Songs For Christmas proves that seasonal music can be more than just the tinsel of department store tracks and alcohol-hazy sing-alongs. On the five EPs in this box set Sufjan Stevens wanders through the whole thematic wonderland of Christmas and (thank baby Jesus) gives the holiday back its properly joyous sound.

Terrific originals and skilfully arranged standards abound on each of the EPs, although Vol III: Ding! Dong!, with tracks like ‘That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!’, is where the collection really takes off. Vols. III-IV showcase original pieces strong enough to be on Stevens’ regular LPs, and it is these songs that make the box set such a pleasurable listen.

Whether or not you’ve experienced his chamber-folk sound, this is the place to escape the numbing bluster of uninspiring holiday standards and hear what Christmas sounds like when it has some actual life

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