| | Sufjan Stevens Songs For Christmas CD Sufjan Stevens Discography of CDs
 (4 Customer Reviews)
Never one to lack ambition, indie-pop hero Sufjan Stevens takes the tried-and-true holiday album to a new level with this 2006 five-disc Christmas box set. A mix of Stevens originals and Yuletide classics recorded between 2001 and '06, the collection presents the amiable singer/multi-instrumentalist performing festive self-penned tunes such as the bouncy, piano-driven "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!" and the White Stripes-referencing, ELO-influenced "Get Behind Me, Santa!" along with no less than three versions of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." While five discs may seem exhausting to some, for those who adore both Christmas and Stevens, this lovingly assembled compilation makes for hours of smart, celebratory fun.Rolling Stone (p.114) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Stevens' fragile banjo-and-tenor caroling is lovely, and several of his own songs belong in the Xmas canon..."
Entertainment Weekly (p.85) - "[His] rare combination of deep religiosity and dark whimsy makes SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS the season's most thrilling holiday release." -- Grade: A
Q (p.152) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Amassing 42 tracks, from the traditional to whimsical originals, it's testament to his prolific work rate. There's not shortage of seasonal cheer either..."
Uncut (p.98) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The tone is generally one of mild encouragement....The tracks offering a slightly askance look at the festive season are most entertaining..."
CMJ (p.5) - "[T]racks meant to bring peace on earth and goodwill towards men....There isn't much not to like here."
Record Collector (magazine) (pp.94-95) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t would be a great pleasure to hear these 42 tracks at any time of year....There are banjos, unexpected synths and, of course, sleigh bells galore." Songs For Christmas Music Sufjan Stevens Songs For Christmas Songs | | Songs For Christmas CD DISC 1: NOEL: VOLUME I: |
| 1. | Silent Night |
| 2. | O Come, O Come Emmanuel  |
| 3. | We're Goin' to the Country |
| 4. | Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming |
| 5. | It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad! |
| 6. | Holy, Holy, Holy |
| 7. | Amazing Grace |
| | Songs For Christmas Songs DISC 2: HARK: VOLUME II: |
| 1. | Angels We Have Heard |
| 2. | Put the Lights on the Tree |
| 3. | Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing |
| 4. | I Saw Three Ships |
| 5. | Only at Christmas Time |
| 6. | Once in Royal David's City |
| 7. | Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! |
| 8. | What Child Is This Anyway? |
| 9. | Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella |
| | Songs For Christmas Album DISC 3: DING! DONG!: VOLUME III: |
| 1. | O Come, O Come Emmanuel |
| 2. | Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! |
| 3. | We Three Kings |
| 4. | O Holy Night |
| 5. | That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! |
| 6. | Ding! Dong! |
| 7. | All the King's Horns |
| 8. | Friendly Beasts, The |
| | Songs For Christmas CD DISC 4: JOY: VOLUME IV: |
| 1. | Little Drummer Boy, The |
| 2. | Away in a Manger |
| 3. | Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time! |
| 4. | First Noel, The |
| 5. | Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!) |
| 6. | Incarnation, The |
| 7. | Joy to the World |
| | Songs For Christmas Songs DISC 5: PEACE: VOLUME V: |
| 1. | Once in Royal David's City |
| 2. | Get Behind Me, Santa! |
| 3. | Jingle Bells |
| 4. | Christmas in July |
| 5. | Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming |
| 6. | Jupiter Winter |
| 7. | Sister Winter |
| 8. | O Come O Come Emmanuel |
| 9. | Star of Wonder |
| 10. | Holy, Holy, Holy |
| 11. | Winter Solstice, The |
|
Songs For Christmas Music Review Average Rating: (4.3 out of 5 stars)   True Christmas Spirit
I can't stop playing "Songs for Chrismas" - it is an eclectic, wonderful mix of spirituality and joy - bitter/sweet at times and includes both traditional as well as newly penned songs which I might be so bold as to say will also become standard Christmas songs. The photos, songbook, and packaging are fantastic with a retro 50's look.
Sufjan Stevens is a musical genius who I expect we hear a lot of in the future.
Submitted by surya das (Lansdale, PA) 
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
 Stevens Repetious in Christmas release
Sujan Stevens is prolific and imaginative.
However after a while his 5 c d Christmas package starts to sound familiar.
He sings the classics and some of his own material in this release.
For a holiday listen, one could do better with Frank Sinatra.
Ricky From Omaha
Submitted by rickylee (Omaha Ne, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
BRILLIANT
When I first heard Sufjan was coming out with a Christmas CD I was skeptical - he's brilliant, but remaking Christmas songs? Well, he pulled it off. He lends his eclectic style to seasonal favourites, and brings his own song-writing genius to sone brand new holiday tunes.
Submitted by tonyhoe2002 (Ontario, Canada)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  Excellent, but longwinded
Sufjan Stevens has yet to dissapoint me, even in the five discs of "Songs For Christmas" - surprisingly, my favorite takes are not the heavily-arranged, "Illinoise" style orchestrations of which I am so fond, but the pared-down, almost frail sounding arrangements of quieter songs like "Oh Come Oh Come Emmanuel" and "What Child is This Anyway?". But far and away the best material here are his originals, especially on disc five. Only complaint: some arrangements sound like they haven't been thought too carefully, almost like Mr. Stevens decided to "track first, ask questions later". This results in quite a few numbers sounding weak compared to the brilliant surrounding material. Perhaps only two or three discs would have done just as nicely - maybe better.
Submitted by Greg (Waterford, MI)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No
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