{"product_id":"the-avalanche-3","title":"The Avalanche","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe little secret behind the \u003cem\u003eIllinois\u003c\/em\u003e record is that it was originally conceived as a double album, culminating in a musical collage of nearly 50 songs. But as the project began to develop into an unwieldy epic, common sense weighed in - as did the opinions of others - and the project was cut in half.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBut as 2005 came to a close, \u003cstrong\u003eSufjan\u003c\/strong\u003e returned to the old, forsaken songs on his 8-track like a grandfather remembering his youth, indulging in old journals and newspaper clippings. What he uncovered went beyond the merits of nostalgia; it was more like an ensemble of capricious friends and old acquaintances wearing party outfits, waiting to be let in at the front door, for warm drinks and interesting conversation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAmong them were Saul Bellow, Ann Landers, Adlai Stevenson, and a brief cameo from Henry Darger's Vivian Girls. The gathering that followed would become the setting for the songs on \u003cem\u003eThe Avalanche\u003c\/em\u003e: Outtakes and extras from the \u003cem\u003eIllinois\u003c\/em\u003e album.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSufjan\u003c\/strong\u003e gleaned 21 useable tracks from the abandoned material, including three alternate versions of \"\u003cem\u003eChicago\u003c\/em\u003e\". Some songs were in finished form, others were merely outlines, gesture drawings, or musical scribbles mumbled on a hand-held tape recorder. Most of the material required substantial editing, new arrangements or vocals. Much of the work was done at the end of 2005 or in January the following year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSufjan\u003c\/strong\u003e invited many of the original \u003cem\u003eIllinois\u003c\/em\u003e makers to fill in the edges: drums, trumpet, a choir of singers. The centerpiece, of course, was the title track - \"\u003cem\u003eThe Avalanche\u003c\/em\u003e\" - a song intended for the leading role on the \u003cem\u003eIllinois\u003c\/em\u003e album but eventually cut and placed as a bonus track on the vinyl release.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Asthmatic Kitty","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Black","offer_id":50960660103499,"sku":"2235896","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"2LP","offer_id":50490871349579,"sku":"1041450","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50490871218507,"sku":"273662","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/The_Avalanche_81c5b288_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727677620","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/the-avalanche-3","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}