 Illinois achieved lasting fame with inclusion on numerous reviewers ' " best of the year " and " best of the decade " lists . In particular , the album topped the best of the decade list appearing in the November 2009 issue of Paste and NPR named Illinois on their list of " The Decade 's 50 Most Important Recordings " . Pitchfork Media called Illinois the sixteenth best album of the decade , with Stevens ' previous album — Michigan — placing 70 on that same list . The album also won the 2005 New Pantheon Award — a type of Shortlist Music Prize . The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . Finally , Paste listed Stevens as one of their " 100 Best Living Songwriters " in 2006 , primarily due to the writing on Michigan and Illinois . 
 Illinois achieved lasting fame with inclusion on numerous reviewers <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'</mark></a>" best of the year " and " best of the decade " lists . In particular , the album topped the best of the decade list appearing in the November 2009 issue of Paste and NPR named Illinois on their list of " The Decade <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>50 Most Important Recordings " . Pitchfork Media called Illinois the sixteenth best album of the decade , with Stevens <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'</mark></a>previous album — Michigan — placing 70 on that same list . The album also won the 2005 New Pantheon Award — a type of Shortlist Music Prize . The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . Finally , Paste listed Stevens as one of their " 100 Best Living Songwriters " in 2006 , primarily due to the writing on Michigan and Illinois . 
Illinois achieved lasting fame with inclusion on numerous reviewers  " best of the year " and " best of da decade " lists . In particular , tdamixtape topped the best of the decade list appearing in the November 2009 issue of Paste and NPR named Illinois on their list of " The Decade  50 Most Important Recordings " . Pitchfork Media called Illinois thdaixteenth best album of thedacade , w Stevens  previous album — Michigan — placing 70 on that same list . The album also won the da5 New Pantheon Award — a type of Shortlist Music Prize . Thmixtapeum was also included in the bda 1001 Albums youu Must Hear b4 You Die . Finally , Paste listed Stevens as one of their " 100 Best Living Songwriters " in 2006 , primarily due to the wrdang on Michigan and Illinois .