Enjoy Your Rabbit
Instrumental song cycle based on the Chinese zodiac.
Enjoy Your Rabbit is the second studio album by American musician Sufjan Stevens. It is a song cycle inspired by the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The album was later reworked and rearranged for string instruments and released as Run Rabbit Run.
Quick Facts
- Artist
- Sufjan Stevens
- Released
- 17 September 2001
- Recorded
- 2000–2001
- Genre
- Electronica
- IDM
- glitch
- ambient
- Language
- English, Chinese
- Label
- Asthmatic Kitty
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Year of the Asthmatic Cat | 0:24 |
| 2 | Year of the Monkey | 4:20 |
| 3 | Year of the Rat | 8:22 |
| 4 | Year of the Ox | 4:01 |
| 5 | Year of the Boar | 3:55 |
| 6 | Year of the Tiger | 4:24 |
| 7 | Year of the Snake | 6:47 |
| 8 | Year of the Sheep | 3:34 |
| 9 | Year of the Rooster | 6:24 |
| 10 | Year of the Dragon | 9:26 |
| 11 | Enjoy Your Rabbit | 4:47 |
| 12 | Year of the Dog | 4:52 |
| 13 | Year of the Horse | 13:18 |
| 14 | Year of Our Lord | 4:30 |
| Total length | 79:04 | |
Track listing from the source article.
Concept and production
Each song on the album corresponds to a different part of the Chinese zodiac, except for "Year of Our Lord," which references Stevens' Christian faith. Stevens stated he wanted to create an aural environment for each animal, akin to a movie soundtrack without the movie. He noted that listeners often visualize a place or picture when listening carefully, attributing this to the instrumental nature of the album, which lacks lyrics or narrative to guide them. The creative process required tremendous patience and self-abnegation; Stevens amassed hours of raw material until he was left with minute samples that might abstractly resemble an ox, rooster, or horse. The album also had a religious component, as Stevens assembled argumentative essays, free verse poetry, and persuasive dissertations to prove the existence of God based on the 12-year lunar calendar.
Critical reception
Enjoy Your Rabbit received generally positive reviews. Michael Crumsho of Dusted called it a great record, praising Stevens' ability to produce uplifting, catchy, and memorable melodies, though he questioned whether the most elaborate path is always the best. Jason Nickey of Pitchfork described it as a fully realized piece of work and expressed interest in Stevens' future direction. Writing for AllMusic, Nickey also noted that the album maps out a wide musical territory, evoking a surprising array of moods.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Enjoy Your Rabbit released?
Enjoy Your Rabbit was released on 17 September 2001.
Which label released Enjoy Your Rabbit?
Enjoy Your Rabbit was released by Asthmatic Kitty.
What genre is Enjoy Your Rabbit?
Enjoy Your Rabbit is classified as Electronica, IDM, glitch and ambient.
More in Asthmatic Kitty Albums
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