Ahead of the official release of his mixtape The Greatest Gift – Outtakes, Remixes, & Demos from Carrie & Lowell tomorrow (though it's currently streaming ahead of time via NPR), Sufjan Stevens has released a music video for the project's title track, "The Greatest Gift."It's pretty heavy on Sufjan's Christian faith, with illustrations that look like they were cut out of a children's Bible (they probably were – it was animated by the man himself). But the overall message of the track is one that anyone can take something from regardless of your religious affiliation, or lack thereof:
Ordinarily I'd find it cliché to say "THIS IS WHAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW GUYS," but to be really real, I'm too exhausted by the news lately to take anything which feels good and pure at anything other than face value. We do need nice things. This is a sweet, special song, and Sufjan is a sweet, special performer; "The Greatest Gift" is indeed a pretty gift.Follow Noisey on Twitter.Praise the mountain and the rain
All the gifts that still remain
But the greatest gift of all
And the law above all lawsIs to love your friends and lovers
To lay down your life for your brothers
As you abide in peace
So will your delight increase