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Author Topic: Swans  (Read 5705 times)

Ernest

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Swans
« on: 06 Jul 2007, 20:27 »
I've listened to bits and pieces of this band's work.  Some of it I can really dig, but most of it is quite inaccessible to me.  Still, I get the feeling that this could be a band I will like sometime in the future.  I was reminded to give them another listen when I ran across them in one of Khar's list of recommended bands in some topic or other.  Can anyone recommend me something to start with?  Possibly what you consider their most accessible work, relatively speaking.
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Quote from: voidSkipper on 14 Jun 2008, 03:30
Where I come from, we usually just shorten that to "yee-haw!"

Will

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Re: Swans
« Reply #1 on: 06 Jul 2007, 20:37 »
This is the band that Jarboe fronted, correct? I've only ever heard her voice on the cd with Neurosis, but I liked it muchly. If anyone could post a link to something else worth listening to, I would also be grateful
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SensoryOssuary

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Re: Swans
« Reply #2 on: 06 Jul 2007, 20:54 »
Quote from: Will on 06 Jul 2007, 20:37
This is the band that Jarboe fronted, correct? I've only ever heard her voice on the cd with Neurosis, but I liked it muchly. If anyone could post a link to something else worth listening to, I would also be grateful

Actually, it was formed and headed by Michael Gira, although Jarboe did co-vocals and keyboards for a significant amount of time.

On a somewhat unrelated note, here is a great spoken word piece by Michael Gira (not for the weak-stomached):
http://ubu.artmob.ca/sound/dial_a_poem_poets/diamond/Diamond_09_gira.mp3

edit: Here's a nice MP3 of later-era Swans covering Love Will Tear Us Apart, with lead vocals from Jarboe:
http://tinyurl.com/32u52w
« Last Edit: 06 Jul 2007, 21:01 by SensoryOssuary »
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Caspian

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Re: Swans
« Reply #3 on: 07 Jul 2007, 00:56 »
that love will tear us apart cover is indeed awesome.

I've seen a few videos of their early live shows on youtube, and it looks really freaking intense, like a more martial godflesh.

Anyway, from what I've heard, their Soundtrack to The Blind album is supposed to be the best. I've ordered it, but haven't heard it, so I can't really vouch for the quality.. but reviews suggest that it has a bit of the early swans sound mixed in with the more mellow stylings of later albums.

I also think 'The Great Annihilator' is one of their more straight ahead albums. Perhaps these two would be the best to start with.

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Kai

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Re: Swans
« Reply #4 on: 07 Jul 2007, 04:44 »
Soundtracks for the Blind is incredible. Definitely one of my favorite albums of all time.

If you're willing to sit through a whopping 3 some hours of music, get Soundtracks for the Blind and then the Cop/Young God/Greed/Holy  money compilation, which combines the four singles (Cop, Young God, Greed and yes, you guessed it, Holy Money). It's a good mix of their really late stuff and their really early stuff.


Don't listen to the Burning World for a while. It is sort of an oddity in their discography and will make you do a pretty nice double take.
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Quote from: Mr. Doctor on 21 Sep 2009, 12:01
but the music sucks because the keyboards don't have the cold/mechanical sound they had but a wannabe techno sound that it's pathetic for Rammstein standars.

Misereatur

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Re: Swans
« Reply #5 on: 07 Jul 2007, 07:29 »
White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity is an amazing album, and pretty accessible. I'd start there and then listen to everything kai recommended.
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Quote from: KharBevNor on 20 Feb 2008, 18:41
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Felix_

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Re: Swans
« Reply #6 on: 07 Jul 2007, 13:12 »
I love Swans. Pretty much everything they ever recorded.
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ScrambledGregs

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Re: Swans
« Reply #7 on: 07 Jul 2007, 16:32 »
I think it's kind of funny how so many bands start out at the extreme of their sound and gradually get more 'accessible', for lack of a better term. It sounds like Swans are the same way, if I follow you all correctly.

How exactly would you describe their sound?? It seems like I heard they were in the same No Wave/No New York scene that spawned Sonic Youth, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.
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Misereatur

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Re: Swans
« Reply #8 on: 07 Jul 2007, 16:49 »
Swans are the kind of band that you really can't define.

To me, White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity is pretty accessible, but I think that a lot people may find ot hard to get into no matter what they listen to. Soundtracks for the Blind is also a lot to take in and some people would probably stop listening after a few songs, but it's still not their early slow stuff.

Swans changed their sound a lot during their career, but they're still hard to get into. Yeah, Cop is a million years away from White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity, but it doesn't mean that most people would call it accessible
« Last Edit: 07 Jul 2007, 17:11 by Misereatur »
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Quote from: KharBevNor on 20 Feb 2008, 18:41
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Ernest

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Re: Swans
« Reply #9 on: 07 Jul 2007, 20:00 »
I just downloaded White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity and I plan to listen to it soon.
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Quote from: voidSkipper on 14 Jun 2008, 03:30
Where I come from, we usually just shorten that to "yee-haw!"

ScrambledGregs

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Re: Swans
« Reply #10 on: 08 Jul 2007, 14:21 »
How are they not accessible, though?? Is it really noisy?? Really minimalist?? Really disgusting lyrics?? Strange songs that follow their own sense of rhythm/melody??
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Misereatur

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Re: Swans
« Reply #11 on: 08 Jul 2007, 16:07 »
Have you listened to these albums?
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Quote from: KharBevNor on 20 Feb 2008, 18:41
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Jackie Blue

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Re: Swans
« Reply #12 on: 08 Jul 2007, 16:36 »
Quote from: ScrambledGregs on 08 Jul 2007, 14:21
How are they not accessible, though?? Is it really noisy?? Really minimalist?? Really disgusting lyrics?? Strange songs that follow their own sense of rhythm/melody??

Even their most accessible albums are fairly noisy.  Their early stuff is really loud and abrasive and many people don't like their goth-ish vocals/lyrics.

I'd actually start with Gira's post-Swans band, Angels of Light, and if you like that then go backwards in the Swans catalog.

They're one of those rare bands that it's cool for both goths and indie rockers to listen to.
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amok

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Re: Swans
« Reply #13 on: 08 Jul 2007, 16:44 »
Quote from: zerodrone on 08 Jul 2007, 16:36
I'd actually start with Gira's post-Swans band, Angels of Light, and if you like that then go backwards in the Swans catalog.


Yeah, I'd heartily second that. I had a major Swans obsessive phase ages ago for a few months (barely listened to 'em since actually, must remedy that) and I got into 'em through Angels of Light's records. "How I Loved You" is a masterpiece. They also did a rather spiffy split album type jobby with Akron/Family.
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Hat

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Re: Swans
« Reply #14 on: 08 Jul 2007, 17:22 »
Guys, I am listening to Soundtracks for the Blind right now after someone uploaded it to the Sendspace thread.

This is fucking awesome so far.
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Kai

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Re: Swans
« Reply #15 on: 08 Jul 2007, 22:24 »
your welcome!


Soundtracks For The Blind is easily one of my favorite albums of all time.
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Quote from: Mr. Doctor on 21 Sep 2009, 12:01
but the music sucks because the keyboards don't have the cold/mechanical sound they had but a wannabe techno sound that it's pathetic for Rammstein standars.

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Re: Swans
« Reply #16 on: 09 Jul 2007, 05:35 »
I've been thinking about making a topic about the Swans for a few weeks, since I started getting into their stuff They're damn awesome indeed. I'll second/third/whatever the recommendation of Soundtracks for the Blind.
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Ernest

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Re: Swans
« Reply #17 on: 12 Jul 2007, 00:15 »
As I just mentioned in the Sendspace thread, I have started listening to Soundtracks for the Blind.  To my great surprise, I find this album quite accessible.  It's absolutely fantastic so far.
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Quote from: voidSkipper on 14 Jun 2008, 03:30
Where I come from, we usually just shorten that to "yee-haw!"

gnarphlager

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Re: Swans
« Reply #18 on: 13 Jul 2007, 12:40 »
Swans are, and have been,  one of my favorite bands of all time.  I agree that "Soundtracks for the Blind" is the best album (and really a cohesive, start to finish album, as opposed to a collection of songs).  Don't overlook the live albums..."Swans are Dead" is an amazing document of the final two tours, "Public Castration is a Good Idea" is a frighteningly intense version of their early, noisy stuff. 

Angels of Light are great too (and have put on some of my favorite live shows ever), however, the album NOT to be missed is the Body Lovers' "One of Three".  Mostly instrumental, using both fresh recordings and old sounds from the past (longtime Swans fans will recognize a riff or two), it's one of the most intense records I've ever heard. 

I agree that "the Burning World" shouldn't be the first...though it was for me.  "Goddamn The Sun" is a great song!
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Kai

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Re: Swans
« Reply #19 on: 14 Jul 2007, 13:59 »
The first time I heard swans was in a friend's car, where he had a mix of really weird stuff. Raping A Slave was on it.

The Burning World was the first actual album I listened to.

Considering I was expecting "Raping A Slave", you can imagine the surprise.
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Quote from: Mr. Doctor on 21 Sep 2009, 12:01
but the music sucks because the keyboards don't have the cold/mechanical sound they had but a wannabe techno sound that it's pathetic for Rammstein standars.
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