Oh no, it’s not time to start getting ready for Christmas yet is it? IS IT!? Well, Sufjan Stevens is of the persuasion that it is and has set November 13 as the official release date for not his first, but his second Christmas box set.
Titled Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10, the box set will contain EPs from 1995-2010. The tracks were originally composed to use as gifts for friends and family, tells Consequence of Sound, but Stevens has now decided to release the anthology of holiday classics and seasonal covers. Stevens isn’t the only musician featured either, with names including Aaron and Bryce Dessner (The National), Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire), Cat Martino, Sebastian Krueger (Inlets), Gabriel Kahane, Vesper Stamper, and members of Danielson (Daniel, Elin, Lilly, and Ida) also seen on the sleeve.
The set will come with a whole heap of goodies for diehards, including Christmas stickers, temporary tattoos, lyric sheets and chord charts, a paper ornament, an apocalyptic pull-out poster, photos, illustrations, and extensive liner notes. Jeez, Stevens is a solid hook up!
For this one, you can expect a CD and Digital release, with a limited edition vinyl (only 2000) available sometime early 2013. Check out the tracklistings below.
The CD boxset includes:
1. Five CD EPs
2. Christmas stickers
3. Temporary tattoos (non-toxic & safe for children)
4. A paper ornament (self-assembly with directions)
5. An apocalyptic pull-out poster
6. Song lyrics and chord charts (sing along with your friends and enemies)
7. Hallucinogenic photographs and psychedelic graphic design (by Sufjan Stevens, drug-free since 1975)
8. Extensive liner notes (introductory salutations and an essay on the Christmas tree by Sufjan Stevens, and a few theological words on the End Times by Pastor Vito Aiuto)
The vinyl box set includes:
1. Five EPs on 6 vinyl discs
2. Christmas stickers
3. Temporary tattoos
4. A paper ornament
5. A 40-page Christmas songbook with vocal and piano reductions
6. A Christmas coloring book
7. Hallucinogenic photographs and psychedelic graphic design
8. Extensive liner notes
