By turns silly and serious, reverent and irreverent, traditional and experimental, Sufjan’s Christmas music handily transcends that schmaltz that so often passes for Christmas music these days.

The first single from Sufjan’s upcoming album traffics in ghostly synths and harrowing drones.

And just in case you were wondering, there is a cover of Drake’s “Hotline Bling.”

Sleepy trip-hop, atmospheric indie-electronic, religious experimental folk, harrowing post-punk/EBM, mournful folk & experimental electronic rock.

Sufjan reminds us to acknowledge the silly and the sublime during the Christmas season.

Also: The elitism of the current technology boom, ‘Daredevil,’ Sufjan Stevens and broken love, and biblical hermeneutics with Terrence Malick.

Stripped of his usual pomp, Sufjan’s latest explores his relationship with his troubled mother with grace, compassion, and brutal honesty.

Also: Jeffrey Overstreet discusses prayer songs, transhumanism as gnosticism, and more.

Björk, The Declining Winter, Sufjan Stevens, and many more. Time to start saving up…

Also: Christmas music, the Internet and our own sinfulness, Guardians of the Galaxy, and real life superheroes.

A wedge of indie artists come together to cover Sufjan’s classic folk/worship album, with all proceeds going to a cancer charity.

Why am I just now finding out about this movie?

“All Delighted People” contains some of the most ambitious music Sufjan has recorded to date, but it’s still just as heartfelt and poignant as ever.

The new album is partially inspired by the artwork of Royal Robertson, a schizophrenic sign-maker and self-proclaimed prophet.