Silver & Gold (CD)


Sufjan Stevens

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$39.98
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Also available in: LP

Amoeba Review

11/12/2012

Some of us love Christmas music, and for some of us, the second November rolls around, shopping becomes a nightmare as we’re forced to endure Christina Aguilera singing “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” while shopping for dad’s tie or whatever. If only every mall in America were forced to buy Sufjan Stevens’ latest box set of Christmas material (that’s right, this is the second one, after Songs for Christmas Vol. 1 was released in 2006). The five-disc set includes contributions from members of The National and The Arcade Fire, among others. The first disc, Gloria, includes fairly faithful (if quite Sufjan-y) takes on classics well- and lesser-known such as “Silent Night” and “Coventry Carol,” plus originals such as “The Midnight Clear,” which is a glorious bit of Illinois-era Sufjan. There’s a lot more weirdness on disc two, I Am Santa’s Helper, with songs like the funky “Christmas Woman” and an off-tune, indie rock “Jingle Bells.” Christmas Infinity Voyage offers a nine-minute electronic take on “Do You Hear What I Hear?” amid other more electronic touches, feeling more in line with 2010’s The Age of Adz. Disc four, Let it Snow, is more traditional, with notable changes including a scary, goth-folk cover of “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!,” while singer Cat Martino offers an original, the stark and pretty “The Sleigh in the Moon” and a stunning, angelic version of “Ave Maria.” Disc five, Christmas Unicorn, rather hilariously begins with cheesy electronic drums opening “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” like Manheim Steamroller. The disc ends up being a nice summary of what’s come before it, with orchestral and electronic flourishes boosting these Christmas-themed songs beyond their confines, exploding into a 12-minute electro diatribe about a Christmas Unicorn. Ultimately, that combination of reverence and inventiveness is what Silver & Gold is all about — taking something traditional (like Christmas) and overblown and making it your own.

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Track Listing



Disc 1 Titles
Artist
Length
1.
Silent Night 		Sufjan Stevens 02:27
2.
Lumberjack Christmas / No One Can Save You From Christmases Past 		Sufjan Stevens 03:22
3.
Coventry Carol 		Sufjan Stevens 02:55
4.
The Midnight Clear 		Sufjan Stevens 02:49
5.
Carol Of St. Benjamin The Bearded One 		Sufjan Stevens 03:33
6.
Go Nightly Cares 		Sufjan Stevens 01:47
7.
Barcarola (You Must Be A Christmas Tree) 		Sufjan Stevens 07:05
8.
Auld Lang Syne 		Sufjan Stevens 01:34


Disc 2 Titles
Artist
Length
1.
Christ The Lord Is Born 		Sufjan Stevens 00:50
2.
Christmas Woman 		Sufjan Stevens 05:34
3.
Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light 		Sufjan Stevens 01:11
4.
Happy Family Christmas 		Sufjan Stevens 01:25
5.
Jingle Bells 		Sufjan Stevens 01:19
6.
Mysteries Of The Christmas Mist 		Sufjan Stevens 02:10
7.
Lift Up Your Heads Ye Mighty Gates 		Sufjan Stevens 01:20
8.
We Wish You A Merry Christmas 		Sufjan Stevens 01:21
9.
Ah Holy Jesus 		Sufjan Stevens 02:43
10.
Behold The Birth Of Man, The Face Of Glory 		Sufjan Stevens 01:09
11.
Ding-A-Ling-A-Ring-A-Ling 		Sufjan Stevens 01:52
12.
How Shall I Fitly Meet Thee? 		Sufjan Stevens 02:09
13.
Mr. Frosty Man 		Sufjan Stevens 01:51
14.
Make Haste To See The Baby 		Sufjan Stevens 01:21
15.
Ah Holy Jesus (With Reed Organ) 		Sufjan Stevens 01:29
16.
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 		Sufjan Stevens 01:50
17.
Morning (Sacred Harp) 		Sufjan Stevens 02:27
18.
Idumea (Sacred Harp) 		Sufjan Stevens 03:50
19.
Eternal Happiness Or Woe 		Sufjan Stevens 01:22
20.
Ah Holy Jesus (A Capella) 		Sufjan Stevens 01:01
21.
I Am Santa's Helper 		Sufjan Stevens 01:52
22.
Maoz Tzur (Rock Of Ages) 		Sufjan Stevens 00:42
23.
Even The Earth Will Perish And The Universe Give Way 		Sufjan Stevens 02:01


Disc 3 Titles
Artist
Length
1.
Angels We Have Heard On High 		Sufjan Stevens 04:04
2.
Do You Hear What I Hear? 		Sufjan Stevens 09:14
3.
Christmas In The Room 		Sufjan Stevens 04:23
4.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 		Sufjan Stevens 00:48
5.
Good King Wenceslas 		Sufjan Stevens 04:18
6.
Alphabet St. 		Sufjan Stevens 01:36
7.
Particle Physics 		Sufjan Stevens 01:04
8.
Joy To The World 		Sufjan Stevens 05:25
9.
The Child With The Star On His Head 		Sufjan Stevens 15:30


Disc 4 Titles
Artist
Length
1.
I'll Be Home For Christmas 		Sufjan Stevens 03:26
2.
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town 		Sufjan Stevens 02:42
3.
The Sleigh In The Moon 		Sufjan Stevens 01:46
4.
Sleigh Ride 		Sufjan Stevens 02:29
5.
Ave Maria 		Sufjan Stevens , Cat Martino 02:08
6.
X-Mas Spirit Catcher 		Sufjan Stevens 03:31
7.
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! 		Sufjan Stevens 02:17
8.
Holly Jolly Christmas 		Sufjan Stevens 02:31
9.
Christmas Face 		Sufjan Stevens 00:42


Disc 5 Titles
Artist
Length
1.
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 		Sufjan Stevens 03:41
2.
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 		Sufjan Stevens 00:40
3.
Up On The Housetop 		Sufjan Stevens 04:22
4.
Angels We Have Heard On High 		Sufjan Stevens 00:53
5.
We Need A Little Christmas 		Sufjan Stevens 02:03
6.
Happy Karma Christmas 		Sufjan Stevens 03:37
7.
We Three Kings 		Sufjan Stevens 00:53
8.
Justice Delivers Its Death 		Sufjan Stevens 03:19
9.
Christmas Unicorn 		Sufjan Stevens 12:42

BUY
$39.98
SHIPS FREE in U.S.
Also available in: LP

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