Though he’s always steadfastly resisted the label of a religious artist, Sufjan Stevens does identify as a Christian, and his music is brimming with Christian themes, motifs, and references. Jesus himself has made more than a few cameos in the singer’s discography; setting aside the big guy’s obvious starring role in the hours and hours of Stevens has made, his most prominent appearances are probably on Sufjan’s Biblically inspired folk record, . On “To Be Alone With You,” Stevens has a direct conversation with Christ, expressing awe and admiration for his sacrifice; on “The Transfiguration,” he retells the titular New Testament episode through a proto- flush of banjo, horns, and repeated refrains. The two songs—one an intimate devotional, the other a busy and celebratory gospel adaptation—demonstrate the artist’s ability to go both big and small in his investigations of faith, and to invest traditional Sunday-school material with real emotional urgency. However Sufjan chooses to define it himself, this is religious music with grace. [A.A. Dowd]As a guy who feels “Jesus in the clumsiness of young and awkward lovers,” Craig Finn has made an entire career out of infusing loserdom with sacredness. The strung-out scenesters in his lyrics—whether part of The Hold Steady or solo song—are just as deserving of the divine as any saint or martyr. Why else would they run into each other at parties so often? “New Friend Jesus” finds one such fuck-up getting chummy with the messiah himself, giving into JC’s grace while also taking advantage of it by asking him to play in his band. But even Jesus has his flaws in the modern world, especially when it comes to playing sports. As Finn sighs, “It’s hard to catch with holes right through your hands.” Suddenly, the holy feels more human than ever. [Dan Caffrey]
