Painful, hilarious, naïve, overachieving, obvious, obscure, brilliant, overflowing -- these descriptions represent only a fraction of what could be said about Sufjan Stevens' epic maze, Illinois. Immediately dissonant, the sprawling, 22-track state-centric opus has the tendency to portray the musician as a bit of a showoff. And why shouldn't it? Over the past few years, with his series of state songs, Stevens has developed a persona akin to that of your beloved high school history professor, who managed to make the Ottoman Empire seem utterly fascinating while maintaining street cred with a Smiths poster in his classroom.

Illinois opens with a whimper; "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL" is a beautiful and subtle two-minute intro that could have been easily ignored had it been placed anywhere else on this family-sized long player. An indication of what's to come, the album slowly builds until it explodes with "Come On! Feel The Illinoise!" The almost titular track spans seven minutes of Peanuts-esque piano, unusual time changes and complex harmonies. A sample lyric proves Stevens is singing with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek: "Chicago, in fashion, the soft drinks, expansion Oh Columbia! From Paris, incentive, like Cream of Wheat invented, The Ferris Wheel!" Elsewhere Stevens remains darker; the chilling "John Wayne Gacey, Jr." is a biographical, if not sympathetic portrait of the notorious killer.

While the album is riddled with instrumental interludes, of which some are under ten seconds, Stevens' work has never been so focused. Highlights include the stunning "Chicago," the heartbreaking "Casimir Pulaski Day," which chronicles the death of a friend, and the show tune worthy "They Are Night Zombies..." One almost can't help but be giddy that Stevens still has 48 states to go.