SOUNDTRACK: SUFJAN STEVENS–Hark! Songs for Christmas Vol. II (2006).
If we imagine that Sufjan had fun with vol. 1 one, then he must have had twice as much fun with vol. 2. It’s nearly twice as long and full of a lot of short ditties. “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” are short (less than a minute) instrumental versions (on keyboards which almost sound like a music box) of those songs (something that will become prominent throughout the series). I love his version of “I Saw Three Ships,” the instrumentation is exotic and wonderful.
“Put the Lights on the Tree” is an original that sounds the most like Sufjan’s Illinois record. It has those Michael Nymanesque fugue-like keyboard/orchestra bits and lots of backing vocals. It’s only a shame it’s so short. “Come Thou Font of Every Blessing” is a another mellow banjo folkie song that dates from the 18th century. And “Only at Christmas Time” is another original, delicate and mellow. I love that he can do such mellow songs even though he is known for his full orchestration.
“Once in Royal David’s City” (with lead banjo) and “We Three Kings” are sung by a guest vocalist: Vito Aiuto. His voice is quite similar to Sufjans’s but is a bit more powerful. “What Child is This Anyway” is a 6 minute keyboard-infused epic of the traditional song. It’s very cool, with some interesting fuzztones on the keybaords. And finally, “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella” is a subdued ending to the disc, sounding like it was recorded on an old phonograph.
It’s a nice progression from the first EP.
[READ: January 5, 2009] “Another Manhattan”
Some stories move along at a very brisk pace. This is one of those stories. Admittedly, in the beginning it was a little tough keeping the characters straight, but after a few paragraphs, it all falls into place.
The story is about two couples: Jim and Kate and and Elliot and Susan. Jim & Kate are married, and Elliot & Susan are married. (more…)
I haven’t been reviewing the individual Christmas CDs that I listened to. However, since there were a whole bunch of stories in this one New Yorker magazine, (easily the most I’ve read in one issue) and since there are 5 Sufjan Stevens EPs in this collection, it seemed like a good fit.
I feel like I never really knew this song until I heard Cartman getting cattle-prodded for not knowing the words. I listened to that version all the time (but I can’t tell if I like that version or the one on Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics better [“Fall on your knees, and hear the angels… something” “VOICES!”]), and what it did was give me a real appreciation for what a cool song this is. The chord changes are very satisfying without being really obvious. And, it’s not an easy song to sing. But I have liked every 
version I’ve heard: from Cartman to Avril Lavigne (whose first two verses on Maybe This Christmas, Too are the most vibrato-free singing I have ever heard. I’m quite certain she’s flat all the way through, and yet her voice is so unaffected it’s totally disconcerting. Tell me what you think…it’s available 
Boy I can’t stand this song. I know it’s supposed to be cute and racy and risque or whatever, but I simply can’t stand how crassly materialistic it is. And I’m not one who thinks Christmas is all about, like, Jesus’ birth or being good or anything. I know it’s all about the presents; however, this song is just….so…wrong. And if the Eartha Kitt version (the one you hear most of the time) 
weren’t bad enough, the Madonna version (on A Very Special Christmas) is just abysmal. She sounds like a sexually deranged Betty Boop (which I suppose is not unusual for her circa this release, but still). Stop trying to seduce Santa! Make it go away!
SOUNDTRACK: BARENAKED LADIES-Everything to Everyone (2003) & Barenaked for the Holidays (2004).
Everything to Everyone. I was pretty down on this album when it first came out. I remember being rather disappointed in it because BNL had, gasp, matured somewhat, and were making more “serious,” less “wacky” songs. To me, the whole CD was somewhat flat. But, after a recent listen (possibly the first time in 4 years) and expecting the worst, I was pleasantly surprised by the record.
Barenaked for the Holidays. This has become one of my favorite Christmas/holiday records (and it’s a good time of year to be writing about it.) It ranks up there with Brave Combo’s It’s Christmas, Man, 
South Park’s Mr. Hankey’s Christmas Classics, 
Sufjan Steven’s great boxed set Presents Songs for Christmas, 
and Brian Wilson’s What I Really Want for Christmas, 
which has also quickly jumped to the top of my Xmas list.
I Just Read About That... 