Swans - Cop/Young God/Greed/Holy Money
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Free Music Notes for Cop/Young God/Greed/Holy Money
Free Music Review: At the Mercy of the Young God
Hit: 5 Stars
Having been a Swans appreciator for many years, I can say this set of recordings stands as the pinnacle of the harsh and bludgening style they had cultivated in their early years, and among my personal favorites. Punishing as the music may be, here it is a finely honed and maticulously crafted monlolith of sound designed for catharsis and amidst personal suffering, given the right attitude. Perhaps only Swans devotees will truly appreciate the quality of expression on this album, but it stands as a major achievement for a highly unique & uncompromising band, as well as an important historical document of a major influence on underground music. It would be unfair to label this recording as "noise", "industrial", "post-punk" or whatever label you may be tempted to attach to it; it stands as it is. More often than not, the more difficult music makes for more rewarding listening. *Caveat Emptor: this is NOT an album to listen too if you are abjectly depressed and are considering offing yourself.
The best tracks in the set, in my opinion, are: "Half Life", "I Crawled", "Time is Money (Bastard)", "Money is Flesh", "A Screw (Holy Money" and "A Hanging".
Free Music Review: Agony in droves through a blackened haze
Hit: 5 Stars
Plainly stated: SWANS are one of the most important bands of our time.
New York experimentalists in audio horror cannot be pigeonholed as a mere metal, ambient, or industrial act. In transcending normal classification, SWANS brewed the most sullen and loathsome music I've ever had the (dis)pleasure of hearing. Along with this double disc, and "Filth" / "Body to Body, Job to Job"; they should all be listened to in one sitting, to achieve the appropriate (hopefully desired) effect.
If the pure essence of dread could be captured and harnessed into audio form, it would result in these particular recordings.
Norman Westberg's sluggish, discordant riffs consistently keep the listener off balance. The drums pound, clank, and plod along in the same gloomy manner; akin to the sounds one might hear inside a decaying industrial factory. Michael Gira's vocals apathetically wail and shout with a great sense of misanthropy. Gira's baritone delivery can at one moment lull you into a dark reverie, and the next moment, intimidate you with his confrontational bark. As for the lyrics? Minimalist and depraved. They represent a multitude of grotesque thoughts and dismal commentaries on various sociopathic behaviors and societal ill's. These are the enraged messages of a calloused individual.
As an enthusiast of avant-garde and eccentric music, I tend to listen to a lot of Doom and Dark Ambient, for it helps create a unique mood, and that brooding sense of hopelessness (which I happen to enjoy).
SWANS, however, were certainly not a metal band; just an artistic collective, years ahead of their time. They created music that would scare the daylights out of most brutal Death Metal, and even the heaviest of Doom bands.
This musical expression is what naturally flowed out of Michael Gira and Co. and I don't believe their intention was to be "heavy". SWANS simply were. Their emotions, ideas, and abilities came oozing forth from their shadowy depths, and these are the grim results of their negative output.
If one "enjoys" the primal origins of SWANS, I would recommend taking the plunge into their live albums. Public Castration is a Good Idea and Real Love are completely different beasts in comparison to their studio counterparts. Live Swans induced unreasonable amounts of cynicism and anxiety. The songs are performed minimally, and produce a quality of dilapidation. Both recordings are equally, if not, more disturbing than their studio efforts.
Too dissonant and morose for the average listener, and too "artsy" and industrialized (not the pseudo, dance/pop nonsense) for the staunch metal aficionado. This is only for the most extreme and open-minded individuals who appreciate music for its ability to create moods and a lasting impression. Personally, I could listen to this era of SWANS all day long.
...There must be something wrong with me.
Note: A few years after SWANS released these recordings, a band came along known as Godflesh (from the ashes of Fall of Because). Godflesh was fronted by Justin Broadrick, who was also a brief member of Head of David, and a founder of Napalm Death. If you happen to listen to their first two albums, you'll notice a resemblance to the early years of SWANS. Many believe Godflesh are the originators of this style of extremity, but to overlook SWANS would be a criminal offense. Coincidentally, one time drummer of SWANS Ted Parsons performed on the final Godflesh album "Hymns", and is now involved in Justin's jesu project.
I recommend this era of SWANS to fans of Godflesh, Skin Chamber, and Khanate.
Free Music Review: Astonishingly Difficult
Hit: 4 Stars
I bought this double album in 2000, while in college and rapidly expanding my highly eclectic music collection. I sold it within the year. I simply could not handle it. Open-minded but not knowing what to expect, I was scared by this dismal noise and shockingly bleak poetry. Though I haven't heard this "music" for quite awhile now, I still distinctly remember the sound and the dull, dark pressure it caused in my chest, as I forced myself to sit through both discs in their entirety. How unfortunate for me now that this CD is difficult to find, as my tastes have expanded to include extremely challenging music. This early SWANS material is such a challenge. Free Music Review: Beautiful
Hit: 5 Stars
As many others have said, this is just so intense it's ridiculous. I remember when I used to think things like Soundgarden was heavy. What a young teenage fool I was.
This is perfect essentially. It doesn't resort to melody at any point, unlike Swans later material, which I don't like as much, but I understand you can't carry on playing stuff like this forever.
The thing I love about these early records is that no one type of music fan seems to get it. Every metaller I know hates it and obviously people into pop think you're mad for listening to it. It only seems to be the most open minded of people that like swans.
I still remember the first time I heard Raping A Slave. I had never heard ANYTHING like that before. I was quite stoned. It was terrifying.
So to anyone listening to what KERRANG!!!! etc claim is heavy, buy this and learn the truth. Just don't play it to a girl in the early stages of your relationship (unless she's a fan, well done you) as she will be convinced you're a rapist.
By the way, if you can pick up the 'A Long Slow Screw' VHS anywhere, buy it and see just how truly nihilistic they were live at this point.
Free Music Review: The most brutal and heaviest music recorded.
Hit: 5 Stars
Swans are just brutal and relentless. It's just audio insanity at a monolithic pace. Like one reviewer here said, there is absolutely no middle ground when listening to Swans. You will either love it or loathe it. It demands that you play it loud.
This was music I listened to when I was an alcoholic, drinking alone at night. It has an extremely disturbing aura to it, particularly when listened to at maximum volume (as suggested on the the album covers of the original releases).
If you are a fan of the new "doom" stuff out there like Sunn O))), Khanate or Boris, you absolutely have to listen to this. This is "music" that is so heavy and devasting, words really fail to do it justice.
I still listen to these old records, even though I don't drink anymore.