Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans
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Free Music Notes for Seven Swans
Free Music Review: Wonderful Album
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is great. Some Sufjan fans may not like it because it's so overtly Christian, but HEY! he's a Christian! It doesn't make him uncool! I love the songs, they're solid and have great lyrics (what else would you expect from a writing major), and every fan should have this. I particularly love "Transfiguration." By the way, there are Christian themes in all of his albums - it just takes one to know one, I guess.Free Music Review: Mystical Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
This dude's talent for gracefully articulating a personal spirituality is in the same category as Van Morrison and Leonard Cohen. Banjo and acoustic guitar are prominent throughout but often get overwhelmed by organ, synthesizer or electric guitar in the course of a song so that what begins as minimalist voice & strumming may end in a rousing symphony, with various stages in between. Profoundly mystical, both the lyrics and the music remain accessible at all times. Though fragile in places it is never precious.
Despite the intricate and complex arrangements of many of the songs, two distinct styles seem to characterize the album. The acoustic guitar type includes That Dress Looks Nice On You, the yearning To Be Alone With You, the somber Abraham, Size Too Small and A Good Man Is Hard To Find. They at least all open with guitar before evolving into multilayered soundscapes and are generally of a slower tempo, often containing brooding vocals. One hears faint echoes of Nick Drake or even James Taylor - the introspective singer-songwriter archetype.
The Banjo-driven tracks exhibit a more ecstatic type of devotional expression, tending to be on the mid to uptempo side with gripping melodious and percussive textures. The music reflects many moods, from the exultant praise of All The Trees Of The Field through the eerie In The Devil's Territory with its ominous synth patterns to the hopeful We Won't Need Legs To Stand with its atmospheric synth-scapes. Then you get the comforting and reassuring He Woke Me Up Again, the intense Seven Swans with its eschatological imagery and the pure ecstatic joy of The Transfiguration.
The melancholy track Sister is in a category of its own: electric guitars with echo and twangs are joined by choral voices for a long intro on a gently lilting beat until the almost whispered male vocal arrives and the arrangement takes another turn. I was reminded of Michael Gira's first Angels Of Light album.
My personal favorites are He Woke Me Up with its other-worldly oneiric tone, stirring organ and haunting backing vocals, the title track where the still, small voice of the Lord triggers a rousing choral exuberance, and the majestic Transfiguration.
I love Seven Swans much more than the admittedly brilliant Illinois. This is not rock music, nor folk, nor even gospel. I would say it has a multifaceted devotional essence which expresses itself via a rich variety of styles whilst remaining perfectly cohesive. The effect is uplifting and inspiring, a balm to the soul.
Free Music Review: Devotional Masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
The ability of this guy to gracefully articulate a personal spirituality is on the level of Van Morrison and Leonard Cohen. Banjo and acoustic guitar take prominence here but they often get overshadowed by organ, synths or electric guitar through the course of a song so that what starts out as simple, minimalist 1970s voice & strumming may end in a rousing symphony, with many stages in between. Yet both lyrics and music remain accessible throughout. Fragile at times but never precious, the sound resonates on mystical and magical wavelengths.
Although many of the songs have intricate and complex arrangements, two distinct styles seem to characterize the album. The acoustic guitar type includes That Dress Looks Nice On You, the yearning To Be Alone With You, the somber Abraham, Size Too Small and A Good Man Is Hard To Find. They at least all commence with guitar before evolving into multilayered soundscapes and are generally of a slower tempo, often containing brooding vocals. One hears faint echoes of Nick Drake or even James Taylor - the introspective singer-songwriter archetype.
The Banjo-driven numbers exhibit a more ecstatic type of devotional expression, tending to be on the mid to uptempo side with addictive melodious and percussive textures. The mood varies sharply, from the exultant praise of All The Trees Of The Field through the eerie track In The Devil's Territory with its ominous synth patterns to the hopeful We Won't Need Legs To Stand with its atmospheric synth-scapes. Plus you get the comforting and reassuring He Woke Me Up Again, the intense Seven Swans with its eschatological imagery and the pure ecstatic joy of The Transfiguration.
The melancholy track Sister is in a category of its own: electric guitars with echo and twangs are joined by choral voices for a long instrumental intro on a gently lilting beat until the almost whispered male vocal arrives and the arrangement takes another turn. I was reminded of Michael Gira's first Angels Of Light album.
The absolute highlights are He Woke Me Up with its tender oneiric quality, stirring organ and haunting backing vocals not unlike the track Warm on Great Annihilator by Swans, the title track where the still, small voice of the Lord triggers a rousing choral exuberance, and the majestic Transfiguration.
I love Seven Swans much more than the admittedly brilliant Illinois. This is not rock music and hardly folk either, nor gospel at all. I would say it has a multifaceted devotional essence which expresses itself via a rich variety of styles whilst remaining perfectly cohesive. The effect is uplifting, inspiring and psychologically salubrious, like the Balm of Gilead.
Free Music Review: A quiet, almost holy and very personal music
Hit: 5 Stars
I did not know what to expect when I first put this CD into my player. I knew the songs " to be alone with you" and "Seven swans" , so I had in me the hope that the rest of the album is as good and as moving as those tracks. I was not disappointed . The album is one of the most tender and personal I have ever listen to, and all the tracks aime straight for you heart with the soft whispers of Sufjan and his band.
If you like soft lyrics and an amazing alternative rock melodies with some indie style touches, buy this CD. More than amazing melodies, you'll gain a friend.
Free Music Review: Essential for all Sufjan Fans
Hit: 5 Stars
Seven Swans is an essential for those who love Sufjan Stevens as much as I do. This album is one of his most insightful, melodic, and provoking. While Michigan is still my favorite, Seven Swans is a very close second. The album is almost brooding in its own right. It is truly rather haunting at times.
Don't overlook this particular album because you will miss out on an eclectic, deep experience if you do.