Pitchfork

Photo by Eirik Lande

Ideas about spirituality, holiness, and salvation are never far away from Sufjan Stevens. So it made sense for the filigree-prone indie martyr to produce the recent debut LP from the Welcome Wagon, a duo featuring Brooklyn-based Reverend Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife Monique. To explain his fascination with the Welcome Wagon-- and expound on some wicked religious theory-- Stevens is now writing a series of "flighty dissection" blog posts that tackle songs from the pair's album, Welcome to the Welcome Wagon. The first one is up now at Asthmatic Kitty's Sidebar blog.

"I'm by no means an authority on the musicology of religious music," he begins, humbly, before diving headlong into notions of "the Christian paradigm of God made-manifest," "naturalist theology [that] simulates the salvation of the soul" and "mystic divination of the wilderness." It's heady stuff-- a few notches above Sunday School. Each post contains a handy link to the song that inspired it.

You might say, "Hey Sufjan, that's great how you're writing about your friends' band in a smart way but, you know, how about a new album?" Take it easy. When we get word about the man's new record, you'll be the first to know. In the meantime, go ahead and track down a copy of his recent Christmas EP, Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage, and stock up on 70% off ornaments.