Search - Sufjan Stevens :: Seven Swans

I Love The Banjo...

Kevin Satterwhite | Houston, TX United States | 01/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"And therefore, I love Sufjan Stevens' music. More specifically, I love this album. It has a plethora of banjo. Sufjan was the first artist I've heard who wasn't inclined to keep his banjo playing on a modest level. On "Seven Swans" you could even consider the banjo his primary instrument-almost.



So, I guess you could consider it ironic that my favorite track is "A Good Man Is Hard To Find", because it is completely absent of any banjos. But nevertheless, it has my favorite melody, albeit on an acoustic guitar. Half way through the song, it really picks up, adding organs, a chorus of female vocals and a sporadic beat. It's almost my favorite Sufjan song, but that still remains with "For The Widows In Paradise..." from his "Michigan" album. My next favorite track is "All The Trees Of The Field Will Clap Their Hands." Now this song features no guitar, only Sufjan's banjo. And like most of my favorite songs on this album, this song progresses. Starting with just a banjo and Sufjan's vocals, a little further in a piano melody and female vocals are added, eventually adding a beat. The song just becomes more and more melodic (and hypnotic!) as it progresses. Next I will come to "In The Devil's Territory". This is the most harmonically layered track on the album. Sufjan implements just about every instrument he has ever used in his music, sans his really early work with wood flutes and I guess any wind instruments in general. But it has banjos, guitars, pianos, bass, an instrument I really can't identify acting as a kind of beat, and (unfortunately).... a saw. I cringe every time I hear the saw; I feel it was an unnessesary addition. Some how though, I can usually ignore it. Finally, I will end, like the album does, with "The Transfiguration". This is another song sporting mainly a banjo, but again progressing. As it progresses, horns, drums, xylophones, and another instrument I am having trouble identifying (clarinet?) are implemented. This song leads me to a discussion always addressed when reviewing Sufjan's work: his religious content.



Now, while I am agnostic, and more importantly: anti-organized religion, I can still find the sense to appreciate this music. It is very good, and can be respectable no matter your affiliations and/or beliefs. Sometimes Sufjan can lay his beliefs on pretty heavily, but in no way a preachy manner. It's mostly done through thick story telling, which I can openly dismiss as him and I simply not relating and just enjoying the melody. Other times, he is expressing his love, which he actually presents in a broad manner that you could relate to other things such as a love one. Hell, maybe that's even what he is doing; I'm not too good at analyzing artists' messages.



Overall, this is an amazing, beautiful album, a very worthy purchase. Apart from the aforementioned tracks, other stand outs include: "To Be Alone With You", "Size Too Small", "The Dress Looks Nice On You"."

WONDERFUL MUSIC THAT MEANS SOMETHING...

NotATameLion | Michigan | 11/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I caught Sufjan and the noisemakers on Austin City Limits the other night (morning really). I was pleasantly surprised that one of the four songs feautured was "The Dress Looks Nice On You." it is one of the songs that I truly treasure from this disc.



Seven Swans is not Illinoise. Where Illinoise is all about grandeur, beauty and story-telling, Seven Swans is about reflection, mystery and transformation. I find this to be some of Mr. Stevens's most compelling music.



"All The Trees Of The Fields Will Clap Their Hands" is my favorite song here by far. And that is saying something. There is not a weak song on this disc.



This is wonderful music that means something. You can't put a price on that.



I recommend this CD."

Another great album from Sufjan!

aloverofgreysilentdays | boston, ma | 06/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow - I was really happy upon listening to this album - I of course had high expectations after "Michigan" - and though I would not say this album surpasses that one, it is certainly quite good - very good indeed. The instrumentation is lovely - acoustic almost exclusively with banjo and guitar - the songs are great and Sufjan's singing is very hushed and sweet - like he's whispering us secrets - reminding sometimes of Iron and Wine...highlights include "the dress looks nice on you", "to be alone with you" - which a had hoped would be a Dylan cover, but it wasn't - but it was a very well, maybe superior song with the same title...also, "he woke me up again" is excellent. Highly recomended - as well as "Michigan". "A sun came" is good too, but Sufjan has certainly honed his skills and become more consistently good since that debut...sorry for rambling, enjoy!"