Songs For Christmas

Sound DNA

• Alt/Indie
• Indie Rock

• stripped-back
• whimsical
• festive

About

By the end of 2006, Sufjan Stevens had been on a prolific run. Not only had he released two monumental examinations of the way state history and personal experience can intertwine—<i>Michigan</i> and <i>Illinois</i>—he’d also offered up a strong B-side set (<i>The Avalanche</i>), and a tender examination of his own faith <i>Seven Swans</i>. It was <i>Songs for Christmas</i>, though, that led fans to wonder when indie rock’s new boy wonder actually slept. Released in 2006, it’s a five-volume set featuring 42 Christmas tunes—many of them original—that demonstrated, once again, that Stevens was one of the most tireless and enthusiastic musicians of his generation. And because it balances earnest renditions of sacred songs with silly holiday romps, <i>Songs for Christmas</i> also confirmed that the tender Stevens had a winning sense of humor. Truth be told, <i>Songs for Christmas</i> wasn’t some sudden outburst of creativity. Since 2000, Stevens had gathered a loose group of friends to play and sing as the holidays neared. “It was always a very isolated moment, where I would get together with some friends for a week or two,” he explained to <i>Vulture</i> two decades later. “We’d create without much forethought and improvise, and jump into the Christmas catalog and try and create something as quickly as possible.” The five sessions collected on <i>Songs for Christmas</i> chart the arc of Stevens’ compositional ambitions, and he and his pals take on everything from ramshackle folktales to bustling compositions. There are reverent versions of sacred songs here, from an early fireside take on “Amazing Grace” to a slowcore glide through “We Three Kings.” Stevens intersperses the tunes with brief instrumentals, employing a choir of bells on a song called—what else?—"Ding! Dong!”, and using a peppy piano for his version of “Jingle Bells.” But the real keepers are Stevens’ original tunes. “Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!” runs like an advertising jingle for the season’s simple pleasures, while “Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time!” suggests Low covering a Coldplay song about being teenagers in love during the holidays. There has always been a devotional quality to Stevens’ music, as he looks for meaning in big buildings or little accidents. But <i>Songs for Christmas</i> is purely disarming—the equivalent of hanging out with Stevens and his friends as they slip into the yuletide mood.

via Apple Music

Tracklist

Credits