Merry Christmas To You Too, Sufjan!

Download: Sufjan Stevens - "We Wish You A Merry Christmas"


The Sounds Familyre blog has been giving away free tracks, for the past thirteen days, of beloved indie-rock artists covering classic Christmas carols. Songs included are "Christmas Eve Nite" as covered by Danielson and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" as interpreted by one Sufjan Stevens. Take a listen to his punchdrunk, but still immaculately layered, version of the holiday classic at the top of the post.

Go to the Sounds Familyre blog to read more.

Read more about Sufjan's Christmas song contest here.

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(Jonathan Graef)

Math And Physics Club - "A Marshmellow World" (Special Darlene Love Cover For Christmas)

Download: Math And Physics Club - "Baby I'm Yours"
Download: Math And Physics Club - "A Marshmallow World"

Twee-poppers Math and Physics Club cranked up the class for their cover of "A Marshmallow World." The song was originally sung by Darlene Love and was released for Christmas 1963. I hadn't heard this song for years, and MAPC's mellow pop sound expresses just the right amount of sweetness for this song.

On a sad note, MAPC announced via their official website that violinist Saundrah Humphrey will no longer be touring with the band.
Saundrah joined the group in the summer of 2004.

Quote the MAPC:

Though she may still pop up on future recordings, she will no longer be playing live with the band. Anyone who’s seen us knows that Saundrah added a touch of class to our otherwise shambling performances...

Buy MAPC music here.

MySpace Page

(April Wright)

Nellie McKay Gives Away Free Song For Christmas

Download: Nellie McKay - "A Christmas Dirge"

Is this song as Tom Waits-ian as I hope that it is? Find out for yourself by listening to "A Christmas Dirge", a song that Nellie McKay is giving away on her website.

While you're there, please make a donation to the Nellie McKay Disaster Fund. It's for a good cause. Donations forms can be found here.

Nellie McKay will be at the Guthrie Theater on Dec. 10th opening up for Aimee Mann. Buy tickets here.

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(Jonathan Graef)

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry (Line?) Everyone! (From Sufjan)

Download: Sufjan Stevens - "Decatur"
Download: Sufjan Stevens - "The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out To Get Us!"
Download: Sufjan Stevens - " Seven Swans"

Swap meet! With Sufjan! Kinda!

Sufjan Stevens and his label Asthmatic Kitty, have announced the Great Sufjan Song Xmas Xchange, wherein you write and record a Christmas song, and if your song is the bestest Christmas song in the world, Sufjan will send you a song in return. Not just any song, either – a brand new song that none of us have ever heard. You'd get the legal rights to it, too. So if you wanted to be an Ebenezer and keep it locked away forever, you could. If you wanted to embody the spirit of Christmas giving and send it to us at MFR to post up, thereby sprinkling the world with a little more holiday joy, you could do that, too.

You have until December 1st to submit your track to Asthmatic Kitty. All the "yadda yadda, we get your first born, yadda yadda" stuff and instructions can be read here. And make sure you read all of that. This label inflicted Shapes and Sizes upon the world; they might try and pull something.

If you do record a song, send it over to us at info@minneapolisfuckingrocks.com. We'll post it up.

(April Wright)