New Sufjan Stevens Record…Sort Of

Asthmatic Kitty has just recently announced the release of a tribute to Steven’s sophomore record Enjoy Your Rabbit.  The Osso Quartet, who contributed string arrangements for both Stevens’ heralded Illinois and My Brightest Diamond’s Bring Me the Workhorse, have rearranged and recorded Enjoy Your Rabbit for the string quartet.  The album is titled Run Rabbit Run and set to be released on October 6th by Asthmatic Kitty.

Enjoy Your Rabbit, a collection of electronic instrumental pieces inspired by the different animals of the Chinese Zodiac, has been the only Sufjan Stevens record that has been difficult for me to get into. It’s just such a unique and different album compared to the rest of the Stevens’ canon.  That’s not to say that I haven’t found songs on here that I enjoy or don’t have any respect for the record.  This just happens to be the last record of his that I am likely to put on.  All that to say, I am really excited to hear The Osso Quartet’s interpretation of the record.  These guys are just so talented and I have loved everything that they have done with a Stevens song so far. Each of thes band members, Rob Moose (violin), Olivier Manchon (violin), Marla Hansen (viola), and Maria Bella Jeffers (cello), have traveled and recorded with some of the greatest artists and musicians in the business, from the New Pornographers to The Polyphonic Spree to The Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall.

Accompanying the album will be a series of artwork that draws its influence from the song and its corresponding animal of the Chinese zodiac. All of the artwork was done by Jessica Dressner, big sister to Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National.  I haven’t had the chance to listen to this year, but I am jus so thrilled to hear new music that originated from the mind of the brilliant Sufjan Stevens. Take a listen to a couple of the original tracks off of the album that started all this fuss, Enjoy Your Rabbit.

Sufjan Stevens – Year of the Ox

Sufjan Stevens – Enjoy Your Rabbit

Tracklist

1. Year of the Ox (arr. Michael Atkinson)
2. Enjoy Your Rabbit (arr. Michael Atkinson)
3. Year of the Monkey (arr. Michael Atkinson)
4. Year of the Tiger (arr. Rob Moose)
5. Year of the Dragon (arr. Nico Muhly)
6. Year of the Snake (arr. Olivier Manchon)
7. Year of the Horse (arr. Rob Moose)
8. Year of the Sheep (arr. Maxim Moston)
9. Year of the Rat (arr. Olivier Manchon)
10. Year of the Rooster (arr. Gabriel Kahane)
11. Year of the Dog (arr. Rob Moose)
12. Year of the Boar (arr. Michael Atkinson)
13. Year of Our Lord (arr. Michael Atkinson)