SOUNDTRACK: SUFJAN STEVENS-Noel: Songs for Christmas Vol. I (2006).
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.
Vol 1 is the shortest disc of the five in the box set. It was recorded in his basement in 2001. But lest you think that this is a lo-fi affair like the kids are so into these days, you’d be mistaken. Sufjan’s basement must be ENORMOUS! This disc is multitracked, with harmonies, and all manner of esoteric folk instruments.
It has four familiar traditional songs, “Silent Night” (a beautiful brief guitar instrumental) “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” (a lovely acoustic number done slightly differently than normal) “Amazing Grace,” (a mellow banjo version) and what he titled, “Holy Holy, etc.” (a pretty, short instrumental). Two originals, “We’re Goin’ to the Country!” (a fun folky song with sleighbells) and “It’s Christmas, Let’s Be Glad” (rollicking an fun) and one traditional song that I’ve never heard of (and this is a trend on each disc) “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” (a 15th century German carol).
The disc is mostly sung by Sufjan, with his delicate voice and earnest falsetto. And, as I said, the music is folkie, but with unexpected instruments. In fact, his version of “Amazing Grace” is really delightful. It’s cool to hear it in a more subdued version than some of the overblown carols out there. It’s a promising start to what would become an annual tradition.
[READ: January 4, 2009] “The Privilege of the Grave”
This was a banner issue of The New Yorker. Usually I read a few things, but this one was chock full of great stuff. It started with this unpublished piece from Mark Twain that was written in 1905. (more…)
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... 