Sufjan Stevens - Songs For Christmas
< author: daniel > |
Sufjan Stevens Songs For Christmas Label: Asthmatic Kitty |
Sufjan Stevens set out, much like his 50 state project, to encompass the spirit of Christmas. From 2001 to June of this year, Sufjan recorded traditional Christmas tunes like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” “Joy to the World,” and “Silent Night” in addition to his own tunes like “Did I Make You Cry on Christmas (Well, You Deserved It)” and “Get Behind Me, Santa.” Sufjan didn’t convert me to the “joy” of Christmas, and if you hate Christmas, don’t buy this record yet Sufjan’s attempt does not fall upon deaf ears. His frailty and confidence exude from the tracks and it is an impressive look through Sufjan’s first six years of recording. Each EP is from a different winter, excluding 2004, and it is notable how much his songs from the EP’s mirror his recordings of the year. In 2003, Seven Swans influenced a much more lo-fi, banjo heavy Christmas sound while 2006 gives us a bridge to place from Illinois to his next album, due out next year.
The album is split between five discs’, “Noel,” “Hark,” “Ding, Ding,” “Joy,” and “Peace,” respectively. Each disc represents a different year, “Noel” begins in 2001 and his latest “Peace” ends in 2006, the only year not included was 2004, Sufjan was working on his epic Illinois. “Noel” begins innocently enough with “Silent Night” and “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” For the listener, the first disc seems to be Sufjan experimenting with the Christmas theme with only one original “We’re Going to the Country!” In 2002, Michigan’s influence is felt. The lush “I Saw Three Ships” is the best from the second disc. Throughout each disc Sufjan continues to put his instrumentals, this time around consisting of Christmas classics. “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” bridges Michigan sound to Seven Swan’s sound; the lo-fi beauty is Sufjan expressing raw emotion without the trumpets, organs, piano or other sounds.
“Ding, Ding,” disc three begins with “O Come O Come Emmanuel” again (Sufjan repeats himself a few times, but each version has its own identity according to the time period). “Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!” is one of best songs on the whole collection. “Santa Clause is coming, hear the banjo strumming,” sums up Seven Swan’s influence. A deceiving “The Friendly Beasts” begins as an ode to donkeys, cows, mangers, and Jesus by way of softly plucked banjo but quickly, with the help of chimes and xylophones flesh the song into a great sing-a-long Christmas classic.
“Did I Make You Cry on Christmas (Well, You Deserved It!)” is the best song, not only “Joy” from 2005 but overall. Not all Christmas is happy and joyous and Sufjan sings about wronging the one he loved on Christmas day. Yet he even subdues to the lore of Christmas because in the end, Sufjan the sentimentalist kisses his love in the cold in the albums most touching moment. While Sufjan’s originals are the best part of this collection, “Joy to the World!” with the feebleness of his voice, the succumbing to the weight of the song could put this on a mainstream Christmas album that kids grow up hating and mothers play all December.
His humor is not lost in Christmas; “Get Behind Me, Santa!” is Sufjan very happily telling everyone and Santa, “I don’t care about family and shopping malls, candy canes or carolers decking the halls/ I don’t care what you say Santa Clause, you’re a bad brother breaking into people’s garages.” This album, “Peace,” was recording this June and word is Sufjan’s next album could be due sometime next year. The question then becomes, how can we view his Christmas album in context and can it predict the future. “Joy” and “Peace,” the 2005 and 2006 discs are the most enjoyable; both followed the Illinois sessions, so can we expect the musical style of the two to bleed into his next effort? Chances are, this Christmas album is a good place to look but if that’s all one comes for then you’ll miss out. Give this to you mom and tell her to play this, and only this, and you’ll get people moving and singing and may even begin to enjoy Christmas a little more after this year. Maybe.
Jennifer O’Conner - Today