Harman Patil (Editor)

Seven Swans

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Length
  
46:19

Artist
  
Sufjan Stevens

Label
  
Sounds Familyre

Seven Swans (2004)
  
Illinois (2005)

Release date
  
16 March 2004

Producer
  
Danielson

Seven Swans httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediaenbbfSev

Released
  
March 16, 2004 (2004-03-16)

Genres
  
Folk music, Indie folk, Folk rock

Similar
  
Sufjan Stevens albums, Indie folk albums, Other albums

Sufjan stevens all the trees of the field will clap their hands


Seven Swans is a folk rock music album by Sufjan Stevens, released on March 16, 2004. It includes songs about Christian spiritual themes, figures such as Abraham, and Christ's Transfiguration. The songs are primarily "lush acoustic compositions" with Stevens' banjo. The album was released on compact disc and vinyl LP; the vinyl was released by Burnt Toast Vinyl.

Contents

01 all the trees of the field will clap their hands sufjan stevens


Critical reception

Seven Swans has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 23 reviews at Metacritic, indicating a "universal acclaim" rating from the site. The Guardian called it "a record of remarkable delicacy" and Spin described the album as sounding "like Elliott Smith after ten years of Sunday school".

Thematic elements

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 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". "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" is based on a first-person account by The Misfit character from Flannery O'Connor short story of the same name. The lyrics of the title song, "Seven Swans," loosely allude to the events of the Book of Revelation.

Track listing

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

Personnel

  • Sufjan Stevens – composition and performance
  • Laura Normandin – calligraphy
  • Rafter Roberts – mastering
  • Andrew Smith – drums
  • Daniel Smith – vocals, bass guitar, and production at his home studio and the New Jerusalem Rec Room in Clarksboro, New Jersey
  • David Smith – drums
  • Megan Smith – vocals
  • Marzuki Stevens – artwork

    • "The Dress Looks Nice on You"

    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

    Songs

    1All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands4:14
    2The Dress Looks Nice on You2:32
    3In the Devil's Territory4:58

    References

    Seven Swans Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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