Songs For Christmas

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 romp, <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 ambition, and he and his pals take on everything from ramshackle folktales to bustling composition. .

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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