Sufjan Stevens Releases New Christmas Compilation Album
The artist curates a seasonal collection featuring one brand new track.
1Seasonal Musical Tradition
Sufjan Stevens has long maintained a tradition of recording Christmas music, initially distributing songs as gifts to friends and family starting in 2001. This practice resulted in extensive collections like 2006's Songs for Christmas and 2012's Silver Gold, providing listeners with nearly five hours of continuous, intimate holiday-themed recordings over the years.
2Compilation Album Overview
The new compilation, Worst Christmas Ever!, draws primarily from Stevens' previous ten volumes of holiday music. While the collection aims to serve as a definitive seasonal offering, it includes curious inclusions like an 8-bit version of a classic carol and a stomp-beat rendition of Holly Jolly Christmas that feel like novelty tracks.
3Evolution of Songwriting
Listeners can identify early versions of later hits within these holiday tracks. For instance, the 2010 recording Justice Delivers Its Gift serves as a precursor to the 2015 song Should Have Known Better. Similarly, the 2003 track That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! contains echoes of the later release Casimir Pulaski Day.
4Collaborative Vocal Texture
A defining characteristic of these recordings is the inclusive, communal atmosphere created by multiple contributors. Musicians such as Richard Reed Parry, Gabriel Kahane, and brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner provide vocal layers. This ensemble approach mimics the warmth of impromptu caroling, where individual voices blend into a singular, homey, and imperfect sound.
5Personal Context of Release
The release follows a difficult period for Stevens, marked by the death of his partner Evans Richardson in April 2023 and his own diagnosis with Guillain-Barré Syndrome that August. These life events provide a somber backdrop to the compilation, reflecting a year of gradual reemergence for the artist into public life.
6New Material Analysis
The album features one original song, This Christmas (It Only Gets Better), which functions as a poignant confession of misanthropy. The lyrics navigate feelings of despair before shifting toward a hopeful benediction. Stevens asks if things will worsen, ultimately suggesting that the Earth possesses an inherent capacity to improve in the end.
7Curatorial Intentions
The motivation behind this specific compilation remains open to interpretation. It may serve as a convenient consolidation of his sprawling catalog, similar to finding well-loved vintage LPs in antique stores. Alternatively, the project reflects a personal need for the consolation of familiar rituals during a season often defined by deep melancholy.
8Artistic Legacy Significance
By revisiting his extensive holiday archive, Stevens highlights the continuity of his creative process. The compilation serves as both a retrospective of his past work and a testament to his current emotional state. It captures the tension between the artist's solitary, melancholic tendencies and his persistent desire for communion with his audience.
Original article: Pitchfork – Reviews — Sufjan Stevens Releases New Christmas Compilation Album