This is a bit cheeky of me as it’s my first post, however, I am doing some academic research into Swans’ early stuff from between 1983 - 1986. In this case: Filth, Cop/Young God, Greed/Holy Money and Public Castration is a Good Idea. I’ve been told that there’s quite a few Swans fans among you lot.
I would very much appreciate it if anyone who is a fan of Swans from this era filled it out! It’s only one page and shouldn’t take too long!
I’ve left the answer fields open, so go into as much detail as you want!
I would tell you specifically what it’s about/the results I reckon I’ll get but I don’t want to bias the responses. I’ll let you know once it’s all wrapped up in a week or so.
Why did you hone in on this particular period of Swans? Just curious?
I am a fan of the band’s various sounds over the years. I am not so familiar with early Swans. I liked what I heard but I find I prefer the more fully developed sound of albums like ‘Children of God’.
I think just because it’s so intense. I love all the eras of Swans, I think they all have their own merits but I find the minimalism and brutality of the first few albums really fascinating. Particularly the Public Castration is a Good Idea/A Long Slow Screw stuff.
I think what really draws me to that era in particular is the fact that I was a bit of an extremity junky when I was younger, always looking for the next most transgressive thing. My range of listening of extreme bands was huge and it got to the point where nothing shocked me anymore. Then all of a sudden I was introduced to Swans and it just totally blew me away. I think a lot of stuff like Napalm Death is shocking in the context in which it was made but not so much today if you’re familiar with extreme metal, however when you put on Greed/Holy Money or Public Castration is a Good Idea, it’s still shocking in its intensity and transgression, even in the context of modern music, despite the fact it’s now almost 30 years old.
I think just because it’s so intense. I love all the eras of Swans, I think they all have their own merits but I find the minimalism and brutality of the first few albums really fascinating. Particularly the Public Castration is a Good Idea/A Long Slow Screw stuff.
I think what really draws me to that era in particular is the fact that I was a bit of an extremity junky when I was younger, always looking for the next most transgressive thing. My range of listening of extreme bands was huge and it got to the point where nothing shocked me anymore. Then all of a sudden I was introduced to Swans and it just totally blew me away. I think a lot of stuff like Napalm Death is shocking in the context in which it was made but not so much today if you’re familiar with extreme metal, however when you put on Greed/Holy Money or Public Castration is a Good Idea, it’s still shocking in its intensity and transgression, even in the context of modern music, despite the fact it’s now almost 30 years old.
Well personally I would have preferred a survey on Swans as a whole, because they are one of few bands that have actually maintained a consistent level of quality and integrity even up to the latest album.
I don’t feel qualified to answer this survey but I will check out some of this stuff out of interest and maybe if I familiarize myself enough I can fill out the survey.
I can’t say anything more than it’s for an academic piece of research revolving around early Swans. As I explained before, I could bias the results by telling you what it’s for because people might then fill it out with what they think I want to hear, when what I want to hear is what answers they think of independently from my influence.
Yeah, I’ve got all the early stuff, but I mainly stick to Children of God and later. I appreciate the early stuff, but I don’t know it very well at all and don’t play it much. I like what they did, but rarely am I in the mood for that era Swans, and when I am in that particular mood, it’s probably in my best interest to not pour fuel on the fire by turning on those records.
Soundtracks For The Blind, however, is quite possibly the greatest album ever made in my book.
Speaking of Swans, did anyone else notice that Burning World is getting reissued in May? I pre-ordered a copy, and I’m wondering why there hasn’t been more noise about it.
I am a fan of the band’s various sounds over the years. I am not so familiar with early Swans. I liked what I heard but I find I prefer the more fully developed sound of albums like ‘Children of God’.
I’m going to have to go with Children Of God too. Although that Cop/Young God/Greed/Holy Money compilation is hard to pass up and is a worthy addition to any collection. How could anybody not like “A Screw”?
[reply]
I am a fan of the band’s various sounds over the years. I am not so familiar with early Swans. I liked what I heard but I find I prefer the more fully developed sound of albums like ‘Children of God’.
I’m going to have to go with Children Of God too. Although that Cop/Young God/Greed/Holy Money compilation is hard to pass up and is a worthy addition to any collection. How could anybody not like “A Screw”?[/reply]
For me the definitive version of ‘A Screw’ is the Public Castration is a Good Idea one. That album is up there with Soundtracks for the Blind for me. Phenomenal stuff.
Also, didn’t hear about the rerelease of A Burning World. Is it a remaster or just as it was?
Also, didn’t hear about the rerelease of A Burning World. Is it a remaster or just as it was?
No idea. It’s listed on Amazon, but I haven’t been able to find any other info on it. I hope it’s true, because I never want to pay the OOP prices it goes for normally.
I love all era’s of Swans also…that band never let me down…love the side projects also like Drainland,Body Lovers etc…I even liked some of the Jarboe solo stuff and really dig Angels of Light…
White Light in The Mouth of Infinity,Soundtracks for ther Blind,Cop,Holy Money ona nd on and on…The great Annihlator never gets the props it deserves…
The great Annihlator never gets the props it deserves…
Too true. That was my introduction to Swans. Via Pigface/Invisible Records. Thanks Martin.
There are some killer songs on The Great Annihilator, but when I listen to it now, the record as a whole sounds kind of… lopsided. But fuck, man, Mother/Father… Celebrity Lifestyle… That’s an eye opener at 15.
[reply]The great Annihlator never gets the props it deserves…
Too true. That was my introduction to Swans. Via Pigface/Invisible Records. Thanks Martin.
There are some killer songs on The Great Annihilator, but when I listen to it now, the record as a whole sounds kind of… lopsided. But fuck, man, Mother/Father… Celebrity Lifestyle… That’s an eye opener at 15.[/reply]
Yeah,for all the criticism leveled at Martin Atkins(myself included and rightly so),the guy put out some fucking outstanding music on Invisible…once he started the Underground Inc umbrella it lost it’s way and got watered down…still some nice releases under that moniker but he def lost alot of quality control…
A nice enough guy the times I met him but his stories of shameless opportunism are endless,of course…
So, speaking of early Swans, can anybody hook me up with the original version of the song “Money Is Flesh” from the Greed album? It’s about 6:00 long. The one that you can currently get is the version from Holy Money, which is about 5:00. Also, if anybody has “Time Is Money (Bastard) (Mix),” I could use that as well.