Rolling Stone (p.104) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Steven's charm, like that of his spiritual homeboy Neil Young, lies in teetering on the edge of cloudy-headed overindulgence..."
Spin (p.79) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[With] surprising synth bursts and craggy guitar noise that were sand-papered off its predecessor."
Entertainment Weekly (p.79) - "These wistful folk-pop leftovers are better than most acts' A game."
Q (p.116) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[H]is idiosyncratic instrumentation -- banjos and trumpets, along with some spooky echoes -- makes it all the more accessible."
Alternative Press (p.212) - "His sense of research, observation, and, most importantly, storytelling is as strong on these 21 tracks as it was on ILLINOIS' 22."
No Depression (p.116) - "THE AVALANCHE provides an interesting glimpse into Stevens' artistic process, as well as the best -ever musical dissertation on Adlai Stevenson."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.96) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]here are plenty of stirring woodwind/brass arrangements at which Stevens excels, and we get fascinating nods to one-time Illinois inhabitants..."
Personnel: Sufjan Stevens; Rosie Thomas, James McAlister, Shara Worden, Katrina Kerns, Craig Montoro.
Recording information: 2005 - 2006.
Primarily recorded in late 2005/early '06, THE AVALANCHE serves as a companion piece to Sufjan Stevens's lauded ILLINOIS, and shares the brightly melodic chamber-pop sound of that earlier release. On this 21-track offering, the Brooklyn-based indie-rock hero revisits his lilting "Chicago" on three different occasions, most notably an acoustic version that showcases Stevens's folk leanings. The gentle-voiced performer also nods to Prairie State luminaries on the woodwind-laced "Adlai Stevenson" and the delicate "Saul Bellow," a track that strongly recalls Stevens's esteemed peer Sam Beam (aka Iron & Wine). Since he has focused on Illinois for two full-length records, it seems unlikely that Stevens will reach his once-stated goal of an album for each of the 50 states, but given the remarkable quality evident on even the supposed castaways from these ambitious outings, his ardent fans certainly won't fault him for it.