The Avalanche: Outtakes & Extras From The Illinois Album
by Sufjan Stevens
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 59 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 59
  3. Negative: 3 out of 59

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  1. JohnK
    Jul 23, 2006
    4
    Dan M can laugh without providing reasons all he wants, but the fact is Sufjan is the most overrated musician since...well, ever. Granted his songs can be good and at best enthralling, but he rarely goes outside of his dream-pop indie bubble. Every song sounds the same, with some notable exceptions (Carlyle Lake).His music ultimately fails in its coldness; he said in one interview that Dan M can laugh without providing reasons all he wants, but the fact is Sufjan is the most overrated musician since...well, ever. Granted his songs can be good and at best enthralling, but he rarely goes outside of his dream-pop indie bubble. Every song sounds the same, with some notable exceptions (Carlyle Lake).His music ultimately fails in its coldness; he said in one interview that music does not come from inspiration, and writing songs is just work. Until he realizes that this isn't the case, he'll be an eccentricity at best, full of gimmicks (like the 50 states thing) and self-importance (this Avalanche disc).… Expand
  2. ShaK
    Jul 14, 2006
    4
    I've listened to this album back to back for the past few days and I've come to conclude that it won't get any better. Last year's "Illinoise" was a bit of a grower, but I could still get into it, on the first spin. "The Avalanche" may be Sufjan's weakest record to date; there is a reason these songs did not make "Illinoise." Even still, wading through what seems I've listened to this album back to back for the past few days and I've come to conclude that it won't get any better. Last year's "Illinoise" was a bit of a grower, but I could still get into it, on the first spin. "The Avalanche" may be Sufjan's weakest record to date; there is a reason these songs did not make "Illinoise." Even still, wading through what seems like a gratuitous amount of filler, you can't help but get nostalgic. At his best, Sufjan may not make a bad record, but if he was trying to recapture the spirit of "Illinoise" the "I' on his chest may very well stand for irony.… Expand
  3. [Anonymous]
    Jul 11, 2006
    6
    Last year's Illinois was good, but ultimately overrated. This is just sadly underwhelming.
  4. PhilipC
    Sep 21, 2006
    5
    Vastly overrated, even more so than the rest of his catalogue.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Under The Radar
    70
    What Stevens does most successfully here is expand the notion of American song. [#14]
  2. Austin Chronicle
    89
    Avalanche,... is all over the place musically but never loses the singer-songwriter's jaw-dropping vision.
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  3. Prefix Magazine
    60
    There's a difference between a damn fine song and the brilliance that made up Stevens's previous two releases, Illinois and Seven Swans. Unfortunately, The Avalanche clunks through track after track of damn fine songs while only rarely hitting these moments that make your body tingle in euphoria.
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