Seven Swans

Untitled

Seven Swans is a folk rock music album by Sufjan Stevens. 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.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Spin	A-
Pitchfork Media	(8.1/10)
Rolling Stone
The Guardian

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 magazine 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 is, at the last moment and with knife in hand, stopped by an angel and instead sacrifices a ram to God and the final song, "Transfiguration", a "the 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 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"

"Seven Swans"
Song
A-side	"The Dress Looks Nice on You"
B-side	"Borderline"

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

External links

• Rough Trade official website