Released in 2006 as a follow-up to Sufjan Stevens 2005 Illinois, Asthmatic Kitty Records is finally releasing Avalanche on vinyl on August 31st, 2018. Initially conceived as part of a double album version of Illinois, Avalanche instead became a companion (a polite word for b-sides) to Illinois. Since its release, fans have had mixed reactions. 3 versions of Chicago?!?! Enough already, wrote biografiend on Sputnik. But cravenmonket, who gave the album 4.5 stars on rateyourmusic, suggests that we all stop thinking of The Avalanche as more Illinois. It actually owes more to Michigan. Cravenmonket may be right. Take The Mistress Witch or Saul Bellow, both of which could have lived on the 2003 Michigan as much as on Illinois. One can hear Sufjans 2004 Enjoy Your Rabbit in The Undivided Self. And the band jam on Springfield looks forward to 2010s All Delighted People. Then theres Pittsfield, which, at least lyrically, foreshadows the more personal themes of 2015s Carrie & Lowell.

All that to say, a vinyl release of Avalanche is long overdue. With gratitude, we happily present Avalanche as a 2xLP a mere twelve years after its release, complete with all 21 songs from the original release, including the three versions of Chicago (youre welcome, biografiend). THANK YOU!