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"Seven Swans" is a precious treasure chest guarded jealously, an untrampled velvety carpet, a delicate crimson expanse of rose petals, the intoxicating essence that fills the mind with images of lands so far away, so unattainable; its melody is an incarnation of classicism and elegance, an encrypted love story, like a caress that fills the morning awakening, awaiting a day bombarded with commitments, a desired massage that fervently implores "relax," to welcome a calm night, dreaming of desires covered in gold and a thousand enchanted tales, just look at its cover, the swan, a winged image of freedom and beauty.
In the history of music, there are Artists who make a difference, Sufjan Stevens, in his Albums, is the shining example, I make no distinctions in describing them, they all present themselves in the same manner once listened to, they take root in feelings, like the spontaneity of "Greetings From Michigan" or the eclipsed "Come On Feel The Illinois" or the warmth of "Songs For Christmas," and for the most part, subsequent listens can hardly be denied. Songwriting that shows no signs of artistic decline or absent "disappointments," but believes in itself and in its dialogue with people, as a tribute for what it has been able to instill.
A man who says he does not consider himself a Christian artist and does not want to carry this "religious affiliation" to avoid confusion or misunderstandings for those who listen to him, but on the contrary, manifests music that comes solely from his heart, even if the lyrics are religious-themed; it is simply what he deeply feels, and he sees music as a means of expression in a cultural-artistic sense but not fundamentally religious. For this reason of seeing and feeling things, that is, his music, in America, his Albums have become the subject of thematic discussion, comparing them to Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," where religion-art intersects explosively and uncontrollably, and where, instead, history-art dissociates, even though it is obvious and fundamentally confirmed that religion has always been a means of artistic inspiration.
An Album that offers 45 minutes of temporary contemplation, demanding the utmost surrounding silence, a clear mind, and a body fully inclined to total relaxation, where mind, words, and sounds become one, compact, intimate, clean, and communicative. This lullaby stands out to demonstrate the profound sensitivity of a young man passionate about the stories of one of the most important authors of the 20th century, Flannery O'Connor, from whom he draws the fruits of inspiration.
There are tracks of extreme instrumental greatness, vocal and sporadic imperceptible percussion like "Sister," the exaltation of the mastering banjo, illustrious and uncontested primary instrument in "In The Devil's Territory," a soft lullaby-like opening "All The Trees Of The Fields Will Clap Their Hands," the repeated refrains "The Dress Looks Nice On You," a heartfelt duet between banjo and guitar in "We Won't Need Legs To Stand," and a stunning duet between the lone voice and a simple, "poor" guitar in "Abraham," in short, this "solo" voice manages to enrich an entire array of instruments played by Sufjan himself, becoming a complete essence, yet not forgetting the entire "Smith" family ensemble for voices, instruments, recording, and production.
Sufjan Stevens, a wellspring of lightheartedness.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 The Dress Looks Nice on You (02:32)
I can see a lot of life in you.
I can see a lot of bright in you.
And I think the dress looks nice on you.
I can see a lot of life in you.
I can see a bed and make it too.
I can see a fireside turn blue.
And I can see the lot of life in you.
Yes, I can see a lot of life in you.
When the world looks back,
when the face looks after that,
I can see a lot of life in you.
Yes, I can see a lot of life in you.
I can see a lot of life in you.
I can see your bed and make it too.
And I think the dress looks nice on you.
Yes, I can see a lot of life in you.
I can see a lot of life in you.
Yes, I can see a lot of life in you
03 In the Devil's Territory (04:57)
Be still and know your sign.
The beast will arrive in time.
We stayed a long, long time.
We stayed a long, long time.
To see you, to beat you,
to see you at last.
I saw the dragons drying.
I saw the witches whine.
We stayed a long, long time.
But I'm not afraid to die.
To see you, to meet you,
to see you at last.
I stole my father's shoes.
I pulled his pockets too.
We stayed a long, long time.
We stayed a long, long time.
To see you, to beat you,
to see you, to meet you.
To see you at last
04 To Be Alone With You (02:48)
I'd swim across lake Michigan
I'd sell my shoes
I'd give my body to be back again
In the rest of the room
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
To be alone with you
You gave your body to the lonely
They took your clothes
You gave up a wife and a family
You gave your goals
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
To be alone with me
You went up on a tree
To be alone with me you went up on the tree
I'll never know the man who loved me
05 Abraham (02:33)
Abraham, worth a righteous one.
Take up on the wood,
put it on your son.
Lake or lamb.
There is none to harm.
When the angel came,
you had raised your arm.
Abraham, put off on your son.
Take instead the ram
until Jesus comes
06 Sister (06:00)
What the water wants is hurricanes,
and sailboats to ride on its back.
What the water wants is sun kiss,
and land to run into and back.
I have a fish stone burning my elbow,
reminding me to know that I'm glad
that I have a bottle filled with my old teeth.
They fell out like a tear in the bag.
And I have a sister somewhere in Detroit
She has black hair and small hands.
And I have a kettledrum
I'll hit the earth with you.
And I will crochet you a hat.
And I have a red kite;
I'll put you right in it.
I'll show you the sky
07 Size Too Small (03:04)
I was the best man in a size too small.
You were my best friend, going at it all.
And what if I put off my inheritance?
Where is the best man?
All arise us all in peace.
I still know you.
And I still like you, the best man.
And I still owe you.
Everything rises, going at it all.
All the surprises in a size too small.
And what if I told you
I was still in love with this?
Would you surprise us
in a size for all of me?
I still know you.
And I still like you, the best man.
I still know you, the best man.
I still owe you
11 Seven Swans (06:33)
We didn't sleep too late.
There was a fire in the yard.
All of the tress were in light.
They had no faces to show.
I saw a sign in the sky:
Seven swans, seven swans, seven swans.
I heard a voice in my mind:
I will try, I will try, I will try.
I will try, I will try, I will try.
We saw the dragon move down.
My father burned into coal.
My mother saw it from far.
She took her purse to the bed.
I saw a sign in the sky:
Seven horns, seven horns, seven horns.
I heard a voice in my mind:
I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He said: I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He said: I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord.
He will take you. If you run,
He will chase you.
He will take you. If you run,
He will chase you
'cause He is the Lord.
'Cause He is the Lord...
Seven swans, seven swans, seven swans,
seven swans, seven swans...
12 The Transfiguration (05:18)
When he took the three disciples
to the mountainside to pray,
his countenance was modified, his clothing was aflame.
Two men appeared: Moses and Elijah came;
they were at his side.
The prophecy, the legislation spoke of whenever he would die.
Then there came a word
of what he should accomplish on the day.
Then Peter spoke, to make of them a tabernacle place.
A cloud appeared in glory as an accolade.
They fell on the ground.
A voice arrived, the voice of God,
the face of God, covered in a cloud.
What he said to them,
the voice of God: the most beloved son.
Consider what he says to you, consider what's to come.
The prophecy was put to death,
was put to death, and so will the Son.
And keep your word, disguise the vision till the time has come.
Lost in the cloud, a voice: Have no fear! We draw near!
Lost in the cloud, a sign: Son of man! Turn your ear!
Lost in the cloud, a voice: Lamb of God! We draw near!
Lost in the cloud, a sign: Son of man! Son of God!
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Other reviews
By zigu
Sufjan Stevens knows a thing or two more than the devil, but in this album, he allows himself a reflective break.
"I’ll show you the sky."
