Seven Swans

Description

Seven Swans is the third studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens, independently released on Sounds Familyre in March 2004. The album was produced and recorded by Daniel Smith at his home and at the New Jerusalem Rec Room in Clarksboro, New Jersey.

IN THE MAINSTREAM. Sufjan Stevens is a little bit of an enigma. Born in Michigan and currently gaining a reputation in New York, this album was originally intended as a side project but it’s caught critics’ attention. Now Stevens is becoming a bit of a folk hero (literally) in the alt roots scene. There’s a beautiful melancholy intrinsic in these songs that are led by Sufjan’s amazing banjo playing. Not many albums have a banjo as lead instrument but this works well! Like the work of Brother Danielson who produced this album, there is something wonderfully quirky here. From the opening repetitive almost chant-like strains of the opening «All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands» to the closing «The Transfiguration», Stevens’ spiritual concerns are more to the fore than on previous material. Favourites for me are «In The Devil’s Territory» where roots and electric musical elements are effectively mixed to create some dramatic moments and the more straight forward «The Dress Looks Nice On You» which has a gentle innocence. There’s a surprising cohesiveness here despite the fact that these were all songs that Sufjan felt didn’t fit anywhere else. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, September 2004]

> iTunes

CD tracklist:

01. All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands – 4:14
02. The Dress Looks Nice On You – 2:32
03. In The Devils Territory – 4:57
04. To Be Alone With You – 2:48
05. Abraham – 2:33
06. Sister – 6:00
07. Size Too Small – 3:04
08. We Won’t Need Legs To Stand – 2:16
09. A Good Man Is Hard To Find – 3:16
10. He Woke Me Up Again – 2:43
11. Seven Swans – 6:33
12. The Transfiguration – 5:18

Note: Simultaneously released on CD by Sounds Familyre, and on 12-inch vinyl LP by Sounds Familyre in co-operation with Burnt Toast Vinyl. Re-issued on 12-inch vinyl LP by Asthmatic Kitty Records in 2016.

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