Sufjan Stevens is releasing a new holiday compilation titled Worst Christmas Ever! on November 6 via Asthmatic Kitty. The album combines Yuletide standards reworked in the artist’s signature style, including “Angels We Have Heard on High (Christmas Infinity Voyage Version),” alongside selections from his extensive holiday catalog and a new track titled “On This Christmas (It Only Gets Better).”
Asthmatic Kitty Releases Holiday Compilation
The upcoming album gathers tracks spanning more than two decades of seasonal recordings. According to a statement, Stevens has written and recorded over 100 Christmas songs since 2001. The tracklist incorporates material previously issued across his Songs for Christmas, Vols. 1-5 and the 2012 box set Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10.
Collaborators across the record include the National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, Cat Martino, Gabriel Kahane, and Casey Foubert.
Stevens maintains steady release schedule through anniversary projects
Although Stevens has not released a brand-new studio album since 2023’s Javelin, his release schedule has remained steady through anniversary projects. In 2024, he shared a 20th-anniversary reissue of Seven Swans. The previous year, he celebrated a decade of Carrie & Lowell with its own reissue, and released the song “Heaven Thunder” with Mina Tindle.
Performance activity for the songwriter has been rare in recent years. In September, Stevens made a surprise appearance at Meg Lui’s show in Kingston, New York. The appearance marked his first public musical performance in over eight years, following a 2023 diagnosis with Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Worst Christmas Ever!
When does Worst Christmas Ever! come out?
The holiday compilation arrives on November 6 through Asthmatic Kitty.
Which albums do the older tracks come from?
Several selections draw from Stevens’ past holiday releases, specifically Songs for Christmas, Vols. 1-5 and the 2012 box set Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10.
Who contributed to the new record?
The album features musical contributions from the National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner, Arcade Fire’s Richard Reed Parry, Cat Martino, Gabriel Kahane, and Casey Foubert.