Songs For Christmas
by Sufjan Stevens
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 34 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 34
  3. Negative: 2 out of 34

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  1. willc
    Jul 22, 2007
    10
    Its been seven months since I purchased this cd set and Im still listening to it regularly. This album is ridiculously good.
  2. Sandra
    Jan 8, 2007
    8
    So maybe he could've condensed the five cd's onto two...Sufjan tends towards being encyclopedic, so get over it. The music is so enjoyable, there are some wonderful influences, like old Tennessee blues and good-ol' American folk music. This set made me fall in love with Christmas music, and is such a relieve from the stuff they play in the stores starting at Thanksgiving. So maybe he could've condensed the five cd's onto two...Sufjan tends towards being encyclopedic, so get over it. The music is so enjoyable, there are some wonderful influences, like old Tennessee blues and good-ol' American folk music. This set made me fall in love with Christmas music, and is such a relieve from the stuff they play in the stores starting at Thanksgiving. It's the only Sufjan I've heard, and definitely makes me yearn for more.… Collapse
  3. huigv
    Jan 6, 2007
    9
    good for 12 months of christmas a year!
  4. LindsayN
    Dec 29, 2006
    9
    I thoroughly enjoy his new songs as well as his takes on the traditional tunes. (some beautiful arangements of hymns too) This collection was frequently played this holiday season and I'm still not tired of it even though Christmas is over. But then again, I never tire of Sufjan...
  5. LaunceR
    Dec 23, 2006
    9
    The inevitable reaction has set in, and people are ripping "young Sufjan." And sometimes those rips are deserved. It seems like all of his albums have songs that are a little self-indulgent, a bit too twee, a little cluttered with excess instrumentation or arrangements. But then there comes some moment of transcendent beauty, some song that has a melody that really works, and you realize The inevitable reaction has set in, and people are ripping "young Sufjan." And sometimes those rips are deserved. It seems like all of his albums have songs that are a little self-indulgent, a bit too twee, a little cluttered with excess instrumentation or arrangements. But then there comes some moment of transcendent beauty, some song that has a melody that really works, and you realize that all the rest is worth sifting through. "Man of Metropolis" was the song from Illnois(e). "Sister Winter" is that moment among the Christmas albums. And actually, unlike Illinois(e) or A Sun Came, etc., the Christmas albums will likely be heard much more often at my house, especially around the holidays, because they will make it onto many of my Christmas mixes that go out with Christmas cards. So, again, thanks Sufjan!… Expand
  6. JoeG
    Dec 23, 2006
    9
    Perhaps not Sufjan's greatest compositions, which is not surprising given the informal circumstance of their recording, but there's a few tunes here that could stand alongside his states CDs. 'Worst Christmas Ever' is a very touching Romulus/Casimir Pulaski Day type of song, deceptively simple, and beautifully performed. Star of Wonder goes on too long, but the melody Perhaps not Sufjan's greatest compositions, which is not surprising given the informal circumstance of their recording, but there's a few tunes here that could stand alongside his states CDs. 'Worst Christmas Ever' is a very touching Romulus/Casimir Pulaski Day type of song, deceptively simple, and beautifully performed. Star of Wonder goes on too long, but the melody of the verse is one of Sufjan's most beautiful. Not all the traditional tunes work for me, but some of them hit the spot far more than I expected. (Added a point for the generous price and packaging of this box set.)… Expand
  7. B
    Dec 23, 2006
    7
    Good stuff, orginal material on here is up there with some of his best stuff. "Sister Winter" is an amazing song and worth the price of admission alone. Todd W, you are...uhhh special is the only word I could use to describe your amazing comment.
  8. [Anonymous]
    Dec 21, 2006
    9
    For the price, it's great. And the best Christmas album I own. Sure, there are some songs that aren't that good, but there's going to be when there's 40+ songs in a set. But when it's good ("O Come O Come Emmanuel" on disc 1, "Sister Winter" on disc 5") it's really, really good.
  9. CynicalTroll
    Dec 18, 2006
    6
    right now I think young sufjan is at the level of indie cred that he could lay a turd and critics will be there to eat it up like its freaking lobster.
  10. ToddW
    Dec 13, 2006
    1
    'Tis the season for...five EPs from Sufjan Stevens, Tra-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-blah. Talk about urge overkill. This guy puts out product like brain-dead metacritics throwing 10s at music that won't stand the test of a month's time. I loved Come on Feel the Illinoise..., but in hindsight I realized that that record should have been slapped with a parental sticker warning, 'Tis the season for...five EPs from Sufjan Stevens, Tra-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-blah. Talk about urge overkill. This guy puts out product like brain-dead metacritics throwing 10s at music that won't stand the test of a month's time. I loved Come on Feel the Illinoise..., but in hindsight I realized that that record should have been slapped with a parental sticker warning, "Too much attention will turn Sufjan Stevens into the Sally Field of rock." And now we're paying the price, in more ways than one. Look, the holidays suck enough, what with having forced conversation with relatives you can't stand, seeing how many obese Stepford Wives you can hurdle at 5 a.m. at the threshold of your local Walmart, or putting yourself into Third World debt, but five EPs Sufjan? And of holidaze-influenced songs? What's the matter, you couldn't come up with an album extolling the virtues of Richard Speck? If I want to be bored to tears I'll read this blog, or listen to your next weekly offering. You gotta spare us this impulse of yours to strap on a guitar every waking moment.… Expand
  11. ElliottM
    Dec 10, 2006
    4
    No thank you. I still greatly prefer my Jim Henson and the Muppets Christmas album 50000000x over.
  12. JeffC
    Dec 9, 2006
    9
    very very very good.... surpised again by Sufjan ... thank you Mr Stevens...... and Happy Christmas... :)
  13. mattw
    Dec 8, 2006
    10
    amazing. His original songs are the highlight, but it's all good. And for the price you pay...so much music for so little money. I love it.
  14. JasonB
    Dec 7, 2006
    10
    I paid 13 bucks for this pack new. I'm not going to waste my time complaining about misfires, when I've received more than my moneys worth!!! Fantastic.
  15. StuartW
    Dec 7, 2006
    10
    This is on par with Illinoise as Sufjan's best album, if you can call it an album as it is comprised of 5 eps. As anyone who is familiar with Sufjan will expect, you have the lush instrumental tracks, some reflective acoustic numbers, and this being a christmas record, some mostly successful traditional covers. What people who overlook this set will miss is that these cds contain This is on par with Illinoise as Sufjan's best album, if you can call it an album as it is comprised of 5 eps. As anyone who is familiar with Sufjan will expect, you have the lush instrumental tracks, some reflective acoustic numbers, and this being a christmas record, some mostly successful traditional covers. What people who overlook this set will miss is that these cds contain some of Sufjan's best original material outset Illinoise. Get Behind Me Santa! Hey Guys! It's Christmas Time, Christmas In July, Sister Winter... these lift this set above the overrated Avalanche, and his Michigan, Seven Swans albums. As such it is highly recommended, especially for the price and extras. A set to be cherished and enjoyed for christmas' to come!… Expand
  16. marlene
    Dec 7, 2006
    8
    I AM a devoted sufjanite and I think this colleciton is lovely. As with anything like this (holiday-themes music in general), there will be some pieces you enjoy more than others. Regardless however, Sufjan's creativity and soothing vocals make this a must-have for any of his fans.

Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Best Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. AllMusic
    80
    There are moments of quirky holiday splendor -- moments akin to some of the best material on Greetings from Michigan and Illinoise -- that make plowing through the entire five-EP set a pleasure.
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  2. Amazon.com
    70
    A perfect gift for the Christmas-inclined indie rockster.
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  3. BBC collective
    80
    This only occasionally matches the breathtaking splendour of last year's …Illinoise! but with its modest price and immodest extras only Scrooge could fail to have his heart warmed.
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