| Seven Swans | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 16, 2004 (2004-03-16) | |||
| Genre | Indie folk[1] | |||
| Length | 46:19 | |||
| Label | Sounds Familyre (original release) Asthmatic Kitty (2016 reissue) | |||
| Producer | Daniel Smith | |||
| Sufjan Stevens chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Seven Swans | ||||
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Seven Swans is the fourth studio album bySufjan Stevens, released on March 16, 2004 on Sounds Familyre Records. It features songs aboutChristian spiritual themes, figures such asAbraham, andChrist'sTransfiguration.[2][3] The songs are primarily "lush acoustic compositions" with Stevens' banjo.[2] It was recorded and produced byDaniel C. Smith, Stevens's close friend. The album was released oncompact disc by Sounds Familyre Records andvinyl LP; the vinyl was released byBurnt Toast Vinyl.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 87/100[4] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| Drowned in Sound | 8/10[6] |
| Entertainment Weekly | A−[7] |
| The Guardian | [8] |
| Mojo | [9] |
| Pitchfork | 8.1/10[2] |
| Q | [10] |
| Rolling Stone | [11] |
| Spin | A−[12] |
| Uncut | [13] |
Seven Swans has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 23 reviews atMetacritic, indicating a "universal acclaim" rating from the site.[4]The Guardian called it "a record of remarkable delicacy"[8] andSpin described the album as sounding "likeElliott Smith after ten years ofSunday school".[12] In December 2004, AmericanwebzineSomewhere Cold rankedSeven Swans No. 3 on their2004 Somewhere Cold Awards Hall of Fame list.[14]
Many of the songs on Seven Swans tell stories directly from theBible. "Abraham" references the bible story whereinAbraham is tested by God and told to sacrifice his only sonIsaac. 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 theFlannery O'Connorshort story of the same name.[2] The lyrics of the title song, "Seven Swans," loosely allude to the events of theBook of Revelation.
All tracks written by Sufjan Stevens.
Bonus 7"/Deluxe Edition (released June 21, 2024)
| Seven Swans Reimagined | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Remix album by | |
| Released | March 29, 2011 (2011-03-29) |
| Length | 60:52 |
| Label | On 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]
All lyrics are written by Sufjan Stevens.
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands" | Bonnie "Prince" Billy | 5:24 |
| 2. | "The Dress Looks Nice on You" | The Gregory Brothers | 2:20 |
| 3. | "In the Devil’s Territory" | Derek Webb | 4:25 |
| 4. | "To Be Alone with You" | Joshua James | 3:32 |
| 5. | "Abraham" | Denison Witmer, Devin Greenwood &Caithlin De Marrais | 3:07 |
| 6. | "Sister" | Unwed Sailor | 6:06 |
| 7. | "Size Too Small" | Wakey!Wakey! | 3:36 |
| 8. | "We Won’t Need Legs to Stand" | Elin K. Smith | 3:34 |
| 9. | "A Good Man is Hard to Find" | DM Stith | 3:29 |
| 10. | "He Woke Me Up Again" | Half-Handed Cloud | 1:52 |
| 11. | "Seven Swans" | Carl Hauck | 5:27 |
| 12. | "The Transfiguration" | David Crowder*Band | 5:27 |
| 13. | "I Went Dancing With My Sister" | Jason Harrod | 4:42 |
| 14. | "Waste of What Your Kids Won’t Have" (with Gregory Paul) | Shannon Stephens | 5:02 |
| 15. | "Borderline" | Inlets | 2:49 |
| Total length: | 60:52 | ||
| "The Dress Looks Nice on You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single bySufjan Stevens | ||||
| from the album Seven Swans | ||||
| A-side | "The Dress Looks Nice on You" | |||
| B-side | "Borderline" | |||
| Released | March 8, 2004 (2004-03-08) | |||
| Length | 5:57 | |||
| Label | Rough Trade | |||
| Songwriter | Sufjan Stevens | |||
| Producer | Daniel Smith | |||
| Sufjan Stevens singles chronology | ||||
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A7" limited editionsingle of "The Dress Looks Nice on You" was released byRough Trade in support of the album on March 8, 2004. The single features the song "Borderline" as aB-side.
