One thing I love about blogging is that I don't feel obligated to include the objective details that many magazine articles or reviews require. Don't get me wrong -- I've written for various publications for nearly 10 years and I truly enjoy it. It's just nice to be able to say exactly what I want to say in a blog post and nothing more. For amusement and educational purposes, I've written two versions of a CD review below.THE MORE OBJECTIVE, PROFESSIONAL VERSION:Fans of Sufjan Stevens will not be surprised by his latest release,
Songs for Christmas. The five-disc boxset features the quirky, humorous, contemplative, sometimes-intimate, sometimes-celebratory avant-garde folk music that Stevens' supporters have come to expect from him. Aside from that, it's the pomp and packaging that make this Christmas collection special. Complete with comic strip, stickers, songbook and extensive liner notes, this boxset is undoubtedly the work of the prolific overachiever that many have come to know in this singer-songwriter. A mix of original and traditional carols,
Songs offers the gamut -- from sparse arrangements never intended for public consumption to the hyper-lush orchestrations that characterize Stevens' critically acclaimed work. Notable tracks include O Come O Come Emmanuel, Only at Christmas Time, That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!, Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!, Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!), Sister Winter, Star of Wonder, and Holy, Holy, Holy. The five
Songs EPs represent Stevens' last several Christmases, from 2001 to 2006, with the exception of 2004 (the year he was consumed with his most successful album to date,
Illinois). The first four volumes were actually created solely for the artist's family and friends as a personal gift. Considering the shipping backlog that Asthmatic Kitty Records is experiencing, many folks are grateful that Stevens decided to share his Christmas cheer with those outside of his circle of friends and family this year.
THE MORE SUBJECTIVE, PERSONAL VERSION:You gotta love Sufjan. What other singer-songwriter would include original sticker and cartoon art in their Christmas album? The five-disc boxset was everything that I had hoped for, musically-speaking: classic Sufjan -- the intimate, the intricate, contemplation and celebration. In terms of artwork and packaging (as well as all the extras), I was pleasantly surprised. Suf's artistic bent (visually) always leaves me in anticipation of the next project. The fifth disc is noticeably more developed, musically, and rightly so -- when he created Vol. V, Stevens knew his fans would be able to purchase the album. (Volumes I through IV were composed as Christmas gifts to friends and family.) Favorite tracks include O Come O Come Emmanuel, Only at Christmas Time, That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!, Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!, Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!), Sister Winter, Star of Wonder, and Holy, Holy, Holy.
Songs for Christmas is a must for fans and a joyful education in the ways of Sufjan for those unfamiliar with Stevens.
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Interested in
Rolling Stone's review of
Songs for Christmas? Click
here.
Labels: My Two Cents, Sufjan Stevens
I realize I'm a couple of years slow to discover Ray LaMontagne's debut. Sometimes I like to get acquainted with an artist after the initial hoopla is over. Regardless of my tardiness, I am quite taken by Trouble. I love the instrumentation (I'm a sucker for tasteful percussion and string arrangements for flavor), the from-another-era folk vibe and, of course, LaMontagne's gruff, yet gentle voice. "How can a vocal be both gruff and gentle," one might ask. You'll have to listen to him for yourself. All I know is that, after a few spins of Trouble, I was already poised to buy his sophomore album, this year's Till the Sun Turns Black. Truth be told, I am delaying my Best of 2006 post until I purchase it.
