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Avg: 4.5 (155 ratings)
- Date Released: November 27, 2006
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Indie Pop, Holiday
- Label: Asthmatic Kitty Records / SC Distribution
A holiday record that would win over the Grinch
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We Say...
Recorded in annual batches since 2001 (although for some reason skipping 2004), Songs for Christmas stands as a monumental effort. Sufjan recorded much of the material at home and plays the majority of the instruments. Seventeen of the forty-two numbers are originals. His friends Matt Morgan and Vito Aiuto dropped in to sing, but otherwise all the vocals are Sufjan's.
The music itself is an ideal Christmas stocking, packed with traditional tunes, original songs, poems and stories, and cool little instrumentals. The music feels as personal as the way it was recorded — not only the originals, but Sufjan’s interpretations as well. Even the clichéd songs, the sort of awful ones you’ve heard a gazillion songs in your life already, sound darn good here. It’s hard to do that oft-played song justice, but his banjo-driven "Amazing Grace” is very moving.
In a way that’s both calculated and visceral, Sufjan really connects with the true joy of the holiday — even the Heatmiser or the Grinch would be won over by this thing. The songs are chimey and cheery and there’s something about them that instantly announces “Hey, it's Christmas!” Approaching the greatness of holiday albums from John Fahey, Mahalia Jackson, Harry Belafonte and Willie Nelson, Songs for Christmas is a new holiday classic.
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| 01. |
Silent Night |
0:44 |
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| 02. |  |
O Come O Come Emmanuel |
4:00 |
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| 03. | |
We’re Goin’ To the Country! |
2:17 |
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| 04. | |
Lo! How A Rose E’er Blooming |
3:22 |
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| 05. | |
It’s Christmas! Let’s Be Glad! |
1:55 |
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| 06. |
Holy Holy, etc. |
0:41 |
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| 07. | |
Amazing Grace |
4:09 |
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07 Total Tracks, 17:08 Total Length
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 42 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 42 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. |
Angels We Have Heard on High |
0:45 |
|
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| 02. | |
Put the Lights On the Tree |
1:48 |
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| 03. | |
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing |
4:43 |
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| 04. | |
I Saw Three Ships |
2:34 |
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| 05. | |
Only at Christmas Time |
2:14 |
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| 06. | |
Once in Royal David’s City |
3:40 |
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| 07. |
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! |
0:45 |
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| 08. | |
What Child Is This Anyway? |
6:47 |
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| 09. | |
Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella |
1:39 |
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09 Total Tracks, 24:55 Total Length
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 42 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 42 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. | |
O Come O Come Emmanuel |
1:03 |
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| 02. | |
Come on! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance! |
3:49 |
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| 03. | |
We Three Kings |
2:58 |
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| 04. | |
O Holy Night |
4:04 |
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| 05. | |
That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! |
3:18 |
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| 06. | |
Ding! Dong! |
0:55 |
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| 07. | |
All the King’s Horns |
2:59 |
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| 08. | |
The Friendly Beasts |
3:42 |
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08 Total Tracks, 22:48 Total Length
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 42 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 42 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. | |
The Little Drummer Boy |
3:43 |
|
| 02. | |
Away In A Manger |
2:54 |
|
| 03. | |
Hey Guys! It’s Christmas Time! |
4:41 |
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| 04. | |
The First Noel |
0:52 |
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| 05. | |
Did I Make You Cry On Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!) |
3:21 |
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| 06. | |
The Incarnation |
2:23 |
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| 07. | |
Joy To The World |
4:20 |
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07 Total Tracks, 22:14 Total Length
eMusic Tip
Paid downloads are counted towards an album discount but free downloads are not.
COMPLETE FOR FREE!
You can download the rest of the tracks from this album for free! Just click the Complete Album button.
We’re sorry this album can only be downloaded using paid subscription download credits.
We recommend you Save it for Later by clicking the Save for Later button shown just above this message. For a list of related albums you can download right now, check out these recommendations.
We'll give you 42 additional free credits to download this album and start your paid subscription.
Get 42 bonus credits on us if you download this album. Sweet!
| 01. | |
Once in Royal David’s City |
2:01 |
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| 02. | |
Get Behind Me, Santa! |
3:49 |
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| 03. |
Jingle Bells |
0:36 |
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| 04. | |
Christmas in July |
3:16 |
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| 05. | |
Lo! How A Rose E’er Blooming |
1:45 |
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| 06. | |
Jupiter Winter |
3:50 |
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| 07. | |
Sister Winter |
5:04 |
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| 08. | |
O Come O Come Emmanuel |
1:06 |
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| 09. | |
Star of Wonder |
7:07 |
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| 10. | |
Holy, Holy, Holy |
3:50 |
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| 11. | |
The Winter Solstice |
3:22 |
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11 Total Tracks, 35:46 Total Length
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