When he’s not making albums based on the Chinese zodiac, American states, NYC expressways, and schizophrenic folk artists, indie superstar, Sufjan Stevens, can be found busily writing Christmas songs. About 100 of them altogether, in fact (give or take). His latest Christmas compilation, Silver and Gold, Songs For Christmas: Vol 6-10, is chock full of holiday classics (“I’ll Be Home For Christmas”), spiritual hymns (“Joy to the World”), and original songs (“Christmas Unicorn”), which add up to 58 tracks over 5 separate EPs recorded between 2006 and 2010 and include help from artists Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National), Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Cat Martino, and members of Danielson.
While you could certainly call Sufjan’s project (which started as a gift idea for friends and family) obsessive, it’s more of an all-consuming brilliance of a fixation that's equal parts eccentric humor and heartfelt, impassioned storytelling, and his Christmas collections bear none of the forgetful weight of your average Christmas album; you are welcome to listen year round. For more commentary on this brilliant collection check out staff writer Scott Mancuso’s Songbook Report as he looks at each of the 5 EPs and listen to it at Steven's Bandcamp page.
If you were planning on getting tickets at the door, sorry folks, but the show is officially sold out. For those of you who have pre-ordered a ticket: doors are at 7pm.
Until then, check out Sufjan's video for "Justice Delivers It's Worth" and a Silver and Gold informercial below:
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