This is the debut album from Sufjan Stevens which was re-issued in 2004 with 2 bonus tracks. It is a bit of an odds and ends album as it explores various forms of music. Present are bits of Celtic music, as well as pop, folk and even middle eastern influences. To top it all off, the entire album was recorded on an old 4-track. Sufjan's signature sound is present here even on his debut as he incorporates guitar, banjo, sitar, xylophone, flutes, etc. Stevens would play 14 different instruments on the album. Just for fun, Sufjan threw in some samples and loops in between certain tracks. Some come off as almost skits with topics ranging from separating Siamese twins to a friend who ate so much that food comes out of his navel. It's a bit odd for Sufjan but it doesn't really stop the flow of the album. These items may confuse fans of his later work but everybody has to start somewhere. Sufjan seemed to have no shortage of ideas and to be honest, his music could have taken many different directions based on this album which serves as a sort of sampler for what was to come. A song like "Demetrius" make for some interesting listening with its heavily distorted guitars (unusual for Sufjan) followed by a Middle-Eastern feel full of sitar. Other tracks like "Satan's Saxophones" is enough noise and anarchy via saxophone squeals to reduce any fan to tears. Fans of his later work though will be happy to know his indie pop/rock origins can be found on this album on tracks like "Kill" and the title track "A Sun Came" with his gentle voice singing an almost familiar melody. Tracks "Joy! Joy! Joy!" and "You Are The Rake" are the bonus tracks which were recorded after A Sun Came was released but remind us exactly what point Sufjan has reached in his career.
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