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 Sufjan has an incredible talent for writing beautiful lyrical and musical melodies, and he does so on this most recent album. Like "Greetings...", the hook of the initial progression of many of the songs grabbed me, but there is often a point where the songs build, and a full band kicks in. Unfortunately, the repetitive back-up vocals and droning organs significantly take away from the songs. The production decisions are invasive of the stripped down and otherwise beautiful guitar, banjo, and vocals. While I initially love the songs, I find myself skipping to the next song when Sufjan heats things up with his back-up help.
This album opens with a banjo, an instrument that finds its way into many of the songs. Over the elegant plucking of the wonderfully titled 'All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands' comes the restrained vocal that reminds me a little of Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie). The song builds up slowly, a piano riff slips in there almost unnoticed, then the female backing vocals, then percussion, all building in intensity, yet maintaining a gentle, almost lulling feel. That approach is kind of typical of the rest of the record as well. Songs build up to crescendos and release, but always with a smooth precision, never violently. The bulk of the album focuses on acoustic instrumentation, but there are a few interesting moments where electric instruments work into the mix. 'The Dress Looks Nice On You' is a straight-up acoustic ballad until a keyboard-oriented bridge that seems like it should feel out of place, but it doesn't. The epic 'Sister' leans towards the alt-country genre with a lilting acoustic background until an overdubbed electric guitar leads the melody line to a dramatic singalong - the loudest moment on the album - after which the vocals come in (a full four and a half minutes into the six minute song). Lyrically, Sufjan occupies the same territory as David Bazran (Pedro the Lion). His songs reflect an innate spirituality without slipping into "I love Jesus" mode. He cites Flannery O'Connor's story 'A Good Man is Hard to Find,' in the song of the same title, telling the story from the point of view of one of the characters. 'Abraham' tells the bible story of..um...Abraham, ready to sacrifice his son until God tells him it was just a test. 'To Be Alone With You,' 'All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands' and 'We Won't Need Legs to Stand' aren't necessarily biblical, but could be interpreted as such. The standout tracks (and that's saying something) are the last two, however, both lyrically and musically. The title track is the longest song on the album (6:33), and has the distinction of being one of the eeriest songs I have ever heard - a minor key account of the coming apocalypse, heralded by seven swans in the sky. It starts with a vocal/banjo combination again, then builds to epic heights with the incoming piano (sound familliar?), ending with the cryptic lyric "If you run he will chase you, he is the Lord." The album's closer, 'Transfiguration' picks up where 'Seven Swans' left off. Musically it's a bit perkier (again with the banjo/vocal opening, this time leading into an absolutely glorious horn riff) and lyrically it seems (at least to me) to cite the coming of the Lord at the end of all things, with the choral mantra "Lost in the cloud again, a voice. Have no fear! We draw near! Lost in the cloud again a sign. Son of man! Son of God!" which is a fitting closer to a record like this. I guess the most impressive factor about this record is the very spirituality that permeates it. I don't consider myself a christian, but the issues in the lyrics are universal enough to work anyway and are only reinforced by the reflective, elegant beauty of the tunes that frame them. Definitely worth a listen for anyone interested in low-fi indie music. 9/10 (or 4.5 stars) |
Thanks to Sufjan for another amazing album. His previous offering "Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State" was a masterpiece, and on "Seven Swans" we get more of the mellow side of Sufjan. All the adjectives have allready been used to describe his music... beautiful, haunting, quirky, passionate, so I wont need to use them all in adding my praise and appreciation for his work, but the simple charm of Sufjan Stevens will amaze you, inspire you, and have you humming along.
This is a beautiful record. Not as immediately lovable as 'Greetings...' but excellent in its own right. Great banjo work. I love the voices of the Smith girls. Great lyrics. As to the religious content, I acknowledge that it's there, but it doesn't consume the album. It's not preachy. Great record.
