The first time I'd even heard of Sufjan Stevens, he broke my heart with nothing but a banjo and some tragic odes to his home stage of Michigan. Now, for the second chapter in his proposed 50 States Series, Stevens re-tells the history of Illinois through a toy orchestra masterpiece that's part folk heartbreaker, part ride through the Presidential theatre at Disneyland. Bonus points for the artwork by Waking Life's Divya Srinivasan. Check the bio and Sufjan's website for more on one of 2005's best albums.