I started Music For Kids Who Can’t Read Good on a whim back in 2005, based on a crazy idea to merge my love for the cult comedy Zoolander and my budding interest in indie rock music. At the time, I didn’t expect any more than a handful of people would care to read it, much less that I’d be still be writing seven years later. A lot has changed since then, I now have a full-time web content managing job, I got married in 2008 and we just learned that we have a young’un on the way.

Obviously, I’m going to have less time for blogging than I used to. While I’m not planning on giving it up anytime soon, I’ve decided to move to a microblogging (aka tumblelog) format. I’ll still be sharing my music recommendations, mixes, lists and whatever else tickles my fancy, just with more media-focused posts and less of my commentary (not like you read all that stuff anyway).

So beginning sometime next year, musicforants.com will direct to musicforants.tumblr.com. This blog will be archived at here, along with all of our old posts. I’ve already started posting at the new tumblr so feel free to head over there and subscribe to my updates / update your RSS feed. I’ll be posting the new Winter Or What We Mistake For December mix (update: it’s here!) there soon, so stay tuned!

MP3 The Flaming Lips – Suddenly Everything Has Changed

The post Suddenly Everything Has Changed appeared first on Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.

We’re quickly approaching the end of 2012 and/or the world depending on your interpretation of Mayan prophecy, and that can only mean it’s time to reflect on the best albums of the year. For me, one record stood head and shoulders above the rest in 2012, so album of the year was an easy decision, but there was much deliberation for the other 24 positions (plus, honorable mentions). This was one of the most diverse years of music in recent memory, with pop, guitar-oriented rock, folk music, indie-pop and electronica all being represented just about equally. It was also a year where lots of debut albums and new favorites dominated my listening, with 3/5 of the artists making their first appearance on one of my year-end album lists.

I want to thank you guys for continuing to read and support this blog. Next year, musicforants.com will be making some changes / transitions. I’m dedicated to continue sharing my music recommendations, mixes, lists, musings and whatever else, but for a variety of reasons, that won’t look the same in 2013 as it does now (stay tuned for more info on that). As always, feel free to leave a comment if you like what you see on this list and let me know if you have any of your own favorite albums to add. Have a wonderful holidays!

25. Father John Misty – Fear Fun

MP3 Nancy From Now On
MP3 Hollywood Forever Cemetary Sings

24. Hospitality – Hospitality

MP3 Eighth Avenue
MP3 Friends of Friends

23. Dirty Projectors – Swing Lo Magellan

MP3 Gun Has No Trigger
MP3 About To Die

22. Allo, Darlin’ – Europe

MP3 Capricornia
MP3 Tallulah

21. Jessie Ware – Devotion

MP3 Wildest Moments

20. Bowerbirds – The Clearing

MP3 Tuck The Darkness In
MP3 In The Yard

19. Cloud Nothings – Attack On Memory

MP3 Stay Useless
MP3 Wasted Days

18. First Aid Kit – The Lion’s Roar

MP3 Emmylou
MP3 King of the World

17. Bat For Lashes – The Haunted Man

MP3 Laura

16. Titus Andronicus - Local Business

MP3 Still Life With Hot Deuce On A Silver Platter
MP3 In A Big City

15. Shearwater – Animal Joy

MP3 You As You Were
MP3 Breaking The Yearlings

14. Lord Huron – Lonesome Dreams

MP3 Time To Run
MP3 Brother

13. DIIV – Oshin

MP3 How Long Have You Known

12. The Mountain Goats – Transcendental Youth

MP3 Cry For Judas
MP3 Harlem Roulette

11. Sigur Rós – Valatari

MP3 Ekki múkk

10. Twin Shadow – Confess

MP3 Five Seconds
MP3 When The Movie’s Over

9. Hot Chip – In Our Heads

MP3 Don’t Deny Your Heart
MP3 Flutes

8. Andrew Bird – Break It Yourself

MP3 Eyeoneye
MP3 Danse Carribe

7. Spiritualized – Sweet Heart, Sweet Light

MP3 Hey Jane

6. Japandroids – Celebration Rock

MP3 The House That Heaven Built
MP3 Younger Us

5. Jens Lekman – I Know What Love Isn’t

MP3 I Know What Love Isn’t
MP3 The End Of The World Is Bigger Than Love

4. Chromatics – Kill For Love

MP3 Kill For Love
MP3 Lady

3. Beach House – Bloom

MP3 Myth
MP3 Lazuli

2. Grizzly Bear – Shields

MP3 Speak In Rounds
MP3 Yet Again

1. Frank Ocean – channel ORANGE

MP3 Pyramids
MP3 Thinking About You

Honorable Mentions:

Moonface – with Siinai: Heartbreaking Bravery
Grimes – Visions
The Tallest Man On Earth – There’s No Leaving Now
Tame Impala – Lonerism
Chairlift – Something
Kindness – World, You Need A Change Of Mind
Alabama Shakes – Boys & Girls
Porcelain Raft – Strange Weekend

Spotify Playlist: musicforants.com’s Best Albums of 2012

Thanks again to everyone for reading! Stay tuned…

The post musicforants.com’s Best Albums of 2012 appeared first on Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.

These are 50 tracks that delighted, inspired and fascinated us in 2012 and that we think are worthy of remembering long after the year is over. We present them here in highly unscientific ordered list form, with Matt’s songs marked with a “-MG” and my choices with a “-TJ” next to them. To better spread the love, we’ve stuck with the one song per artist rule. Click here to download all the tracks in a zip and subscribe to our Spotify Playlist to stream them all. Enjoy y’all!

50. Porcelain Raft – Unless You Speak From Your Heart MP3

Porcelain Raft’s Strange Weekend is one of my favorite debut albums of the year, and this swelling synth-pop anthem is the shining moment. -TJ

49. Sharon Van Etten – Give Out MP3

“Give Out” is Sharon Van Etten exploring the tension of exciting possibilities that she knows will inevitably lead to resentment. It exists in this weird space of breakups that haven’t actually happened yet. -MG

48. Moonface – Teary Eyes and Bloody Lips MP3

One of our generations’s most gifted songwriters delivers this soaring new-wave guitar anthem that sits as one of the best (and most explosive) tracks in Spencer Krug’s extensive catalog. -TJ

47. The xx – Chained [stream]

Even if “Chained” wasn’t really indicative of the rest of The xx’s new album, it proved that their first round wasn’t a fluke. They sound even more sure of themselves here, stripping away their sound until we’re left with something simple and pure. -MG

46. Hundred Waters – Me & Anodyne MP3

Hundred Waters have proved to be one of the most promising new bands of the year with tracks like this otherworldly gem, filled with layers of  vocals, synth textures and bubbling electronica. -TJ

45. Dirty Projectors – About To Die MP3

The best part of any Dirty Projectors song is trying to figure out why they put these particular sounds together, and “About to Die” provides plenty of puzzlers. It’s simultaneously weird and accessible, a combination few pull off as well.  -MG

44. Bobby Womack – Please Forgive My Heart MP3

Soul legend Bobby Womack delivers a passionate, heartfelt vocal performance in this electro-soul confessional produced with gorgeous sonic flourishes by Damon Albarn. -TJ

43. Nite Jewel – One Second Of Love MP3

“One Second of Love” sounds homemade, but not lo-fi. It’s intimate, but still gives off the vibe that it could pour out of speakers if it needed to. -MG

42. Eternal Summers – Millions MP3

The Virginian indie pop duo, Eternal Summers captivate with this dreamy, sunkissed power-pop tune that captures the very essence of summer in a brisk 2 minutes and thirty seconds. -TJ

41. Death Grips – I’ve Seen Footage MP3

“I’ve Seen Footage” was Death Grips’ shot across the bow of 2012, and by the end of the year the band had courted more than their share of controversy. It’s a reminder of a simpler time, when they were just assaulting eardrums instead of offending eyeballs. -MG

Follow the jump below to see the rest of the list!

40. Two Door Cinema Club – Sleep Alone MP3

With “Sleep Alone”, Two Door Cinema Club made one of the most polished and exciting pop songs of the year, thanks to its propulsive beat, jaunty guitars and a grab bag of infectious hooks. -TJ

39. Kendrick Lamar – Backseat Freestyle [stream]

Good kid, m.A.A.d city might have had better songs, but “Backseat Freestyle” was the showcase for Lamar’s skills that forced you to pay attention. -MG

38. Father John Misty – Nancy From Now On MP3

“Nancy From Now On” immediately hooks you with it’s vintage acoustic guitar and J. Tillman’s swooning falsetto so that by the time the lush rhythm section joins in, you’re already helplessly smitten. -TJ

37. Passion Pit – I’ll Be Alright MP3

Passion Pit managed to make a fun, boisterous song laced with self-delusion. “I’ll Be Alright” isn’t a statement, it’s attempted reassurance you can dance to.  -MG

36. Why? – Sod In The Seed MP3

With its infectious strummed hook, ultra-clever lyrics and laid-back flow, “Sod In The Seed” is a brilliant embodiment of Why’s hip-hop / avant-garde hybrid style. -TJ

35. Cloud Nothings – Wasted Days MP3

“Wasted Days” hits its sentiment so squarely on the head that I don’t actually recommend listening to it if you’re between the ages of 24 and 27. The breakdown in the middle only drives the (literal and metaphorical) point home even further. -MG

34. Tanlines – All Of Me MP3

This sound was supposed to have died out a few years ago, but apparently nobody told Tanlines. The upside is that we got this quality jam from a band making music they love, instead of trend-hopping. -MG

33. Lord Huron – Time To Run MP3

“Time To Run” transports the listener on an exhilarating journey filled with exuberant bursts of tropical instrumentation, galloping rhythm and soaring harmonies. -TJ

32. Alabama Shakes – Be Mine [stream]

Rising star Brittany Howard delivers a magical vocal performance on Boys & Girls highlight, “Be Mine”, bolstered by her band’s potent bluesy guitar licks and topped off with one of the most cathartic, rousing climaxes on record in 2012.-TJ

31. Solange – Losing You MP3

Solange has always shown promise, but she finally comes into her own on “Losing You”. It’s really more singularity than song, existing in a space where the divide between indie and mainstream is no longer relevant. -MG

29. The Tallest Man On Earth – 1904 MP3

With his third LP, Swedish troubador Kristian Matsson is still making beautiful, sparse folk with little more than an acoustic guitar and his voice. As long as we continue to receive invigorating, masterful works like “1904″, I hope he never stops. -TJ

30. How To Dress Well – & It Was U MP3

On “& It Was U”, Tom Krell stripped away his former lo-fi trappings and actually came out the better for it. It’s still minimal, but proves there is far more to How to Dress Well than fidelity. Of one kind, at least. -MG

28. Titus Andronicus – Still Life With Hot Deuce On Silver Platter MP3

Although there’s no Civil War-like arc tying Local Business together, Patrick Stickles proves he’s still committed to waxing philosophical by way of loud, sprawling guitar solos and beer-raising sing-a-long choruses with this gritty and exhilarating anthem. -TJ

27. Purity Ring – Fineshrine MP3

“Fineshrine” is all about the juxtaposition of saccharine and surreal. It’s suspenseful, visceral, pop-y, and just the right amount of weird. -MG

26. Shearwater – You As You Were MP3

Jonathon Meisburg dramatically expresses his desire for wild abandon on this powerful, uplifting anthem from Animal Joy that does an excellent job of embodying that album title. -TJ

25. Dum Dum Girls – Lord Knows MP3

Dum Dum Girls continue their string of excellent singles with “Lord Knows”, smoldering at first before flaring up for the chorus. It’s a song that sounds oddly carefree, considering its heavy subject. -MG

24. Andrew Bird – Danse Carribe MP3

“Danse Carribe” begins like many lovely Andrew Bird folk tunes with a fetching melody and clever turns of phrases. What really springs the song to the next level though is its lively whistling and fiddle bridge, one of the most delightful musical passages of the year. -TJ

23. Perfume Genius – Dark Parts MP3

The brilliance of Perfume Genius is that he has a knack for hiding weighty subjects under gorgeous melodies, and “Dark Parts” is maybe the best example of his talent. -MG

22. Tame Impala – Feels Like We Only Go Backwards MP3

Everything from the trippy echo-chamber vocals, roaming bassline, splashes of vibrant organ, rolling drum fills and unforgettably catchy melody work together to make this track a beautifully executed ode to late-60′s psychedelic rock.  -TJ

21. Icona Pop – I Love It MP3

“I Love It” is pop by submission; the whole thing is so over-the-top-in-your-face that it’s impossible to ignore. It certainly doesn’t hurt that it has one of the best hooks of the year. -MG

20. Sigur Rós - Varúð [stream]

Sigur Rós have written so many achingly gorgeous songs by now that it seems absolutely effortless. As with many of their best compositions, the hymn-like “Varúð” is deceptively simple, combining exquisite sounds of piano, strings and angelic vocals and building to a triumphant, blissful climax. -TJ

19. El-P – The Full Retard MP3

El-P hits “The Full Retard” like a hungry MC with something to prove, folding rhymes in on themselves until you can’t even follow along with the lyrics in front of you. When he switches flows in the last 30 seconds, it’s game over. -MG

18. Hot Chip – Don’t Deny Your Heart MP3

Perhaps more than any other Hot Chip song, “Don’t Deny Your Heart” sounds like it was transported straight out of a 80′s teenage flick, what with its amazingly peppy disco beat and ecstatic bursts of synth and funk guitar. Also, like any good John Hughes film it’s impossible to experience without a big, cheesy grin on your face. -TJ

17. Usher – Climax (ft. Diplo) [stream]

It’s almost shocking that a song with this much restraint came from Usher. But the irony of the title seems to be the point, so that once he finally cuts loose it hits you that much harder. -MG

16. Grimes – Oblivion MP3

Claire Boucher pulls off a brilliant trick with “Oblivion” of sounding strange and otherworldly while still being one of the most perfectly satisfying pop songs of the year.  It’s a testament to her unique talent that she can appeal to bubblegum pop and avant-garde sensibilities at the same time. -TJ

15. Jessie Ware – Wildest Moments MP3

Jessie Ware has no shortage of great singles this year, but none resonated for me like “Wildest Moments”. It’s emotionally complex in a way you don’t often find in pop, and it’s just a great song to boot. -MG

14. Bowerbirds – Tuck The Darkness In MP3

“Tuck The Darkness In” rides the line between intmate folk ballad and triumphant anthem better than any other song this year, pairing a lovely acoustic arrangement and delicate melodies with a rousing climatic swell that rivals some of the best Arcade Fire songs. -TJ

13. Allo, Darlin’ – Capricornia MP3

“Capricornia” seems unassuming enough at first, but once the chorus sneaks up on you it turns into one of the best pop songs of the year. It seeps into your mindgrapes until you don’t even realize you’ve had it on repeat for 20 minutes. -MG

12. DIIV – How Long Have You Known MP3

It’s incredibly easy to get lost in the ebbing and flowing guitar riffs and reverb-soaked melodies of “How Long Have You Known” from 2012′s best new band DIIV. The song is an engrossing, addictive listen that demands repeated plays as it immerses your eardrums in a whirlpool of dream-pop hooks. -TJ

11. Jens Lekman – I Know What Love Isn’t MP3

“I Know What Love Isn’t” tells a personal anecdote about Jens considering the simplicity of a green-card marriage, and it does it in a way only Jens Lekman can, with lyrical dashes of whimsy, melancholy and humor elevated even further by of his most lovely and memorable arrangements yet. -TJ

10. Twin Shadow – Five Seconds MP3

The isn’t much I can say about “Five Seconds” that the video doesn’t make obvious. It’s like the song that plays over the credits of some great, lost Betamax tape. -MG

9. Bat For Lashes – Laura MP3

The brilliance of “Laura” is that it manages to paint an entire portrait in under five minutes, making you feel empathy for a falling star. There may not have been another song in 2012 that did so much with so little. -MG

8. Beach House – Lazuli MP3

It’s extremely rare that a band can continue to outdo themselves like Beach House has, and “Lazuli” is the apex of the band’s otherwordly powers, a blissful track that slowly reveals itself until it completely overwhelms your senses. I’m looking forward to seeing if they can ever possibly top it. -TJ

7. Grizzly Bear – Speak In Rounds MP3

There just isn’t anyone making songs like Grizzly Bear; they’re confident yet casual, the songs seemingly labored over but unfussy. “Speak in Rounds” rides that line as well as anything on Shields, and better than any other song this year. -MG

6. Japandroids – The House That Heaven Built MP3

Japandroids have always been great at the shout-along chorus, but they reached their apex here with a song made to scream with the whole way through. Lozenge up, people. -MG

5. First Aid Kit – Emmylou MP3

Some songs have the power to make your eyes well up with just a few notes, and the gorgeous pedal steel guitar and poignant harmonies of “EmmyLou” has that effect on me. The exquisite, intimate love song pays tribute to country duos of the past in a unforgettable chorus that will resonate with anyone with two ears and heart. -TJ

4. Chromatics – Kill For Love MP3

Chromatics like to posit their albums as if they were feature films, and if so, “Kill For Love” would be conflicted hero’s soaring anthem. The irresistably compelling track seems to tell an entire dramatic character arc of romance, tragedy, mystery and triumph in four minutes of dreamy vocals, shimmering retro synths, rushing guitar and ebullient crescendos. -TJ

3. Chairlift – I Belong In Your Arms MP3

There has to be a plane of existence somewhere in the multiverse where this is the biggest song on the planet. It’s just so unabashedly wonderful that there has to be place where it’s blasting from every stereo. -MG

2. Spiritualized – So Long You Pretty Thing [stream]

J. Spaceman begins this song as a broken man, pleading to God with his dying breaths and saying farewell to his rock and roll dreams. Although that may sound terribly depressing, backed by a full gospel choir, strings and horn section it becomes an uplifiting and transcendent anthem, climaxing with an exhilarating refrain that makes the track feel less like a simple (albeit brilliant) pop song than a triumph of the human spirit. -TJ

1. Frank Ocean – Pyramids MP3

There was no logical reason for Def Jam to release this 10-minute opus to promote a relatively unknown artist, but maybe the fact that it’s at the top of this list proves they knew exactly what they were doing. “Pyramids” proved Ocean was 2012′s singular talent; it had an eye on tradition, but both feet firmly in the future. -MG

This year our choice for #1 song of the year was unanimous. Frank Ocean’s music defined 2012 for me and the freakishly ambitious space-funk epic “Pyramids” is his masterpiece, cementing Ocean’s place as one of the most exciting and visionary pop artists of the millennium. -TJ

Download all the songs in a zip by clicking here

Spotify Playlist: musicforants.com’s Best Songs of 2012

The post musicforants.com’s Best Songs of 2012 appeared first on Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.

20. Santigold @ Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)

MP3 Santigold – Lights Out

***

19. Wild Flag @ Pitchfork Festival (Chicago)

MP3 Wild Flag – Romance

***

18. The Head and the Heart @ Canopy Club (Urbana)

MP3 The Head and the Heart – Sounds Like Hallelujah

***

17. Alabama Shakes @ Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)

MP3 Alabama Shakes – Hold On

***

16. Lord Huron @ Pygmalion Festival (Champaign/Urbana)

MP3 Lord Huron – The Stranger

***

15. tUnE-yArDs @ Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)

MP3 tUnE-yArDs – My Country

***

14. Hundred Waters @ Pygmalion Festival (Champaign / Urbana)

MP3 Hundred Waters – Me & Anodyne

***

13. Sleigh Bells @ Pitchfork Festival (Chicago)

MP3 Sleigh Bells – Crown on the Ground

***

12. Dirty Projectors @ Pitchfork Festival (Chicago) & Pygmalion Festival (Champaign/Urbana)

MP3 Dirty Projectors – Gun Has No Trigger

***

11. Hot Chip @ Pitchfork Festival (Chicago)

MP3 Hot Chip – And I Was A Boy From School

***

10. Dinosaur Jr. @ Pygmalion Festival (Champaign/Urbana)

MP3 Dinosaur Jr. – Feel The Pain

***

9. The Roots + Questlove Superjam ft. D’angelo @ Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)

MP3 The Roots – The Next Movement

***

8. Cloud Nothings @ Pichfork Festival (Chicago) & Pygmalion Festival (Champaign/Urbana)

MP3 Cloud Nothings – Stay Useless

***

7. Bon Iver @ Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)

MP3 Bon Iver – Holocene

***

6. M83 / I Break Horses @ The Pageant (St. Louis)

MP3 M83 – Midnight City

***

5. Grizzly Bear @ Pygmalion Festival (Champaign/Urbana)

MP3 Grizzly Bear – Yet Again

***

4. Beach Boys @ Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)

MP3 Beach Boys – Good Vibrations

***

3. New Order @ Aragon Ballroom (Chicago)

MP3 New Order – Temptation

***

2. Jeff Mangum @ Athaneum Theater (Chicago)

MP3 Neutral Milk Hotel – In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

***

1. Radiohead @ Allstate Arena (St. Louis) & Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN)

MP3 Radiohead – Lotus Flower
MP3 Radiohead – Karma Police

The post Favorite Live Shows of 2012 appeared first on Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.

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The post seenyourvideo.com’s Top 50 Music Videos of 2012 appeared first on Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.

I’ve been in blog hibernation the last couple weeks (I’ll use the excuse that I’ve been working on year-end lists) but I’ve been snapped out by Chromatics‘ gorgeous cover of New Order‘s “Ceremony”, from Johnny Jewel’s Black & White mix.

Chromatics and New Order are a perfect match given both their affections for dreamy synth-pop with big hooks, and the Portland trio truly does the classic track justice, swapping out the original’s throbbing bassline and driving drumbeat with sweeping synths and minimalistic percussion, putting the focus on Ruth’s ethereal vocals and that iconic guitar line.

MP3 Chromatics – Ceremony (New Order Cover)

Listen to Johnny Jewel’s Black & White mix on Soundcloud.

The post Cover: Chromatics – “Ceremony” (New Order) appeared first on Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.

Today is Black Friday, the holiest of holy days for mindless consumerism, so what better time for another edition of Commercial Watch! Like always, I’m featuring all the latest hip, indie tracks that advertisers are using in their never-ending pursuit to get people to buy more stuff. Since the last edition I’ve found twenty more commercials you can watch below with MP3s / streams of the songs included. Make sure to click the continue reading link to see them all!

Windows 8: Best Coast

MP3 Best Coast – The Only Place

***

Honda Accord – We Know You

MP3 Perfume Genius – Dark Parts

***

Taco Bell: Doritos Locos

MP3 Passion Pit – Take A Walk

***

Kmart: Layaway Giveaway Gasp

Girl by Das Racist

***

Acura: The Innovative Acura ILX Car Installation

MP3 Metric – Help I’m Alive

***

Expedia: Find Yours

MP3 M83 – Raconte-Moi Une Histoireo

***

Kohls: Narciso Rodriguez

MP3 Santigold – Big Mouth

***

Gap: Be Bright Fall

MP3 Avett Brothers – Live and Die

***

BMWi: Born Electric

Odd Look by Kavinsky

***

Dell: Meet Billy: The boy who captured the stars

MP3 Benjamin Gibbard – You Remind Me Of Home

***

Google Chromebook: For Everyone

Negative Thinking by The Death Set

***

Apple Macbook Pro: Colors

Y2B Efterklang – Dreams Today

***

Sears: Connecting Flights, This Season’s Must See

Space & Time by Sparkadia

***

Google Nexus: Ask Me Anything

Y2B Sondre Lerche – Sleep on Needles

***

Dior: Fall-Winter 2012 shoe collection

MP3 Phantogram – Mouthful of Diamonds

***

Littlewoods: Myleene Klass

White Nights by OhLand

***

Samsung Galaxy: Handzeichen

MP3 The Raconteurs – Hands

***

Toyota GT86: The Real Deal

MP3 Édith Piaf – Non Je Ne Regrette Rien

***

Beneful: Spread the Play

Inside and Out by Bad Sports

***

Victoria’s Secret: Fabulous

MP3 Sleigh Bells – Crush

***

If you like what you see here, check out my other posts in the Commercial Watch series. Leave a comment if there’s any good commercial songs I’m missing.

The post Commercial Watch: Best Coast, Passion Pit, Perfume Genius, Santigold, Das Racist + more appeared first on Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good.

As someone who unapologetically enjoys Christmas music (both religious and secular) and is a huge fan of Sufjan Stevens, I take his Christmas albums very seriously (I’ll point out that my second post on this blog was about Sufjan’s Christmas EPs). Every year around the holidays, I look forward to bringing out Songs For Christmas, so I’m thrilled to have five more volumes of music to play with today’s release of Silver & Gold.

With Sufjan Stevens’ evolving music sensibilities, this is clearly a much different collection than Songs for Christmas, but (for the most part) it’s consistently excellent, delivering many songs that stand with his finest work. So here’s my unfiltered thoughts on Volumes 6-10 of Sufjan’s Holiday EPs with one recommended MP3 from each EP available for download.

Vol. 6 – Gloria!

Gloria! is a collaboration with The National‘s Aaron and Bryce Dressner and Richard Reed Parry of Arcade Fire, and much of it was recorded in attic in Aaron’s Brooklyn home which gives it a quaint, community atmosphere. It’s certainly as traditionally folky as any of Sufjan’s music, and with the Dressner’s contributions, it features some gorgeous guitarwork. The highlight is the second track which is really two songs, the upbeat, fiddle-happy “Lumberjack Christmas” and the lovely, introspective “No One Can Save You From Christmases Past”. The EP ends with a wonderful banjo sing-a-long to “Auld Lang Syne” which features a singing saw solo.

MP3 Lumberjack Christmas / No One Can Save You From Christmases Past

Vol. 7. – I Am Santa’s Helper!

This is by far the oddest entry into Sufjan’s Christmas albums, sounding more like his unpolished early album A Sun Came than anything he’s released in the last five years. It features 23 mostly original tracks, most of them less than 90 seconds in length and vary between solemn hymn-like tunes and ramshackle electric guitar one-takes like “Ding-A-Ling-A-Ring-A-Ling” and “Mr Frosty Man”. Overall it’s kind of a mess, but there’s a few keepers from it, notably “I Am Santa’s Helper” which samples part of “Majesty Snowbird” and “Christmas Woman”, a cheerful, bouncy tune that wouldn’t sound out of place on one of the earlier Christmas EPs.

MP3 I Am Santa’s Helper

Vol. 8 – Infinity Voyage

This album is Sufjan in full-on Age of Adz mode, which is a great thing if you love that album as much as most sensible people. Infinity Voyage was available on the internet previously but the songs have all been rearranged and rerecorded for this boxset, definitely a huge improvement. This volume is full of highlights from the majestic version of “Angels We Have Heard On High”, to the gorgeous original song “Christmas In The Room”, a funky cover of Prince’s “Alphabet St.” and an an amazing rendition of “Joy To The World” that includes part of “Impossible Soul”. The EP concludes with Sufjan at his most experimental, with the 15-minute “Child With The Star On His Head”.

MP3 Joy To The World

Vol. 9 – Let It Snow!

This volume seems to be one where Sufjan decided to record a bunch of classic secular Christmas tunes such as “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “Let It Snow”, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, “Sleigh Ride” and “Holly Jolly Christmas” (if you’re anti-religious songs this may be the EP for you) and they’re all predictably solid renditions. There’s also a few original tracks, two short, ethereal songs “Sleigh in the Moon” and “Christmas Face” and an Adz-like electronic tune “Xmas Spirit Catcher”.

MP3 Xmas Spirit Catcher

Vol. 10 – Christmas Unicorn

As with Songs for Christmas, Sufjan ends this boxset with a truly amazing and ambitious EP. The volume includes a triumphant take on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”, his Vesper Stamper-collab “Up on the Housetop” and an exuberant rendition of Muppet Christmas classic “We Need A Little Christmas”. What really shines about this volume though, is the last two tracks, “Justice Delivers Its Death”, a haunting acoustic track reminiscent of “John Wayne Gacy Jr” and the incredible “Christmas Unicorn”, a 12-minute epic with introspective lyrics describing Sufjan’s unique relationship with Christmas. The track builds to a breathtaking climax that mixes all the orchestral and electronic instrumentation with an exhilarating cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart”, a feat I’m sure only Sufjan could pull off.

MP3 Christmas Unicorn

Silver & Gold is available for purchase on vinyl / CD and includes stickers, temporary tattoos, posters, ornaments, coloring books and songbooks. The entire 58-song collection is available to stream here.

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