Anything by Sufjan Stevens. Like, anything.

Where do I start?

The man has written hundreds of Christmas songs.

And they’re all good, dammit.

I don’t know if he kicked off the whole herbal/hipster/folk music revival of the past 10 years but his musicality has influenced untold numbers of vinyl loving/hand drawn/screen printed/frankie reading bands and artists.

How?

Just by trying to be original.

More precisely, digging up the past and reusing sounds we’ve forgotten. So, you’ll hear flute, banjo, accordion and a Casio keyboard.

What we think is/should be dead and buried, Sufjan injects new life.

And he tackles big ideas...

Christmas can be cruel, “Did I make you cry on Christmas Day? Well you deserved it”.
And fun, “Hey Guys! It’s Christmas!”
And joyful, “Christmas in the Room”.
And it can make no sense at all, “Christmas Unicorn”.

Yes, you read that last song title right. And contained within you'll hear Joy Division's "Love will tear us apart". And you'll hear it like you've never heard it before. 

I told you the man's a genius.

Now go ahead and listen to it. All of it.

It’s good, dammit.

PS: Looking for music to play on Christmas Day? Give Crosby et al a rest this year and play the compilation below.