Multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens made a couple of records that slipped under the radar before his third, the astoundingly lush post-rock concept album Greetings From Michigan, gained him critical attention and cult status.

Seemingly bent on not repeating himself, Stevens scales down Michigan's grandeur to a minimalist palette for Seven Swans. Where the previous album was instrumentally comparable to Tortoise or Stereolab, Seven Swans is practically lo-fi, based around simply strummed acoustic guitars, banjo, organ, and hushed vocals.