What the Night Said explained

What the Night Said
Type:	studio
Artist:	Will Stratton
Cover:	What the Night Said album cover by Will Stratton.jpg
Released:	May 1, 2007
Recorded:	Astoria, Queens 2005
Genre:	Indie folk
Length:	33:28
Label:	Stunning Models on Display
Producer:	Will Stratton, Kieran Kelly
Next Title:	No Wonder
Next Year:	2009

What the Night Said is the debut album from Will Stratton. It was recorded the summer after his senior year of high school in a small recording studio in Astoria, Queens, New York, but not released until two years later.^{[1] [2]}

Critical reception

The reception to the album was highly favorable. Allmusic has said that "Even though his songs seem to come from a nearly monkish vantage point of isolation, there is lifting beauty here, a need for connection, and breathtaking flights, swoops, and turns of melody."^[3] Evan Sawdey, for PopMatters, opined that Stratton, "ma[de] an album of songs that were custom-fitted for listening to at night," and that ultimately, "Stratton succeeds, and beautifully so."^[4]

Track listing

1. "Katydid" - 2:33
2. "So Ashamed" – 3:02
3. "Fireflies" – 2:48
4. "Night Will Come" – 3:45
5. "Lost the Fear" – 2:52
6. "I'd Hate to Leave You" – 2:58
7. "Sonnet" – 2:20
8. "Oh Quiet Night" – 2:19
9. "Sleepwalk" – 1:59
10. "Stay Awake" – 2:56
11. "Sunol" – 2:53
12. "I Don't Wanna Love" – 3:07

Personnel

• Will Stratton – vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, piano, harpsichord, Mellotron, synthesizer, bass guitar, hand claps
• Sufjan Stevens – oboe
• Tony Rogers – violin, cello
• Sam Deutsch – violin
• Michael Trepagnier – hand claps
• Kieran Kelly – drums

Notes and References

1. Web site: About Will . Stratton . Will . June 28, 2010.
2. Web site: Will Stratton: 'Katydid' : NPR . . June 28, 2010.
3. Web site: [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1041249|pure_url=yes}} What the Night Said > Overview ]. Hage . Erik . . June 28, 2010.
4. Web site: Will Stratton: What the Night Said . Sawdey . Evan . PopMatters. June 28, 2010.