Seven Swans
by Sufjan Stevens
Metascore
87

Universal acclaim - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 23
  3. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. AllMusic
    80
    Like faith, these songs require patience, as their almost mantra-like arcs take their time to fully form.
  2. Pitchfork
    81
    Even if we're not taken by the subject matter, we're taken by how beautifully and personally Sufjan is taken by it.
  3. Uncut
    80
    Stevens' strumming often has an unworldly quality that transcends folk archetypes. [Apr 2004, p.92]
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  5. PopMatters
    80
    Seven Swans easily does the job of securing Sufjan Stevens as one of those songwriters you must become familiar with.
  6. Mojo
    90
    So sweet is the harmonic construction that awareness of the ecclesiastical niceties of such as The Transfiguration... is incidental to falling under the divine spell. [May 2004, p.105]
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  7. Q Magazine
    70
    Stevens is... smart enough to offset the egghead subject matter with a batch of deceptively simple tunes. [May 2004, p.108]
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  8. Rolling Stone
    70
    Quietly beautiful.
  9. The Guardian
    90
    A record of remarkable delicacy.
  10. Drowned In Sound
    80
    Stevens has a beautiful voice and a rare melodic instinct but it is the passion with which he performs these songs that causes them to communicate so much, so well.
  11. The A.V. Club
    80
    Like Nick Drake or, more recently, Damien Jurado, Stevens serves his songs best with near-whispers, delicately breathing them into existence. [31 Mar 2004]
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  12. Spin
    91
    Like Elliott Smith after ten years of Sunday school. [May 2004, p.108]
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  13. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    He shares [Elliott] Smith's gift for sketching in complex emotional states with telling details. [19 Mar 2004, p.66]
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  14. Dusted Magazine
    90
    It’s an arresting record that doesn’t pull strings or elide with gimmicks, nor does it preach or try to persuade. You needn’t believe in a higher order to realize that Seven Swans is an expression of something stirring, something beautiful.
  15. Tiny Mix Tapes
    90
    Many of the songs continue to showcase Stevens' avid and passionate banjo-plucking, accompanied by similar harmonized vocals that resonate with beauty and commitment.
  16. Billboard
    90
    A consistently moving, subtly beautiful experience.
  17. Dot Music
    90
    "Seven Swans" is as a graceful tour de force of an album - beguiling, bewitching and beautiful.
  18. Stylus Magazine
    80
    While Seven Swans is possibly a better record than Michigan, with such an overtly Christian sheen, it will be interesting to see if the liberal music press gives it as much praise as it deserves.
  19. Delusions of Adequacy
    90
    A coherent, moving album that cements its place in listeners conscience.
  20. Splendid
    90
    Seven Swans plays like a stripped-down, less thematic counterpart to its predecessor. It's also strong enough in its own right to keep fans arguing for months over which album is better.
  21. Village Voice
    80
    His beliefs take periodic diva turns, but Seven Swans is still far more preoccupied with the banjo than God: Stevens's tenderly picked chords fly higher than any golden harp, and his delicate, lapping vocals lovingly complement all that tinny stroking.
  22. Almost Cool
    83
    Sufjan Stevens is a musician who seems to just be reaching his creative peak and shows no signs of slowing down.
  23. Junkmedia
    75
    It is Stevens' creepier qualities that make him a cut above the average singer-songwriter.
  24. Trouser Press
    80
    Stevens' most personal and focused album.

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Best Album of 2004
71
#71 Most Discussed Album of 2004
16
#16 Most Shared Album of 2004

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 113 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 105 out of 113
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 113
  3. Negative: 4 out of 113
  1. All_ButTrU4
    Oct 25, 2021
    7
    did sufjan put an albums concept above its music? yes,he has. this is another beautiful influential release from Stevens. Exploring manydid sufjan put an albums concept above its music? yes,he has. this is another beautiful influential release from Stevens. Exploring many feelings around a central theme as he usually does but in this record like on Illinois it threatens to bog down the album. The best moments (too be alone with you, that dress looks nice on you)are when he's wholly emotionally narrative and immediate whilst the lesser(yet still satisfactory)moments come in longer form religous concept songs (abraham,seven swans)where it seems a bit tedious if not pretentious which seems to common phrases associated with his music. With that aside i love this album. It came at a time when i needed it and it comforted me. The beauty of the opener and "to be alone" had me floored and overcome. It is a great display of sufjans strengths even when it whispers his weaknesses. Favourites:that dress looks nice on you, to be alone,all the trees in the field clapped their hands,seven swans.… Full Review »
  2. kermie_the_frog
    Dec 28, 2019
    10
    Personal favorite release in all of Sufjan's discography. An entirely personal and precious gathering of songs about Sufjan's understanding ofPersonal favorite release in all of Sufjan's discography. An entirely personal and precious gathering of songs about Sufjan's understanding of Christianity.… Full Review »
  3. cyncalis
    Oct 31, 2018
    0
    Disgusting. Absolutely atrocious and I believe that this has tainted the name of Sufjan Stevens. I repeat: disgusting.
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