Songs for Christmas

Songs for Christmas
Box set by Sufjan Stevens
Released	November 21, 2006
Recorded	2001–2006
Genre	Indie Folk Indie Pop Baroque Pop
Length	123:10
Language	English
Label	Asthmatic Kitty
Producer	Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens chronology
The Avalanche (2006) Songs for Christmas (2006) The BQE (2009)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Robert Christgau	[2]
Drowned in Sound	[3]
Pitchfork Media	(7.5/10) [4]
Rolling Stone	[5]

Songs for Christmas is a box set of five separate EPs of Christmas-related songs and carols recorded by independent musician Sufjan Stevens between 2001 and 2006. The EPs had been given as gifts to friends and family of Stevens over the past six years, except for 2004 where he was too busy recording the Illinois album. Though the first three EPs have been available on Sufjan Stevens-related fansites for several years, Songs for Christmas is the first official release of these EPs. Most of the tracks are versions of traditional Christmas songs, with a number of original compositions such as "Sister Winter" and "Star of Wonder". Sufjan Stevens has developed a reputation for being a devoted Christian^[6] and many of the songs he chose for inclusion on Songs for Christmas are religious in nature, including his original compositions.

The box set includes a poster of Sufjan Stevens, an animated short for "Put the Lights on the Tree" by Tom Eaton, an essay by Rick Moody, two original short stories by Stevens, stickers, comics and a sing-a-long book for all five discs.

During Stevens' international tour in the later half of 2006, he regularly performed the original song "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever" while releasing inflatable Santas into the audience for fun.^[7]

Songs for Christmas was generally well-received by music critics.^[8]

Track listing

Noel: Songs for Christmas, Vol. I

Recorded December 2001

1. "Silent Night" – 0:47 (instrumental)
2. "O come, O come, Emmanuel" – 3:59
3. "We're Goin' to the Country!" – 2:19 *
4. "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming" – 3:25
5. "It's Christmas! Let's Be Glad!" – 1:58 *
6. "Holy Holy, etc." – 0:39 (instrumental)
7. "Amazing Grace" – 4:00

Hark!: Songs for Christmas, Vol. II

Recorded December 2002

1. "Angels We Have Heard on High" – 0:47 (instrumental)
2. "Put the Lights on the Tree" – 1:50 *
3. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" – 4:45
4. "I Saw Three Ships" – 2:36
5. "Only at Christmas Time" – 2:18 *
6. "Once in David's Royal City" – 3:45
7. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!" – 0:49 (instrumental)
8. "What Child Is This Anyway?" – 6:51
9. "Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella" – 1:32

Ding! Dong!: Songs for Christmas, Vol. III

Recorded December 2003

1. "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" – 1:03 (instrumental)
2. "Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!" – 3:50 *
3. "We Three Kings" – 3:05
4. "O Holy Night" – 3:34
5. "That Was the Worst Christmas Ever!" – 2:52 *
6. "All the King's Horns" – 2:59 *
7. "Ding! Dong!" – 0:56 (instrumental) *
8. "The Friendly Beasts" – 3:41

Joy: Songs for Christmas - Vol. IV

Recorded December 2005

1. "The Little Drummer Boy" – 3:44
2. "Away in a Manger" – 2:54
3. "Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time!" – 4:41 *
4. "The First Noel" – 0:53 (instrumental)
5. "Did I Make You Cry on Christmas Day? (Well, You Deserved It!)" – 3:22 *
6. "The Incarnation" – 2:23 *
7. "Joy to the World" – 4:21

Peace: Songs for Christmas, Vol. V

Recorded June 2006

1. "Once in Royal David's City" – 2:01
2. "Get Behind Me, Santa!" – 3:49 *
3. "Jingle Bells – 0:36" (instrumental)
4. "Christmas in July" – 3:17 *
5. "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming" – 1:46 (instrumental)
6. "Jupiter Winter" – 3:51 *
7. "Sister Winter" – 5:05 *
8. "O come, O come, Emmanuel" – 1:06 (instrumental)
9. "Star of Wonder" – 7:08 *
10. "Holy, Holy, Holy" – 3:50
11. "The Winter Solstice" – 3:23 *

* denotes original songs by Sufjan Stevens © 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Sales chart history

Year	Chart	Peak position	Sales
2006	Billboard 2006	122	30,251

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Robert Christgau review
3. ^ Drowned in Sound review
4. ^ Pitchfork review
5. ^ Rolling Stone review
6. ^ Between Hipsters and God, There's Sufjan Stevens — A Jewish Magazine, an Interfaith Movement
7. ^ YouTube - That was the worst christmas ever
8. ^ Sufjan Stevens: Songs For Christmas (2006): Reviews

External links

• Songs For Christmas at Asthmatic Kitty Records