put together a pretty amazing radio story with Sufjan about the town of Brinkley, Arkansas. I thought the story of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker was incredible, but Dan, Elizabeth, and Sufjan opened up a cupboard in the story far more interesting than some stupid long, lost bird. There’s mp3’s of the the story and song at the Long Haul site.

Also worth checking out for a quiet and maybe better than the album version of Chicago…the Sufjan Stevens Morning Becomes Eclectic session.