Question:
I personally think that this album far outstrips even Illinois as the best album of this decade, but I'm curious as to others' opionions on it.

How do you feel about The Avalanche?

Choices:
Haven't yet heard it, but I think it will be amazing
Haven't yet heard it, but I think it will be good
Haven't yet heard it, but I think it will be average or poor
Have heard it, think it's good/amazing
Have heard it, think it's average/poor

 

while this is another solid addition to his catalog, it has so many throw away tracks that i nearly gagged when you called the avalanche the best of this decade. granted, the acoustic version of "chicago" is a great song, but i don't need to hear "chicago" three times in one hour (worse is that they are scattered throughout the album, not at end like "The Soft Bulletin"'s needless remixes). other songs, like "carlyle lake" for example, are just kind of annoying.

that said, there's probably about 40 minutes of pretty great music. the title track and "pittsfield" are definite standouts to me. i will probably delete certain songs off my iPod and will then find this album much more listenable as a whole.

overall, viewing the two albums/the whole illinois project, the avalanche sort of makes me wish he would have exchanged some of the "b-sides" for the weaker tracks of illinios, or just left those songs off with no replacement at all. the idea for this project is stunning, his perfomance is inspired and his songwriting is incredible, but the final execution of the project (choosing the right songs, mixes, overall direction, etc) seems to have been too gigantic for even sufjan to undertake on his own, and thus we are left with two imperfect albums. i still feel lucky for having heard all of this music, imperfections and all.

I think The Avalanche is really good, but not great. I like all the "Chicago" versions. The title track is really good, and so are a number of other songs ("Henney Buggy Band," "Springfield," and "No Man's Land" to name a few). It does come off as a bit boring with all the wind-chime-like songs, though. "For Clyde Tombaugh" is pretty cool, but the others don't really do much for me. They'd make decent interludes, but not much more.

Still, you have to be in awe that so many good tracks did not make the 22-track album. The few months when he was working on the album have to be some of the most productive days in recent musical hisory. The sheer wealth, quality, and variety of of it all is nothing short of stunning. You almost wonder how he could possible keep it up at this kind of rate.

I've had the same argument from my friends. I must just have an ear for something on this album. It and Aeroplane are easily my most played albums.