Really, The Avalanche could have been a great ‘leftovers’ album. Shorn of some of the fat, with a different release structure for a couple of (the same) tracks, Sufjan Stevens could have continued to wow all and sundry. Instead, this Illinois seconds album is very much an odds ‘n sods release.

For starters, none of the versions of “Chicago” – acoustic, adult contemporary easy listening, and Multiple Personality Disorder versions – should have been combined with the original Illinois version to be a single, rather than have appeared here. Additionally, several of the meandering instrumentals towards the end of The Avalanche could most certainly have been left aside.

But, for the most part, it is a lovely collection of songs once more, with Sufjans’ overly orchestral style on show once more. The likes of “Mr. Supercomputer” are excellent, but the simple fact of the matter is that this song is not too far removed from the joy of the quaisi-title track of Illinois. Likewise, “The Mistress Witch From McClure” is similar in many ways to “Casimir Pulaski Day”.

If one thing is certain, it’s that many elements of The Avalanche deserved to be heard – Sufjan Stevens is the sort of songwriter capable of achieving the remarkable seemingly on a whim, and of pretty much doing as he pleases. “Adlai Stevenson” is just a joyous slice of melodies and pop genius, and the world is better for it having seen release. So despite its inconsistencies, The Avalanche is a highly enjoyable diversion away from Stevens’ commitment to releasing an album for every American State, and a clever accompaniment to the superior Illinois.