Sufjan Stevens: Greetings From Michigan - The Great Lake State (2LP) [ASTHMATIC KITTY]

Why you'll love it

This 2LP set comes in a gatefold jacket, with a different inscription in the run-out groove of every side, from "Say YES to Michigan!" to the state motto. Pitchfork called the album a beautiful, sprawling homage to the state.

This edition

• 2LP set
• Gatefold jacket
• Run-out groove inscriptions on every side

About the album

Sufjan Stevens grew up in Michigan, and in 2003 he sent the state an entire double album by way of a thank-you note, with hand-painted artwork by Laura Normandin, and kicked off his famous plan to write a record for every one of the fifty states.

He wrote, arranged and produced it all himself on modest gear, recording in a house in Petoskey, a church and various friends' apartments in Brooklyn, among other spots. Banjo, piano, brass and choirs drift through songs named after real places: "Flint (For the Unemployed and Underpaid)" is hushed and aching, "Detroit, Lift Up Your Weary Head! (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider!)" sprawls gloriously, and "Holland," "Romulus" and "Vito's Ordination Song" show off his gift for small, tender detail, with flutes, glockenspiel and hand claps tucked into every corner.

Illinois followed two years later and made him a household name, and Michigan got a 20th anniversary edition in 2023. As travel brochures go, it's considerably more moving than the official ones, and the tourism board didn't even have to pay for it.

Also at Kops: more Sufjan Stevens on vinyl · browse Singer-Songwriter

Tracklist

Listen

On Asthmatic Kitty (cat# AKR007), a reissue of the 2003 album.