# Small Vessel

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Vessel
> Source revision: 1116864210
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Small Vessel
| type       = studio
| artist     = [SJ Esau](/source/SJ_Esau)
| cover      = Small Vessel.png
| alt        = 
| released   = {{Start date|2008|06|24|df=yes}}
| recorded   = 
| venue      = 
| studio     = 
| genre      = [Indie rock](/source/Indie_rock)
| length     = {{Duration|m=34|s=20}}
| label      = [Anticon](/source/Anticon)
| producer   = SJ Esau
| prev_title = [Wrong Faced Cat Feed Collapse](/source/Wrong_Faced_Cat_Feed_Collapse)
| prev_year  = 2007
| next_title = [Exploding Views](/source/Exploding_Views)
| next_year  = 2014
}}
'''''Small Vessel''''' is the second studio album by British [indie rock](/source/indie_rock) musician [SJ Esau](/source/SJ_Esau). It was released on [Anticon](/source/Anticon) in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anticon.com/?js=yes|title=Top Page|work=[Anticon](/source/Anticon)|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913133643/http://www.anticon.com/?js=yes|archive-date=September 13, 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = ''[Cokemachineglow](/source/Cokemachineglow)''
| rev1score = 74%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/3768/sjesau-smallvessel-2008|title=SJ Esau: Small Vessel|work=[Cokemachineglow](/source/Cokemachineglow)|first=Colin|last=McGowan|date=July 17, 2008|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915065415/http://www.cokemachineglow.com/record_review/3768/sjesau-smallvessel-2008|archive-date=September 15, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))''
| rev2score = 3.6/10<ref name=pitchfork>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12117-small-vessel/|title=SJ Esau: Small Vessel|work=[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))|first=Evan|last=McGarvey|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418055422/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12117-small-vessel/|archive-date=April 18, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)''
| rev3score = {{Rating|8|10}}<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/sj-esau-small-vessel/|title=SJ Esau: Small Vessel|magazine=[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)|first=Andrew|last=Martin|date=July 31, 2008|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924162407/http://www.popmatters.com/review/sj-esau-small-vessel/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[Tiny Mix Tapes](/source/Tiny_Mix_Tapes)''
| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=tinymixtapes>{{cite web|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/sj-esau-small-vessels|title=SJ Esau - Small Vessels|work=[Tiny Mix Tapes](/source/Tiny_Mix_Tapes)|first=Dave|last=Gurney|date=August 8, 2008|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023191055/http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/sj-esau-small-vessels|archive-date=October 23, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
Matt Rinaldi of [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic) commented that ''Small Vessel'' "continues in the same genre-bending vein as its predecessor, blending elements of indie rock, folk, hip-hop, house, techno-pop, and industrial to create an end-product that is delightfully disorienting."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/small-vessel-mw0000789419|title=Small Vessel - SJ Esau|work=[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)|first=Matt|last=Rinaldi|access-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130103103/https://www.allmusic.com/album/small-vessel-mw0000789419|archive-date=November 30, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Dave Gurney of ''[Tiny Mix Tapes](/source/Tiny_Mix_Tapes)'' gave the album 3 stars out of 5, writing, "Like being let into a friend's bedroom studio while he or she pores over partially and/or cryptically labeled tapes containing songs and experiments at varying states of completion, SJ Esau's sophomore effort ''Small Vessels'' has the initially intoxicating feeling of being let in on a secret treasure trove of restless musical creativity."<ref name=tinymixtapes/> He added, "Untitled bits of sonic debris mix with false starts of songs; hushed passages give way to lush arrangements of vocal and instrumental beauty bordering on the epic; and unexpected transitions and breaks suddenly expand or shrink the dynamic space in which they exist."<ref name=tinymixtapes/> Evan McGarvey of ''[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))'' gave the album a 3.6 out of 10, stating that "''Small Vessel''{{'}}s strengths aren't unique; you can find dozens of whimsical, pseudo-surreal songwriters of this ilk ([Why?](/source/Why%3F_(American_band)), [The Guillemots](/source/Guillemots_(band)), [Thee More Shallows](/source/Thee_More_Shallows), to start) who clutter their discs with fewer scribbles and less back-handed flippancy."<ref name=pitchfork/>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing = [Sam Wisternoff](/source/SJ_Esau)
| title1 = (Untitled)
| length1 = 0:07
| title2 = Frustrating
| length2 = 2:47
| title3 = Small Vessel
| length3 = 0:18
| title4 = Bastard Eyes
| length4 = 3:44
| title5 = I Threw a Wobbly
| length5 = 3:05
| title6 = Under Certain Things
| length6 = 4:35
| title7 = Bubblehead
| length7 = 2:28
| title8 = (Untitled)
| length8 = 0:06
| title9 = Ruddy Spark
| length9 = 1:53
| title10 = The Small Percent
| length10 = 3:39
| title11 = Slate
| length11 = 1:26
| title12 = Death Perception Lack
| length12 = 3:16
| title13 = Human Annoyed
| length13 = 1:40
| title14 = (Untitled)
| length14 = 1:01
| title15 = What Happen'd
| length15 = 4:14
| total_length = 34:20
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs master|114579|Small Vessel}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2008 albums
Category:Anticon albums
Category:SJ Esau albums

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Small Vessel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Vessel) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Vessel?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.