For the month of November, I’ll be selecting songs in conjunction with the music Twitter challenge: #WelcomeToTheOccupation.

Sufjan Stevens’ state project is like Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. It’s an unfinished masterpiece where we can only look to the individual elements of the greater vision in Sufjan's head for our own inspiration. We found that most prominently on the Illinois album, a collection of songs and clever musical interludes — with “Casimir Pulaski Day” right smack in the middle.

Sufjan has never been shy to explore Christian spirituality in his songs, which added a depth to Illinois. He made it far more than just an album about a state. On “Casimir Pulaski Day”, we hear references to bible study group prayers paired with Sufjan’s signature instrumentation. Evoking a Wes Anderson vibe, he made the banjo and the trumpet the stars — sucking out percussion entirely. Like many Sufjan Stevens’ acoustic recordings, it sounds like it’s being played in your living room.

“Tuesday night at the Bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body. But nothing ever happens.”