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Songs for Christmas
Every year it's an issue: how does one stomach the onset of holiday music? With an endless stream of overplayed pop stars stirring what Sufjan Stevens calls "That Creepy Christmas Feeling," how does one navigate the sound of the season? Back in 2001, Stevens began making annual EPs of traditional carols and songs mixed with his own holiday-themed tunes. With 2006 and Volume 5, he's compiled a perfect gift for the Christmas-inclined indie rockster: all five EPs in one box, separately slipcased, plus a booklet filled with lyric sheets, chord charts, a Rick Moody essay, and more. Yes, Stevens knows that "Jingle Bells" features him playing (as he notes) "insipid piano," but he also writes gorgeous arrangements. Check out the three versions of "O Come O Come Emmanuel"; each aches. And "O Holy Night" from Volume 3 is lo-fi genius, never mind anyone's resistance to theology; it's a time-stopper. Stevens's own tunes are unmistakably his, hushed vocals highlighting a unique mix of whimsy and yearning--much like the justly-lauded Illinois and Michigan. In the end of the liner essay, Stevens writes that the Christmas story is about love, and on that note, he proclaims that these songs and the "Creepy Christmas Feeling" prompt "a transformation of the heart" for him and bring out affection and reflection. Isn't that a great holiday vibe? --Andrew Bartlett
In December 2001, Sufjan set out to create a Christmas gift for his friends and family. The result was a seven-song recording that he called "Noel Vol. 1". Over the next several years, he created new EPs to add to the collection. This 5-CD box set includes all five volumes, plus a 42-page booklet with an original Christmas essay by acclaimed American novelist Ricky Moody, two essays, a short story by Stevens, a holiday sticker, chord charts, lyrics, comic strip, family portrait poster, photos, and an animated video.
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- UPC: 656605602820
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48 Reviews
| From: Amazon Posted: Apr 06, 2008 Type: User Review |
you will love Christmas music after hearing the album(s)
This is what introduced me to Sufjan (and I have never been the same!). My mother, who is in her mid 50s, loves this set. I secretly look forward to Thanksgiving because I can put the album in my cd player for the next couple of months...and we...
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 5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Jan 21, 2008 Type: User Review |
Bringing families together with christian holday music
This box set is full of fun times as soon as you open it. Besides the amazingly complex yet honestly raw christmas songs, there are short stories that we can all relate to about the materialism of christmas and the coming together of...
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5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Jan 18, 2008 Type: User Review |
A holiday hit!!
All five cd's are fabulous, I played them the entire holiday and gave this as a gift to everyone. A perfect blend of classics and new songs.
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5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Jan 12, 2008 Type: User Review |
a new staple for the collection
great twist on the classics and beautiful orginal compositions, though the collection is 5 CDs deep it is not a chore to listen through all, each song has wonderful holiday sentiments and melody. Sufjan continues to brighten the standards with...
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5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Jan 12, 2008 Type: User Review |
Worth snail mail!
Cool and ambitious takes on old and new tunes...plus fun packaging that makes the "hard copy" well worth it (actually, a steal.)
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5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Dec 26, 2007 Type: User Review |
Buy it - don't dowload it. More than music. Outstanding!
In an age where packaged CD's are giving way to downloads, this remarkable effort made me re-think the whole business. For not only does this box set contain outstanding music (more on that later), it contains a poster, a comic strip, well...
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5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Dec 12, 2007 Type: User Review |
Best Christmas Box Set
I am a firm believer in downloading music off of itunes or the internet, but this purchase was definitely worth the shipping rate. This compilation would just not be the same if it was not for the stickers, chord charts, and oh so cute miniature...
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5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Dec 06, 2007 Type: User Review |
Sister Winter Wishes You A Happy Christmas
Wow. This is an amazing collection of Christmas music. There are originals as well as Sufjan's takes on traditional songs. The genius of his mastery as a musician glows here. With re-working and improving some great songs, he has done what others...
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5.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: Sep 21, 2007 Type: User Review |
hipness quotient at xmas time
for alternative parental types, you cant go wrong with this boxed set. xmas carols that will impress your hip friends and satisfy the kiddies. of course its all about impressing your friends with your hip taste. right? right? my ten year old...
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 4.00/5 |
| From: Amazon Posted: May 16, 2007 Type: User Review |
So so music
I am not a Sufjan Stevens fan. The arrangements are good enough and I think being a Christmas CD, the bar for success if fairly low. I think they just crossed that bar. On complaint about the packaging is that all the songs on the five CDs could...
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 3.00/5 |
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