Christmas albums are a major cliché of the music industry. Almost every major artist has recorded at least one Christmas song at some point in their lives, and those who do not see it as a boring method of quick profit.

It is meant to convey feelings of the season, but Christmas music hardly deviates from the standards and carols and is not necessarily that groundbreaking.

To change that, enter indie-pop singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, who brings to the table “Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10,” an eclectic mix of reworked standards, carols and original songs spanning five albums.

A follow-up to his 2006 “Songs for Christmas,” it is the most original take on the Yuletide spirit in years.

Note I said “original,” which does not always translate to “good.”

This features a total of 58 songs, and when albums get that big there are sure to be misses.

The original songs and the carols are quite amazing, with the highest marks going to “Christmas Woman,” “Coventry Carol,” and “Justice Delivers Its Death” (the latter’s technically a riff on the classic “Silver and Gold,” but still great). The hymns are great as well, although they sound straight out of any church choir in America.

But what is really rankling are some of the crazy avant-garde tracks. The most egregious offenses are “Do You Hear What I Hear” and “Good King Wenceslas,” which become awful electro spaz-outs with robotic, stuttering vocals and electronic snares. It is almost like Stevens is tired of these songs himself and wants to make everyone else hate them Ludovico style. 

“Silver and Gold” is not the usual sort of Christmas album, so some people may enjoy it or parts of it. Just do not play all of it at your next Christmas party, unless you are trying to get permanently uninvited.