Product Description

This debut unveils a ramshackle sing-along enterprise of a Presbyterian pastor and his wife who wrestle out the influences of folk music, religion, pop culture, and church tradition in a collection of soulful and good-humored songs. This gorgeous brew consolidates "sacred" song traditions (old Testament psalms, 17th century Presbyterian psalters), iconoclastic '60s pop innovators (The Velvet Underground), '70s charismatic Catholics (Lenny Smith), and '80s melancholy lovelorn pop (The Smiths). Recorded, produced, and arranged by Sufjan Stevens.

Track Listing

1. Up On A Mountain
2. Sold! To The Nice Rich Man
3. Unless The Lord The House Shall Build
4. He Never Said A Mumblin' Word
5. Hail To The Lord's Anointed
6. But For You Who Fear My Name
7. American Legion
8. You Made My Day
9. Half A Person
10. Jesus
11. I Am A Stranger
12. Deep Were His Wounds, And Red

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61915 in Music
• Released on: 2008-12-09
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .15 pounds

Customer Reviews

Help me find my proper place
Nestled comfortably in their own space between Contemporary Christian Worship and quirky nerdfolk music, The Welcome Wagon bring the (joyful) noise, as it were. Sufjan Stevens is not afraid of intricate string and horn arrangements, and the record sounds as though a microphone was always on, ready to capture the piano or guitar as a song arrangement was crafted. Vito and wife Monique sing with delicate sweetness and are backed at times with a group of choir-ish singers. All songs on the record are great, some more than others. Songs that stand out to me are Up On A Mountain, Hail To The Lord's Anointed, But For You Who Fear My Name, & Jesus. Highly recommended.

Beautiful, Unique, Eclectic
Outstanding. You can definitely see the influence Sufjan has on this group, but that doesn't detract from it for me.

Fresh
Impossible to label...which makes it fresh. Sweet...but not ironic. The best kind of musical simplicity. Listening to Welcome Wagon is like wading in a mountain stream. Sufjan Stevens' mark is here, but this couple have forged their own way. It's hard to find adequate descriptive words, but take a listen. It's my favorite new album.