A Sun Came

A Sun Came is the debut folk rock music album by Sufjan Stevens, released in 2000. It was reissued on Asthmatic Kitty Records four years later. Among Stevens' back catalog, A Sun Came is notable for being recorded on 4 track.

1 Thematic elements
2 Recording
3 Critical reception
4 Track listing
5 Personnel
6 References

Thematic elements

As noted in Allmusic review of the album, the album explores many types of ethnic music from throughout the globe, ranging from Celtic, Indian, Middle Eastern, Moroccan, Far Eastern and American folk music.^[1]

Stevens himself has described the album's sound as incorporating "traditional pop music, medieval instrumentation with Middle Eastern inflections, tape loops, digital samples, literary vocals, manic percussion, woodwinds, sitar, amp distortion and Arabic chants."^[2]

Like many Stevens's albums that would follow, A Sun Came features a multitude of instruments ranging from banjo, sitar, oboe and xylophone. In total the album features Stevens playing fourteen instruments.^[3]

Recording

Stevens originally recorded the bulk of the album in Holland, Michigan in 1998, with some post-editing performed at Hope College Recording Arts Center—the short track "Godzuki" was recorded by his siblings in 1981 and recorded by their stepfather Lowell Brams. "Joy! Joy! Joy!" was recorded for the 2001 re-release and "You Are the Rake"—a reworking of "Rake"—was recorded for the 2004 re-release.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[4]
Pitchfork Media	(6.0/10.0) ^[5](re-release)
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

Track listing

"We Are What You Say" – 5:20
"A Winner Needs a Wand" – 5:44
"Rake" – 2:48
"Siamese Twins" – 0:15
"Demetrius" – 6:01
"Dumb I Sound" – 5:49
"Wordsworth's Ridge (For Fran Frike)" – 4:54
"Belly Button" – 0:09
"Rice Pudding" – 2:24
"A Loverless Bed (Without Remission)" – 6:17
"Godzuki" – 0:36
"Super Sexy Woman" – 2:42
"The Oracle Said Wander" – 5:39
"Happy Birthday" – 2:45
"Jason" – 6:10
"Kill" – 4:26
"Ya Leil" – 5:38
"A Sun Came" – 2:11
"Satan's Saxophones" – 2:31

Reissue bonus tracks

"Joy! Joy! Joy!" – 3:23
"You Are the Rake" – 3:02

Personnel

Sufjan Stevens – oboe, English horn, piano, electric organ, electric piano, banjo, acoustic and electric guitar, bass guitar, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, recorders, wood flute and whistles, drum kit, percussion, shakers, sleigh bells, tambourine, cymbal, singing, layout, art design, arrangement, mixing, production
John Baker at Maja Audio Group – remastering (2004 edition)
Stephen Halker – paintings
Katrina Kerns – vocals on "You Are the Rake"
Jesse Koskey – drum beats on "Rice Pudding" and "A Loverless Bed (Without Remission)"
Leah Michaelson – photography
Matt Morgan – guitar solo on "Demetrius" and "The Oracle Said Wander"
Megan Smith – vocals on "You Are the Rake"
Shannon Stephens – vocals on "A Winner Needs a Wand"
Djohariah Stevens – performance on "Godzuki"
Marzuki Stevens – guitar on "A Loverless Bed (Without Remission)", percussion on "Super Sexy Woman", tenor saxophone on "Satan's Saxophones", and performance on "Godzuki"
Ghadeer Yasser – vocals on "Demetrius" and "Ya Leil"

References

Sufjan Stevens

Albums	A Sun Came (2000) Enjoy Your Rabbit (2001) Michigan (2003) Seven Swans (2004) Illinois (2005) The Avalanche (2006) Songs for Christmas (2006) The BQE (2009) The Age of Adz (2010)

EPs	All Delighted People (2010)

Singles	"The Dress Looks Nice on You" (2004) "I Walked" (2010) "Too Much" (2010)

Related articles	Discography "Chicago" Marzuki (band) Marzuki Stevens My Brightest Diamond Danielson Famile St. Vincent Rosie Thomas and Denison Witmer Asthmatic Kitty Rough Trade Records The Welcome Wagon Run Rabbit Run (by Osso)

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