Seven Swans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Seven Swans
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Studio album by
Sufjan Stevens
ReleasedMarch 16, 2004 (2004-03-16)
GenreIndie folk[1]
Length46:19
LabelSounds Familyre (original release)
Asthmatic Kitty (2016 reissue)
ProducerDaniel Smith
Sufjan Stevens chronology
Michigan
(2003) 		Seven Swans
(2004) 		Illinois
(2005)
Singles from Seven Swans
  1. "The Dress Looks Nice on You"
    Released: March 8, 2004

Seven Swans is the fourth studio album by Sufjan Stevens, released on March 16, 2004 on Sounds Familyre Records. It features songs about Christian spiritual themes, figures such as Abraham, and Christ's Transfiguration.[2][3] The songs are primarily "lush acoustic compositions" with Stevens' banjo.[2] It was recorded and produced by Daniel C. Smith, Sufjan's close friend. The album was released on compact disc by Sounds Familyre Records and vinyl LP; the vinyl was released by Burnt Toast Vinyl.

Critical reception

[edit | edit source]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic87/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[5]
Drowned in Sound8/10[6]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[7]
The GuardianStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[8]
MojoStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[9]
Pitchfork8.1/10[2]
QStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg[10]
Rolling StoneStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svgFile:Star empty.svg[11]
SpinA−[12]
UncutStarStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[13]

Seven Swans has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 23 reviews at Metacritic, indicating a "universal acclaim" rating from the site.[4] The Guardian called it "a record of remarkable delicacy"[8] and Spin described the album as sounding "like Elliott Smith after ten years of Sunday school".[12] In December 2004, American webzine Somewhere Cold ranked Seven Swans No. 3 on their 2004 Somewhere Cold Awards Hall of Fame list.[14]

Thematic elements

[edit | edit source]

Many of the songs on Seven Swans tell stories directly from the Bible. "Abraham" references the bible story wherein Abraham is tested by God and told to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Abraham, at the last moment and with a knife in hand, is stopped by an angel and instead sacrifices a ram to God. The final song, "Transfiguration", is a "bittersweet note of Jesus' requisite suffering".[2] "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" is based on a first-person account by The Misfit character from the Flannery O'Connor short story of the same name.[2] The lyrics of the title song, "Seven Swans," loosely allude to the events of the Book of Revelation.

Track listing

[edit | edit source]

All tracks written by Sufjan Stevens.

  1. "All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands" – 4:14
  2. "The Dress Looks Nice on You" – 2:32
  3. "In the Devil's Territory" – 4:57
  4. "To Be Alone with You" – 2:44
  5. "Abraham" – 2:33
  6. "Sister" – 6:00
  7. "Size Too Small" – 3:04
  8. "We Won't Need Legs to Stand" – 2:12
  9. "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

Bonus 7"/Deluxe Edition (released June 21, 2024)

  1. "I Went Dancing with My Sister"
  2. "Waste of What Your Kids Won't Have"

Personnel

[edit | edit source]

Seven Swans Reimagined

[edit | edit source]
Seven Swans Reimagined
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Remix album by
Various Artists
ReleasedMarch 29, 2011 (2011-03-29)
Length60:52
LabelOn Joyful Wings

In 2011, a cover album reimagining the songs from Seven Swans was released. Many of the artists featured on this album had worked with Stevens in the past.[15][16]

Track listing

[edit | edit source]

All lyrics are written by Sufjan Stevens.

No.TitleArtistLength
1."All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands"Bonnie "Prince" Billy5:24
2."The Dress Looks Nice on You"The Gregory Brothers2:20
3."In the Devil’s Territory"Derek Webb4:25
4."To Be Alone with You"Joshua James3:32
5."Abraham"Denison Witmer, Devin Greenwood & Caithlin De Marrais3:07
6."Sister"Unwed Sailor6:06
7."Size Too Small"Wakey!Wakey!3:36
8."We Won’t Need Legs to Stand"Elin K. Smith3:34
9."A Good Man is Hard to Find"DM Stith3:29
10."He Woke Me Up Again"Half-Handed Cloud1:52
11."Seven Swans"Carl Hauck5:27
12."The Transfiguration"David Crowder*Band5:27
13."I Went Dancing With My Sister"Jason Harrod4:42
14."Waste of What Your Kids Won’t Have" (with Gregory Paul)Shannon Stephens5:02
15."Borderline"Inlets2:49
Total length:60:52

"The Dress Looks Nice on You"

[edit | edit source]
"The Dress Looks Nice on You"
File:DressLooksNice.jpg
Single by Sufjan Stevens
from the album Seven Swans
A-side"The Dress Looks Nice on You"
B-side"Borderline"
ReleasedMarch 8, 2004 (2004-03-08)
Length5:57
LabelRough Trade
SongwriterSufjan Stevens
ProducerDaniel Smith
Sufjan Stevens singles chronology
"The Dress Looks Nice on You"
(2004) 		"I Walked"
(2010)

A 7" limited edition single of "The Dress Looks Nice on You" was released by Rough Trade in support of the album on March 8, 2004. The single features the song "Borderline" as a B-side.

  1. "The Dress Looks Nice on You"  – 2:32
  2. "Borderline"  – 3:25

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Farias, Andree,"Seven Swans" The Fish, October 26, 2010
  4. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  14. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
[edit | edit source]

Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Seven_Swans&oldid=5717164"