The Album Club 2017

**Exo** · 06-26-2017, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechnicLePanther

3 to 4 out of 5

And who will keep track of these stats?

OccultHawk · 06-26-2017, 08:26 PM

Chula

innerspaceboy · 06-27-2017, 11:56 AM

Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans

Stevens was an artist I smugly rejected in 2004 - pop music I resigned myself from listening to as I felt it was music reserved for those just young enough to be beyond my social sphere of relatability.

In my more thoughtful and retrospective years, I’ve shed that haughty stubbornness and find myself in a headspace where I can just enjoy this stuff, relatable or not.

This last week I’ve really been exploring intimate and vulnerable musics, beginning with Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel / Why Patterns? and progressing steadily toward key works of post-minimalism. As such, I’ve found myself in a space where I can really connect with and enjoy music far less academic and much more emotive than in my previous inclinations. Even this review is feeling far more intuitive and reflective than my usual formal and dissective analysis.

Seven Swans is intimately understated and fragile with whispery vocals and sparse chamber folk instrumentation. There is a pastoral quality about the entire record which is carried quite cohesively throughout. None of the tracks stand out as singles, and from what I understand this album is often overlooked in favor of his more radio-friendly recordings. But the subtlety of this record is what makes it more accessible, at least for someone in my headspace.

I’ve no academic criticisms to make, no judgment to pass, and no socio-cultural contextualization to apply here. I just enjoyed the album, psychologically and emotionally. It added a pleasant sonic dimension to my quiet and reflective afternoon.

Thanks for making it a part of this thread.

No X/10 this time 'round - I'm not feeling like quantification at present.

Trollheart · 06-30-2017, 01:09 PM

Although I loved (and I mean loved) Carrie and Lowell, the only other Sufjan album I remember listening to is, I think, Illinois? Maybe. Anyway, I don't recall being too impressed by it. This one has me on the fence. Some of it is quite excellent, some of it not so much so. There's a good opener, interesting but it only really grabs my attention when we get to "In the Devil's Territory", then I kind of slide again into somewhat boredom until "Sister", which at first I took to be an instrumental. Mostly, it is - he only comes in with the vocal in the last minute or so - but it's a real standout. "Abraham" annoys me with its blatant opening riff from "Stairway to Heaven", and "We won't need legs to stand" is good but I sort of zone out then till the title track, which is again excellent, and it ends strongly on "The Transfiguration".

Overall, solid stuff but a lot of filler, for me, and really I can only manage a 5/10, given how good the good tracks are. When it's good it's really good, but unfortunately it's too inconsistently so. I see mentions of comparisons to Elliot Smith in reviews: maybe that's why it doesn't really strike a chord with me. Singer/songwriter acoustic stuff doesn't always chime with me, and I'd much rather hear Dan Fogelberg than Elliot Smith. I haven't heard enough Smith (and likely never will) to say if that comparison between him and Stevens is fair, but though I think I could grow to like this album - there's enough here to draw me in and keep me interested - it would take some time.

Whether I decide to give it that time or not is another matter.

Trollheart · 07-01-2017, 07:23 PM

Right, we're getting closer to round two, and I take note of what people say about the list being too long, with those who tend not to get very involved still allowed their place on the list, so here's the deal: submit your next album within, if possible, the next two weeks. You'll be added to the queue. Anyone I see not getting involved will run the risk of losing their album. They'll be advised of this situation beforehand, and may then get their arse in gear, but if they don't do this in time then their album will be removed. There will be no chance to have another shot till round three.

Exceptions to this will be for those who make it clear they are going away or whatever and can't participate for a few weeks. Under those circumstances, ie when I'm advised in advance, that person may elect to keep their album, or not, at their discretion.

I'm taking mental notes here. I've noticed a real fall-off in recent months, and while this understandable it's not fair to those who participate and make the effort every week, so those people, those who are, shall we say, regular contributors, will get priority over those who do not or cannot be here every week. That only seems fair.

I don't want to make this a chore for anyone, and anyone can bow out at any time, or take a break, but in doing so you must risk having your album removed from the queue. Hope that's ok with everyone. If not, suck it.

Zhanteimi · 07-01-2017, 08:20 PM

Although Seven Swans is Soof's most explicitly Christian album, it is not my favorite. I prefer Illinois and, of course, Carrie & Lowell (my favorite of his).

"Abraham" and "The Transfiguration" are songs based on stories in the Bible, and they're great, but for me, as a Christian, "He Woke Me Up Again" is my favorite track. It contains all the feelings of epiphany I felt when I'd been sleeping all my life in darkness and awoke to the light...a light I still have not reached but hope to one day grasp in some limited way.

5.00/5 stars

OccultHawk · 07-01-2017, 08:44 PM

Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans

This is an artist I've known for a long time but for whatever reason I don't make much distinction between his records. I know I like his music and from what I can tell it's very consistently good. For some reason this record and Carrie and Lowell seem the most familiar. I honestly can't see what there is about this record NOT to like. It's mellow, interestingly melodic, perfect for chilling. Winding down or still not cranked up. Who doesn't like this? It's like saying you don't like watermelon. 4/5 stars. I'd probably go 5 if I just knew it better.

**Frownland** · 07-01-2017, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I started listening to the album and it's pretty great, but I didn't have time to finish it for a full review. I definitely will though. And yes, the drums are dynamic and badass.

It made my math rockish album I wanted to submit look really lame, so my next one will be Mdou Moctor - Afelan.

Still this.

Also sorry on missing this review. I listened to the album twice and it wasn't enough to absorb what it was about and I won't have time before Monday to give it an appropriate amount of listens.

Anteater · 07-01-2017, 09:24 PM

Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans

This one was Sufjan's "singer-songwriter" record, sitting right in the middle of his discography. I've always thought of it as his attempt at a CSN&Y, America, Fleetwood Mac, etc. sort of outing, except without the mindblowing harmonies / jazziness and more Eliott Smithisms instead. There's nothing in here that's gonna outdo Stevie Nicks' 'Landslide', but the production is pretty fantastic and 'Sister' is a great median, the track that serves as an axis point for the album to rotate around.

My biggest problem with this album, however, is that I don't think it does enough with it's acoustic aesthetic from song-to-song. This is a problem Sufjan didn't have on Michigan or albums following this one.

To put it into perspective, an AOR album, metal album, etc. can get away with a samey sonic template because you have energy, a super tight band and different dynamics to really carry you along: great songwriting is icing on the cake. This type of record, unfortunately, feels like a slog with the exception of 'Sister' and the big crescendo on the title track later on. For an example of this type of album done better, see Fleet Foxes' Helplessness Blues or Crack-Up.

6 out of 10

Blank. · 07-02-2017, 12:42 AM

Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans

I've listened to one other Sufjan Stevens album, Illinois, and I remember being rather unimpressed by it. Let's see if this album differs for myself at all.

Music seems to sticks to a folk personality. It seems rather content with a soft melody. Which is fine but doesn't really do much for me.

The music sticks to this folk personality with little to nothing stepping away from it.

I'm reluctant to call this a bad album because I'm enjoying it to an extent. I'm also reluctant to call this a good album because it's nothing I find overly exciting. It's kind of just there... I doubt I'll ever listen to this again, but I did enjoy this one time listen.

☆☆☆

06-26-2017, 08:26 PM	#1062 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Chula __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

06-30-2017, 01:09 PM	#1064 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Although I loved (and I mean loved) Carrie and Lowell, the only other Sufjan album I remember listening to is, I think, Illinois? Maybe. Anyway, I don't recall being too impressed by it. This one has me on the fence. Some of it is quite excellent, some of it not so much so. There's a good opener, interesting but it only really grabs my attention when we get to "In the Devil's Territory", then I kind of slide again into somewhat boredom until "Sister", which at first I took to be an instrumental. Mostly, it is - he only comes in with the vocal in the last minute or so - but it's a real standout. "Abraham" annoys me with its blatant opening riff from "Stairway to Heaven", and "We won't need legs to stand" is good but I sort of zone out then till the title track, which is again excellent, and it ends strongly on "The Transfiguration". Overall, solid stuff but a lot of filler, for me, and really I can only manage a 5/10, given how good the good tracks are. When it's good it's really good, but unfortunately it's too inconsistently so. I see mentions of comparisons to Elliot Smith in reviews: maybe that's why it doesn't really strike a chord with me. Singer/songwriter acoustic stuff doesn't always chime with me, and I'd much rather hear Dan Fogelberg than Elliot Smith. I haven't heard enough Smith (and likely never will) to say if that comparison between him and Stevens is fair, but though I think I could grow to like this album - there's enough here to draw me in and keep me interested - it would take some time. Whether I decide to give it that time or not is another matter. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-01-2017, 07:23 PM	#1065 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	Right, we're getting closer to round two, and I take note of what people say about the list being too long, with those who tend not to get very involved still allowed their place on the list, so here's the deal: submit your next album within, if possible, the next two weeks. You'll be added to the queue. Anyone I see not getting involved will run the risk of losing their album. They'll be advised of this situation beforehand, and may then get their arse in gear, but if they don't do this in time then their album will be removed. There will be no chance to have another shot till round three. Exceptions to this will be for those who make it clear they are going away or whatever and can't participate for a few weeks. Under those circumstances, ie when I'm advised in advance, that person may elect to keep their album, or not, at their discretion. I'm taking mental notes here. I've noticed a real fall-off in recent months, and while this understandable it's not fair to those who participate and make the effort every week, so those people, those who are, shall we say, regular contributors, will get priority over those who do not or cannot be here every week. That only seems fair. I don't want to make this a chore for anyone, and anyone can bow out at any time, or take a break, but in doing so you must risk having your album removed from the queue. Hope that's ok with everyone. If not, suck it. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

07-01-2017, 08:20 PM	#1066 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,874	Although Seven Swans is Soof's most explicitly Christian album, it is not my favorite. I prefer Illinois and, of course, Carrie & Lowell (my favorite of his). "Abraham" and "The Transfiguration" are songs based on stories in the Bible, and they're great, but for me, as a Christian, "He Woke Me Up Again" is my favorite track. It contains all the feelings of epiphany I felt when I'd been sleeping all my life in darkness and awoke to the light...a light I still have not reached but hope to one day grasp in some limited way. 5.00/5 stars __________________ Zhanteimi LetsTalkMusic

07-01-2017, 08:44 PM	#1067 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,033	Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans This is an artist I've known for a long time but for whatever reason I don't make much distinction between his records. I know I like his music and from what I can tell it's very consistently good. For some reason this record and Carrie and Lowell seem the most familiar. I honestly can't see what there is about this record NOT to like. It's mellow, interestingly melodic, perfect for chilling. Winding down or still not cranked up. Who doesn't like this? It's like saying you don't like watermelon. 4/5 stars. I'd probably go 5 if I just knew it better. __________________ 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Member of the Year & Journal of the Year Champion Behold the Writing of THE LEGEND: https://www.musicbanter.com/members-...p-lighter.html

07-02-2017, 12:42 AM	#1070 (permalink)
Blank. Jacob Sartorius Join Date: May 2016 Location: Dank memes Posts: 4,034	Sufjan Stevens - Seven Swans I've listened to one other Sufjan Stevens album, Illinois, and I remember being rather unimpressed by it. Let's see if this album differs for myself at all. Music seems to sticks to a folk personality. It seems rather content with a soft melody. Which is fine but doesn't really do much for me. The music sticks to this folk personality with little to nothing stepping away from it. I'm reluctant to call this a bad album because I'm enjoying it to an extent. I'm also reluctant to call this a good album because it's nothing I find overly exciting. It's kind of just there... I doubt I'll ever listen to this again, but I did enjoy this one time listen. ☆☆☆

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