Last year Sufjan Stevens held that Xmas Xchange. Previously, he released plenty of Holiday albums for your consumption. Even when he didn’t put up those holiday songs for sale, he was still recording new Christmas albums and making them available to his friends. This year, one of his less scrupulous recipients leaked it to the web (you’d better check that list twice, Suf).
The collection’s called Songs For Christmas Volume 8: Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage (that’s the cover up there) and includes seven tracks that can all be found with their respective album art at So This Is What The Volume Knob’s For. “Christmas In The Room” will excite fans of quiet, introspective Sufjan: “No travel plans, no shopping malls, no candy canes or Santa class / for as the day of rest draws near, it’s just the two of us this year,” etc. (and that “etc.” includes a message). The 13-minute closer is one for the folks into the orchestral (as well as weeping guitars). There’s also a pretty “Joy To The World,” but pay special attention to the synth cheese of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” and the robotic Christmas of “Good King Wenceslas,” which incidentally is also available on the free comp A Familyre Christmas Vol. 2. Maybe Stevens has an 808′s & Hearbreak in his future.
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FINALLY.
Now put out that next album Suf! At this rate, you’ll get to state #50 at around 150 years old.
pretty sure he was done with that?
good stuff. this dude needs another album.
Oh my!
Finally! I’m glad to see some Sufjan related news that is actually music related. Next time I hear about him tap dancing or some shit like that I’ll go insane.
i’m always happy to hear your spiritual tune. Merry Christmas Suf! and everyone here in Gummy.
what are you TALKING about, stereogum?! this IS sufjan’s 808s & heartbreak! it’s only fitting it be a christmas ep. thanks sufjan, for being sufjan. we miss you.
wait. after listening to this, it’s clear how brilliant this guy is. listen to “do you see what i see?” and try to talk shit about sufjan. it’s the most intriguing version of a christmas standard i’ve heard is a long long time. seriously, this guy is a master at arrangement. thank god he’s still making music. hopefully he drops his next album like radiohead did…”and it comes out next week.” oh and the last song is just gorgeous.
Wow, that was horrible. Sorry Sufjan fanboys, someone needs to unplug their Casio Keyboard.
I heard these a few days ago but yes this is great.
Mmmm. Does anyone else notice how his voice has changed subtly compared to his previous stuff? A little more drawly, maybe more confident, i’m not sure, but I like it.
What I love most is that he does this as a christmas card for his friends. He’s not out to sell them or anything, it’s just him showing his friends he loves them. Beautiful.
rafter leaked this.